10 Best Dark Fantasy Animated Movies, Ranked

Due to the versatility of the fantasy genre, it can be broken down further based on certain qualities in the story, such as tone, archetypes, and aesthetic. One subgenre that has been growing in popularity is dark fantasy, which is usually defined by its more conservative use of magic and more grounded and occasionally bleak tone. Dark fantasy also includes elements of horror and mature themes, often leading to more brutal imagery than fairy tale stories or high fantasy epics.

For these reasons, dark fantasy doesn’t show up as often in the world of animation, a medium still widely treated as kid-centric. When it does appear, the films quickly carve out a unique niche that offers audiences something with a bit more bite than what they are expecting from lands of magic and monsters. Even films aimed at children can get intense, thanks to the peril they put their characters through and the mature themes they explore. This list will rank the best dark fantasy animated movies based on their quality, visuals, and the themes they address in their often challenging yet always rewarding narratives.

10

‘Wendell & Wild’ (2022)

Directed by Henry Selick

After the death of her parents, Katherine Elliot (Lyric Ross) blames herself and becomes a juvenile delinquent. After being transferred to a Christian school, a skull-shaped mark appears on her hand, which marks her as a Hell Maiden who can communicate with demons. Two ambitious demon brothers named Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Jordan Peele) learn about Kat and offer to revive her parents if she will summon them to Earth, which gets Kat involved in a dangerous conspiracy.

Wendell & Wild is another feather in the cap of the king of dark fantasy stop-motion, Henry Selick. By combining Selick’s iconic eerie yet whimsical aesthetic with Peele’s sharp storytelling, it explores themes of grief, guilt, and self-acceptance while exploring the depths of societal evils. Every scene brings with it a new macabre twist or creative character, including obsessed demon hunters, zombified city councilmen, and dark rituals that force Kat to face the stylistic manifestations of her trauma.

9

‘Wizards’ (1977)

Directed by Ralph Bakshi

In an apocalyptic future that sees magic return to the world, the dark wizard Blackwolf (Steve Gravers) seeks to create a world ruled over by mutants. After assassinating the leaders of the rival kingdoms, he uses ancient Nazi propaganda to galvanize his soldiers and make them overcome their usual cowardice. To stop him, Blackwolf’s brother, the good wizard Avatar (Bob Holt), leads a quest into the heart of the mutant kingdom of Scorch to destroy the projector.

Wizards is the first fantasy film by legendary adult animator Ralph Bakshi, and while not as raunchy as some of his other films, it’s still chock-full of surreal imagery and in-your-face social commentary. The world is an ugly mix of technology and magic, reflecting the brutal struggle for survival and the poignant themes about the cycles of violence and the destructive power of propaganda. Yet, even in its darkest moments, the film maintains a hopeful attitude, especially through the determination of the characters and Avatar’s journey from a nihilistic wizard to a heroic force for peace.

8

‘Fire and Ice’ (1983)

Directed by Ralph Bakshi

Humanity stands on the brink of annihilation as the sorcerer king, Nekron (Stephen Mendel), and his mother, Juliana (Susan Tyrrell), use their power to expand massive glaciers south. Soon, only the volcanic fortress city of Firekeep remains to oppose them, but Juliana sends her minions to capture Princess Teegra (Maggie Roswell) in the hopes that Nekron can sire an heir with her. Teegra manages to escape and meets two allies: Larn (William Ostrander), the sole survivor of a village destroyed by the glaciers, and Darkwolf (Steve Sandor), a masked warrior with a vendetta against the sorcerer family.

Fire and Ice perfectly encapsulates the aesthetic of 1980s dark fantasy films with its grim landscape and simple yet complex storytelling. It embraces popular fantasy tropes such as the battle of good vs evil and the classic hero’s journey to tell a story that, while not original, is highly entertaining thanks to its creativity and brutal struggle for survival. The animation is also a highlight, thanks to its superb use of rotoscoping, allowing the characters to move in a fluid, realistic manner that adds weight to every strike.

7

‘Corpse Bride’ (2005)

Directed by Mike Johnson and Tim Burton

Victor Van Dort (Johnny Depp) is a young man from the Victorian era who is set to marry Victoria Everglot (Emily Watson) but forgets his vows during the wedding rehearsal. That night, he practices in the woods and places his ring on what he thinks is a tree branch turns out to be the finger of a corpse named Emily (Helena Bonham Carter). Believing Victor’s vows were meant for her, she takes him to the Land of the Dead, while the Everglots, desperate to escape genteel poverty, push for Victoria to marry a man named Barkis Bittern (Richard E. Grant).

Corpse Bride is one of the most stylistic films to come from Tim Burton, a director known for his dark fantasy sensibilities and gothic stories. The undead characters each possess a unique and creative design, and it’s amazing to see how quickly and fluidly they move despite the limitations of stop-motion animation. This lively portrayal of the dead contrasts with the grim, stiff depiction of the living, which feeds into the film’s message about how there is more to life than simply being alive.

6

‘The Last Unicorn’ (1982)

Directed by Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass

When a unicorn (Mia Farrow) learns that all other unicorns were herded north by a monstrous Red Bull, she departs her forest home to see if she can find them. Along the way, she is joined by two unlikely companions: a bumbling magician named Schmendrick (Alan Arkin) and a female bandit named Molly Grue (Tammy Grimes). The journey takes them to the grim lands of King Haggard (Sir Christopher Lee), where the unicorn learns more about humanity than she ever imagined possible.

The Last Unicorn was written by Peter S. Beagle, who wrote the original novel and is thus incredibly faithful to the book’s tone and themes. The story knows that it takes place in a fairy tale, and while it weaves the rules of the genre into its bones, it also conveys melancholic themes concerning regret and the power of memory. Its animation — done by future Studio Ghibli animators — is beautiful, with stylistic designs and vibrant colors that make it look like a medieval tapestry come to life.

5

‘ParaNorman’ (2012)

Directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler

Norman Babcock (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is a young boy with the unique ability to speak to the dead, which leaves him ostracized from his family and community, except for fellow outcast Neil Downe (Tucker Albrizzi). On the eve of the 300th anniversary of the town’s execution of a witch, Norman’s crazed great-uncle, Mr. Prenderghast (John Goodman), informs Norman that he must protect the town before dying of a heart attack. Norman at first dismisses this warning, but soon, the witch’s spirit unleashes a storm that brings the dead back to life, leading Norman and his friends to uncover more about the town’s dark past.

Beyond its phenomenal animation and homage to classic horror stories, ParaNorman is a story about the destructive power of fear. Characters in both the past and present repeatedly act out of fear to do what they believe is right, but this, in turn, unwittingly spreads further misery, such as Norman being seen as an “other” by his community when he is just a young child looking for acceptance. Yet, the film also demonstrates how much good can be accomplished when we take the time to learn about the unknown rather than dread it, as seen through Norman’s peers placing their faith in him to save the day and Norman’s interactions with the witch in the climax.

4

‘The Secret of NIMH’ (1982)

Directed by Don Bluth

With her young son, Timothy (Ina Fried), sick with pneumonia, field mouse Mrs. Brisby (Elizabeth Hartman) cannot move her family as the farmer prepares to plow his fields. Desperate for help, she seeks out the Great Owl (John Carradine), who knew her late husband, Johnathan. He tells Mrs. Brisby to go into the farmer’s rosebush, where a colony of intelligent rats might be able to help her.

The Secret of NIMH was the first film in the illustrious career of Don Bluth and remains one of the darkest animated films for kids. Though it might not have all the usual drapings of the fantasy genre, scenes like Mrs. Brisby’s meeting with the Great Owl and the rat’s leader, Nicodemus (Derek Jacobi), easily feel like a hero stumbling into the lair of a dragon or standing before a wizard in possession of ageless wisdom. Speaking of heroes, Mrs. Brisby is one of the best female protagonists in animation: while every instinct is telling her to run or seize up in fear, Mrs. Brisby pushes forward for the sake of her children, demonstrating the beautiful power of motherhood.

3

‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ (1993)

Directed by Henry Selick

Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon) is the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, tasked with ensuring the holiday is full of terrors and thrills. However, he finds himself worn down by the job and longing for something new. Jack gets his wish when he stumbles through a door into Christmas Town and, enamored by the colors and merriment of the season, decides that this year, Halloween Town will oversee Christmas.

The Nightmare Before Christmas has touched generations thanks to its deeply relatable characters and beautifully macabre art style. The film is a visual delight: every scene oozes creativity through its character design, color choices, and how creatively it plays with the strengths and weaknesses of stop-motion to create something entirely its own. Meanwhile, Jack’s disillusionment with his life is something everyone goes through at some point or another, and while things don’t quite go his way, the film’s message is ultimately one of embracing what makes you unique and not dwelling on failure.

2

‘Coraline’ (2009)

Directed by Henry Selick

Coraline Jones (Dakota Fanning) and her parents move into the Pink Palace Apartments, home to numerous eccentric tenants. While exploring the area, Coraline finds a hidden door in the wall that leads to an ideal world created by her Other Mother (Teri Hatcher), where everyone has black buttons for eyes. However, a black cat (Keith David) who can travel between the two worlds warns Coraline that not all is as it seems, and indeed, the more she visits the Other World, the more its dark secrets begin to surface.

Coraline began the fantastic career of Laika thanks to its creepy atmosphere, gorgeous animation, and intriguing story. Like Coraline, you find yourself invested in the magic of the Other World despite your better judgment. The dark twists should have been obvious in hindsight, but they still hit hard, leaving you with a feeling of dread for the characters. Coraline herself is also a great protagonist: while clever and quick-thinking, the film also remembers to have her act her age with moments of immature frustration and snark, which makes her feel more human and relatable.

1

‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’ (2022)

Directed by Guillermo del Toro

Distraught over the death of his son, a woodcarver named Geppetto (David Bradley) chops down the pine tree that marks his son’s grave and uses it to create a puppet. A passing Wood Sprite (Tilda Swinton), feeling pity for Geppetto, brings the puppet to life, naming him Pinocchio (Gregory Mann). She assigns Sebastian J. Cricket (Ewen McGregor), who lives in the tree, to be his conscience, but Pinocchio’s excitement at life’s wonders leads him into all sorts of trouble, especially when it is discovered that he cannot die.

Dark fantasy king Guillermo del Toro had long dreamt of tackling the Pinocchio story, and he did not disappoint. The film retains the spirit of the original story about teaching life lessons to children but also touches on profound themes such as mortality, fascism, and accepting others for who they are. While each of the voice actors is phenomenal, Bradley deserves special mention for the raw, heartbreaking performance he gives, especially when Geppetto tries to fight back his grief.

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