It is always considered that animated films are always family friendly. But it’s not true; there are many movies that have dark moments. It also makes it difficult for adults to watch such movies. As we know, exceptions are always there, some animation movies are also disturbing.
So, to show the reality of terror in animated films, the movie is reserved under R rated, which is a live-action movie. So, studios have created a few animated movies, especially for adults. Whereas others have been focused on kid’s entertainment. Which causes lots of controversies. Such animated movie shows are really disturbing and can fill you with fear.
10 Disturbing Animation Movies that you Shouldn’t Watch are:
1. Watership Down
- Director: Martin Rosen and John Hubley
- Cast: John Hurt, Richard Briers, Michael Graham Cox, Simon Cadell, Harry Andrews, Zero Mostel
- Release date: 19 October 1978
- IMDb rating: 7.6/10
About Watership Down:
Watership Down is a terrifying story; it also proves that rabbits are not always adorable. It is a film that causes an entire generation of children of British to grow up with a fear of rabbits. However, it is an adaptation of the novel of the same name that may look like family-friendly fun by Richard Adams.
The story is about rabbits who are trying to find their new home. And it is not a very good adventure for children to watch. This animated movie, Watership Down is a movie full of nightmares with very haunting scenes like the one in which a black rabbit is dead on the battlefield soaked with blood.
However, it was certified as a movie for all ages, which caused the board to receive many complaints that the content was quite disturbing.
2. Grave of the Fireflies
- Director: Isao Takahata
- Cast: Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi
- Release date: 16 April 1988
- IMDb rating: 8.5/10
About Grave of the Fireflies:
Grave of the Fireflies is a movie about the aftereffects of war which is heartbreaking to watch. It is one of the masterpieces back from 1988’s. This movie is also considered as one of the famous animated movies which is known for its animation that is heartbreaking, disturbing and harrowing.
It also is one of the greatest films made on wars. This movie unfolds the stages of World War 2 in Japan. To watch all the scenes of wars is quite disturbing for adults as well. The movie is about two young siblings who are struggling to survive from all the attacks going on in the surrounding.
The film is both engrossing and will upset you at the very same time. It is also considered one of the most unforgettable movies watched. Also, there are many viewers who are willing to watch it again and whereas there are also who can’t watch the movie even once.
3. Bambi
- Director: David Hand
- Cast: John Sutherland, Sam Edwards, Paula Winslowe, Sterling Holloway, Will Wright.
- Release date: 21 August 1942
- IMDb rating: 7.3/10
About Bambi:
Bambi is one of the Disney films. It is one of the classics of Disney that will definitely make adults cry and give children nightmares. In addition, Bambi is an Oscar-nominated for music. It is based on a novel of the same name.
Bambi is a young deer. He decides that, like his father, he also wants to become a prince of the forest. When he starts to live among the forest members, he learns about friends, love, and how to protect them. Viewers have all their heart for little Bambi as he is left alone in the world.
4. The Plague Dogs
- Director: Martin Rosen
- Cast: John Hurt, Christopher Benjamin, James Bolam
- Release date: 21 October 1982
- IMDb rating: 7.7/10
About The Plague Dogs:
Plague dogs is a movie that every pet or dog lover would not want to watch. This movie is an adventure from 1982 and is unarguably the most harrowing movie to experience.
The film shows two different ways when dogs escape from the cruelty, they face in an animal testing facility. There are so many disturbing scenes that it makes viewers move behind their sofa and watch.
5. The Land Before Time
- Director: Don Bluth
- Cast: Gabriel Damon, Candace Hutson, Judith Barsi, Will Ryan
- Release date: 18 November 1988
- IMDb rating: 7.4/10
About The Land Before Time:
The Land Before Time is one of the movies with the best combination of capturing the spirit of adventure and also heartbreak. It is yet another classic by Don Bluth. This animated movie shows that a little adventure of dinosaurs is full of warmth which is infectious and has some sense of humor.
Though the film has this tenderness in it but makes viewers brutally affected by the bleakness of the most lovable main characters. Here, orphan Brontosaurus, along with his friends, move in order to attempt to find and reunite with their family.
6. Barefoot Gen’s
- Director: Mori Masaki
- Cast: Issei Miyazaki, Masaki Kōda
- Release date: 21 July 1983
- IMDb rating: 8/10
About Barefoot Gen’s:
It is described as one of the darkest and most disturbing animations than any live-action movies. The movie shows the nuclear attack on Hiroshima. It is shown from the perspective of the young boy who witnessed it.
It portrays how bombs have destroyed the entire city be it the infrastructure, people living, and everything present in that place. This movie uses reality-based incidents to make the audience feel reality.
7. Coraline
- Director: Henry Selick
- Cast: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Keith David, Ian McShane
- Release date: 6 February 2009
- IMDb rating: 7.7/10
About Coraline:
Coraline is a movie full of creepiness. This animated movie is a remake or can say an adaptation of a novel of the same name by Neil Gaiman. However, this Coraline is considered a masterpiece that has been created in a non-motion movie.
The film is about the time when Coraline, a young girl, and her family shifts to a new house. Later she discovers a secret passage. The passage took her to a world that was far away from her life. She loved this place far away from reality but slowly and gradually felt that this world was darker, creepier, and had a secret in it.
8. Animal Farm
- Director: John Stephenson
- Cast: Kelsey Grammer, Ian Holm, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Patrick Stewart, Julia Ormond, Paul Scofield, Pete Postlethwaite, Peter Ustinov
- Release date: 3 October 1999
- IMDb rating: 6.6/10
About Animal Farm:
In the US, most students have read animal farm. But the version they have read has much editing and a better ending than the original one. Animals farm has a plot that makes the movie beyond dark with numerous murders.
There is a new finale in the film which tells about the killing done in a revolutionary way. Also, endings give the message that the director wanted to convey.
9. The Adventures of Pinocchio
- Director: Steve Barron
- Cast: Martin Landau, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Rob Schneider, Udo Kier, Bebe Neuwirth, David Doyle, Geneviève Bujold
- Release date: 26 July 1996 (USA)
- IMDb rating: 5.2/10
About The Adventures of Pinocchio:
The Adventure of Pinocchio is not as dark as it is given in its source of origin, but it is kind of disturbing and this is the second animation movie by Disney. It is inspired by an Italian writer whose name is Carlo Collodi.
The story is about Pinocchio, who is a wooden boy. He brings the fairy back to life magically. And he has to prove that he is worthy enough before the fairy makes him again a real boy back to his original.
Though during his entire journey, he does many things. Like lies, smokes, and also drinks, once also gets imprisoned. Apart from all this dark side movie has a lighter version on the viewers.
10. A Scanner Darkly
- Director: Richard Linklater
- Cast: Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson, Winona Ryder, Rory Cochrane
- Release date: 7 July 2006
- IMDb rating: 7/10
About A Scanner Darkly:
In the movie Scanner Darkly, a unique palette is created. It is created with the help of a rotoscope which is interpolated. It is a type of technique used for animation.
The narration is about a police officer who is an undercover agent. He is on an operation investigating the source of hallucinogens that are damaging brain cells. Though the movie is animated but the film is still far away from being categorized as family friendly.
