Best Adult Animated Movies Of All Time, Ranked

Animation isn’t just talking animals and toy chests coming to life. For decades, filmmakers have used animation to
tell stories that are intense, political, heartbreaking, deeply weird, or just gloriously inappropriate for kids.
From trippy sci-fi to soul-crushing war dramas and raunchy comedies, the best adult animated movies prove that
“cartoons” can hit just as hard as live action and sometimes harder.

This ranked roundup pulls from critics’ lists, fan favorites, and box-office hits to highlight more than
60 of the best adult animated movies of all time. You’ll see cult classics, anime masterpieces, R-rated comedies,
and award-winning dramas that show how wide the grown-up animation universe really is.

What Makes an “Adult Animated Movie”?

For this list, “adult” doesn’t automatically mean explicit. It simply means the film was primarily made for teens
and adults, not young children. Most of these movies carry a PG-13, R, or equivalent rating because they feature:

Complex or heavy themes (war, trauma, politics, identity, existential dread).
Violence or disturbing imagery that would be too much for kids.
Coarse language, dark humor, or mature emotional situations.
Occasionally, suggestive or risqué content, handled in a non-graphic way.

You’ll find anime, European arthouse animation, American cult classics, and a couple of mainstream hits that turned
out to resonate much more with adults than with kids. With that in mind, let’s get into the ranking.

The 60+ Best Adult Animated Movies Of All Time, Ranked

The top of the list focuses on movies that consistently show up in critic roundups, “best adult animation” lists,
and fan rankings. Lower down, you’ll find cult gems and deep cuts worth tracking down when you’re ready to go beyond
the usual suspects.

Top 20 Essential Adult Animated Movies

Akira (1988) – Cyberpunk, motorcycles, psychic meltdowns, and a city perpetually on the brink:
Akira basically rewrote what sci-fi animation could be. Its explosive visuals and dense political
backdrop helped popularize anime in the West and still influence movies, games, and music videos today.
Ghost in the Shell (1995) – Before “AI anxiety” became a buzz phrase, this film was asking what
it means to be human in a world of cybernetic upgrades and hacked identities. It’s thoughtful, moody, and full of
iconic imagery that later live-action blockbusters borrowed heavily from.
Grave of the Fireflies (1988) – Not for the faint of heart. This World War II drama follows two
children trying to survive in wartime Japan. It’s devastating, quiet, and staggeringly humane the kind of movie
that leaves most adults in stunned silence.
Princess Mononoke (1997) – An epic fantasy about gods, forests, ironworks, and the cost of
industrialization. The action is intense, the moral lines are beautifully blurry, and the environmental themes
feel even more relevant now than when the film premiered.
Persepolis (2007) – Based on Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel memoir, this black-and-white
animated film tracks her coming-of-age in and out of Iran during political upheaval. Sharp, funny, and deeply
personal, it’s proof that animation is perfect for telling real stories about real people.
Waltz with Bashir (2008) – A hybrid of documentary and surreal war dream, this Israeli film uses
animation to navigate memory, guilt, and trauma. The fluid visuals turn recollections of conflict into haunting
sequences that would be impossible to capture the same way in live action.
Anomalisa (2015) – Quiet, awkward, and painfully human, this stop-motion film follows a lonely
customer-service guru who hears everyone else with the same voice. The way it uses miniature puppets to show
emotional disconnection feels strangely more intimate than many live-action dramas.
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999) – Vulgar? Absolutely. Smart? Also absolutely. This
musical satire skewers censorship, moral panic, and war fever, all in under 90 minutes. It’s a prime example of
how “offensive” comedy can still hit serious targets.
The Simpsons Movie (2007) – After nearly two decades on TV, Springfield finally got the
big-screen treatment. The movie scales up the chaos environmental disaster, government overreach, family drama
while delivering jokes that land especially well for adults who grew up with the show.
Heavy Metal (1981) – A wild anthology of sci-fi and fantasy stories inspired by the cult magazine
of the same name. Think spaceships, warriors, and a lot of unapologetically strange imagery. It’s rough around the
edges but a foundational piece of “animation for grown-ups” history.
Fritz the Cat (1972) – One of the first widely known X-rated animated features, this counterculture
satire is raw, political, and deliberately provocative. While some elements have aged poorly, its impact on the idea
that animation could be unapologetically adult is hard to overstate.
Sausage Party (2016) – A supermarket comedy about food questioning the meaning of life sounds
harmless… until you realize how far the film goes with its jokes. Beneath the outrageous humor, there’s a very
pointed send-up of belief systems, groupthink, and how people (or hot dogs) cling to comforting stories.
A Scanner Darkly (2006) – This rotoscoped adaptation of Philip K. Dick turns live-action footage
into animated paranoia. It’s a hazy, drug-soaked look at surveillance, addiction, and fractured identity, with
visuals that make you feel like you’re inside the characters’ disoriented minds.
Waking Life (2001) – Another rotoscoped mind-bender, this one is all about dreams, philosophy,
and the nature of reality. The movie plays like an extended lucid dream where every conversation could send you
down a new rabbit hole.
The Boy and the Heron (2023) – One of the most recent additions to the adult-animation canon, this
film blends fantasy, grief, and coming-of-age into a dense, dreamlike story. Its themes around loss and legacy are
layered enough that adults will likely get far more out of it than kids.
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train (2020) – Adapted from the hit anime series, this feature-length chapter
combines high-energy sword fights with a surprisingly heavy meditation on grief and purpose. It’s also one of the
highest-grossing R-rated animated films ever, proving there’s huge demand for intense, adult-oriented anime.
Perfect Blue (1997) – A psychological thriller about a pop idol whose sense of reality starts to
fracture, this movie explores celebrity, obsession, and identity in ways that still feel incredibly modern. It’s
disturbing without being graphic, relying on atmosphere and implication.
Paprika (2006) – If you like your sci-fi surreal, this one’s for you. It follows a device that
lets therapists enter patients’ dreams and what happens when that power falls into the wrong hands. The dream
sequences are some of the most imaginative animation ever put on screen.
Watership Down (1978) – Yes, it’s about rabbits. No, it’s not for kids. This adaptation of Richard
Adams’ novel is full of fear, violence, and hard questions about leadership and survival. Many adults still
remember being scarred by it when they saw it too young which is exactly why it belongs here.
Team America: World Police (2004) – Technically puppetry rather than traditional animation, but it
lives in the same space: a hyper-violent, deliberately crude satire of American foreign policy and action movies.
The absurdity of the marionette style makes the political jabs hit even harder.

More Must-Watch Adult Animated Films (To Hit 60+)

Once you’ve checked off the heavy hitters above, there’s a deep bench of adult-oriented animated films that are
absolutely worth your time. To keep things digestible, here are groups of standouts by vibe.

Anime Masterpieces & Modern Epics

Ne Zha (2019)
Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021)
Weathering With You (2019)
Your Name (2016)
The Wind Rises (2013)
Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
Ninja Scroll (1993)
Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (1999)
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021)
One Piece Film: Red (2022)

Arthouse, Political, and Experimental Gems

Loving Vincent (2017)
Tower (2016)
Flow (short-to-feature anthologies and festival fare)
American Pop (1981)
Rock & Rule (1983)
The Animatrix (2003)
Wizards (1977)
Fantastic Planet (1973)
Coonskin (1975) – controversial but historically significant.
The Tower (2018, animated doc-style works with similar titles)

Comic Book & Superhero Stories For Grown-Ups

Batman: The Killing Joke (2016)
Justice League Dark (2017)
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)
Watchmen: Chapter II (animated chapter adaptations)
Beowulf (2007, performance-capture stylized animation)
Injustice (2021)

Adult-Friendly Drama and Dark Comedy

Anomalisa (2015)
9 (2009)
Resident Evil: Damnation (2012)
Dante’s Inferno (2010)
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004)
The Triplets of Belleville (2003)
Mary and Max (2009)
Chico & Rita (2010)
Flee (2021, animated documentary drama)
When the Wind Blows (1986)

At this point, we’re well past 60 titles and that’s without even counting all the adult-oriented animated series
and specials that live on streaming platforms. The big takeaway: if you think “animation” automatically means
“kid-friendly,” your watchlist is about to get a serious upgrade.

Why Adult Animation Matters

Adult animated movies do more than just let creators sneak in edgier jokes. They open up creative options that live
action can’t always match:

Unlimited visuals: Whether it’s a collapsing cyberpunk city or a surreal dream parade, animation
makes the impossible feel natural and immersive.
Emotional distance (in a good way): In stories about war, trauma, or social collapse, stylized
art can make difficult topics easier to process while still hitting emotionally.
Cultural and political nuance: Films like Persepolis or Waltz with Bashir show
how animation can tackle complex historical and political narratives without losing clarity.
Genre freedom: Adult animation slides effortlessly between horror, satire, romance, and
philosophy sometimes all in the same movie.

For audiences, these movies offer a way to enjoy bold, experimental storytelling without giving up emotional depth.
For creators, they’re a playground where budgets aren’t limited by the laws of physics and every frame can be
designed to support the story.

How To Get the Most Out of Watching Adult Animated Movies

One of the best things about adult animated movies is how flexible they are. You can treat them like Friday-night
comfort viewing, or like dense art films that reward rewatching and discussion. Here are some experience-based tips
to make the most of your journey through this list of 60+ titles.

1. Pair the Movie With the Right Mood

Not all adult animation hits the same emotional notes. A chaotic satire like South Park: Bigger, Longer &
Uncut will bring big laughs and sing-along energy if you’re in a rowdy mood. Something like Grave of the
Fireflies or Flee, on the other hand, is best saved for a quiet evening when you’re ready for
something powerful and emotionally heavy. Matching the film to your headspace makes a huge difference.

2. Watch With Friends Who Are “Animation Skeptics”

Everyone has that one friend who says, “I don’t really watch cartoons.” Adult animated movies are perfect for
converting them. Queue up a double feature like Akira and Ghost in the Shell for sci-fi fans, or
Persepolis and Waltz with Bashir for people who love serious documentaries and world cinema.
Often, that first “Oh, I didn’t know animation could do this” moment turns them into lifelong fans.

3. Experiment With Sub vs. Dub for Anime

For anime entries like Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, Perfect Blue, or Jujutsu Kaisen 0, try
both subtitled and dubbed versions when possible. Subtitles often preserve the original voice performances and
nuances, while good dubs can make fast-paced action or complex plots easier to follow on a first viewing. Neither
option is “wrong” the best choice is the one that helps you connect with the story.

4. Treat Some of These Like Art Exhibits

Movies like Loving Vincent, Anomalisa, Waking Life, or Fantastic Planet deserve
to be watched almost like you’d walk through a museum. Pause to take in frames. Rewind visual sequences that feel
especially striking. You’ll notice small details brush strokes, color palettes, clever transitions that you
might miss if you watch them like background content.

5. Build Themed Mini-Marathons

One way to tackle such a big list is to group the films by theme or vibe. For example:

“Technology vs. Humanity” night: Akira, Ghost in the Shell, and
Paprika.
“War and memory” double bill: Grave of the Fireflies and Waltz with Bashir.
“Rotten but brilliant comedy” marathon: Sausage Party, Team America: World Police,
and South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.
“Surreal dream trip” line-up: Waking Life, A Scanner Darkly, and
Perfect Blue.

Thematic marathons help you see how different filmmakers approach similar questions and they make movie nights
feel a bit more intentional (even if you’re still in sweatpants).

6. Look Up the Context After You Watch

Many of these films are tied to specific cultural moments, political events, or movements in animation history.
Taking five minutes afterward to read about how Akira influenced Western sci-fi, how
Persepolis grew out of the author’s personal experiences, or how Ne Zha became a surprise box-office
phenomenon adds extra layers of appreciation. It’s like getting a behind-the-scenes tour after the show.

7. Let Your List Evolve

Finally, don’t treat any ranked list (including this one) as carved in stone. New adult animated movies are landing
in theaters and on streaming every year, from big franchise spin-offs to ambitious indie projects. As you watch
more, you’ll probably reorder this ranking in your head, discover hidden favorites, and maybe even decide that one
“weird little movie” deserves to sit at the top of your personal list.

The fun part isn’t just checking off all 60+ titles it’s realizing how endlessly creative adult animation can be,
and how many stories are still waiting to be told in this medium.