Spirited Away by Studio Ghibli is another great animated film with a deep message behind it. It's similar to Alice in Wonderland in that it questions what reality and fiction truly are, but it's also a coming of age type of story, with the main character Chihiro struggling to find her identity. It also brings up a conflict with how different generations interact with one another, especially when traditional thinking in the younger generation is set aside for a mindset more attuned to modern culture.
Serious topics in animated films.
Toy Story actually covered some very adult themes, such as existentialism.
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Here, if you have a milkshake, and I have a milkshake, and I have a straw. There it is, that's a straw, you see? You watching?. And my straw reaches acroooooooss the room, and starts to drink your milkshake... I... drink... your... milkshake!
-Daniel, There Will Be Blood
Here, if you have a milkshake, and I have a milkshake, and I have a straw. There it is, that's a straw, you see? You watching?. And my straw reaches acroooooooss the room, and starts to drink your milkshake... I... drink... your... milkshake!
-Daniel, There Will Be Blood
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First, one is talking about children's films or animated film? Two completely different things (which should be obvious to anyone who has some experience as a cinephile).
If I restrict myself to family animated films then all the great ones deal with serious topics, such as Galaxy Express 999 (1979), Night on the Galactic Railroad (1985), My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Spirited Away (2001), Wall-E and Ponyo (2008), UP (2009).
Not to talk about the hundreds of obviously adult animated films like Fantastic Planet (1973) (deals with the perceptions of sentient beings on other sentient beings), Nausicaa (1984) (environmental degradation), Grave of the Fireflies (1988) (the impact of war on the innocent), Ghost in the Shell (1995) (the meaning of being human when you are mostly synthetic, very similar to Blade Runner in themes and execution and almost as good), Waltz with Bashir (2008) (war documentary) and PMMM parts 1 & 2 (2011) (suicidal depression, social alienation).
If I restrict myself to family animated films then all the great ones deal with serious topics, such as Galaxy Express 999 (1979), Night on the Galactic Railroad (1985), My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Spirited Away (2001), Wall-E and Ponyo (2008), UP (2009).
Not to talk about the hundreds of obviously adult animated films like Fantastic Planet (1973) (deals with the perceptions of sentient beings on other sentient beings), Nausicaa (1984) (environmental degradation), Grave of the Fireflies (1988) (the impact of war on the innocent), Ghost in the Shell (1995) (the meaning of being human when you are mostly synthetic, very similar to Blade Runner in themes and execution and almost as good), Waltz with Bashir (2008) (war documentary) and PMMM parts 1 & 2 (2011) (suicidal depression, social alienation).
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Folded Flags. An animated film that deals with an oblivious, retired couple amidst nuclear tension and war.
First, one is talking about children's films or animated film? Two completely different things (which should be obvious to anyone who has some experience as a cinephile).
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It's not obvious to me, not that I consider myself a cinephile. Children's films do not need to be animated nor are all animated films geared toward children or even appropriate for them, but, yes, sometimes they are both. An animated film just means that it's, well that it's animated. It can be any kind of film.
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When I think of animated films with serious topics, I immediately think of The Grave of the Fireflies, there's plenty of movies like Up that have depressing elements, but none of them are actually straight-up serious in the way that Fireflies is.
Last edited by McConnaughay; 08-14-13 at 03:17 AM.
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I agree with you on that point. I think you have misunderstood me: I meant exactly what you said here. However, you should understand my point: that the author of the topic said implicitly "animated films = children's films and vice versa", clearly something that's not true.
Anyways, once the miscommunication has cleared we agree on both points.

Death is a very common theme in movies geared towards children and I think it's pretty important for children to begin to understand and cope with that aspect of life. Movies like Charlotte's Web and Bambi, sad as they may be, can be useful tools in teaching children about loss and to help facilitate their coping skills.
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Really serious one would be,
Grave of the fireflies.
Illusionist.
Lion King.
Most Hollywood animation is made for having a good time. Most of them don't have a serious flavor to it.
Grave of the fireflies.
Illusionist.
Lion King.
Most Hollywood animation is made for having a good time. Most of them don't have a serious flavor to it.
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My Favorite Films
My Favorite Films
Has anyone seen Dr Seuss "the Lorax" it absolutely has a deep though simple message to it about preserving nature, its also a charming funny film, one of the best recent animation films and Danny Devito is genius as the voice of the Lorax
Mary and Max
This fantastic claymation feature deals with suicide, depression, alcoholism, Aspergers, and is both hysterical and haunting. Awesome film.
This fantastic claymation feature deals with suicide, depression, alcoholism, Aspergers, and is both hysterical and haunting. Awesome film.
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Mary and Max
This fantastic claymation feature deals with suicide, depression, alcoholism, Aspergers, and is both hysterical and haunting. Awesome film.
This fantastic claymation feature deals with suicide, depression, alcoholism, Aspergers, and is both hysterical and haunting. Awesome film.

Yeah The Iron Giant is a great film. I saw that movie so many times as a child and it affected me emotionally each time.
Mary and Max
This fantastic claymation feature deals with suicide, depression, alcoholism, Aspergers, and is both hysterical and haunting. Awesome film.
This fantastic claymation feature deals with suicide, depression, alcoholism, Aspergers, and is both hysterical and haunting. Awesome film.
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