Animation as a Medium
18 movies 15 tv shows
This list curates a selection of animated movies and shows intended to show the breadth of animation as a medium. I've included some Western, some Asian, some mainstream, some indie, some for adults, some for entire families; basically, a bit of everything. The focus of this list isn't necessarily to assemble the best of the best — there's definitely some true classics I've left off the list — so much as to highlight all the different things animation can be: serious, silly, adult, juvinelle, speculative, literary, plot-driven, visuals-driven, and everything in between.
Kyousougiga (2011) [Movie] Douban NeoDB TMDB IMDb
京騒戯画
director:
Rie Matsumoto
actor:
Rie Kugimiya
/
Aya Hisakawa
…
other title:
京騒戯画
Three kids are stuck in a strange city causing massive mayhem through the land. They are searching for an atypical rabbit in order to return home. Koto, the eldest of the three, seems to have some sort of connection to this weird place ruled by a monk, a demon, and a priest.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (Book One: Water) (2005) [TV] Douban NeoDB TMDB
Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 1 part of TV Series: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Katara and Sokka (a brother and sister from the Southern Water Tribe) discover the Avatar (a 12-year-old Airbender boy named Aang) frozen in an iceberg. Together the three begin their journey to the North Pole to find a master waterbender so Aang can begin his Avatar training!
Great Pretender Season 1 (2020) [TV] Douban TMDB
GREAT PRETENDER Season 1 part of TV Series: Great Pretender
Supposedly Japan's greatest swindler, Makoto Edamura gets more than he bargained for when he tries to con Laurent Thierry, a real world-class crook.
The Owl House Season 1 (2020) [TV] Sukkertoppen TMDB NeoDB Douban
The Owl House Season 1 part of TV Series: The Owl House
director:
Bosook Coburn
/
Amelia Lorenz
…
actor:
Tati Gabrielle
/
Issac Ryan Brown
…
A teenager finds herself stuck in the Demon Realm and battles the forces of evil alongside a rebellious witch and a pint-sized warrior.
Steven Universe Season 1 (2013) [TV] NeoDB Douban TMDB
Steven Universe Season 1 part of TV Series: Steven Universe
director:
Ian Jones-Quartey
actor:
Zach Callison
/
Estelle
…
This first volume of Steven Universe is all about discovery. Steven is still an over-enthusiastic boy and more often than not, that gets in the way of his progress towards becoming a Gem. However, little by little, episode by episode he learns more about the Crystal Gems, their secrets, their history and the full extent of their powers.
Sonic the Hedgehog Season 1 (1993) [TV] Douban TMDB
Sonic the Hedgehog Season 1 part of TV Series: Sonic the Hedgehog
director:
John Grusd
/
Dick Sebast
actor:
Jaleel White
/
Kath Soucie
…
Sonic, Tails, Princess Sally, and a band of freedom fighters battle to overthrow Dr. Robotnik, a despotic dictator who conquered their home planet Mobius years ago, and rules it as a polluted industrial dystopia.
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) [Movie] TMDB NeoDB Douban WikiData IMDb Skybridge
Kubo and the Two Strings
other title:
Kubo e la spada magica
/
Kubo - Den Modige Samurai
…
Kubo mesmerizes the people in his village with his magical gift for spinning wild tales with origami. When he accidentally summons an evil spirit seeking vengeance, Kubo is forced to go on a quest to solve the mystery of his fallen samurai father and his mystical weaponry, as well as discover his own magical powers.
Persepolis (2007) [Movie] NeoDB Douban IMDb TMDB Skybridge WikiData
Persepolis
8.4 (21 ratings)
director:
Marjane Satrapi
/
Vincent Paronnaud
actor:
Chiara Mastroianni
/
Danielle Darrieux
…
other title:
Persépolis
In 1970s Iran, Marjane 'Marji' Statrapi watches events through her young eyes and her idealistic family of a long dream being fulfilled of the hated Shah's defeat in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. However as Marji grows up, she witnesses first hand how the new Iran, now ruled by Islamic fundamentalists, has become a repressive tyranny on its own.
Redline (2009) [Movie] TMDB NeoDB IMDb WikiData Skybridge Douban
レッドライン
other title:
レッドライン
A daredevil driver is determined to compete in Redline, the most popular race in the galaxy. The race only occurs every five years, but in order to participate he must overcome the mafia, the government and even love.
The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy (2024) [TV] TMDB WikiData IMDb
The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy
director:
Cirocco Dunlap
actor:
Stephanie Hsu
/
Keke Palmer
…
other title:
Il secondo miglior ospedale della Galassia
/
O Segundo Melhor Hospital da Galáxia
…
Dr. Sleech and Dr. Klak — aliens, best friends and intergalactically renowned surgeons — tackle anxiety-eating parasites, illegal time loops and deep-space STIs.
Infinity Train (Book One: The Perennial Child) (2019) [TV] Douban TMDB
Infinity Train Season 1 part of TV Series: Infinity Train
director:
Madeline Queripel
actor:
Bradley Whitford
/
Ashley Johnson
…
13-year-old Tulip finds herself on a mysterious train with an endless number of cars, each one its own universe, and must find a way to get home.