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No More Dancing Penguins! Alternative Films for Kids

Are you and your kids craving an alternative to the American CGI fodder touted by Major Studios? Can’t stomach another summer of singing penguins and cut throat merchandising? Fear not! We have a list of films for you that will delight, inspire or at least broaden the mind of your 2.4 children.

We are talking everything from lo-fi German shadow cut-outs to a virtuoso Japanese animation that puts Disney to shame. We will start with the latter which is probably one of the more well known of our suggestions…

Spirited Away - Hayao Miyazaki

The Oscar Winning Animation from the amazing Studio Ghibli follows 10 year old Chihiro who stumbles into a world full of Gods, witches and creatures of all shapes and sizes. A must see for kids of all ages!

Watership Down - Martin Rosen

Based on the book by Richard Adams. This personal favourite is a British classic. Spooked by a vision of death and destruction a group of rabbits flee across the English countryside to establish a new and safer warren. Dealing with themes of violence, death and the afterlife this is truly memorable.

Jo-Jo in the Stars - Marc Craste

A heart wrenching tale of two unlikely lovers: Jo Jo, a silver-plated trapeze artist and the nameless hero who worships her.
Winner of the 2004 Bafta for Best Animated Short Film. Poetic, tragic, beautiful.

Fantastic Planet - René Laloux

Fantastic Planet (La Planète sauvage) is a Surreal Sci-fi fantasy based on the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia. Set in a far distant world where giants rule and tiny humans are domesticated. One human however is not satisfied. fantastically strange animation with a great psychedelic soundtrack.

Alice - Jan Svankmajer

A dark and surreal retelling of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland by Czech surrealist Jan Svankmajer. Mixing a live actor (Alice) with a large variety of stop-motion animated creatures made from socks, stuffed rabbits, false teeth and meat.

The Adventures of Prince Achmed - Lotte Reiniger

Hailed as the first full-length animated film in the history of cinema, The Adventures of Prince Achmed is made entirely with back-lit paper cut-outs arranged in multiple layers to produce a dreamlike three-dimensional effect. It might seem a little dated but it’s simply magical.

The Merry Circus - Jiri Trnka (Found on The Puppet Films of Jiri Trnka)

The master of stop frame animation lets loose his virtuosity with this animation made with paper cut outs. The weight and physicality of the circus performers feel almost tangible as they leap and bound. Stunning.

Le Roi et l’oiseau (The King and the Mockingbid) - Paul Grimault

Based on the fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen. The quality of the animation and wealth of imagination in the script makes it an enduring work of art that will totally capture a child’s imagination.

Doggy Poo - Kate Yoon

Included for the sheer comedy value alone your kids will delight at this lovingly animated short featuring anthropomorphic dog poo. Pixar and Disney clearly haven’t pushed the boundaries of taste.

Think we’ve missed a blindingly obvious classic? Then drop us a comment in the box below. Enjoy!