20 fantastic 2D animated films that have nothing to do with Disney

From Brad Bird, the director of The Incredibles,The Iron Giant is one of the most beloved animated films to come out of the ‘90s. It follows Hogarth, a young boy who befriends a gigantic robot, who, despite his looming appearance, is a gentle giant. However, a paranoid government agent is on the hunt for the robot and wants to destroy it. It’s a touching film about the power of unlikely friendships, and features the voice talents of Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Aniston, and Vin Diesel. 

DreamWorks turns the biblical story of Moses into a musical adventure with The Prince of Egyp t. In the film, Moses, an Egyptian prince, learns of his true Hebrew identity and his destiny to lead his people to freedom. Full of memorable songs such as ‘When You Believe’ and ‘Deliver Us’, it is a beautifully animated film with inspiring messages of faith and hope. It also has a stacked voice cast including Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Sandra Bullock, Michelle Pfeiffer, and many more. 

Many people have mistaken Anastasia for a Disney Princess film over the years, which is no surprise. It shares the same kind of magic, romance, and music you’d find in those movies, and is equally excellent. Inspired by the historical events surrounding the real-life Russian Royal Family, the film follows the titular Anastasia, who is the sole survivor after the family is killed. Two con men take her to Paris in order to receive the reward for her discovery from her Empress grandmother. 

Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation powerhouse that has had numerous hits with Western audiences. There’s a number to choose from, but most people will say that their best film to date is the haunting and fantastical Spirited Away. It follows Chihiro, a young girl who finds herself in a ghostly world full of witches and spirits, where humans are turned into beasts. Thanks to its unique and imaginative worldbuilding, the film won the studio its first Oscar for Best Animated Feature. 

The Oscar-nominated film Klaus is one of the best original animated movies available on Netflix. A future Christmas classic in the making, the story follows Jesper, a postman who is sent to the North Pole and befriends a reclusive toy maker named Klaus. Their friendship melts an age-old feud that is rooted in the spirit of Christmas. While being a 2D animated film, the stylized animation gives characters and objects depth and weight, creating the illusion of 3D.

From Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon, Wolfwalkers is a gorgeously mythical and vibrant folk tale steeped in lore and fantasy. It follows Robyn, a young apprentice who journeys with her father to Ireland to wipe out the last wolf pack, in a time when the creatures are demonized. Complications occur when Robyn befriends Mebh, a wild girl who transforms into a wolf by night. The film’s unique animation style is eye-popping and perfectly matches the film’s magical atmosphere. 

Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, the famous Looney Tunes odd couple, reunite in The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes movie. When the pair is at risk of losing their home, they accidentally uncover an alien invasion conspiracy and become Earth’s only hope for survival. It’s the first ever fully animated Looney Tunes feature film, and it contains all the ingredients that fans of these characters know and love. From visual gags to slapstick comedy, it’s a delightful ride.

The Land Before Time is a prehistoric adventure with a whole lot of heart. It follows Littlefoot, a young brontosaurus, who meets four other orphans while journeying to the Great Valley. To reunite with their families, the dinosaurs must work together and face the dangers around them. Produced by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, the film is an entertaining and touching affair for the whole family. It’s worth noting that viewers may need some tissues along the way.

FernGully: The Last Rainforest is an animated musical adventure that also has an important message. Set in a rainforest in Australia, the film follows Zak, a young lumberjack who is shrunk by a fairy named Crysta. Along with the enchanted spirits that reside there, the pair tries to save the forest from both loggers and a polluting force called Hexxus. The film features timely themes surrounding environmentalism and includes the voice talents of Robin Williams, Tim Curry, and more.  

A fan favorite from the Studio Ghibli catalog is My Neighbor Totoro, which was their first main hit. It follows two sisters, Satsuke and Mei, who are moved to the country to spend time with their ill mother. In the surrounding forests, they meet Totoro, a mythical forest sprite, and have many adventures with him and the other spirits who also live there. It’s a simple and charming film, and Totoro is utterly adorable. He’s become a famous pop culture icon, both in Japan and the West.

Based on the classic Swan Lake ballet, The Swan Princess offers an alternative princess adventure outside of Disney. It follows Odette, a beautiful princess who is turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer who wants to gain control of her father’s kingdom. The only thing that can break the curse, of course, is true love. The film has the perfect mix of romance and humour, and is directed by Richard, who also directed The Fox and the Hound and The Black Cauldron. 

The Road to El Dorado is another one of DreamWorks' early 2D animated gems, offering an epic adventure on a grand scale. It follows two swindlers, Tulio and Miguel, who get their hands on a map to El Dorado, a fabled city of gold. Full of vibrant music and animation, the film is perfect for those looking for an action-packed treat for the whole family. It features the voice talents of Kevin Kline, Kenneth Branagh, Rosie Perez, and Elton John, who serves as the musical narrator of the story. 

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron is another beautiful 2D animated film from the early days of DreamWorks, and is perfect for those who love adventure, Westerns, and, of course, horses. It follows Spirit, a wild stallion who ventures across the frontiers of the Old West in order to return to his herd. Along the way, he meets a young human and finds love with a mare. Matt Damon provides the voice of Spirit, and the film was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars.

Based on the wildly popular children’s picture books, Curious George is an adorable adventure that tells the story of a friendship between man and monkey. Ted, also known as The Man in the Yellow Hat, is an oddball museum employee. He travels to Africa to find valuable artefacts for the museum, and along the way, meets George, a cheeky monkey. Inquisitive yet mischievous, George manages to cause much chaos for Ted. Will Ferrell lends his voice to the leading role.

Another film based on a series of children’s books is the French film Ernest & Celestine. In a world where bears live above ground in the city and rodents live underground in mutual hate, an unlikely bond is formed. Celestine, a young mouse, and Ernest, a musician bear, become the best of friends. However, they must convince their disapproving families that their relationship is stronger than hate. It’s a lovely film with important messages around acceptance and overcoming prejudice. 

Another film directed by the great Hayao Miyazaki is Howl’s Moving Castle, which is loosely based on the novel of the same name. The film follows Sophie, an unconfident young woman who is close friends with a wizard named Howl. Out of jealousy, a witch transforms Sophie into an old lady, and only Howl can break the curse. The film is full of eccentric characters and the unique setting of Howl's legged, walking castle. It also uses fantasy to explore anti-war themes.

Extremely different from Cartoon Saloon’s other fantastical films, The Breadwinner is a realistic and tragic war film that is perfect for older children to watch and learn from. It follows Parvana, a young girl who lives in Kabul with her family under the rule of the Taliban. After her father is arrested, Parvana disguises herself as a boy in order to work and provide money for her family. The film doesn’t shy away from showing the hardships of war and conflict, yet it remains full of hope.

A spin-off of the Teen Titans Go! series, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies is a comedic and action-packed romp for superhero fans who are sick of the same old formula. When the Teen Titans get the chance to star in their own Hollywood movie, their plans are threatened by villain Slade and his quest for world domination. The film is full of meta humor and commentary related to the superhero genre, providing well-earned laughs for not taking itself seriously at all. 

TV’s most famous family comes to the big screen in The Simpsons Movie. After Homer accidentally pollutes Springfield’s water supply, the government blames him for it and declares him and his family fugitives. After the town is encased by a giant dome, Homer must find a way to save Springfield and his family. The Simpsons Movies features all the characters from the show viewers know and love, while raising the stakes by bringing the action to a feature-length scale. 

Robot Dreams is a bittersweet film about the power of human connection, despite the main characters not being human at all. Set in a city of anthropomorphized animals during the ‘80s, the story follows the lonely Dog, who orders and assembles Robot to be his companion. However, circumstances threaten to come between the two. The film is entirely dialogue-free and relies on visual elements to tell its story, as well as a poignant use of ‘September’ by Earth, Wind & Fire.