The 7 Best Family Friendly Movies That Weren’t Made By Disney
For millions of people across the globe, the world of Disney remains permanently tied to the family-friendly genre.
Revolutionizing the animation industry throughout the ‘20s and ‘30s, Disney proved that movies could appeal to a wider audience of viewers, entertaining children and adults alike with their approachable stories, vibrant visuals, and wondrous sense of creativity.
While Disney continues to stand tall as the high watermark of family-friendly cinema, it’s worth noting just how many other fantastic movies there are outside of Disney’s canon of films. From classic anime fantasy films to tongue-in-cheek DreamWorks comedies, here are seven beloved children’s films we heartily recommend checking out.
The Lego Movie (2014)
When The Lego Movie’s production was first announced, many viewers might have justifiably seen the film as little more than a big-budget marketing stunt meant to increase Lego’s publicity. But as the final product eventually showed, The Lego Movie’s industrious nature, humorous narrative, and buoyant creativity made for a children’s film unlike any other. Taking advantage of its basis in Lego’s various partnerships, The Lego Movie winds up delivering a laugh-out-loud adventure film that unfolds like a cross between Star Wars, The Matrix, and Everything Everywhere All at Once, complete with appearances from Han Solo, Gandalf, Batman, and … Milhouse from The Simpsons?
The Secret of NIMH (1982)
Dissatisfied with Disney’s creative direction following the death of Walt Disney, animator Don Bluth and a team of similarly gifted cartoonists set up their own animation studio amidst the production of 1981’s The Fox and the Hound. Heading off towards greener pastures, Bluth and his troupe soon made a name for themselves as a formidable rival to Disney throughout the 1980s, churning out such underrated cult classics as 1982’s The Secret of NIMH. Whereas Disney opted for a straightforward, family-friendly approach to their films, Bluth pushed the envelope in exciting new directions with The Secret of NIMH, striking a remarkable balance between darker fantasy and approachable adventure.
Shrek (2001)
Yes, yes, we can go on and on about Shrek’s immediate impact on pop culture, including the fact that it essentially launched DreamWorks from industry obscurity to a world-renowned animation studio on par with Disney or Pixar. We can talk about its impressive animation, its impeccable design, its self-mocking satire and humorous nods to pre-existing fairy tales and cherished Disney films. But at the end of the day, Shrek’s greatest strength lies in its simplistic story, allowing audiences of all ages to recognize that each and every one of us are complex beings, rather than cliche archetypes to fear, loathe, and despise.
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
It’s not an accident that The Wizard of Oz remains as avidly watched today as it was upon its initial release in 1939. Over the past nine decades, MGM’s critically hailed fantasy film has dazzled audiences the world over, ensuring a timeless adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s classic children’s book. Dark in all the right places but overarchingly playful in its story and characterization, it’s a film as enjoyable today as it was nearly a century ago, living on as iconic a children’s film as Snow White or Cinderella.
The Iron Giant (1999)
If you somehow leave The Iron Giant with a dry eye, you might want to think about scheduling an appointment with your local physician ASAP. Before he was recreating the superhero genre with The Incredibles, director Brad Bird handed in a remarkable sci-fi adventure film with 1999’s crowd-pleasing fan-favorite, The Iron Giant. Turning the traditional ‘50s alien invasion/giant mechanical monster movie on its head, The Iron Giant looks at the profound bond formed between an extraterrestrial visitor and a lonely young boy in search of companionship. The animated equivalent to E.T., it’s a wondrously moving children’s movie that will leave viewers young and old openly weeping at its heartfelt contents, leaving little reason to wonder about its beloved status today.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Without a doubt among the most important animated films of the past decade, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse also serves as one of the most visually astounding films of the 21st century yet. Drawing on a visual style as colorfully arresting as a ‘60s Marvel comic book, Into the Spider-Verse also does a remarkable job introducing audiences to Peter Parker’s webslinging successor, Miles Morales. Between its infectious humor, engrossing main storyline, and branching alternate realities, Into the Spider-Verse is that rare superhero film capable of entertaining a universal audience, matching – and in some cases even surpassing – the dozens of films that make up the MCU, DCEU, and DCU.
Spirited Away (2001)
Often described as the stylistic successor to Walt Disney, Hayao Miyazaki has helmed a dozen films of remarkably high quality, cementing Japanese anime as an international sensation on par with Disney’s earliest work. While each and every one of Miyazaki’s films remain worth watching, Spirited Away continues to earn standout acclaim as the filmmaker’s ultimate achievement: a perfect blend between atmospheric storytelling, Japanese folklore, and a spellbinding artistic style. As widely loved today as it was in 2001, it’s among the finest and most influential films in the entire entertainment industry, bar none.
