Anime may seem to hold animated dark fantasy in its grip, but there are plenty of great animated films in this genre featuring other art styles.
Dark fantasy is a niche genre that often overlaps with visceral horror, visions of dystopian futures, or experimental science fiction. With its otherworldly elements, it can be difficult to create realistic dark fantasy in live-action. Some creators have turned to animated media to bring their ideas to life.
The audience for animated dark fantasy movies is even smaller than those for live-action, since these aren’t always for kids and not every adult likes cartoons. Plenty of Japanese animated films have taken on the concept of dark fantasy, with popular movies like Paprika being a famous example. However, plenty of unique films from other parts of the world have also made their mark on the genre. 7 The Black Cauldron
Directed By: Ted Berman, Richard Rich
Starring: Grant Bardsley, Susan Sheridan, Freddie Jones
Production Companies: Walt Disney Productions, Silver Screen Partners II
Release Date: July 24, 1985
The Black Cauldron was one of the last animated movies produced before the era known as the Disney Renaissance, and it almost drove the animation section of the company to bankruptcy. It wasn’t a bad movie, and made some strides by mixing new CGI technology with animation. The problem was that the dark subject matter wasn’t exactly for kids, and the target audience was never clear.
The movie is an adaptation of the first two books in Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain, which are based on Welsh mythology and consists of some dark magic and ancient mystery. The Horned King, the story’s antagonist, is opposed by the humble swineherd Taran, his friend the bard, a princess, and a strange creature named Gurgi. The Horned King wants to use the magic of the Black Cauldron to take over the world, and the motley band of adventurers has to stop them. 6 Beowulf
Directed By: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Robin Wright Penn
Production Companies: Shangri-La Entertainment, ImageMovers
Release Date: November 16, 2007
Beowulf was one of the first big-budget full-length feature films to use only CGI throughout the animation process, and it was an ambitious project for the time. The ancient legend of Grendel, an old story from Denmark, is retold here with some minor changes to the character and storyline. Not only is Beowulf an interesting example of dark fantasy, but it’s also a movie that puts the ancient world on film. Thus, it includes monsters, magic, and the secrets of the human heart.
In the original epic poem, Beowulf is the outspoken hero enlisted to fight the monster Grendel, and then Grendel’s mother.
