15 best full-length cartoons for adults

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

If you doubt that cartoons can be a mature art, check out these tapes.

1. Adventures of Fritz the Cat

• USA, 1972.
• A satirical comedy.
• Duration: 75 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 3.

Freedom-loving dolt-cat Fritz has a rare talent for getting into trouble. Breaking free from the shackles of boring studies at the university, the hero goes all out: participates in stoned apartment orgies, provokes a bloody riot in the "black" area and crosses the path of the mysterious terrorist organization biker-Marxist-Nazis.

Fritz the Cat was invented by the famous comics artist Robert Crumb. After some time, the young director Ralph Bakshi suggested that the artist turn the comic strip into a full-length cartoon. Only now, in the end, "The Adventures of Fritz the Cat" turned out to be much darker and harder than the original source. This greatly upset Crumb. The artist was so unhappy with the film adaptation that in the same year he released the last issue of the comic book in which Fritz was killed by his ex-girlfriend.

Nevertheless, Ralph Bakshi's work gained cult status and, moreover, forever changed the attitude towards animation, showing that this art form is not only for children. The cartoon even quoted Quentin Tarantino in the second part of "Kill Bill". References can also be found in The Simpsons: in one of the episodes, Itchy and Scratchy find themselves in a world very reminiscent of the one shown in The Adventures of Fritz the Cat.

2. Wild planet

• France, Czechoslovakia, 1973.
• Science fiction.
• Duration: 72 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

The distant planet Igama is ruled by dredges - a highly developed race of blue humanoid giants. As pets, these creatures keep oms - descendants of earthlings. But gradually the oppressed Oms revolt against their masters.

The renowned French animator Rene Laloux shot only three full-length cartoons - Wild Planet, Lords of Time and Gandahar. Light years ". Nevertheless, his work influenced many directors and animators, including the great Hayao Miyazaki. The first was based on the novel by Stefan Wool "Serial Issue of Oms". The tape turned out to be incredibly close in spirit to Salvador Dali and is deservedly considered the pinnacle of surrealism in animation.

The cartoon was created using cross-linked animation: each individual figure was cut out of paper in parts, and the pieces moved from frame to frame. Soviet director Yuri Norshtein used the same technique to shoot his famous Hedgehog in the Fog.

3. Heavy metal

• USA, 1981.
• Science fiction, fantasy, erotica.
• Duration: 86 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

The magic ball Lok-Nar tells six unrelated stories to the daughter of the deceased astronaut. Among their heroes are the insidious and immoral Captain Sternn, a teenager named Dan who became a hero under incredible circumstances, and even an android obsessed with sex.

The history of "Heavy Metal" began with the American magazine of the same name, which published high-quality author's comics for an adult audience. In 1980, the publishers decided to release a full-length cartoon. The best animators of that time worked on the project. Perhaps, it was thanks to this that the tape went to the box office with great success, which was also facilitated by the bright soundtrack from Sammy Hagar, Black Sabbath, Devo, Nazareth and Grand Funk Railroad.

Curiously, one of the South Park episodes titled "Impressive Buffers" parodies "Heavy Metal". The very title of the episode, as you might guess, hints at the outstanding forms of the heroines of the original cartoon. In addition, the authors of "Heavy Metal" jokingly inserted images of a woman's naked breasts everywhere and everywhere, even in the outlines of clouds. South Park is ironic about this, giving busts to everything in general - from characters (including men) to buildings.

4. Pop America

• USA, 1981.
• Musical drama.
• Duration: 96 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

The film tells the story of several generations of one Jewish family. At the same time, the viewer observes the development of American music from cabaret and jazz to punk rock.

Ralph Bakshi's Pop America is a veritable encyclopedia of United States musical culture, spanning the period from the 1930s to the 1980s. The film features Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Phil Silvers, Jefferson Airplane, The Mamas & the Papas, The Sex Pistols and The Doors.

When creating the cartoon, Bakshi's favorite rotoscoping technology was used, in which real actors and elements of the scenery are first shot on film, and then the footage is traced frame by frame, turning it into animation.

5. Akira

• Japan, 1988.
• Post-apocalyptic action movie.
• Duration: 124 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

A dark story unfolds after the Third World War on the ruins of Tokyo destroyed by a nuclear explosion. During a showdown between teenage biker gangs, a young man named Tetsuo stumbles upon a strange boy with blue-green skin and old wrinkles. Suddenly, both of them are taken away by army special forces and placed in a secret laboratory, where it is revealed that Tetsuo now has unusual powers.

Akira is considered one of the greatest cartoon and sci-fi works of all time, and at the same time an important milestone in the history of Japanese animation. The cartoon also has many things in common with the main Western cyberpunk masterpiece of the 1980s - Blade Runner.

6. Parallel world

• USA, 1992.
• Fantastic comedy.
• Duration: 97 minutes.
• IMDb: 4, 9.

Former soldier Frank Harris, having an accident, miraculously moves to a surreal world inhabited by cruel cartoons. Unable to get out, the hero becomes a detective there. Meanwhile, illustrator Jack Deebs also finds himself in the Parallel World and falls in love with the painted femme fatale Holly Wood. She wants to become a human, only her plans threaten the real world with serious destruction.

In the latest animated feature film by Ralph Bakshi, actors Brad Pitt, Kim Basinger and Gabriel Byrne plunge into the world of comics. Because of this, "Parallel World" is often compared to the comedy "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" True, unlike the latter, Bakshi's creation is overflowing with rather explicit scenes and cruelty.

But the rest of the tape turned out to be controversial. The thing is that initially the plot was different: the script featured the son of Holly Wood - half human, half cartoon, who had no place in any of the worlds. But the producers did not appreciate Bakshi's unusual plan and subjected the film to merciless censorship.

The strong point of "Parallel World" is, first of all, a great soundtrack. The film features songs by David Bowie, Moby, Brian Eno and Ministry.

7. Awakening of life

• USA, 2001.
• Drama.
• Duration: 99 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

The animated feature film by independent American director Richard Linklater takes place in a dream. The hero travels through a deformed world, meets different characters and discusses cinema, literature and art with them.

When creating the tape, rotoscoping was used: the material with live actors was first recorded on a regular tape, and then processed on a computer. Thanks to this, the animators managed to achieve a surreal picture that well conveys the atmosphere of a dream.

Later, using the same technology, Linklater created another animated film - "Blur" with Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder, which similarly portrayed the feelings of drug addicts.

8. Free Jimmy

• Norway, UK, 2006.
• Black comedy.
• Duration: 83 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 0.

Former criminal Roy Arnie hires three friends to work for several weeks in a Russian circus touring Norway. They will have to look after the old elephant Jimmy, who, for the sake of the effectiveness of training, was hooked on drugs. However, the unexpected happens - the animal escapes. Now the guys need to find him urgently. True, they do not yet know that the animal freedom fighters and the formidable Lappish mafia are hunting the elephant.

The creator of the cartoon, Christopher Nielsen, did not just take on the subject of drug addiction. The younger brother of the director, Norwegian rock musician Joachim Nielsen, died of an overdose. That is why in the tape, full of obscene language and black humor, there are unexpectedly piercing scenes. It is also worth adding that the characters were voiced by excellent actors - Woody Harrelson and Simon Pegg (the latter also acted as a co-writer of the script).

9. Persipolis

• France, 2007.
• Biographical comedy drama.
• Duration: 95 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

The adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name by Marzhan Satrapi tells the story of growing up and becoming a freedom-loving girl against the backdrop of political turmoil in Iran.

The Iranian authorities expectedly received the film with hostility. But in the rest of the world, Persipolis was a sensation. The film's awards include a special jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival, two Césars and an Oscar nomination.

10. Waltz with Bashir

• Israel, USA, Germany, France, Belgium, Australia, Finland, Switzerland, 2008.
• Historical drama.
• Duration: 90 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

Ari Folman, a former IDF infantry soldier, meets with a longtime army comrade. He tells the protagonist about a recurring nightmare in which he is pursued by a flock of 26 angry dogs. After that, Folman is surprised to find that he remembers absolutely nothing about the war period of his life, and decides to find out what actually happened then.

At one time, "Waltz with Bashir", based on the memoirs of director Ari Folman about the Lebanon War of 1982, thundered all over the world and caused a real shock at the Cannes Film Festival. And even at the Oscar, the film was nominated not in a separate animation category, but as a full-fledged film in a foreign language.

11. Metropia

• Sweden, 2009.
• Dystopian drama.
• Duration: 86 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 3.

The action takes place in a creepy, dirty and dull future. Natural resources have been depleted and European cities are linked by a giant metro network. Roger lives with his girlfriend Anna, but secretly dreams of a blonde model advertising Dangst shampoo. One day a guy meets a stranger from his fantasies at one of the stations and follows the girl, not assuming that this decision will completely turn his life around.

To create the characters, a unique animation technique was used, for which real photographs were used, processed on a computer. The "models" were random people from the street - passers-by, employees of restaurants and shops. The result of this work was both a mesmerizing and frightening spectacle on the verge of the "ominous valley" effect.

12. Mary and Max

• Australia, 2009.
• Comedy drama.
• Duration: 92 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

The film tells the complex and multi-layered story of the relationship between an Australian girl (and later a girl and a woman) Mary and the lonely New Yorker Max. Divided by age difference and two continents, the heroes carry their unusual friendship through the years.

Adam Elliot's first full-length work touches on many non-childish topics: discrimination, depression, loneliness, the problem of excess weight and communication. The director calls his paintings the invented word clayography - plasticine animated biographies. Each of his cartoons is deeply personal, and the characters are reminiscent of his family and friends.

13. Ronal the Barbarian

• Denmark, 2011.
• Adventure fantasy comedy.
• Duration: 86 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 6.

The puny goner Ronal is a white crow in the society of powerful barbarians, because nature has not awarded the boy with outstanding muscles, strength, courage, or charisma. But when his brothers are taken prisoner by enemies, the hero has no choice but to overcome his inner fear and go to the rescue of his comrades.

Directors Kresten Westbjerg Andersen, Torbjorn Kristoffersen and Philip Einstein Lipski have plenty of fun with classic fantasy and testosterone action heroes. The saga of Conan the Barbarian, the computer game World of Warcraft and the universes of The Lord of the Rings and The Witcher fell under the distribution.

14. Anomalies

• USA, 2015.
• Drama.
• Duration: 90 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

In the eyes of the popular author of motivational bestsellers Michael Stone, others look the same and speak with the same monotonous voice. But one day the hero meets a woman who, to his amazement and joy, has a unique appearance.

Anomalies is the second directorial work by playwright Charlie Kaufman, who wrote the screenplays for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Confession of a Dangerous Man and Being John Malkovich. This is a truly sad story of an aging man going through a midlife crisis and going crazy with the monotony of the world.

The cartoon is also worth attention because of the magnificent puppet animation, elaborate facial expressions of the characters and meaningful details. For example, the Fregoli hotel, where the protagonist is staying, is called the same as the paranoid syndrome: it seems to the patient that the people around him are the same person.

15. Full raskolbas

• USA, 2016.
• Adventure comedy.
• Duration: 89 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 2.

The products living in the supermarket are confident that the customers are the gods who take them to a better world. Everything changes after a hot dog sausage named Frank discovers what people actually do with food. The hero goes to look for evidence in the department of household goods in the company of Brenda's favorite bun, Karim's quarrelsome lavash and Sammy's bagel.

Based on a script by comedian Seth Rogen, "The Complete Rumble" mercilessly pokes fun at organized religion and belief in an afterlife. As in Ronal the Barbarian, there is bad taste and politically incorrect humor at every turn, and you need to be prepared for this. But if you want to watch a truly uncompromising adult animated comedy, Full Rumble is the place to go.