Recommendations for Foreign Animated Films

Live forum: http://www.thornvalley.com/commons/forum/viewtopic.php?t=847

maxx

11-07-2009 21:08:30

...and no, not the Anime genre.

Recently, I've been a bit curious of 2D and 3D animated films outside the U.S. (particularly 2D). I've watched a German 2D film called "Felidae" and was rather impressed with how it handled a mystery/drama story involving the POV of cats and the extreme adult themes it carried, and with such wonderful animation. I've also seen the notorious El Arca (The Ark) which some people have been talking about, and although it was a bit bizarre and....kinda questionable in parts, it was interesting in its' 'own little way'.

Now I am wondering what other foreign films are out there and if any of you (who are probably more affiliated with the 'animation world' than I am) have to recommend for me. :D I must say, I am looking for one in particular; It involves a love relationship between a fox and a koala (I think that't what he was). I forget what nationality it was, but it wasn't anything English (as if that is much help ^^')

Simon

12-07-2009 00:01:50

I am looking for one in particular; It involves a love relationship between a fox and a koala (I think that't what he was). I forget what nationality it was, but it wasn't anything English (as if that is much help ^^')


You're thinking of Jungledyret Hugo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungledyret_Hugo

It's apparently Danish. I've seen it, it's a cute show.

maxx

12-07-2009 00:39:42

Oh, thank you very much. ^.^

HolyArrow

17-07-2009 07:38:57

Foreign animated films from Japan= Anime :? Guess I cant help much.

Watership Down is technically a foreign film XD

Simon

17-07-2009 08:42:38

Here's a list of animated films I got from some animation meme that floated around FA a while back. Maybe you'll find something interesting in it.

- X what you saw
- O what you haven't finished/saw sizable portions
- Bold what you loved
- Italics for what you disliked/hated
- Leave unchanged if neutral

Classic Disney
[x] 101 Dalmatians (1961)
[x] Alice in Wonderland (1951)
[x] Bambi (1942)
[x] Cinderella (1950)
[x] Dumbo (1941)
[x] Fantasia (1940)
[x] Lady and the Tramp (1955)
[x] Mary Poppins (1964)
[x] Peter Pan (1953)
[x] Pinocchio (1940)
[x] Sleeping Beauty (1959)
[x] Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
[x] Song of the South (1946)

Disney's Dark Age
[x] The Aristocats (1970)
[x] The Black Cauldron (1985)
[x] The Fox and the Hound (1981)
[x] The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
[x] The Jungle Book (1967)
[x] The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
[x] Oliver and Company (1986)
[x] Pete's Dragon (1977)
[x] The Rescuers (1977)
[x] Robin Hood (1973)
[x] The Sword In The Stone (1963)


The Disney Renaissance
[x] Aladdin (1992)
[x] Beauty and the Beast (1991)
[x] A Goofy Movie (1995)
[x] Hercules (1997)
[x] The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
[x] The Lion King (1994)
[x] The Little Mermaid (1989)
[x] Mulan (1998)
[x] Pocahontas (1995)
[x] The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
[x] Tarzan (1999)

Disney's Modern Age
[x] Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
[x] Bolt (2008)
[o] Brother Bear (2003)
[x] Chicken Little (2005)
[x] Dinosaur (2000)
[x] The Emperor's New Groove (2000)
[x] Fantasia 2000 (2000)

[ ] Home on the Range (2004)
[x] Lilo & Stitch (2002)
[ ] Meet the Robinsons (2007)
[x] Treasure Planet (2002)

Pixar
[x] A Bug's Life (1998)
[x] Cars (2006)
[x] Finding Nemo (2003)
[x] The Incredibles (2004)

[x] Monsters Inc. (2001)
[x] Ratatouille (2007)
[x] Toy Story (1995)
[x] Toy Story 2 (1999)
[x] Wall-E (2008)

Don Bluth
[x] All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989)
[x] An American Tail (1986)
[x] Anastasia (1997)
[x] The Land Before Time (1988)
[o] The Pebble and the Penguin (1995)
[x] Rock-a-Doodle (1991)
[x] The Secret of NIMH (1982)
[ ] Thumbelina (1994)
[x] Titan AE (2000)
[ ] A Troll in Central Park (1994)

Claymation
[x] The Adventures of Mark Twain (1986)
[x] Chicken Run (2000)
[x] Corpse Bride (2005)
[x] James and the Giant Peach (1996)
[x] Nightmare Before Christmas, The (1993) (The best Tim Burton)
[x] Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
[o] Flushed Away (2006)
[ ] Coraline (2009)

CGI Glut
[ ] Antz (1998)
[o] Happy Feet (2006)
[ ] Kung Fu Panda (2008)
[ ] Madagascar (2005)
[ ] Monster House (2006)
[x] Over the Hedge (2006)
[x] Polar Express, The (2004)
[ ] Robots
[x] Shrek (2001)
[x] Shrek 2 (2004)
[ ] Shrek The Third

Imports
[ ] Arabian Knight (aka The Thief and the Cobbler) (1995)
[ ] The Last Unicorn (1982)
[ ] Light Years
[ ] The Plague Dogs
[ ] The Triplets of Belleville (2003)
[ ] Persepolis (2007)
[ ] Waltz With Bashir (2008)
[x] Watership Down (1978)
[ ] When the Wind Blows (1988)
[ ] Yellow Submarine (1968)

Studio Ghibli/Miyazaki
[ ] Grave of the Fireflies
[x] Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
[o] Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
[x] Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986)
[ ] Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
[ ] My Neighbors The Yamadas
[x] My Neighbor Totoro (1993)
[x] NausicaƤ of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
[ ] Only Yesterday
[ ] Pom Poko (Tanuki War)
[ ] Porco Rosso (1992)
[x] Princess Mononoke (1999)
[x] Spirited Away (2002)
[x] The Cat Returns
[x] Whisper of the Heart

Satoshi Kon
[ ] Millennium Actress (2001)
[ ] Paprika (2006)
[ ] Perfect Blue (1999)
[ ] Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
[ ] Memories - "Magnetic Rose" (1995)

Shinkai Makoto
[ ] She and Her Cat (1999)
[x] Voices of a Distant Star (2001)
[ ] The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004)
[ ] 5 Centimeters per Second (2007)

Other Anime Films
[ ] Adolescence of Utena
[ ] Akira (1989)
[ ] Appleseed
[ ] Appleseed: Ex Machina
[ ] Arcadia of My Youth (U.S. Title - Vengeance of the Space Pirate)
[ ] Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2003)
[ ] The Dagger of Kamui (U.S. Title - Revenge of the Ninja Warrior)
[ ] Dirty Pair: Project Eden
[ ] End of Evangelion
[ ] Fist of the North Star
[ ] Galaxy Express
[ ] Ghost in the Shell (1996)
[ ] The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
[ ] Lensman
[ ] Macross: Do You Remember Love (U.S. Title - Clash of the Bionoids)
[ ] Metropolis (2001)
[ ] Neo-Tokyo
[ ] Ninja Scroll
[ ] Patlabor the Movie
[ ] The Professional: Golgo 13
[ ] Project A-ko
[ ] Robotech: The Shadow Chronicle
[ ] Silent Mobius
[ ] Space Adventure Cobra
[o] Steamboy (2004)
[ ] Sword of the Stranger
[ ] Unico and the Island of Magic
[ ] Urotsukidoji: The Movie
[ ] Vampire Hunter D
[ ] Vampire Hunter D: Blood
[ ] Wings of Honneamise: Royal Space Force

Cartoons For Grown-Ups
[ ] American Pop
[ ] The Animatrix (2003)
[ ] Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon The Movie
[ ] Beavis & Butthead Do America (1996)
[ ] Cool World
[o] Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)
[ ] Final Fantasy: Advent Children
[ ] Fire & Ice
[ ] Fritz the Cat (1972)
[ ] Heavy Metal (1981)
[ ] Heavy Metal 2000 (2000)
[ ] Hey Good Looking
[ ] Lady Death
[ ] A Scanner Darkly (2006)
[ ] South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
[ ] Street Fight (AKA - Coonskin)
[ ] Waking Life (2001)

Other Animated Movies I Can't Categorize
[ ] Animal Farm
[x] Animalympics (in the so bad it's good category ;)
[ ] Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
[x] Batman and the Mask of Phantasm
[x] The Brave Little Toaster (1988)
[ ] Bravestarr: The Movie
[x] Care Bears: The Movie
[x] Charlotte's Web (1973)
[x] Fern Gully
[ ] G.I. Joe: The Movie
[ ] Gobots: Battle of the Rock Lords
[ ] He-Man & She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword
[ ] The Hobbit
[x] The Iron Giant (1999)
[ ] Justice League: The New Frontier
[ ] Lord of the Rings
[x] Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1992)
[ ] My Little Pony: The Movie
[o] Pink Floyd's The Wall (1982)
[x] The Prince of Egypt (1998)
[ ] Powerpuff Girls: The Movie
[x] Quest For Camelot (1999)
[ ] Ringing Bell
[o] The Road to El Dorado (2000)
[ ] Rock & Rule
[o] Space Jam
[ ] Starchaser: The Legend of Orin
[ ] Superman: Doomsday
[x] The Swan Princess
[ ] Transformers: The Movie (1986)
[ ] Wizards
[x] Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
[ ] Wonder Woman

Evondral

17-07-2009 08:57:13

I see I'm not the only who enjoys both Rescuers movies.

As for non-anime foreign films, I think you could check into The Triplets of Belleville on Simon's list. It's a French animation that has some very...interesting concepts. I must warn you than it is fairly satirical of America, but it's nonetheless highly amusing, and is a film with almost no voice acting, mostly sound effects and music.

I dunno if you could consider Arabian Knights on the list, as it was finished and finally by Disney after a 20-year production journey that started in India I think. There are actually two versions, the original, and the Miramax release, which is considered inferior but has voice acting. The movie itself is entertaining, so I'd recommend a look into it.

Finally, I will also talk about on the list is Light Years, another French animation, but this is one is a LOT more trippy, and has a lot of suggestive and complex themes going on within it (Rest assured though, that is has nothing on Neon Genesis Evangelion). Still, if you're in to Sci-Fi and want a...unique experience, you could check that one out.

Edit: And I just have to say it, Oh my God, Little Nemo!

inkandpixelclub

18-07-2009 14:59:09

Poking my head back in here:

I can recommend both "Persepolis" and "Waltz with Bashir." They are both very serious, heavy films that deal with war (and they're both autobiographical, weirdly enough), so I might not watch them right in a row, but they are both very good films.

And another recommendation for "Triplettes of Bellville," a very well animated and fun film.

I've enjoyed a lot of the British films from the animation meme Simon posted, though I don't know if you count those as "foreign," as a lot of people don't count films from countries whose native language is English.

"Allegro Non Troppo" is an interesting film, kind of a take-off on "Fantasia," though not really humorous to the point of being a parody. Like "Fantasia," it consists of several shorts set to classical and is kind of on the "arty" side.

maxx

18-07-2009 21:00:49

Oh, thanks for the list of animated films, Simon. n.n I saw a couple of those on a lot of journals at FA, but I never got to look up some of the titles on everyone's lists. This really helps.

Foreign animated films from Japan= Anime :? Guess I cant help much.


Well the reason why I rule out 'Anime' is because I feel that I have watched enough of it. I've pretty much seen all kinds of rare and new titles from Robot Carnival to intant classics like Steamboy, as well as any movies involving Ghibli. Like American animated productions, its' become a bit too common for me and I wish to give other countries more of chance. :P It really helps to narrow the list down. ^^'

I see I'm not the only who enjoys both Rescuers movies.


Certainly not. :D I enjoy them as well, and there are many critics out there who still praise Down Under for being Disney's first successful sequals as wells as one that is concidered to be better than its' original (honestly, I like both equally ^^). I do wish Disney would hurry up and make 'special edition' DVDs out of them already or at least put them on Blu-Ray.

As for non-anime foreign films, I think you could check into The Triplets of Belleville on Simon's list. It's a French animation that has some very...interesting concepts. I must warn you than it is fairly satirical of America, but it's nonetheless highly amusing, and is a film with almost no voice acting, mostly sound effects and music.


Mm, I have been hearing good things about that film. I'll have to look that up and take a look at it, thanks for reminding me. :P Also, don't worry about the 'satrical America' concept. I'm well aware that the country I live in isn't exactly the 'best and innocent' nation it claims to be and is in need of a good joke here and there (don't get me wrong, I still love my country, its' just that, like other countries, it is in need of some find tuning :wink:)

Plus, you're talking to a guy who collects wordwide propoganda of all kinds out of curiousity and amusement. I've pretty much grown accustomed to different countries and religions mud-slinging rants at each other. XD

I dunno if you could consider Arabian Knights on the list, as it was finished and finally by Disney after a 20-year production journey that started in India I think. There are actually two versions, the original, and the Miramax release, which is considered inferior but has voice acting. The movie itself is entertaining, so I'd recommend a look into it.


I have only seen 'The Thief and the Cobbler', which I am guessing is the inferior and dubbed down version of the original according to the research I dug up on it. When I first saw it, it did seem to 'skip' from random scenes and events with some odd dialogue added in (especially from the POV of the thief).

I also don't understand what's going on with Miramax. As of late, they seem to have made it their policy to buy rights to animated movies from other countries only to bring them over to America to butcher them. They made a bit of a mess with the Jungledyret Hugo dubs. >.>

I'll have to take another look at this film (the original version) and see what I can make of it. It doesn't look like anything that will keep my interest, but I think I'll give it a chance.

Finally, I will also talk about on the list is Light Years, another French animation, but this is one is a LOT more trippy, and has a lot of suggestive and complex themes going on within it (Rest assured though, that is has nothing on Neon Genesis Evangelion). Still, if you're in to Sci-Fi and want a...unique experience, you could check that one out.


Oh, so it was from France! I used to own a VHS copy of that movie before I recently sold my whole VHS collection to make way for DVDs. I did enjoy the sci-fi/fantasy art as well as the musicical score. ^^ The story was also pretty epic with the war between surviving races of culture and machines. (Got to love time travel to solve all of your problems in the end. XD)

Still, I think this movie was just a once-over for me, even for a sci-fi nut like myself. For what it was, it was alright, but nothing I would own on DVD.

Edit: And I just have to say it, Oh my God, Little Nemo!


Now that is another film that has recently crept back into my memory. I remembered watching that when I was kid and was both amazed and freaked out by it. I always had a hard time telling if it was either American animation or japanese animated of some type, but I heard it was a collaboration of both. I truely need to this again. :D

I can recommend both "Persepolis" and "Waltz with Bashir." They are both very serious, heavy films that deal with war (and they're both autobiographical, weirdly enough), so I might not watch them right in a row, but they are both very good films.


I've seen Persepolis, but I have never heard of "Waltz with Bashir". From what I have dug up on it, it looks like a truely engaging film. I love the art style and it sounds like it has good music too. I look forward to seeing this as well. Thanks for the info. :3


I've enjoyed a lot of the British films from the animation meme Simon posted, though I don't know if you count those as "foreign," as a lot of people don't count films from countries whose native language is English.


Well being that the definition of "foreign" is usually associated with anything that is of a separate governement or nation, I'd say it would still count. After all, I am looking for anything outside the US. :P

"Allegro Non Troppo" is an interesting film, kind of a take-off on "Fantasia," though not really humorous to the point of being a parody. Like "Fantasia," it consists of several shorts set to classical and is kind of on the "arty" side.


Oh, now this one I really must see. I just viewed a sample of of it and I like what I see. I can't wait to watch the rest of its' animated skits. Thanks, again, for the update. :D

Evondral

18-07-2009 22:39:12

About Rescuers on DvD: Apparently they are planning to make a Diamond/Platinum/Whatever-its-called edition of The Rescuers...to be released sometime in March 2013. No idea if Down Under will hit with it, but we'll be waiting 4 years at any rate.

ChrisS.

19-07-2009 22:54:09

Another film to recommend is The Plague Dogs.
The Plague Dogs is based on the novel of the same name by Richard Adams, author of Watership Down. It is directed and produced by Martin Rosen who had just made the animated film version of Watership Down.
Same author, same animators.
Plague Dogs is much darker than Watership and is a serious film.
The film details two dogs who escape from a laboratory in the Scottish highlands. There they have been put under medical tests. Sound familiar? There's actually a scene where they pass rats and mice in cages.
They roam the countryside looking for a master and befriend a fox who shows them how to survive. They fight to stay alive from the harsh winter, hunters, police, and the military.
Here's the uncut version: http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/1870944/21778652/
You can also find this on youtube

maxx

20-07-2009 19:24:52

Ah, I remember that that coming up around here in previous threads. Thanks for the link. :D

leejakobson

18-04-2010 22:09:25

wait one sec I know fox and the hound was a disney movie but the first one was directed by don bluth it was his last production with disney. also all dogs go to heaven was a disney movie so shouldn't some of those movies fall into 2 catagories?

Cedric

29-04-2010 22:24:20

Sorry, but I don't think All Dogs go to Heaven was Disney. At least I don't think the first one was.

Moonman

22-05-2010 09:22:31

No Rock and Rule?! That was a Canadian masterpiece of kick ass rock opera!

I've also heard good things about Le Roi et l'oiseau. Apparently it was the film Miyazaki based Laputa: Castle in the Sky off of and he even apologized to the director of the original saying his (Miyazaki's) version was inferior.

If you want to check out Japanese animation - NOT ANIME - I'd recommend the short story compilations such as Memories, Robot Carnival, and Neo Tokyo. Mostly incomprehensible, but the animation is simply beyond belief.

The Thief and Cobbler is also a great study in animation, but not a very good story. Apparently it was unfinished at the time of released.

Filidea is also a very interesting film I saw a few years ago, which I believe was a german production. A cat crime thriller if you can believe it. There's a dub version that's not too bad actually.

Simon

10-10-2010 14:25:50

Huh, I just stumbled on this series. Looks kinda interesting; it's got animated mice in it at least. n.n

http://www.youtube.com/show/anatole

ChrisS.

10-10-2010 14:55:31

Here's a great film:

Lupin the 3rd: The Castle of Cagliostro
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki (his first feature film)

Based on what is the longest running Japanese TV series, Lupin III was a magna character created by Monkey Punch in the late 1960's.
Lupin III is suave, play boyish master thief with a group of companions who pull off the most impossible of jobs.
The first Lupin film, The Mystery of Mamo, is very much in the style of the magna with its over the top fun and sexual humor.

The Castle of Cagliostro is somewhat different from over Lupin adventures. Lupin is more mature, more of a romantic, and more heroic in this film. After pulling off a casino heist, Lupin learns that the money they've stolen is counterfeit. "Goat Bills". The best in the world. And he knows where they're being made. The small country of Cagliostro.
His mission: uncovered the secret of "Goat Bills" and, more importantly, save a beautiful princess from the evil Count.

The animation is gorgeous, the action is great, and the characters are fun. Highly recommended for fans of Miyazaki.
Lupin's english voice is supplied by David Hayter, the voice of snake from the Metal Gear Solid games.

If all that doesn't interest you, maybe the trailer will :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvbTKm8L2ic