10 Horror Films Streaming Now That Prove Animation Isn’t Just For Kids
If horror fans want something different to dive into, animation is a great place to start. With this medium, creators can bend the limits of reality, exaggerate expressions, and play with color in beautiful ways. From traditional animation to claymation, there is something for horror fans of all kinds. Here’s a quick list to help you get started.
Perfect Blue (1997)
Streaming on Shudder
There are so many things to love about Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue. The premise involves a pop icon who is trying to switch careers when a stalker and a series of gruesome murders threaten to throw her reality off-balance. The mix of dazzling colors, violence, and unreality is sure to keep horror fans stuck to the screen.
Paprika (2006)
Streaming on Tubi
While we are the appreciation train for Satoshi Kon, I recommend Paprika for fans of psychological and surreal horror. Kon uses animation to blend dream and reality seamlessly but in some of the most horrifying ways. Many of the scenes are grand displays of color juxtaposed with nightmarish events. In Paprika, we follow a doctor who uses a machine to help patients by visiting their dreams. The device is stolen and the dreams become deadly. It feels like the animated nightmare version of Inception (2010).
Seoul Station (2016)
Streaming on Tubi, Kanopy, AMC+
If you enjoyed Train to Busan, I highly recommend the animated prequel, Seoul Station. A group of survivors tries to survive a zombie outbreak, which always goes awry. Viewers get a mix of tense scenes where characters must maneuver around town like Snake Plissken and scenes that show widespread chaos. This movie focuses on characters whose backstories will surprise you at the end!
Mad God (2021)
Streaming on Shudder
Phil Tippett gives us what can only be described as a visual feast! We follow a nameless assassin into a hellish but extraordinary world filled with beasts and other ghoulish creatures. This film took thirty years to make and features different media from go-motion to puppetry. There is not much dialogue, but there is plenty to see. If you enjoy Mad God, Shudder offers a Mad God Ghoul Log, perfect for the holiday season!
Coraline (2009)
Streaming on Max
If you are interested in family-friendly animation that delves into dark fantasy, then check out Coraline. Keith David is another reason you should press play. Viewers follow a curious little girl exploring her new house, where she finds a wondrous mirror world filled with incredible sights and latent danger. Coraline provides interesting characters and extraordinary stop-motion sequences.
Wendell and Wild (2022)
Streaming on Netflix
Henry Selick never disappoints, so it should not come as a surprise that I highly recommend Wendell and Wild. The cast is stacked, the characters are diverse, and the visuals are stunning. It’s also a family-friendly flick. We go on a journey with Kat, as she adjusts to her new school, and learns that she is a Hell Maiden. While it isn’t scary, it’s a fun and satisfying story.
Parasyte: The Maxim
Streaming on Hulu
This anime is for body horror and sci-fi fans! Aliens come to Earth and begin crawling into humans and taking over their brains. In the case of Shinichi Izumi, the alien can only crawl into his arm and take over his hand. With an interesting premise and wild transformations, Parasyte is sure to give horror fans a show. The series proves the horrifying potential of animation!
Attack on Titan
Streaming on Hulu
If you are looking for cannibalism (I know that’s a wild sentence), you should tune into Attack on Titan. I pulled up for the naked people-eating giants, but I stayed for the political drama and betrayal. This storyline takes quite a few unexpected turns, to say the least. Many of the scenes are incredibly unsettling and horrifying. There are also fascinating action scenes due to the way the citizens engage in combat with the Titans. While it is highly recommended, it is not for the faint of heart.
The Wolf House (2018)
Streaming on Tubi
Check out The Wolf House for a surreal fantasy surrounding a girl who escapes her colony to a secluded home in the woods. This project took five years to develop and uses various types of animation. It is also animated to look like a one-shot film. The uniqueness and political commentary make The Wolf House worth the watch.
Opal
Streaming on Max
We celebrate short films in this house! Opal gives viewers eerie animation, darkly whimsical music, and haunting visuals. A young girl explores the house across the street, despite warnings from her family. It’s a quick little fright at only thirteen minutes, but it’s sure to leave a lingering impression. Plus, the director voiced all of the characters.
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