Childhood movies become fuzzier as you get older. Sometimes all that’s left is a snippet of a long-forgotten catchy tune or a specific animated scene that lives in the depths of your brain. You’ll often wonder, “Where is that from?” just to realize that the mouse family on a train was an obscure film you saw as a youngster.
Many remember the golden years of Disney animation in the ’90s, with world-renowned classics likeThe Lion KingandAladdin. They are a large part of pop culture thanks to Disneyland and Disney streaming services that bring these movies to each new generation of children. However, many don’t remember the hazy collection of animated kid’s films from the ’90s that are home to some of the most imaginative premises that helped shape a generation.There’s no shortage of classic animated movies that can transport viewers back to their childhoods, with many of them almost lost to time. Many of these forgotten animated movies deserve to be revisited, or at least remembered, by the mature audiences who once enjoyed them as kids.
20’A Troll in Central Park' (1994)
Directors: Don Bluth, Gary Goldman
WhileA Troll in Central Parkis vaguely remembered by many, the film was a massive box-office failure and is regarded asDon Bluth’s worst film. Bluth was the director of various childhood favorites likeThe Land Before Time,The Secret of NIMH, andAnastasia, so it wasn’t his talents that failed to show up.
DespiteA Troll in Central Parkbeing panned, it still holds a level of charm that maybe only children can understand.The troll, Stanley, has a magical talent for growing greenery. He ends up in Central Park when he is banished from his kingdom and is befriended by two children who help him adjust to his new surroundings.
Rent on Apple TV
19’The Pebble and the Penguin' (1995)
The Pebble and the Penguinisa heartwarming animated movieabout penguin love. It is based on penguins' real-life mating rituals, in which they search for the best-looking pebbles to carry to their partners as a gift and acknowledgment of their relationship. It is a fun and fantastically animated movie that puts forth lovely themes of altruism and friendship.
The Pebble and the Penguinfocuses on the shy, stuttering Hubie, a penguin who wants to impress the beautiful Marina.He takes on the adventure of a lifetime when he decides to give her a pebble that fell from the sky. He and his friends must keep her away from the evil Drake, who wants Marina for himself.
Watch on Tubi
18’Rock-a-Doodle' (1991)
In one of the most ambitious crossovers in ’90s animation,Rock-a-Doodlebased a rooster character on Elvis Presley and created a one-of-a-kind rockabilly phantasmagoria. While many critics panned the movie, children, and families enjoyed the bright animation and the humorous dialogue.
The movie tells the story of a rooster named Chanticleer, who crows every morning to help the sun rise on his farm. He has bigger dreams and leaves to become a rock star after being tricked by the Grand Duke of Owls. Without Chanticleer crowing each morning, the land becomes plagued with non-stop rain and flooding. It is up to Chanticleer and a young human boy to bring back the sun.
17’Thumbelina' (1994)
Like many otheranimated movies adapted from books,Thumbelinawas based on the classic fairy tale story byHans Christian Andersen.Thumbelinatells the story of a girl born inside a flower and is only two inches tall. She fears she is doomed to a life of loneliness and will never find someone her size to love. She happens to catch the eye of Prince Cornelius of the Fairies, though, but before they can fall in love, she is kidnapped by Ms. Toad.
Thumbelinawas a favorite among young kids of the ’90s, with its beautiful animation and touching story about everything whimsical– fairies, princes, and talking animals.Thumbelinareminded many young viewers ofBarbie, and there were plenty of toys that accompanied its release.
Thumbelina
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16’The Tigger Movie' (2000)
Director: Jun Falkenstein
Those in the mood for some nostalgic animated movies may want to dive right intoThe Tigger Movie. Directed byJun Falkenstein,the Winnie the Pooh filminitially portrays Pooh, Piglet, Owl, Kanga, Roo, and Rabbit working together to create a home for Eeyore. Tigger’s high energy and constant jumping interrupt the group, who soon inspire him to look for others like him.
Tigger’s search for his relatives turns the mostly light-hearted animated movie into a moving one, especially as the protagonist realizes what it means to have a family. Watching this unfold as an adult is a totally different experience that may even cause viewers to shed a tear.
Watch on Disney+
15’Osmosis Jones' (2001)
Directors: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly, Tom Sito, Piet Kroon
Using a brilliantmix of live-action sequences and animation,Osmosis Jonestells the story of the titular character, an anthropomorphic white blood cell, who lives inside a zoo worker who suddenly falls ill. It’s up to the protagonist to work with a temperamental cold-cure pill and save his host before it’s too late.
With wholly unique world-building that delves into science, health, and the human body,Osmosis Jonesis one of the hidden gems of the early 2000s.Its gross-out humor won’t be for everyone, but those who enjoyed it as kids will likely find it’s a totally new experience upon a second viewing today.
14’The Swan Princess' (1994)
Director: Richard Rich
The Swan Princessis based on the classic balletSwan Lake. Unfortunately, the movie was up against a re-release ofThe Lion Kingin theaters and bombed at the box office. Despite this,The Swan Princessgained success through home video releases and spawned many sequels and spin-offs.
The beautiful princess, Odette, falls in love with the handsome prince Derek inThe Swan Princess.An exiled dark magician conjures up a spell to turn her into a swan, though, and keep her all to himself. The prince and princess are helped by charming creatures during their journey of releasing Odette from the binding spell.
The Swan Princess
13’Once Upon a Forest' (1993)
Director: Charles Grosvenor
In thisoverlooked Hanna-Barbera production, a toxic spill from a construction site threatens the life of a badger. Three woodland creatures set out to save their friend and brave a harrowing journey to find a cure. The three animals race against time as the humans loom closer and present a larger danger to their friends and family.
Once Upon a Forestwas a hit because of its vivid animation style, adorable anthropomorphic animals, and its important messageabout the environment and human destruction of the earth. The animals go by “Furlings” to appeal to children, and the movie stands as an underrated classic for many people who grew up in the ’90s.
12’FernGully: The Last Rainforest' (1992)
Director: Bill Kroyer
Often considered one of the best old animated movies,FernGully: The Last Rainforesttakes place in the titular location where a fairy called Crysta accidentally shrinks a human boy named Zak.Once working for the logging company that’s tearing down the forest, Zak embarks on a dangerous quest to help Crysta and her friends end the needless destruction of their home.
While the film achieved moderate box office success, it never reached the heights of other animated classics during its time. The underrated movie is worth watching again today, as mature audiences will be able to better appreciate theanimated movie’s powerful message about the environment.
FernGully: The Last Rainforest
11’An American Tail: Fievel Goes West' (1991)
Directors: Phil Nibbelink, Simon Wells
An American Tail: Fievel Goes Westis a sequel to 1986’sAn American Tail, fromSteven Spielberg’s short-lived studio, Amblimation. It was the only Amblimation film that used cel animation and was the last of its kind ever to be released in theaters.
It found massive success in home video releases and became a phenomenon among children. It has made numerous best-of lists and is an essential film about Jewish immigrants.InFievel Goes West, the Mousekewitz family finds themselves still having trouble with cats hunting them.They decide to move to a new place out west, where they are promised a life of peace.
