Underrated Animated Films

An American Tail (1986)

The film follows a young Jewish mouse, Fievel, as he travels from Shostka, Russian Empire to New York City.

The voice talents include Dom DeLusie, Nehemiah Persoff, Christopher Plummer, Hal Smith, John Finnegan, and Madeline Kahn

Probably anything by Jiri Trnka (1912-1969), Czech animator who never really left his country to work anywhere else. Though he also created hand-drawn animated films, he was best known for stop-motion, specifically 2 features, “The Emperor’s Nightingale” (1949), “A Midsummer Night’s Dream “ (1959), and a more political short, “The Hand” (1965).

His style has a delicacy of subtle facial expressions, as well as exquisite settings and color palette. I particularly love his concept of Oberon, who has antlers, and wears a cloak of autumn leaves. I saw the large model for this in a display devoted to Trnka’s work, in the Czech pavilion at Expo ‘67, in Montreal.

Unfortunately, however, his films have never been widely seen in the U.S., and have had only limited video releases.

The Russian animated "Frog Princess" aired (in parts) on a local morning kids' show when I was a young kid in the very late '50's, and I would watch it before heading to school. The dubbing in this version uses the name Vasalisa for the princess, but the name I remember her having is Marilinda (not sure of that spelling, that's what it sounded like). Anyone else remember it?

Triplets of Belleville

The Iron Giant (1999). Such a wonderful film!

I'm not exactly sure if "underrated" is the right word to use because it was VERY critically acclaimed, but not only did it underperform at the box office, it seems to have been largely forgotten.

It doesn't get nearly the amount of (nostalgia-driven, Millenial) attention the way that the films mentioned by OP, The Lion King, and even the Shrek films get.

"I Lost My Body" is a weird, magical French movie that was up for the animated feature Oscar a few years back. It's a slightly creepy boy-meets-girl story AND the perilous journey of a severed hand trying to get back to the rest of its body (the boy in question).

Okay, maybe I'm not selling it well, but it's totally original and deeply felt. I promise!

Idk if underrated but not so well known, in the U.S at least : "Where the wind blows" a british animated film from 1986 about a sole elderly couple surviving a nuclear attack and slowly and unkniwingly dying of radiation poisoning. Great but...don't watch it if you're having a bad day.

Hoppity (Mr. Bug) Goes to Town

One of the lesser known Ghibli's - When Marnie was There (2014). It has an obvious lesbian coming of age storyline but then it's like Disney switched it up midway. It's still a visually gorgeous film.

Graveyard of Fireflies

The Great Mouse Detective (1986)

The rescuers, The Fox and the Hound, Robin Hood, the Secret of NIHM

Anastasia (1997)

Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Christopher Lloyd, Bernadette Peters, Hank Azaria, and Dame Angela Lansbury

Happily Ever After (1993). A semi-sequel to Snow White by Filmation.

Best remembered for its stellar cast: Irene Cara, Carol Channing, Ed Asner, Phyllis Diller, Malcolm McDowell, Dom DeLuise, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Tracey Ullman, Sally Kellerman.

Emperor’s New Groove - freaking hilarious

The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926)

Heavy Metal

Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs

Mary and Max-not a kids movie. But, a very touching stop motion animation movie.

I admit I cried when I first watched it.

Heavy Traffic

Gay Puree

The single greatest moment in the history of animation . Makes me proud to be nuts. I performed this in high school, gym class to be exact. After that tbey wouldn’t allow Me into the boys locker room.

Igor (2008)

“101 Dalmatians 2” and “Cinderella III: A Twist in Time” are among the better Disney DTV sequels.

Disney's Melody Time

Ferngully was really good.

perfect blue is the greatest crime thriller ever made and it's a japanese anime. darren aronofsky bought the rights to the film because he still can't figure out how to make a movie without ripping it off.

R18 = teacaketo NLI

Watership Down

I remember loving "the point" at the time, don't know if it's held up. The music probably has.

"Mr. Magoos Christmas Carol" is my favorite adaptation of Dicken's story. I watch it every year.

Shinbone Alley

Not a film, but a wonderful, dreamlike series that aired on Cartoon Network. "Over the Garden Wall"

Someone already mentioned Gay Purée. Brilliant. It needs a major restoration and the soundtrack needs to be sweetened a little, especially Judy Garland’s vocals. Judy’s voice by this time had gotten a little rough.

Someone also mentioned Mr. Magi’s Christmas. Also brilliant. Good music too.

No doubt the inspiration for TOY STORY.

La Planete Sauvage (1973) was pretty fantastic.

This 2000 animated musical of "Tom Sawyer" with anthropomorphic animals.