Since Disney started the revolution animation The world’s first full-length animated film was released in 1937.Snow White and the Seven DwarfsStudios have continually used the medium of animation to tackle real-world issues and convey important messages. Over time, we have seen a major societal shift in understanding and addressing our mental health, so it’s no wonder that animated films are increasingly incorporating mental health themes into their stories.
Below, we’ve rounded up 10 animated films that tackle issues surrounding mental health. The ways in which they tackle the issues range from kid-friendly metaphors to dark, unrelenting explorations of the effects of depression. What they have in common, however, is that they highlight the importance of mental health and aim to reduce the stigma that persists on the subject to this day.
Ten Frozen (2013)
frozen
- release date
- November 20, 2013
- runtime
- 108
Revenues approaching £1.3 billion, frozen is one of the best-known and most successful animated films of all time. Set in the fictional fairytale land of Arendelle, Princess Elsa’s magical icy powers plunge the kingdom into eternal winter, and it’s up to her sister, Anna, to save her and undo the damage.
Frozen cleverly explores mental health issues through Elsa’s story
On the surface, frozen is a sweet fairy tale story, but if you dig a little deeper it can be seen as an exploration of mental health issues through Elsa, who suffers from isolation, anxiety and depression due to her magical powers that she cannot control. Her struggle to control her abilities can be seen as symbolic of the fear and shame associated with mental health issues, which causes her to become isolated.
The film ditches the typical “knight in white” savior trope and instead focuses on her journey to self-acceptance and reconnecting with her sister.
9 What a Beautiful Day (2012)
It’s a beautiful day teeth An experimental animated film directed, written, animated, shot, produced and narrated by Don Hertzfeldt. Combining quirky humor and surrealism, the film follows Bill’s life and struggles with various psychological and mental health issues, including hallucinations, memory loss and other symptoms associated with a degenerative neurological disease.
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“You Are Beautiful Today” is considered by many to be one of the greatest animated films of all time.
The film was widely praised for its clever approach to mental health issues, quirky humor, and experimental art style that combined stick figures with real-world footage, often presented in “split screen”, resulting in it appearing on multiple “best” movie lists, including the top spot in IGN’s CineFlex Top 10 Animated Movies of All Time. summaryBest animated movies of the 2010s.
8 The Life of a Zucchini (2016)
My zucchini life, or My life as a zucchini, Known in the US as ‘The Lily’, this moving film follows a young boy called Zucchini who ends up living with foster parents after the death of his mother. In this dramatically changed environment, he is forced to face a host of new emotional challenges that have a profound impact on his mental health.
My Life as a Zucchini tackles difficult topics in an accessible way
With a runtime of under 70 minutes and packed with adorable, vibrant animation, the film is perfectly constructed to be easily enjoyed by all ages. With this in mind, the film doesn’t skimp on tackling very real issues around mental health as audiences witness Zucchini’s difficult emotions. By portraying these emotional struggles in an accessible and relatable way, it in turn helps young audiences better understand their own emotions.
Streaming on the Criterion Channel
7 Anomalisa (2015)
Anomalisa
- release date
- December 30, 2015
- runtime
- 90
Charlie Kaufman stop motion Anomalisa, It’s a story about a man who can’t distinguish between people’s appearances and sees them all as the same, but then everything changes when he meets a woman at a hotel and realizes she’s different from the others.
Anomalisa is considered an exploration of the Fregoli delusion
Fregoli delusion is a psychological condition in which a person believes that different people are actually the same person. The fact that in the film Michael perceives everyone as having the same face and voice leads many to believe that he has this condition. The film depicts the emotions and feelings associated with his condition, including isolation, paranoia, and feelings of detachment.
Stream on Prime Video
6 Stone in the Pocket (2014)
Beautiful, moving, entertaining, empowering. Stone in the pocket It depicts a series of stories depicting the lives of five women and their struggles with depression. Employing stop-motion techniques and combining elements of 2D and 3D animation, the film received critical acclaim and was a huge hit worldwide.
Lock In My Pocket takes a firm stance on mental health issues
The film was praised for its tough but unflinching approach to depression, suicide, trauma and the stigma that comes with it. Unlike many of the films on this list, its dark themes and complex storyline mean it’s aimed at a more mature audience. Its unique approach to tackling important issues earned the film numerous awards and accolades, and it has since been described as an ‘essential film’.
Stream on Kanopy
Five Finding Dory (2016)
A sequel to Disney Pixar’s blockbuster Finding NemoA masterclass in imparting positive messages about mental health to children through a captivating, moving story and stunning animation, it follows the story of a forgetful fish named Dory (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres) as she battles memory loss while searching for her long-lost parents.
Finding Dory offers important insight into overcoming obstacles despite physical disabilities, anxiety and even depression.
Many of the characters in Pixar’s sparkling underwater world have their own personal challenges to overcome: Nemo is disabled with a deformed fin, his father suffers from anxiety disorders and Dory, not surprisingly, struggles with short-term memory loss.
Dory’s perpetually happy attitude and positive mantra of “just keep swimming” best sum up the film’s message, but that doesn’t mean it oversimplifies the complex emotions felt by its characters or tries to “water down” any of its conflicts – it delicately tackles these issues with a maturity and nuance rarely seen in animated family films.
Four Mary and Max (2009)
Mary and Max
- release date
- February 9, 2009
- director
- Adam Elliott
- runtime
- 80
Mary and Max “The Stranger” takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster ride with its moving story of two unlikely pen pals: Mary, a lonely Australian girl, and Max, an overweight American man with Asperger’s syndrome. The film has an impressive 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and features outstanding voice performances from Philip Seymour Hoffman and Toni Collette.
Mary and Max emphasize the importance of connection and understanding
The film sensitively explores many complex emotions and mental health issues, including themes of loneliness, depression and social isolation. Through their common connection, mutual support and understanding, the pair gradually learn to overcome their own mental health challenges.
Stream it on AMC+
3 Seoul (2020)
soul
- release date
- December 25, 2020
- runtime
- 90
This imaginative Pixar film follows jazz musician Joe, who is left in a coma after an accident, as he journeys into the afterlife where he tries to reconnect his soul with his body. Featuring the voices of Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton, Rachel House and Richard Ayoode, the film was a huge success with a near-perfect 95% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
The soul explores themes of purpose and self-worth
While in a coma, Joe is given time to reflect on the meaning of life and his purpose on earth. The film deals with the notion of societal pressure and finding fulfillment (or “sparkle”) beyond career success. Through clever metaphors and an original storyline, it destigmatizes conversations around inadequacy and mental health, gently encouraging viewers to understand the importance of inner fulfillment.
Stream on Disney+
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2 Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
From Studio Ghibli, Kiki’s Delivery Service is a beautifully animated, quirky adventure in which audiences witness a young girl’s journey of self-discovery. Kiki is a 13-year-old apprentice witch who, according to tradition, must live alone for a year. Accompanied only by her talking cat Jiji, Tiki learns to navigate the complicated web of emotions created by her sudden change of circumstances.
Kiki’s Delivery Service is a metaphor for depression
Kiki’s initial overwhelming optimism is soon shattered by a lack of confidence and feelings of hopelessness. These depression-related feelings manifest themselves in her real-world life, such as her inability to fly and communicate with her cat.
We’ve written before about how the entire movie can actually be interpreted as a metaphor for depression. Kiki’s journey of overcoming these hurdles through self-reflection and the power of friendship mirrors the process of recovery from depression.
Streaming with Max
1 Inside Out (2015)
With the sequel currently a huge hit at the box office, let’s take a look back at the groundbreaking original from 2015. The film follows Riley, an 11-year-old girl struggling with a lot of difficult new emotions while adjusting to life in a new town and school.
The majority Inside Out The story unfolds inside Riley’s mind, focusing on her primary personified emotions – Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust – each brought to life as its own character and providing a visual depiction of the inner workings of her mind.
Inside Out is used by therapists to help children gain a deeper understanding of their emotions
The film expertly depicts how Riley’s various emotions interact and struggle for control, with beautiful, vibrant animation and Pixar’s trademark combination of humor and heart. Inside Out It successfully communicates the complexity and importance of emotional balance in child development. Multi-layered and sophisticated, it has something for all ages.
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The film, which has a near-perfect 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, has been praised on all fronts, including for its animation, voice acting, story and exploration of mental health, with many therapists using it as inspiration when working with children.
Stream on Disney+
