The best fantasy movies rated G are great for children but still demonstrate impressive visuals and storytelling. According to a more conservative vision of cinema, a lot of fantasy and animated movies are going to be rated G because they are made for children. Fantasy and animation are bothgenres that have blown up in movies and TV, giving rise to more serious, adult-aimed properties in both categories. However, despite today’s tastes,some fantasy movies still achieve G ratings, while older titles are also noteworthy.
Some of these so-calledkids' movies with scenes that are nightmare fuelare great becausethey push the boundaries of their G rating, making the most of their thrilling and spooky elements.However,dark family moviesare not all there is. Some G-rated movies, including some of thebest animated Disney movies, tell happy, child-friendly stories that still convey profound themes that will amaze the adults who inevitably end up watching them with their kids.
The Secret of NIMHmakes the mistake of changing its ending to something more fantastical for a more climactic ending, abandoning the grounded conclusion of Robert C. O’Brien’sMrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. Otherwise, it is a great movie that conveys the source material’s core themes of animal experimentation and intelligence.The Secret of NIMHimplicitly asks a chilling but fascinating question about what happens to lab rats who escape,depicting them living in a practical, logical society.
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The reason that the movie’s changed ending is not necessary is that it already has so many interesting visuals, with delightfully creepy renderings of the intelligent owl and rats. Just looking at him,people might be inclined to think of the rat Nicodemus as a villain.However, the movie’s designs and glowing eyes only serve to further underscore the message of asking necessary questions, from the perspective of characters who are still fundamentally powerless in their world.
FernGully: The Last Rainforest
Cast
FernGully: The Last Rainforest is an animated film centered on the magical inhabitants of FernGully, a rainforest threatened by human destruction. Directed by Bill Kroyer, the story follows a fairy named Crysta who shrinks a human logger, Zak, bringing them face-to-face with the environmental consequences of deforestation. With a rich voice cast including Robin Williams, Tim Curry, and Samantha Mathis, the film combines ecological themes with a fantastical narrative.
The purpose ofFernGully: The Last Rainforestmay have been to teach kids about the dangers of environmental exploitation, but it will have the same effect on adults.FernGullyintroduces an alluring rainforest setting full of dynamic fairies and bats voiced by Robin Williams,living with the terrifying threat of deforestation. Humans' industrialization gives rise to Hexxus, a terrifying entity of pollution. At the center of the story is Crysta, a fairy facing the responsibility of saving her community.
FernGully has a happy ending where the forest is saved, but many trees are still cut down in the process.
FernGullyhas a happy ending where the forest is saved, but many trees are still cut down in the process. Crysta becoming the fairies' leader is a solemn occasion, while the human Zak walks away from his encounter with them with the weighty knowledge of what humans are doing to the world.FernGullyhas the whimsical draw of a good Disney movie,but an amazing amount of gravitas; it is truly ananimated fantasy movie that deserves more love.
Anastasia
Anastasia is an animated film released in 1997 that follows an eighteen-year-old orphan with vague memories of her past. Accompanied by two con men, she travels to Paris, hoping to reunite with her grandmother while being mistaken for the Grand Duchess Anastasia.
Anastasiaunderstands the allure of the historical urban legend that is its inspiration and captures the magical feeling of a lost princess story through dazzling musical numbers. “Once Upon a December” is the true highlight of the movie, a song that perfectly conveys the atmosphere of a lost memory and a glittering ballroom. However,Anastasiais still largely a work of fiction, creating flawed and endearing charactersto make the story of Anya’s journey to Paris to find her grandmother happen.
Anya is a quirky, feisty, and overall fun protagonist to follow, whilethe evil sorcerer Rasputin (also inspired by a controversial historical figure) adds a completely wild but oddly suitable supernatural subplot.Anastasiais a little bit off, in retrospect, when it ignores almost all the history surrounding this myth. Taken at face value, it is one of thebest Disney movies not made by Disney, with enchanting visuals and a good storyline of self-discovery.
Hercules
Hercules follows the journey of the titular character, the son of Zeus, as he embarks on a quest to prove himself a true hero after being turned mortal by Hades. Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, the film is a blend of mythology and animation.
Like all good Disney movies,Herculestransforms the basic story with great songs and a sassy villain.The numbers sung by the Muses are the high points ofHercules,utilizing jazzy tunes to narrate the demigod’s rise to true heroism. Meanwhile, Hades is as dramatic of a Disney villain as there ever was, who remains a fan favorite for his memorable design and biting comments. Hercules follows a fairly predictable trajectory but deserves praise for how it interacts with the source material.
Meg is also a character with a great design and lots of personality, who serves as an acknowledgment of the mistreatment of women in Greek mythology. Elsewhere,Hercules is directly told that having the skills that would have made him a perfect hero in mythology isn’t enoughwhen he is driven by selfish goals. With co-stars like Danny DeVito and Keith David thrown in to facilitate some hilarious one-liners,Herculesis an engaging and family-friendly introduction to Greek myths.
Kiki’s Delivery Service
Kiki’s Delivery Service is a coming-of-age fantasy film that follows 13-year-old witch Kiki, who sets out on her own to find her place in the world and develops a delivery service in a new town.
Kiki’s Delivery Serviceconstitutes a profound, resonant take on the coming-of-age narrative. Sent off by her witch family to find her way in the world, Kiki lives in an attic and takes whatever help she can find to get her delivery service off the ground. In typical Studio Ghibli fashion,stunning illustrations of the natural world are used in key scenes, showcasing Kiki discovering someone else’s passion,which changes how she thinks about her own life.
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Compressed into a narrative much shorter than what establishing a career looks like in real life,Kiki’s Delivery Servicedepicts Kiki’s triumphs and setbacks, and how she grows up without even realizing it.There are undertones of her losing her childhood innocence, but this is okay as she still has memories of this time and has gained independence. Kiki creates a new life for herself just by taking things one day at a time, the most realistic picture of growing up Ghibli could have created.
The Emperor’s New Groove
The Emperor’s New Groove is an animated comedy film released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Mark Dindal, it follows the story of Emperor Kuzco, who is transformed into a llama by his power-hungry advisor Yzma. Journeying with a humble villager named Pacha, Kuzco must reclaim his throne while navigating humorous and unexpected challenges. The film features voice work by David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, and Patrick Warburton.
The Emperor’s New Groovestands out in the minds of all well-versed Disney fans, not being recognized at the time of release and flying below the radar after the Disney Renaissance, but just as deserving of praise. Its biggest draw is that it is hilarious.David Spade and John Goodman star as Kuzco and Pacha, pulling off some great jokesderived from their contrasting personalities. Meanwhile, Eartha Kitt and Patrick Warburton voice the villains Yzma and Kronk, claiming the biggest laughs of the movie with their random, and respectively sharp and clueless demeanors.
The Emperor’s New Groovedelivers a convincing redeemed protagonist story as Kuzco realizes through bitter experience what a bad ruler he has been.Themes of family and realizing bad friendships also appear in Pacha and Kronk’s storylines,while there is a great cast of supporting characters who get more attention inKronk’s New Groove.The Emperor’s New Grooveis enjoyable and just the right amount of meta, certainly making for one ofGoodman’s best Disney movies.
The Wizard of Oz
Based on Frank L. Baum’s book of the same name, The Wizard of Oz follows young Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) as she’s swept away to the magical land of Oz. Upon arriving, she falls afoul of a witch, then enlists the help of a scarecrow, a tin man, and a lion in order to find the Wizard and get home to her family.
At the time,The Wizard of Ozset out to be an inspirational fantasy journey that encourages hope and happinessin hard times. While the people watching it today may not have lived through the Great Depression or the Dust Bowl, “Over the Rainbow” still hits home.The Wizard of Oz’s fascinating combination of sepia and technicolor enhances the effect of the magical otherworld Dorothy has found and the home she still wants to return to.
The Wizard of Oz’s dialogue and tone might be outdated, but it makes up for this with various iconic performances and imagery that are timeless. It is honestly a very bizarre story but was brought to life with an understanding of both the superficial appeal and the widely applicable messages underneath.1939 is called the best year in the history of Hollywood for a reason,whenThe Wizard of Ozand several other movies changed everything for filmmakers and moved audiences to tears.
Beauty and the Beast
A selfish prince is doomed to become a monster for the rest of his life, unless he manages to fall in love with a beautiful young woman.
Beauty and the Beastis notably the first animated movie to be nominated for Best Picture. It is allegedly a story about how beauty isn’t everything, a lesson imposed on someone who once only valued wealth and looks, and this part of the narrative is serviceable. However,Beauty and the Beastis elevated above other Disney moviesbecause of its immaculate production design, swooping motion, and legendary composition. Songs like “Be Our Guest” only come around once in a generation, while every detail of the Baroque-inspired castle and its inhabitants is magnificent.
On the other hand, the subplots ofBeauty and the Beastadd more weight to the central story.Belle is still one of the most interesting Disney princesses,and a book-savvy young woman yearning for more than her narrow-minded town. Gaston is a truly terrifying villain when he makes such casual, misogynistic remarks and is so assured of himself.Beauty and the Beastinvites scrutiny but boasts some amazing story and aesthetic beats that will never be outdone.
My Neighbor Totorodoesn’t follow the linear narrative of a straightforward adventure, showcasing a vignette of two girls' lives during a difficult time. The movie is taken up by their out-of-this-world encounters with Totoro, but he represents something much greater than a magical forest friend.Totoro is a support pillar both girls desperately needwhen the younger just wants something fluffy to hug and the older needs help taking care of her sister while their mother is in the hospital.
It is about finding friendship in unlikely places when one needs it the most.
My Neighbor Totorocomprises many heartbreaking moments of the girls' real fear and frustration, as well as howTotoro helps them in the simplest of ways.The image of him holding an umbrella while Satsuki carries a sleeping Mei is one of the movie’s most iconic images, and subtly yet powerfully conveys this core theme. Ghibli experiments with different environmental themes throughout its repertoire, but Totoro is still one of the most uplifting takes. It is about finding friendship in unlikely places when one needs it the most.
The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid is an animated fantasy film that follows the tale of Ariel, a mermaid princess who dreams of life on land. She falls in love with Prince Eric and makes a daring pact with the sea witch Ursula to become human, risking everything for love.
The Little Mermaidis also one of the biggest, jaw-dropping moments of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s genre-defining streak of movie soundtracks.The effect of “Part of Your World” or “Under the Sea” hitting theaters for the first time cannot be described,but it was surely breathtaking. The former song is performed by a chaotic, rebellious Disney princess who is the picture of what it is to be young and unsure. Ariel’s curiosity and spirit driveThe Little Mermaid, making its music and production design even better.
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Meanwhile,The Little Mermaidis full of interesting supporting characterswith their own musical moments. It comes to a predictable Disney ending, but there is no doubt that it accomplished something different with its relatable protagonist characterized by realistic flaws and groundbreaking music. One of the best Disney titles overall,The Little Mermaidwas one of the last movies of the 20th century to show what can happen within a G rating before tastes began to shift in the 2000s.
