Summary

Thanks to studios like Disney and DreamWorks, everyone has a favorite animated movie. Whether it is from nostalgia or simply great storytelling, animation holds a special place in the hearts of many fans. Everyone knows the famous and critically-acclaimed animated features like Beauty and the Beast or The Lion King. However, there are animated movies that did not receive immediate praise or did not perform all that well at the box office that also touched the lives of many fans.

Simply due to their lack of making money or because a few critics did not enjoy them, many incredible stories have been forgotten. Those films deserve to be remembered, watched and enjoyed. Not only did passion and hard work go into making these films, but the final products are as good as any critically-acclaimed animation, despite being unappreciated at the time of their release.

Updated by Alexandra Locke on August 30th, 2023: Animated movies have become some of the best childhood memories and most nostalgic stories for their fans. While everyone seems to have a favorite, many great movies have been forgotten over time. Viewers may have loved them in their childhoods, but have moved on from these stories. These animated treasures are some of the best stories from the past that fans may have forgotten about.

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15 Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas

Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas is a DreamWorks film following the mythical pirate as he strives to find the Book of Peace. After trying to steal it, and then being framed for its later disappearance, Sinbad is tasked with retrieving the book from the goddess Eris’s hands to clear his name.

However, Eris is determined to sew as much discord as possible and throws everything she can at Sinbad to prevent him from succeeding. Even so, Sinbad and his crew overcome each obstacle to prove to everyone that he is not the same pirate he was before. This movie is a striking adventure of redemption and love that many viewers have left in the past.

14 Treasure Planet

Despite Treasure Planet failing to bring in the big bucks at the box office, the film itself is an exciting adventure and a wonderfully creative adaptation of the classic novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. The film is centered around troublemaking teen Jim, who stumbles upon a treasure map and is thrown into the world of pirates, treasure, and life at sea – or rather, life in space.

Between an angsty teen lead searching for his place in the world, a rock soundtrack by James Newton Howard that perfectly matches that angst, a delightful array of characters, and beautiful outer space animation, it is a wonder why more people have not stumbled upon the trove that is Treasure Planet.

13 Shark Tale

Though not as popular as other DreamWorks features, Shark Tale is an underrated delight. This light-hearted comedy follows a fish named Oscar striving to raise his status, and his friend Lenny, a shark who struggles to show his true colors to his father.

There is no doubt this is a creative way to tell a story about finding self-worth without the need for validation from others, and all the while being full of laughs for the whole family. Plus, with voice talents like Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie, Jack Black, and Renée Zellweger, it is hard to go wrong.

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12 Cats Don't Dance

In Cats Don’t Dance, a young cat from Kokomo, Indiana, named Danny travels to Hollywood to fulfill his dream of being a star. However, his hopes are dashed when he realizes that all the other animal actors are being cast aside to make way for film-darling Darla Dimple. Though he is initially excited just to be included, Danny quickly realizes that Darla is much more sinister than her public image portrays.

Together with his new friends, Danny rises against the adorable tyrant to show that animals are just as talented as humans and deserve the spotlight too. The film ends with the animals performing a bombastic musical that shows their audience how much star power they have. This movie is a fun and energetic story about the pratfalls of stardom and how one person’s dream can inspire change.

11 Oliver & Company

It is quite sad when a movie like Oliver & Company carries such meaningful messages and is still overlooked. This film follows a kitten named Oliver as he tries to survive the New York City streets.

Along his journey, Oliver meets a gang of dogs led by Dodger trying to care for their human who is in serious debt and struggling to make ends meet. Together, Oliver, Dodger, and the gang help their human and save a young girl along the way. This story does a great job of showing the financial desperation many face in America, and the importance of doing right by people, even if they are strangers.

10 Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron provides a free, wild animal's perspective on colonization. It follows a stallion who never loses hope for escape after being captured by profit-seeking humans.

Everything about Spirit gives the viewer a feeling of freedom and an appreciation for nature, animals, and all things with a wild spirit. With a wonderful story, combined with an inspiring soundtrack featuring Bryan Adams, and the voice talent of Matt Damon, it is a shame Spirit is so regularly overlooked.

9 Brother Bear

Disney's Brother Bear focuses on connections throughout nature and the world, and most especially families. After needlessly killing a bear, protagonist Kenai is turned into a bear by the great spirits as punishment and must journey to the Northern Lights to become human again. Along the way, he learns important lessons on the value of every life and the meaning of family.

Because the film was a rare flop for Disney, it is often dismissed. However, it is important to remember that profits, or the lack thereof, do not always correlate to the quality of a film itself. With a strong lead character who needs to grow and change, mixed with the genius that is Phil Collins' music score, this film is worth the watch every single time.

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8 Home On The Range

Although Home On the Range was not a favorite of critics, audiences young and old enjoyed this film. Fans who grew up watching this movie love it not only for nostalgia but also for the funny, surprisingly emotional story of cows trying to save their home.

Home On The Range was perfectly timed because the financial crisis of 2008 transpired just a few years after its release, leaving millions of Americans looking for new homes. It is no wonder this film lives on in the hearts of many fans and deserves to be enjoyed by many more.

7 A Goofy Movie

Despite being another Disney "flop," A Goofy Movie is a delightfully hilarious experience, perhaps more so for parents than their children. After his son Max lands in trouble for a prank meant to impress his teenage crush, this film follows Goofy as he attempts to reconnect with his son on a road trip. It is fair to say parents found the clichés about teenage years funnier than their kids did.

Underneath the laughs, there is an unexpected depth to A Goofy Movie. It grapples with the struggles of being a single parent on top of parenting a hormonal teenager. This is a movie with staying power, and many generations of parents and teens will be able to relate to it.

6 The Princess And The Goblin

The Princess and the Goblin is an oft-forgotten film about a young princess who discovers a secret band of goblins living below her castle. The goblins - determined to once again live on the surface - devise a plan to have the goblin prince Froglip marry Princess Irene so that he can rightfully rule the “Sun People”.

Fortunately, Irene has her great-great-grandmother’s magic and her new friend Curdie on her side. With the power of song and much determination, the humans beat back the goblin forces and take back their kingdom. This movie is not only a harrowing adventure but is full of beautiful music that fans still hum to this day - even if they cannot remember where it was originally from.

5 The Pagemaster

The Pagemaster is a film that combines live action and animation as Richard Tyler leaves the safety of his real-world home to discover untold adventures. When a thunderstorm prevents him from heading home, Richard finds shelter in a library, and is transported into the animated realms of Horror, Adventure, and Fantasy.

Guided by books of the same names, Richard braves his deepest fears to get him and his friends to the Exit. This beloved ‘90s film is full of heart as Richard makes new friends and discovers the journeys people can make when they fall into a good book.

4 Rise Of The Guardians

Rise of the Guardians received fairly good reviews from critics and garnered quite the cult following for a short time after its release. Unfortunately, it seems to have had its "15 minutes of fame" and has since been left behind.

Those who remember Rise recall how well its plotline played out; how each Guardian, from Jack Frost to the Tooth Fairy, had a backstory, and how perfectly they came together in their journey to protect all children from the darkness. Hopefully, some fans still remember how great this film is.

3 Dinosaur

Dinosaur follows an orphaned Dino and his family of lemurs as they search for a safe haven when meteors strike the earth, facing challenges from nature and one another along the way. It tugs at the heartstrings and has great visuals for its time of release. Combining both computer-generated animations with on-location, and live-action shots, it lends a unique experience to an audience.

Both reviews and box office numbers for Dinosaur were mediocre, and as a result, Dinosaur has mostly been forgotten. Regardless, the film has a lot to offer and deserves to be enjoyed by audiences.

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2 Quest For Camelot

Quest for Camelot is a quirky continuation of the Arthurian legend after he becomes king. Focusing on the daughter of one of the Knights of the Round Table, Quest for Camelot explores Kayley’s journey of finding where she belongs. Though she faces many challenges on her way to returning Excaliber to King Arthur, she has the help of a few characters along the way - most notably a handsome, blind hermit named Garrett.

Together, Kayley and Garret find adventure and love as they learn more about each other’s dreams. This animated movie not only has one of the most endearing love stories, but includes suspense, peril, and heroic battles as well. Fans who may have forgotten this delightful film should check it out again.

1 Balto

Based on true events, Balto tells the incredible story of a wolfdog who is tasked with trekking across the brutal Alaskan landscape with a sled full of life-saving medicine. In making this journey, Balto saves the lives of many children and is finally accepted by the townspeople who previously acted harshly towards him.

Inspiring in more ways than one, Balto carries timeless lessons regarding prejudice, fairness, and overcoming seemingly impossible obstacles. This film deserves to be remembered, watched, and enjoyed for years to come and should be at the top of everyone's watchlist.