Although many animated movies appeal to kids, that doesn't always mean they hold back on mature and even frightening themes. To set a foreboding mood, some films procure creepy imagery, menacing characters, and ominous scores. All walks of animation, from stop-motion to 3D to hand-drawn, can scare children out of their wits.
While these scary movies can fall within a horror genre, others are adventure flicks with the occasional scarring scene. Whether the creators intend to terrify younger audiences, these movies vividly stick out in kids' memories. A few may even have the potential to give them the creeps well into adulthood.
10 The Haunted Mansion's Mausoleum Scene Chills Kids To The Bone
Older audiences might be unimpressed with the relatively dated effects of Disney's The Haunted Mansion, but this 2003 film still has enough creepiness to spook younger viewers. With an ethereal soundtrack, a creepy set design, and multiple jump scares, it's nearly impossible for most children not to cower at least once or twice.
The mausoleum scene, in particular, is sure to scare even the toughest of juveniles. Unlike most of the film, this scene relies on practical effects instead of CGI. Younger viewers must watch their heroes desperately try to escape some pretty realistic-looking undead crypt keepers...or else face the same grisly fate.
9 All Dogs Go To Heaven Explores A Terrifying Trip Through Hell
All Dogs Go To Heaven proves not every movie about man's best friend is warm and fuzzy. While dealing with the morbid topics of death and damnation, this film has a particularly hair-raising scene that will make children of all ages hide under the covers.
As Charlie's fears of death persistently haunt him, audiences are subjected to a bone-chilling version of Hell via his nightmares. With ravenous dog demons, explosive volcanoes, and fiery torrents of terror, it's nearly impossible for young viewers not to have nightmares of their own. The pure terror on Charlie's face is sure to be upsetting to audiences, both young and old.
8 Scooby-Doo On Zombie Island Raises Terror With the Undead
Fans of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! might expect the main monsters to be regular people dressed in cheap costumes, but Scooby-Doo On Zombie Island throws that formula out the window. While the movie is meant for children, it is filled with decaying zombies who relentlessly hunt the iconic mystery gang.
If detached limbs and rotting flesh aren't unsettling enough, children are sure to be scared out of their wits when they watch the violent origin story of these decaying creatures. While the film contains a plethora of twists and turns, it may also raise too many unpleasant visuals for kids to enjoy fully.
7 The Hunchback Of Notre Dame's Dark Imagery Rings Throughout The Film
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is considered one of Disney's darkest films to date, and with good reason. The movie radiates mature and violent themes ranging from the corruption of spirituality to outright murder.
The opening scene features the brutal death of Quasimodo's mother as she flees from Frollo. Moreover, younger audiences will be disturbed by the public's horrendous treatment of Quasimodo, including an upsetting scene where he is tied down and pelted with fruit for their amusement. When it comes to The Hunchback of Notre Dame, no amount of Disney movie magic can fully conceal the petrifying visuals that persist throughout its story.
6 The Secret Of NIMH's Characters Are Positively Hair-Raising
Director Don Bluth is known for his surprisingly dark and mature animated films, and The Secret of NIMH is no different. The movie handles complex topics such as science and magic vs. nature, and it makes sure to accentuate these ideas with intense visuals.
Children are likely to be on edge as they watch their hero, Mrs. Brisby, venture into the twisted world of the rats of NIMH. She encounters characters with perturbing designs on her journey, such as the Great Owl and the mystical rat leader Nicodemus. These spooky styles, paired with the threat of death at every turn, are sure to make any child scamper for cover.
5 One Horror After Another Pops Up In The Brave Little Toaster
While the main character in The Brave Little Toaster might have an adorable design, don't be fooled. This adventure film is relentless with its terrifying imagery to an almost unnecessary degree.
A group of household items on a mission to find their owner seems like it will be filled with pleasantry, but Toaster and his friends are instead bombarded with hellish situations. These horrifying adventures include an appliance owner dismantling living devices, essentially murdering them in front of the main characters. Furthermore, Toaster's harrowing sacrifice to save his owner involves him jamming his body into a car crusher – a sight that will scar children for years to come.
4 The Nightmare Before Christmas Leaves Kids Without Any Sweet Dreams
The Nightmare Before Christmas is hailed as a classic Halloween film, and in true Halloween fashion, it scares the living daylights out of its youngest watchers. The film brilliantly uses its stop-motion animation to its advantage, giving the unique characters an even creepier edge.
While the story is filled with more whimsy than terror, it also doesn't hold back when it needs to evoke fear. From Jack Skellington's iconic scare faces to Oogie Boogie's disturbing demise, the style and story double down on creative ways to splendidly frighten anyone willing to journey to Halloween Town.
3 Dinosaur Is A Prehistoric Terror For Younger Audiences
With CGI effects that hold up remarkably well considering its release in 2000, Dinosaur terrorizes viewers with realistic-looking reptilian creatures. The film has no qualms about launching children into a prehistoric nightmare, as it opens with a brutal killing of an innocent Triceratops.
Protagonist Aladar and his comrades must also grapple with meteor strikes, cave collapses, and Velociraptors as they seek a safe home. If that isn't harrowing enough, a Carnotaurus species, referred to as a carnator, relentlessly hunts the main characters while claiming victims along the way. With graphic killings and life-or-death situations in nearly every scene, kids will be thankful dinosaurs no longer roam the earth.
2 Monster House Traps Kids In A Nightmare
Everyone has heard of the monster in the house trope in horror movies, but it's a whole different ball game when the house is actually the monster. Sony Pictures' Monster House succeeds in providing a unique story with intensely dark styles to frighten fans.
The origin story of the cursed house features the bone-chilling and graphic death of an abused woman named Constance the Giantess. After the house becomes haunted, it claims its human victims in horrifically creative ways. The house is equipped with teeth made from its porch floorboards and a hallway carpet used as a flexible tongue to trap unsuspecting people. With a design made to look like a murderous face, children will never want to venture inside this open house.
1 Coraline Sews Horror Into Nearly Every Scene
Journeying to a mystical land might seem like a magical adventure, but Coraline proves that not every fictional world is a welcome one. As Coraline visits the Other World to escape her real life, she encounters seemingly friendly characters who later reveal themselves to be part of an evil spirit's plan to steal human souls.
If that weren't petrifying enough, the spirit, dubbed the Beldam, traps her victims by convincing them to sew buttons over their eyes. Moreover, Coraline cleverly uses its stop-motion animation to portray the stilted way the Beldam moves. With all of these elements combined, children and adults alike may want to cover their own eyes during this fantasy horror experience.