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10 Creepiest Animated Horror Movies For Kids, Ranked According To Letterboxd

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Halloween is just around the corner according to the die-hard fans of all things spooky. Considering some stores are already putting out their decorations and pumpkin-flavored goodies for October, spooky lovers are already discussing what movies they will be binging in the coming months.

When it comes to the horror genre, it’s only now becoming more prevalent for studios to create creepy animated features that kids can enjoy, like Coraline and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Although there’s not much room for these films to be too disturbing with a target audience of children, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some moderately scary films for families to enjoy.

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10 The Black Cauldron – 3.0/5


Scary skeleton creature in The Black Cauldron

To no surprise, The Black Cauldron does a great job of telling a spooky story with its witchy and magical themes. Though some fans aren’t impressed with this movie compared to other vintage Disney animated films, it’s undeniable that the movie exhibits some truly spooky energy and animation styles.

Related: The 5 Best (& 5 Worst) Animated Movies From The ’80s

From the vivid and colorful artwork to the creativity behind the many quests involved, it’s a must-watch, especially during the spooky season. If viewers are looking for a perfect mix between old-fashioned Disney magic and dark yet magical themes, this is the one to add to the watchlist.


9 Monster House – 3.3/5


Monster House transforming into a monster

This film takes the popular term “haunted house” to the next level and it’s truly terrifying. Though the film premiered in 2006, it is still considered one of the best-animated horror movies, according to Ranker.

Aside from the frightening concept that a house on the block is a living breathing monster, the film offers some truly terrifying imagery that’s enough to spook kids. Despite the movie not initially gaining much popularity, it has over time become a classic animated film to binge around Halloween time.


8 The Adventures Of Ichabod And Mr. Toad – 3.3/5


The headless horseman on his horse

A truly underrated animated movie, The Adventures Of Ichabod And Mr. Toad features some of the best animation work Disney has done. Though the film consists of several short stories that are quite different from each other, the segment that tells the famous story of Sleepy Hallow takes the cake as far as spookiness goes.

With the frightening portrayal of the Headless Horseman, it’s a film many underestimate as far as subtle horror goes. However, Disney has proven with multiple films that their older animated work is some of the best in terms of creativity and simplicity.


7 Frankenweenie – 3.4/5


Boy bringing his dog back to life

This adorable yet freaky Tim Burton movie is an underrated story with a twist on the classic tale of Frankenstein. In a twist of events, a boy’s dog passes away and when the boy can’t bear to live without him, he does all he can to bring Frankenweenie back to life.

Related: 10 Character Pairs In The Tim Burton Universe Who Look Eerily Similar

Given that the boy’s dog has risen from the dead, one would assume just how spooky the movie can get. From the classic and creepy Tim Burton animation style to the eery themes of the film, it’s an entertaining claymation movie the whole family can enjoy.


6 ParaNorman – 3.6/5


Norman with zombies

Another movie where characters come back from the dead, ParaNorman tells the classic tale of zombies and the afterlife. When a curse has its grip on a small town, a local outcast who has a gift for talking to spirits decides to step up and save his people.

Any story that involves the afterlife is bound to be a little spooky, not to mention the creatures that are seen wandering around town after rising from the dead. However, it’s not as scary as some of the other creepy animated movies, making it even more tolerable for younger kids to watch while getting in the spooky mood.


5 Scooby-Doo On Zombie Island – 3.7/5


The Scooby-Doo franchise has been successful for ages, and its many spin-off specials and movies have done equally as well. While the show is seen as more lighthearted and fun, there are quite a few occasions where the cartoon got kinda scary.

It’s no secret that Scooby and the gang frequently get into sticky situations, however, these specific enemies were quite different from the rest as dangerous zombies and werewolf hybrids. The cartoon special features some creepy visuals, including their flesh melting off their bones, so it’s safe to say that this film could be considered disturbing to some younger viewers.


4 Corpse Bride – 3.8/5


The Corpse Bride with other dead people

Featuring a dead bride and a nervous fiancé, this animated movie has a fun twist on an unlikely and unexpected love triangle. This Tim Burton film depicts a creative take on the afterlife and its “rules,” so fans can only imagine just how creepy this film can get.

Related: 10 Best Movies Like Corpse Bride

Though the movie does feature some lighthearted moments with show tunes, fans can’t help but feel spooked when watching. From the undead to the uncomfortable family matters, the movie is truly scary on several occasions, between real-life situations and creepy imagery.




3 Fantasia – 3.8/5


A massive, evil, demon-like being

This magical film is the definition of a classic, as it has stood the test of time since its release in the 1940s and still stands as one of the best animated Disney films. Featuring a cameo by Walt Disney himself, this film was his passion project, and boy did that passion shine through.

From the imaginative artwork to the truly scary imagery surrounding Chernabog, it’s only natural that some kids get a little creeped out watching this movie. However, the anthology film showcases a perfect balance between the good and the bad and shows the true magic of Disney that started it all.


2 The Nightmare Before Christmas – 4.0/5


Jack Skellington looking creepy and scarily at the camera

Known as one of the greatest claymation movies of all time, The Nightmare Before Christmas undoubtedly set the tone for future spooky animated films. This well-known film has seen immense success and popularity since its release and the story only gets better with time.

The Tim Burton story not only offers some lighthearted moments associated with Christmas, but it’s also the perfect movie to watch around Halloween. Between the ultra-spooky imagery and the truly creepy yet beautiful soundtrack, there are endless reasons why this film is a classic to this day.


1 Coraline – 4.1/5


Creepy other mother in Coraline

Arguably the scariest kids’ movie of them all, this Henry Sellick film even creeps out adult horror-lovers. There’s a reason this film is the most-talked-about among the rest, and that’s due to its unique and truly horrifying storyline and execution that’s never been done before quite like this.

From the disturbing presentation of “The Other Mother’s” final form to the lucid visions and hallucinations Coraline experiences, this creative tale is unlike any other visual. The film unveils the darkness that can come from opening another dimension, no matter how tempting and promising it may seem, which is quite a frightening concept in itself to be unable to discern the good from the bad.

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