5 must-see animated movies on Netflix that are definitely not for kids

There's much more to animation on Netflix than classic family favorites like Kubo and the Two Strings or The Mitchells vs. the Machines. You have seen them, right? The five films below are definitely not all rainbows and ponies. Parental discretion is heavily advised. Heck, they might be too much for you.

Animation has moved far beyond the heyday of Bugs Bunny - and what the heck is wrong with Warner Bros., taking classics like that off their streaming service? I mean, I know we lose shows on Netflix every month, but that's beyond stupid on their part.

As for animated movies, they can tell stories far deeper than the adventures of your friendly neighborhood teenager who slings webs. Yes, you can still catch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on Netflix, and you really should. Yet some animation delves into topics that even adults have difficulty facing. Somehow, they make it just a bit easier. These are five of the best.

Netflix has five of the best serious animated movies ever

I've included two animated shorts on the list as well as three feature films. That's one of the great things about streaming services - within seconds, you can begin watching something that would have been practically inaccessible years ago. Netflix is one of the best sources for short films like this.

But first, let's take a look at a feature that won dozens of awards, including the Critics' Week Grand Prize at Cannes, the first animated film to ever win the coveted award. It's a real crowd-pleaser about love, loss, and a severed hand. For comedy, head to North of North. For pathos, read on.

I Lost My Body

You read that right. The 2019 French film follows a severed hand as it searches for its home. In this case, it's body. On the way, it crosses paths - and timelines - with a young man who is just as detached from life as the hand itself. Like our five-fingered friend, Noufel seeks attachments wherever he can. That's just one interpretation of the film - maybe we're all looking for that missing part of ourselves.

Black Is Beltza

We move on from the sublime to the - no, not ridiculous. While I Lost My Body is understated and enigmatic, the 2018 Basque feature is anything but that. Set in a decidedly unhinged version of 1960s New York City, it's a trip through the wild times and wilder people who made things happen.

Imagine the Beastie Boys, Frank Zappa, and Ralph Bakshi collaborating on a film, and you're on the right track. It's rated TV-MA for a lot more than smoking, so don't, so I didn't warn you.

If anything happens I love you

This film is the shortest by far, with a running time of 12 minutes and 54 seconds. And that includes the credits. Without a word of dialogue, writer-directors Michael Govier and Will McCormack created a devastating view of a tragedy.

But even at the darkest of times, it's still possible to find comfort in family. I'm not including the trailer as I feel it's best to see it in its entirety. Co-director Michael Govier has posted a trailer on YouTube, though, for those who want a peek.

Camp Confidential: America's Secret Nazis

A mix of archival footage and new animation, this 2021 documentary tells the incredible story of a top-secret prisoner-of-war (POW) camp located just outside Washington, D.C., during World War II.

The camp was established to house escaped German scientists; among them were members of the Nazi party. The twist: Many of the soldiers recruited as translators were Jewish. Understandably, they weren't pleased that these prisoners were treated as valuable assets to the war effort and more.

Grave of the Fireflies

And now, the best of them all. Yes, this 1988 Studio Ghibli release is from the same folks who brought you the completely charming Kiki's Delivery Service and My Neighbor Totoro. It was initially released in Japan as a double feature with the latter, a true family classic.

While both deal with family bonds, under no circumstances should you confuse the two. Yes, it's every bit as beautiful as it looks in the trailer. But this movie delivers a gut punch like no other. It's fantastic, but you'll go through several boxes of Kleenex with this one.