In the past few years, there have been some truly remarkable yet overlooked Western animated films and shows. Some of these projects have critically acclaimed animation and writing, yet they are not as appreciated as they should be compared to the more popular releases. Here is a list of some recent animated projects which many people may not have heard of but should definitely check out.

Entergalactic (2022)

 This Netflix special from 2022 (written by and starring Kid Cudi) tells a simple yet compelling love story with a visually stunning art direction and animation akin to Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse. It is essentially a story about growth and moving forward with life, as the protagonist adjusts with moving into a new apartment, working a new job, and igniting a new romance while moving on from an old one. It is accompanied by an equally great album of the same name, and the soundtrack perfectly complements the visual storytelling.

Despite the initial premise, Entergalactic sets itself apart from the average romcom as it features a diverse cast of characters and a more mature and natural love story which subverts the usual troupes. It is one of the "coziest" animated movies out there, and my personal favourite film from last year.

The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)

As the previous film in this list, this movie takes a simple premise but adds more personality and depth. The plot revolves around a family trying to survive an evil robot takeover, while learning to bond and communicate better as they attempt to save the world.

The influence of Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse runs deep in this film as well, considering it was made by the same studio. The movie has some fantastic writing, especially when it comes to the comedic elements, resulting in some genuine laughs throughout. If you are looking for a well-written and wholesome movie, this is the one for you.

Hilda (2018)

Moving on to the TV series part of this list, Hilda is a show which I would best describe as something which makes you relieve all the imaginary adventures you probably had as a child. For some reason, the show's art style and story have nostalgic elements, which rekindles that childhood imagination, for me at least. You follow the life of the titular young girl as she meets magical creatures in a rather unique modern fantasy setting.

Despite being geared towards younger audiences, the show has some surprisingly powerful character arcs and engaging storylines. It is an incredibly fun and heart-warming show which deserves way more love.

The Legend of Vox Machina (2022)

This one is a more adult-oriented fantasy series, with an interesting origin, as it is based on a Dungeons and Dragons table-top campaign featured in the webseries Critical Role. Contrary to the other entries in this list, this show does not try to be too unique in terms of its genre or animation style. The story itself is just another fantasy tale about a group of unlikely heroes working together to stop a cataclysm, full of elves, dragons, and the like.

The thing that makes this show compelling is that it works with a well-known concept but manages to do that really well. With likeable characters and great world building, this is a show for anyone itching for a great animated medieval fantasy adventure.

Sabil spends most of his time trying to stay as hopeful as possible. You can contact him at sabilsadat616@gmail.com