5 Awesome Fantasy and Sci-Fi Animated Movies with Great World-Building

Animation is a great medium for fantasy and sci-fi. Since animation isn’t limited by the constraints of live-action, that means animation is perfect for bizarre speculative fiction universes. Some animated movies fully take advantage of the medium’s potential by constructing amazing worlds that feel detailed and lived-in, but at the same time, they are absolutely dazzling. Here are five animated movies that take full advantage of fantasy’s potential.

5 Fantasy Animated Movies with Great World-Building

1. “Inside Out”

“Inside Out” is one of Pixar’s greatest movies of all time, and a large reason for that is its world-building. The inside of Riley’s mind is a fully developed society where everyone has a job to help Riley’s mind function. Dreams are filmed like movies. The subconscious is full of Riley’s biggest fears. The abstract thinking section changes people into plain shapes and colors. The sequel added in elements like beliefs and the sense of self, which further expand the world-building. These movies show what a complex thing the mind really is. 

2. “Treasure Planet”

“Treasure Planet” takes the concept of a classic story in space and flips the world-building on its head. Many people might think adapting “Treasure Island” into a space story would require creating a completely futuristic world, but Disney created a world that appears to come from the 18th century, but also has some sci-fi technology. They called it the “70/30” concept, meaning that the world was 70% 18th century and 30% sci-fi. The result is a unique world where every detail is thought out. 

3. “Spirited Away”

Many people consider “Spirited Away” to be Hayao Miyazaki’s best movie, and that might be because of the highly creative world the movie presents. The multitude of different creatures entertain with their creative designs. Look at those cute little soot creatures! The visuals are downright gorgeous and sweep you into this world where literally anything can happen, including giant babies. Yes, there’s a giant baby. Don’t ponder what his birth was like. 

4. “Song of the Sea”

This is one of the most gorgeous animated films of all time. Inspired by Celtic mythology, this film tells the story of a selkie who has lost her seal coat. If you don’t know what a selkie is, don’t worry – the movie explains it. You don’t need to be familiar with Celtic mythology to follow this movie. Basically, a world of magic coexists with our world, but the link between our worlds is thinning. The ending is downright tear-jerking with its sheer beauty, but it shows how the world of fantasy is so fragile. 

5. “Wreck-It Ralph”

Did you ever wonder if arcade characters are alive? Probably not, but this movie answers that question in an amazing way. Game characters can travel from game to game by way of their game’s wires, but be careful not to die – die outside your game and you’re dead for good. The games that Disney created for this world feel like they could be real games, each from a different time period in gaming history. The sequel further fleshed out the world by giving the characters an entire internet to play in.

Go Watch Some Animated Fantasy and Sci-Fi Movies

As stated earlier, animation is the perfect medium for fantasy and sci-fi. Even live-action movies know this, so they utilize CGI animation for their effects. There are, of course, hundreds of other animated fantasy and sci-fi movies that have their own awesome world-building. If you enjoy a good speculative fiction story, then check out some animated movies. Literally anything can be created on a blank sheet of paper or in a computer.