Related / Referenced

Easy Rider, 1969 - Rudderless, didactic movie follows idealistic free spirits through a twisted, frustrating world where every event is deeply and ineffably meaningful. Just like life, man.

Heavy Metal, 1981 - Clumsy compendium of juvenile American fantasy animation for the hard rockin’ teen.

Wizards, 1977 - Ralph Bakshi’s extremely preachy, dated, and idealistic fantasy animation.

Davey and Goliath, 1960-1975 - Surprisingly clever and well-acted stop-motion animated series by the Gumby guy, funded by Lutherans, about a boy and his dog learning about God through clearly-marked morality tales.

The Animatrix, 2003 - Selection of nine animated shorts set in the world of the Matrix films, with a few unimpressive entries and a couple of excellent standouts. Target audience likewise ranges from high-school to film critic.

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, 2001 - “Photorealistic” 3D effects orgy, manned by nearly-human characters with no acting ability. Generic fin-de-siècle meta-spiritual plot, and the occasional spark of life in the motion, but otherwise an outstanding example of The Uncanny Valley.

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