Animated Wonders: The Animated Flicks That Hit Hard
In the latest episode of The Films That Ruined Us, Miles and I delve into the animated films that have left a permanent mark on our souls — the ones that moved us, shook us, and made us question why we ever thought animation was just for kids.
Miles chose Watership Down, which honestly should come with a warning label. This wasn’t some cutesy tale about bunnies hopping through fields — it was a full-blown emotional horror show wrapped in beautifully hand-drawn animation. Miles talks about how the film’s handcrafted quality still stands up today, from the haunting score to the incredible voice cast and the raw, unflinching story. He loved it then, and he still loves it now — because despite how terrifying it is, there’s beauty in its honesty. Nature, survival, fear, freedom… it’s all in there, delivered with a quiet intensity that doesn’t talk down to children. And let’s face it, we were not ready for it.
As for me, I went with Up. Pixar really knew what they were doing when they gave us that opening sequence. Ten minutes — that’s all it took to completely unravel me. It’s such a delicate, devastating portrayal of love and loss, and I couldn’t help but see myself in Ellie and Carl. I’ve got my own best friend in real life — my husband — and the thought of losing him is unbearable. Up captures that kind of deep connection so well and then gently nudges you forward with the idea that life isn’t over when you lose someone. There’s still adventure, still joy, still something waiting around the corner. That message hit me hard, and it still does. It’s one of those rare films that makes you feel everything all at once.
We talked a lot in this episode about how animation has this incredible power to disarm you. You go in thinking it’ll be light and fun — maybe even comforting — and suddenly, you’re sobbing into your tea, questioning the meaning of life. But that’s what makes these films so special. They stick with you not just because they’re sad or beautiful, or clever, but because they say something true. And they say it in ways that live-action sometimes can’t.
Whether it’s rabbits escaping brutal danger or an old man learning to live again, these stories speak to something universal. They remind us of what it means to care, to lose, to hope, to carry on. And maybe that’s why they’ve ruined us — not because they broke us, but because they saw right through us. And somehow, they made us better for it.