Bubbleblabber’s Best Adult Animated Films For 2023
A lot of outlets typically check out in this regard and just point towards all animated films in which to source a list. We take it a step further, only focusing on adult animation and then drilling down to international releases, domestic releases, and also for both comedy AND dramas.
Anime (Dubbed For English)
5) Suzume
With Suzume, I think Shinkai is asking more from his audience at the outset. All of his films deal with fantastical and supernatural things. But when you ask your audience to accept that one of the main characters is a chair and there is a love story involving said chair then you have to hope the audience commits and commit I did.
4) Sword Art Online the Movie -Progressive- Scherzo of Deep Night
There are few anime franchises that are as large and as prolific as that of Sword Art Online. Having been around for almost 30 years, the Progressive franchise helps the franchise to continue to evolve and be very much in tune with today’s increasingly digital and decentralized culture, even if the tech in the series is a bit overshot of what is actually available, but that’s the fun is it not?
3) Attack on Titan “The Final Chapters (Part 1)”
Attack on Titan began its destructive path upon anime and pop culture in April 2013 when the anime first aired and took the world by storm, and even after an extended hiatus between the first and second seasons, since 2017 there hasn’t been a year that we’ve gone without at least one episode. But after the manga finally concluded in 2021, fans knew the end had to be near for the anime as well, with the final season being split into two parts, then three, with the third consisting of two hour-long specials to bring this monstrous story to its close.
2) The Boy and the Heron
The Boy and the Heron is Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli, and the animated medium at the top of their games. The movie beautifully plays through Miyazaki’s greatest hits while it evolves ideas that have been with the filmmaker since the start of his career. It’s beautiful to see nuanced, emotional stories of loss and rebirth get told with such magical realism and clarity. The Boy and the Heron is a stunning achievement that will be a fitting swan song to Miyazaki’s career if it happens to be his farewell feature.
1) Kaguya-sama: Love Is War-the First Kiss
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War has become a modern-day classic and this film just adds to that. Kaguya’s and Shirogane’s growth has been fantastic and moving. Luckily, it has also been extremely hilarious to witness as well. If you love romance and comedy you won’t find a better series than this which is an absolute must-watch.
Drama (Domestic)
5) Babylon 5: The Road Home
Yes, it’s another sci-fi epic with a multiverse aspect that you probably have seen a dozen times. But this is an automatic purchase if you’re a die-hard fan of Babylon 5. For everyone else, fans of space operas with an enthralling animated aesthetic that accompanies a well-told animated journey, I think you’re going to like this one as well.
4) Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match
At the very least it has its moments as a loving tribute to 80’s action/comedies with elements of mystery that slowly starts as a slow burn up until near the end with a series of bloody & brutal fatalities and manages to be dumb fun compared to the serious tone the previous animated films have had and I do hope that Joel McHale comes back as Johnny in some form or another in whatever possible MK Animated projects WB has up their sleeves in the future.
3) The Iron Within
The Drukhari looked really sleek, like something out of an extraterrestrial Tron. The effects of the bolters and the swords from the Drukhari looked electric, and the riveted armor of the Iron Warriors looked rugged, like an old 1900’s era tank. I’m not sure how or where this fits into the lore, but honestly, I don’t think it needs to be. It’s just a fun watch to see a less talked about faction of chaos get some shine.
2) Legion of Super-Heroes
All in all, this was a pleasant surprise. Legion of Super-Heroes is the beginning of the end I think we need. The Gunniverse is coming, and I think that is going to be what we need to give DC and Warner Bros a chance to compete in force with Marvel. The one thing that Gunn is has that Marvel doesn’t, is a full plan with his TV, movies, as well as the animated shows and movies. The animated stuff is an avenue that is pretty undiscovered that Marvel only dipped into. I am excited, and this is going to be a ride, for sure.
1)Batman: The Doom that Came To Gotham
The Doom That Came to Gotham is a movie that comes out of nowhere. If you aren’t a deep cut fan of DC, you won’t know this comic even exists, let alone know why this movie was made. However, as the movie continues to move, you realize the miniseries makes a phenomenal feature.
Comedy (Domestic)
5) Big Bruh
All in all, Big Bruh was fun. The comedy was hilarious enough to carry what was ultimately a lazy animation job. Bento Box is much better with animation than what we got with Big Bruh. Luckily, the story was more than entertaining with its humorous plot.
4) Pastacolypse
Pastacolypse might be slightly undercooked, but there is certainly a lot to love about it. The characters are unique and eye-catching and the performances from the talented cast carry the somewhat underseasoned story. But even though this film doesn’t offer any surprises, it is an enjoyable watch with fantastic art direction and a snappy (perhaps a little too snappy) pace. Pastacolypse may not be for everybody, but for those willing to indulge in a carbo-loaded gore fest that includes a steady diet of pasta puns, this movie will be sure not to disappoint.
3) Bad Cat (English Dub)
In totality, Bad Cat is a really fun watch. Shero is a real piece of shit, even when he comes around to being a “decent” father and husband. But watching him come around to being that decent male cat made it really fun. Watching the bond grow in the second and third act was fun, and I felt genuine sadness when Taco was shot and presumed dead. Then I cheered when Tank came through in his shitty ass little car and almost hit Shero with his car just in time to save Taco, save the apartment, and get the final battle with Cizer.
2) The Venture Bros.: Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart
The Venture Bros. franchise has never been for the faint of heart for those trying to be the casual fan, but if you can take a number of the different elements at its face value, The Venture Bros.: Radiant Is the Blood of the Baboon Heart should be enough to entertain ANY fan. For us hardcore Venture Bros. fans who have been there for the beginning, this is a treat that should be bought and stored in a new, hopefully, ever-growing collection. Streaming services are no longer guaranteed to be archives anymore, this should be a no-brainer.
1)Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar
Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar is the smashing of the guitar at the end of a show, with Titmouse, Brendon Small, and the whole team going bananas like Nine Inch Nails circa Lollapalooza 1991, decimating Titmouse’s most beautiful creation and by far Adult Swim’s franchise crescendo that has never truly been duplicated, and may never will. RIP Jon Schnepp, you would have been proud.
Just cancel this bird already. The chicken is beyond cooked. It's burnt to a crisp.