12 Animated Movies from the ’90s That Quietly Vanished
The 1990s saw a slew of animated films that, despite their ambition, unique stories, and star-studded casts, quietly vanished into obscurity, overshadowed by Disney’s dominance and forgotten by most audiences.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
The 1990s were a lively period for animated films, with every studio trying to shatter Disney’s grip on the art form. While being creative, packed with stars, and featuring captivating storylines, a number of them fell by the wayside, overshadowed by larger movies or hampered by bad marketing and timing. Through eco-adventure to magical fairy tales, these lost classics testify to the overambitious vision of a generation that did not quite make its mark in the limelight.
1. The Pagemaster (1994)
Image from Wikipedia
A live-action and animation hybrid, The Pagemaster featured Macaulay Culkin as a shy boy trapped in a world of fantasy inside a library. It featured books read by Whoopi Goldberg, Patrick Stewart, and Leonard Nimoy, boasting star talent and lush visuals. However, confused marketing and its dark themes for kids left it stranded on the shelves of memory.
2. Cats Don’t Dance (1997)
Image from IMDb
This Warner Bros. musical followed the tale of Danny, a tap-dancing cat aspiring to Hollywood stardom during the 1930s. With jazzy songs and social commentary regarding fame and discrimination, it had ambition and charm. Unfortunately, low box office results and internal studio turmoil caused it to disappear quicker than its memorable songs deserved.
3. The Thief and the Cobbler (1993, various versions)
Image from IMDb
A long-in-the-making legend of an animation project, this Middle Eastern-themed story was the life’s work of animator Richard Williams. It was stolen from him in its incomplete state and released in a thoroughly chopped-up, highly altered version. The end result was a disjointed film that left audiences bewildered and never received the accolades its visionary concept warranted.
4. Once Upon a Forest (1993)
Image from IMDb
This eco-themed adventure features forest animals rescuing a friend from poisonous waste. The movie was looking to capture some of FernGully’s green-aware message. It had stunning animation and James Horner’s spooky score. However, its sanctimonious tone and slack marketing relegated it to the quick grave of better-performing material.
5. Rover Dangerfield (1991)
Image from Wikipedia
Rodney Dangerfield supplied a wisecracking Vegas mutt who lands in a farm setting in this offbeat musical comedy. The humor was adult-oriented rather than child-oriented; thus, the tone was never quite connected. Not surprisingly, it bombed and is a mystifying, oft-quoted footnote in ’90s animation history.
6. Quest for Camelot (1998)
Image from IMDb
With a starry cast that included Cary Elwes, Jane Seymour, and Gary Oldman, as well as music by Carole Bayer Sager and David Foster, this Arthurian epic had grand aspirations. However, clumsy pacing, unmemorable characters, and the specter of Mulan (released in the same year) consigned it to oblivion. Even its Oscar-nominated ballad “The Prayer” overshadowed the movie itself.
7. We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story (1993)
Image from IMDb
Produced by Steven Spielberg, this film follows time-traveling dinosaurs brought to modern-day New York to make kids happy. Its chaotic tone, mixing slapstick with nightmare fuel and bizarre pacing, left audiences confused. Despite Spielberg’s backing, it faded from memory faster than a comet strike.
8. Thumbelina (1994)
Image from Wikipedia
Directed by Don Bluth, this adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale boasted rich animation and music by Barry Manilow. However, it was a box office and critical failure, considered too old-fashioned and cloying for the times. Bluth’s ’80s magic didn’t work at the box office in the Disney-saturated ’90s.
9. The Pebble and the Penguin (1995)
Image from Wikipedia
Another Don Bluth production, this love penguin tale was beset with production problems and studio tampering. It was left unfinished in some spots, and the plot was rushed and underdeveloped. Even its cute stars couldn’t prevent it from suffering a meltdown into oblivion.
10. Balto (1995)
Image from Wikipedia
Inspired by the real-life sled dog who helped deliver medicine during a diphtheria outbreak, Balto mixed heroism with heartfelt animation. It was overshadowed by Toy Story’s historic release that same month. Today, it’s remembered faintly by those who found it on VHS, but it is rarely discussed among animated classics.
11. A Troll in Central Park (1994)
Image from IMDb
Perhaps Don Bluth’s greatest miss, this cloying story of a flower-growing troll living in New York, was a critical and commercial failure. Its sweetness level was set too high, and its lack of plot tension alienated audiences, young and old. It quickly became a cautionary tale of how even the greatest animators can miss.
12. The Magic Sword: Quest for Camelot (1998)
Image from YouTube
Not to be confused with Quest for Camelot, this less-expensive animated fantasy likewise tapped into Arthurian lore, chasing a young hero with a mighty sword. It featured some standout animation sequences but was overwhelmed by its more refined rivals. With limited release and poor marketing, it hardly left an impression.