Disney and Pixar movies (as well as Disney Pixar movies, now) are universally beloved, and for good reason. Each one is thoughtful, generally well animated and accompanied by a soundtrack or score instantly recognized (if not committed to memory) by most Americans. These films get so much love and attention that I want to take this blog post to talk about and appreciate some of my favorite animated children’s movies that fall outside of the Disney Pixar realm.Not obscure by any means, but underrated in my opinion is the British series of claymation shorts and features Wallace and Gromit. Following the spacey, often stupid inventor Wallace and his mute but shrewd dog Gromit, the shorts always involve some kind of absurd hooliganism that the two must find their way out of. Evil penguins, were-rabbits and capitalist bulldogs are three of my favorite villains/obstacles the two encounter. Most often, Gromit must draw oblivious Wallace’s attention to some grave danger that they are both facing. It’s full of slapstick gags and silly jokes but manages to never feel cheap– just heartfelt and funny.Last month I watched for the first time a movie called Kubo and the Two Strings. A classic hero’s journey taking place in feudal Japan, Kubo is an origami-inspired stop motion masterpiece. It’s a thoughtful tale of grief and family and choosing your destiny, and while some aspects feel predictable it is never uninteresting, and surprises you where it is most important. Led by a voice cast that includes Ralph Fiennes, Matthew McConaughey, George Takei and Charlize Theron, the film has garnered near universal acclaim and two academy award nominations. You can see a trailer here, and if you’re interested in special effects and stop motion I highly recommend watching this behind the scenes video about how the puppets in the film work.Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox is another visually stunning example of stop action. Based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name, Fantastic Mr. Fox tells the story of a family of foxes at war with three evil farmers that live nearby. The film is suitable for children but still handles complex themes. In classic Wes Anderson fashion the script is full of dry laugh out loud humor punctuated by very emotionally honest, melancholic beats. If you like this example of Anderson’s work, be sure to keep an eye out of Isle of Dogs, his second stop motion picture that should be arriving in the next year or so.