History SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism / AnimatedFilms

* All of Creator/DreamWorksAnimation's films franchises including ''Franchise/{{Shrek}}'', ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'', and the ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon'' trilogy are all heavily on the idealistic end while all covering heavier themes.

* All of Creator/DreamWorks films franchises including ''Franchise/{{Shrek}}'', ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'', and the ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon'' trilogy are all heavily on the idealistic end while all covering heavier themes.

* All of {{Creator/Pixar}}'s films are near the very end of the idealistic end of the scale, even if there are scenes that troubling for small chlidren. Ironically, their first film, ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory1'', was [[WhatCouldHaveBeen originally going to be a lot more cynical]].
** ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' is an exception, which is not quite as close to the idealistic end of the scale. Supervillains are willing to [[WouldHurtAChild put a child's life in danger]] and the heroes occasionally resort to deadly force to stop the bad guys.
* All of Creator/DreamWorks films franchises including ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'', ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'', and the ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon'' trilogy are all heavily on the idealistic end while all covering heavier themes.

** Miyazaki's focus on GreyAndGreyMorality makes it so that, despite the usually idealistic conclusions, there are films with concening and polarizing undertones. ''Anime/PrincessMononoke'' focuses on a war between [[AntiVillain Lady Eboshi and her [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits army of iron miners and social outcasts]] and nature spirits enacting GaiasVengeance. ''Anime/SpiritedAway'' has an assortment of [[TheFairFolk strange spirits that are petty, greedy, and crude]]. ''Anime/NausicaaOfTheValleyOfTheWind'' involves a [[AfterTheEnd post-apocalyptic]] DeathWorld where petty warlords compete amidst themselves as a toxic forest (populated by giant insects) slowly devours the globe. And yet, all of these films have relatively happy endings.

* All of {{Creator/Pixar}}'s films are near the very end of the idealistic end of the scale, even if there are scenes that troubling for small chlidren. Ironically, their first film WesternAnimation/ToyStory was [[WhatCouldHaveBeen originally going to be a lot more cynical]].

* Films by animation studio Laika tend to tackle heavier themes than more popular studios, with a WorldHalfFull viewpoint. For example, ''WesternAnimation/ParaNorman'' is quite dark and horrific for a family film. The movie has some very un-sugarcoated things to say about American history and [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters human]] [[HumansAreBastards nature]]. In the true history of [[TownWithADarkSecret Blithe Hollow]], not only did [[spoiler: its Puritan founders [[WouldHurtAChild execute a child]] because they didn't understand her abilities (a perspective that historians will tell you is [[TruthInTelevision much closer]] to what the [[SalemIsWitchCountry Salem Witch Trials]] were actually like), but the ''modern'' townspeople, when confronted with forces they don't understand, become a mob that executed her out of fear rather than pure hatred.]] However, it ultimately avoids condemning its characters by showing that [[GreyAndGrayMorality almost all of them]] reflexively lash out and do terrible things not because they are evil, but [[RousseauWasRight because they are]] [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped ignorant and afraid.]] Moreover, it shows that even people who do terrible things can, with enough time, [[TheAtoner repent]] [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone for what they did]], when [[spoiler: the [[KnightTemplar cruel, fanatical]] Puritan zombies [[HeelFaceTurn help the protagonists]] to undo the Witch's curse, and consequently, to let her pass on.]]

* Films by animation studio Creator/Laika tend to tackle heavier themes than more popular studios, with a WorldHalfFull viewpoint. For example, ''WesternAnimation/ParaNorman'' is quite dark and horrific for a family film. The movie has some very un-sugarcoated things to say about American history and [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters human]] [[HumansAreBastards nature]]. In the true history of [[TownWithADarkSecret Blithe Hollow]], not only did [[spoiler: its Puritan founders [[WouldHurtAChild execute a child]] because they didn't understand her abilities (a perspective that historians will tell you is [[TruthInTelevision much closer]] to what the [[SalemIsWitchCountry Salem Witch Trials]] were actually like), but the ''modern'' townspeople, when confronted with forces they don't understand, become a mob that executed her out of fear rather than pure hatred.]] However, it ultimately avoids condemning its characters by showing that [[GreyAndGrayMorality almost all of them]] reflexively lash out and do terrible things not because they are evil, but [[RousseauWasRight because they are]] [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped ignorant and afraid.]] Moreover, it shows that even people who do terrible things can, with enough time, [[TheAtoner repent]] [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone for what they did]], when [[spoiler: the [[KnightTemplar cruel, fanatical]] Puritan zombies [[HeelFaceTurn help the protagonists]] to undo the Witch's curse, and consequently, to let her pass on.]]

* Films by animation studio [[Creator/Laika]] tend to tackle heavier themes than more popular studios, with a WorldHalfFull viewpoint. For example, ''WesternAnimation/ParaNorman'' is quite dark and horrific for a family film. The movie has some very un-sugarcoated things to say about American history and [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters human]] [[HumansAreBastards nature]]. In the true history of [[TownWithADarkSecret Blithe Hollow]], not only did [[spoiler: its Puritan founders [[WouldHurtAChild execute a child]] because they didn't understand her abilities (a perspective that historians will tell you is [[TruthInTelevision much closer]] to what the [[SalemIsWitchCountry Salem Witch Trials]] were actually like), but the ''modern'' townspeople, when confronted with forces they don't understand, become a mob that executed her out of fear rather than pure hatred.]] However, it ultimately avoids condemning its characters by showing that [[GreyAndGrayMorality almost all of them]] reflexively lash out and do terrible things not because they are evil, but [[RousseauWasRight because they are]] [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped ignorant and afraid.]] Moreover, it shows that even people who do terrible things can, with enough time, [[TheAtoner repent]] [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone for what they did]], when [[spoiler: the [[KnightTemplar cruel, fanatical]] Puritan zombies [[HeelFaceTurn help the protagonists]] to undo the Witch's curse, and consequently, to let her pass on.]]

* Films by animation studio [[Creator/Laika]] tend to tackle heavier themes than more popular studios, with a WorldHalfFull viewpoint. For example,
''WesternAnimation/ParaNorman'' is quite dark and horrific for a family film. The movie has some very un-sugarcoated things to say about American history and [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters human]] [[HumansAreBastards nature]]. In the true history of [[TownWithADarkSecret Blithe Hollow]], not only did [[spoiler: its Puritan founders [[WouldHurtAChild execute a child]] because they didn't understand her abilities (a perspective that historians will tell you is [[TruthInTelevision much closer]] to what the [[SalemIsWitchCountry Salem Witch Trials]] were actually like), but the ''modern'' townspeople, when confronted with forces they don't understand, become a mob that executed her out of fear rather than pure hatred.]] However, it ultimately avoids condemning its characters by showing that [[GreyAndGrayMorality almost all of them]] reflexively lash out and do terrible things not because they are evil, but [[RousseauWasRight because they are]] [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped ignorant and afraid.]] Moreover, it shows that even people who do terrible things can, with enough time, [[TheAtoner repent]] [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone for what they did]], when [[spoiler: the [[KnightTemplar cruel, fanatical]] Puritan zombies [[HeelFaceTurn help the protagonists]] to undo the Witch's curse, and consequently, to let her pass on.]]

* All of {{Creator/Pixar}}'s films are near the very end of the idealistic end of the scale, but they're not afraid to dwell in heavy themes and dark moments.

* Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{Fantasia}}'', as far as it has a position, is generally closer to the idealistic end. Even the Night on Bald Mountain segment ends with Chernobog repelled and returning to slumber. Creator/BrunoBozzetto's response, ''WesternAnimation/AllegroNonTroppo'', is far more cynical.
* ''WesternAnimation/ParaNorman'' is quite dark and horrific for a family film. The movie has some very un-sugarcoated things to say about American history and [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters human]] [[HumansAreBastards nature]]. In the true history of [[TownWithADarkSecret Blithe Hollow]], not only did [[spoiler: its Puritan founders [[WouldHurtAChild execute a child]] because they didn't understand her abilities (a perspective that historians will tell you is [[TruthInTelevision much closer]] to what the [[SalemIsWitchCountry Salem Witch Trials]] were actually like), but the ''modern'' townspeople, when confronted with forces they don't understand, become a mob that executed her out of fear rather than pure hatred.]] However, it ultimately avoids condemning its characters by showing that [[GreyAndGrayMorality almost all of them]] reflexively lash out and do terrible things not because they are evil, but [[RousseauWasRight because they are]] [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped ignorant and afraid.]] Moreover, it shows that even people who do terrible things can, with enough time, [[TheAtoner repent]] [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone for what they did]], when [[spoiler: the [[KnightTemplar cruel, fanatical]] Puritan zombies [[HeelFaceTurn help the protagonists]] to undo the Witch's curse, and consequently, to let her pass on.]]

* All of Creator/DreamWorks films franchises including ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'', ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon'', and the ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'' trilogy are all heavily on the idealistic end while all covering heavier themes.

* ''WesternAnimation/ParaNorman'' is quite dark and horrific for a family film. The movie has some very un-sugarcoated things to say about American history and [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters human]] [[HumansAreBastards nature]]. In the true history of [[TownWithADarkSecret Blithe Hollow]], not only did [[spoiler: its Puritan founders [[WouldHurtAChild execute a child]] because they didn't understand her abilities (a perspective that historians will tell you is [[TruthInTelevision much closer]] to what the [[SalemIsWitchCountry Salem Witch Trials]] were actually like), but the ''modern'' townspeople, when confronted with forces they don't understand, become a mob that [[spoiler: executed her]] out of fear rather than pure hatred. However, it ultimately avoids condemning its characters by showing that [[GreyAndGrayMorality almost all of them]] reflexively lash out and do terrible things not because they are evil, but [[RousseauWasRight because they are]] [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped ignorant and afraid.]] Moreover, it shows that even people who do terrible things can, with enough time, [[TheAtoner repent]] [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone for what they did]], when [[spoiler: the [[KnightTemplar cruel, fanatical]] Puritan zombies [[HeelFaceTurn help the protagonists]] to undo the Witch's curse, and consequently, to let her pass on.]]

* Disney's ''Disney/{{Fantasia}}'', as far as it has a position, is generally closer to the idealistic end. Even the Night on Bald Mountain segment ends with Chernobog repelled and returning to slumber. Creator/BrunoBozzetto's response, ''WesternAnimation/AllegroNonTroppo'', is far more cynical.

* ''{{Disney/Pocahontas}}'' seems like it's on the cynical end of the scale. The entire film builds towards a war and bloodshed that seems inevitable. Even Pocahontas despairs after one of her people is killed. But she's motivated to do something anyway and is able to stop an execution and potential genocide - all by appealing to her father simply as a daughter. Although the ending is bittersweet, it's still on the Idealistic end.

* Likewise, ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie'' does dabble in a bit of cynicism, primarily at the beginning of the film, where most of the townspeople of Bricksberg seem creatively inept and are happy running on BreadAndCircuses, much to the delight of BigBad President Business. However, the film ultimately hits hard on the side of idealism, as it becomes apparent that [[spoiler: everyone has a spark of creativity in them and can use it for good]], but especially because of [[spoiler: Finn's dad embracing his son's creativity and making a HeelFaceTurn along with his Expy President Business.]]

* ''Anime/GraveOfTheFireflies'' is commonly referenced when discussing things even more cynical than ''Eva''; indeed, it is so disturbing, many who have seen it insist that they would never be able to watch it again. Ironically, it was made by Studio Ghibli, well-known for their ''idealistic'' productions.