10 Famous Directors You Never Knew Also Worked In Animation

Animation is not just a genre for children to enjoy. It’s an artform and a medium that lends itself to a wide range of stories for all kinds of audiences, young and old.

While most film fans associate animation with the likes of Disney, Pixar, or Studio Ghibli, we have actually seen some of the finest filmmakers in the world have a go at crafting cartoon stories or tackling the unfathomable, meticulous nature of stop-motion animation.

Next year, Oscar-winning director Bong Joon Ho will try his hand at animation with his next movie, Ally. But, before that, let’s have a look at the other iconic filmmakers you’d usually associate with live-action work who have experimented with animation in the past.

Steven Spielberg

It shouldn’t really be surprising that Steven Spielberg has worked in animation before, given his penchant for schmaltzy, charming, child-friendly stories. In fact, the biggest surprise is that Spielberg has only directed one animated movie to date. While both The BFG and Ready Player One utilise motion-capture animation, it’s The Adventures of Tintin where the master filmmaker dives headlong into the animated world.

This film uses a 3D, computer-generated style to give a really digital, sharp feel to the visuals. It’s an interesting juxtaposition to the more traditional and simple version of the character from the Belgian newspaper cartoon panels. There’s been talk of a sequel to this film for years now, with Peter Jackson expected to take over as director. Until then, check out The Adventures of Tintin on Channel 4 or on YouTube for free (with ads).

Wes Anderson

Stop-motion animation well and truly blows my mind. I’ve seen the intricate process laid out in behind the scenes, making-of footage, and it still doesn’t make any sense. But, when you see the end product in films like Fantastic Mr. Fox and Isle of Dogs, that sense of movie magic just makes the experience even more special.

Wes Anderson is renowned for his stunning cinematography, striking colour palette, and inch-perfect symmetry in live-action films such as The Grand Budapest Hotel, and his animated efforts reach those same dizzying heights. They’re perfect if you want to offer your kids an entry point into this incredible director’s work, while they’re also smart and intriguing enough to work for adults, too.

George Miller

This is perhaps the most bizarre contrast when it comes to a director’s live-action work and their foray into animation. George Miller, the man behind the Mad Max saga, renowned for big action set-pieces, surrealist concepts, and dystopian tales, is also the man who directed Happy Feet and its sequel. From crazy warriors in suped-up cars to dancing penguins – it’s not exactly a natural progression path, is it?

Still, there’s such a delightfully playful energy to Happy Feet, with fantastic voice work from Elijah Wood and Robin Williams, and a toe-tapping soundtrack to boot. You can find this fun flick on HBO Max or Now TV Cinema, and it’s the same for the follow-up.

Robert Zemeckis

Robert Zemeckis has made some wonderful films over the years. Most notably, of course, he’s responsible for the iconic Back to the Future trilogy, but it’s his work combining live-action and animation in Who Framed Roger Rabbit that may well be his most intriguing. The flawless integration of both cartoon and real-world characters, as well as slapstick comedy and genuine peril, is a triumph for Zemeckis.

Meanwhile, his full dive into animation with The Polar Express was pretty revolutionary at the time. The Christmas movie has developed a bit of a cult following, largely due to the uncanny valley facial features of its characters, but there’s no denying this film has charm and it’s a surefire hit for younger viewers during the festive season.

Tim Burton

We all know Tim Burton has a dark side, with live-action work like Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, and Sweeney Todd in his portfolio. However, he’s also allowed that taste for the peculiar to seep into his animated work, too, and it’s worked wonderfully.

In 2005, while his interpretation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was making waves, Burton also dropped the sublime Corpse Bride on us. It’s a gorgeous-looking gothic romance tale that’s not going to scare the kids. However, if your young ones are feeling a little more brave and emotionally sturdy, they could try Frankenweenie. It’s a lot more spooky and leans into the horror tropes of Universal’s monster movies of old, but it’s a very fun flick and it looks great in black and white.

Guillermo del Toro

It was Guillermo del Toro who inspired the opening line of this list when, at the BAFTAs, he said: “Animation is not a genre for kids. It's a medium for art, it's a medium for film, and I think animation should stay in the conversation". He also described animation as “the purest art form”, so it’s not a surprise that he’s dabbled in the craft before.

His stop-motion reimagining of Pinocchio was bold and provocative, addressing themes of fascism and grief against the backdrop of wartorn Italy. With striking visuals and creative musical numbers this film is a technical marvel, but it’s not exactly child-friendly. Check it out on Netflix, but I’d recommend you watch with teenagers and above.

Gore Verbinski

Gore Verbinski has an odd filmography. His efforts in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise have become some of the most beloved adventure movies of the modern era, and rightly so. However, his films like The Ring and A Cure for Wellness are far more horror-coded and macabre. 

The fact that Verbinski has worked in animation at all is a shock. But, when you consider he made Rango, a film about a reluctant and unlikely hero voiced by Johnny Depp, it all makes sense. It relies heavily on the tropes you’d find in classic Western movies like A Fistful of Dollars, while incorporating clever comedy and excellent world-building.

Marjane Satrapi

This is a bit of a reverse angle on the concept of this list. Marjane Satrapi actually started in animation, before venturing into live-action and working on notable films such as The Voices starring Ryan Reynolds, and the Rosamund Pike-led Marie Curie biopic, Radioactive.

However, it’s her French animated flick, Persepolis, that really deserves your attention. It was Oscar-nominated and is a stirring semi-biographical study of Satrapi’s own life as an Iranian girl growing up during the Islamic Revolution. As it’s a foreign language film, most casual movie fans won’t have ever given it the time of day, but Persepolis is well worth a watch if you want to dive into some profound human drama. Check it out on Studio Canal now.

David Fincher

David Fincher is one of the greatest filmmakers working today, and he’s established something of a trademark with his work on dark, psychological thrillers like Se7en, Zodiac, and Gone Girl. But, while he’s not made an animated movie yet, he has given it a go on the small screen with Love, Death & Robots.

Fincher helped develop the show in its early days, serving as executive producer, but he stepped into the director’s chair for the Season 3 episode, ‘Bad Travelling’. If you like high-concept sci-fi stories akin to Black Mirror, you’ll love the variety and creativity of this show. There are four seasons to sink your teeth into, and they’re all on Netflix.

Richard Linklater

Most of us know Richard Linklater for his sprawling epic dramas like the Before trilogy and Boyhood, while his cult classic Dazed and Confused has stood the test of time as one of the funniest teen comedies ever made. However, Linklater has also experimented with a fascination animation style called interpolated rotoscoping. 

He first did so for A Scanner Darkly, which is an enthralling adaptation of a Philip K. Dick story. The animation style helps to accentuate the trippy vibes and gives the complex narrative an air of ambiguity as we question what is real and what’s not. 16 years later, he did it again for Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood, a delightful coming-of-age drama that feels extra relevant right now given the Artemis mission. The latter is on Netflix and is a great watch for young teens and above, but if you’re looking for something more mature, renting A Scanner Darkly at £3.49 on Apple TV is a brilliant pick.