Movies

The Worst Animated Movies Ripped Off From Other Films

BBG News

It’s widely recognized that when creative works achieve significant artistic and financial success, they often inspire numerous imitations. The realm of entertainment is saturated with such replicas – this is why so many action films share similarities with the ‘John Wick’ series, while fantasy TV shows often seem like clones of ‘Game of Thrones’. However, it’s worth noting that no industry faces as much imitation as the one producing animated children’s movies.

A movie that closely resembles or imitates a well-known, popular film is referred to as a “mockbuster.” These movies are often criticized for trying to mimic the style and appeal of something already familiar, sometimes even to the point of being a direct copy. Mockbusters have been around for quite some time, predating the rise of streaming apps filled with anonymous content. What makes mockbusters particularly noticeable is that their titles, cover art, or thumbnails are designed to resemble popular movies just enough to be recognizable, which can lead to their widespread visibility. When children use these apps, they’re even more likely to click on a movie that looks like a favorite classic.

In a nutshell, some of these “knock-off” films are downright brazen, and they’re here to stay. Whenever a prominent animation studio debuts a blockbuster, be prepared for a wave of imitations that follow closely behind. These movies usually don’t resemble the original in terms of plot or even general concepts; instead, they strive to appear similar so that by the time you notice it’s not what you thought, it’s already too late. We’ve gathered some of the most blatant instances of this trend, ranging from duplicated DVD covers to stolen character designs and storylines, with each instance being more obvious than the last.

The Worst Mockbuster Ripoffs of Beloved Animated Movies

Tangled Up (1990)

You might be wondering: If this movie was made in 1990, how could it resemble Disney’s “Tangled”, which it appears to? Actually, the film is more famously recognized as part of the direct-to-video series called “Britannica’s Tales from Around the World”. This collection features animated stories derived from traditional tales across various countries. The series was distributed in the U.S. and UK during the 1990s, initially on tapes, then DVDs. One of these DVDs containing the Rapunzel story was later re-released as “Tangled Up”, with a cover design that strongly mirrors “Tangled”. However, the content of the video is entirely different from Disney’s version.

In a separate incident, in 2012, the Walt Disney Company accused Brightspark Entertainment of deceiving consumers after they released a movie that closely resembled “Brave”, named “Braver”.

Leo the Lion: King of the Jungle (1994)

Jetlag Productions, the notorious Japanese company known for imitating popular movies, produced a version of “The Lion King” titled “Leo the Lion: King of the Jungle.” While both stories feature lions and share a title, they differ greatly in their content. In this tale, an arrogant king lion mistreats his jungle inhabitants until a young cub pleads with him to rescue its mother from poachers. The king then seeks help from other animals, but they refuse until he admits his past mistakes. This story is quite distinct from “Hamlet” with lions, yet it conveys an important message against bullying behavior.

Bug Bites: An Ant’s Life (1998)

Trying to capitalize on the success of movies like “A Bug’s Life” and “Antz,” both released in 1998 and competing with each other, “Bug Bites: An Ant’s Life” was the first-ever 3D mockbuster. However, upon watching it, you may find yourself disappointed by its subpar animation quality. The film is only 25 minutes long and was sold alongside other short films to make it more appealing as a home video purchase. In terms of plot, it’s not significantly different from the movies it’s mimicking. Three ant sisters and their caterpillar friend work together to build a new anthill while avoiding evil geckos. Unfortunately, following this simple plot can be challenging due to the frequent appearance of those startling animated ants on screen.

A Car’s Life: Sparky’s Big Adventure (2006)

Picture a world where cars are not just vehicles, but living beings, yet they’re far from the friendly characters you’d expect. This is the realm of “A Car’s Life: Sparky’s Big Adventure”, a movie that’s as perplexing as it is irritating. The story revolves around Sparky, an annoying car-child who yearns for freedom from his overly protective car-father. His journey takes a turn when he encounters a car-woman, who seems to be the widow of his father’s late brother. It’s a complex web of relationships that has no business being in a children’s movie, especially a cartoon mockbuster like this one. If “Cars” had a darker, more confusing counterpart, it would be “A Car’s Life”. The series continues in the sequels “Car’s Life 2” and “Car’s Life 3: The Royal Heist”.

Ratatoing (2007)

One of the most infamous and amusingly shameless Disney knockoffs is “Ratatoing,” a Brazilian version of “Ratatouille” featuring a renowned rat chef named Marcell Toing who covertly swipes food from human eateries until he’s exposed by a competing gang of rat chefs. Despite the movie being terrible, the most memorable moment might be when a troupe of rats pop up from under a table and perform a synchronized dance, laughing “Ha! Ha” and making spooky sounds. If you’ve watched this, you’ve caught a glimpse of “Ratatoing,” a film that you should avoid watching in its entirety.

What’s Up – Balloon to the Rescue (2009)

Title Translation: “What’s Up – Balloon to the Rescue” is among the rare mockbusters with its own unique storyline. Essentially a spin-off of Pixar’s “Up,” “What’s Up” continues the narrative from another Vídeo Brinquedo mockbuster, “Little and Big Monsters,” which was modeled after DreamWorks’ “Monsters vs. Aliens.” The storyline in “What’s Up” revolves around a monster-hunting family who unintentionally disclose the code for a stone that enables their house to float, leading an evil Frenchman to attempt stealing it with plans to hypnotize the world. In the ensuing chaos, the stone gets misplaced and the family is forced to attach a hot air balloon to their house instead. This film also features the presence of monsters.

Chop Kick Panda (2011)

In the wake of the popularity and creativity of “Kung Fu Panda,” numerous movies attempted to emulate its success. Among these, one of the most uninspired is “Chop Kick Panda,” a 2D animated movie that follows a lazy panda who uses a magical amulet to vanquish an evil tiger trying to take over his kingdom. Unlike many other films on this list, “Chop Kick Panda” is essentially a replica of its origin, though it’s approximately one hour shorter. If you seek something truly terrifying, we suggest the similar imitator, “The Little Panda Fighter,” whose character designs resemble the singing robots from “Five Nights at Freddy’s.

Tappy Toes (2011)

Instead of a tale about a budding tap-dancing penguin, Gaiam Americas’ previous mockbuster was “Tappy Toes,” a 40-minute 2D replica of “Happy Feet.” In this film, a penguin discovers a pair of tap shoes hidden within an old steamer trunk. Yes, it’s much more intriguing than Mumble from “Happy Feet” learning to tap through instinctive knowledge. And the sight of a small penguin in oversized human shoes is quite adorable.

Cinderella 3D (2012)

As a die-hard fan, I’d like to share my thoughts on “Cinderella 3D,” also known as “Cendrillon au Far West” and “Cinderella: Once Upon a Time in the West.” Contrary to popular belief, this isn’t a replica of any particular Cinderella film. Instead, it’s an endeavor to revive the enchantment of the cherished animated masterpiece, “Rango.” This movie revolves around a cowboy-town inhabited by animals, where they elect a domesticated chameleon as their new sheriff, just like in “Rango.”

“Cendrillon au Far West” is essentially a Western-style retelling of Cinderella, featuring a young deer residing in a tiny frontier town who yearns for the affection of Prince Vladimir, the Cocker Spaniel. The animation is incredibly detailed and strikingly realistic, reminiscent of “Rango,” even though its antagonist is a gorilla rather than a rattlesnake.

Planes With Brains (2018)

Among numerous films trying to cash in on the popularity of the Planes series (a spinoff from the Cars movies), Planes With Branks might hold the least appealing anthropomorphized aircraft design ever seen in animation. The aircraft in Planes with Branks sport round, squashed faces reminiscent of Thomas the Tank Engine, but instead of a traditional face, they have eyes and mouths all over like a disturbing Mr. Potato Head. The storyline of the movie, involving two planes embarking on adventures with the Plane Air Scouts, takes a backseat when you’re confronted by these unsettling beings. Watching this film might make you swear off animated movies featuring talking vehicles forever.

The Scariest Kids Movies in History

10. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

This popular movie adaptation derives from the classic children’s book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” penned by Roald Dahl. It spins an enchanting yarn about a destitute boy who experiences his wildest fantasies unfolding. However, upon closer examination, it can be seen as a rather ominous narrative that revolves around an oddball candy factory magnate, who selects his successor by eliminating a group of children progressively. Suddenly, the wholesome image takes on a more sinister hue.

9. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

In my critique, I must say that Walt Disney’s pioneering full-length animated masterpiece, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” left no stone unturned when it came to creating an eerie atmosphere. The haunting Scary Trees were just a hint of the chilling darkness that pervaded the story, with an evil queen whose desire to possess the heart of an innocent young girl in a box is nothing short of unsettling. Yet, amidst this gloom, the Seven Dwarfs managed to bring some much-needed lightness and cheer.

8. The Last Unicorn

The 1982 animated film titled “The Last Unicorn” from both Japanese and American creators is brimming with peculiar scenes, featuring an intoxicated butterfly, a menacing skeleton, and to put it delicately, a tree endowed with large breasts. However, nothing was as terrifying as the Red Bull, a fiery red demon creature that continues to haunt our nightmares even today.

7. James and the Giant Peach

As a fervent admirer, I’d express it this way: “Embodying anthropomorphic creatures such as centipedes, spiders, and wicked step-siblings (oh dear!), James and the Giant Peach was an eerie adventure tailored for young audiences. The unique animation style of Tim Burton and Henry Selick added a chilling touch to this macabre tale, sending shivers down the spines of many children, including me. Every time I take a bite into a peach, I can’t help but feel a tinge of apprehension.

6. Pinocchio

This enchanting tale by Walt Disney, at first glance, appears quite innocent. However, upon closer inspection, it harbors a significant amount of hidden darkness. To begin with, Pinocchio experiences a very literal death, only to be revived by the Blue Fairy afterwards. Furthermore, the existence of Pleasure Island is hard to ignore, where children are allowed to gamble, smoke, and drink, eventually transforming into donkeys and being sold off as slaves – a rather disturbing scenario.

5. All Dogs Go To Heaven

This movie depicts a dog going to Hell, which might haunt viewers for years. Adding a dog crime syndicate and excessive violence doesn’t make it any less terrifying. In the end, our protagonist Charlie saves a child’s life at the cost of his own. Since he did a good deed, he gains entry to heaven. However, he still has to die, so is this considered a happy ending? The conclusion might spark existential questions in children.

4. The Secret of NIMH

In simpler terms, the plot of the 1982 animated film “The Secret of NIMH” is driven by rats battling pneumonia and drug reactions, which were inspired by actual lab rat experiments conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health in mid-20th century. However, one might wonder how such a story, involving serious health issues, could have been made suitable for children.

3. Watership Down

In the spirit of Richard Adams’ 1972 fantasy novel “Watership Down”, we follow a group of rabbits on a harrowing odyssey to shield their entire warren from impending human threat. Yet, it’s safe to say that the movie exceeded our expectations in terms of violence, leaving us with vivid recollections of ferocious rabbits etched into our minds. From now on, bunnies will no longer be considered adorable.

2. Return to Oz

In a less frightening version:

The story of The Wizard of Oz did have some spooky scenes, but its lesser-known follow-up, Return to Oz, was truly scary. After being sent for treatment that seemed like electroshock therapy by Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, Dorothy returns to a post-disaster version of Oz filled with unsettling new characters. The Wheelers, who are part human and part bicycle, were much scarier than the Flying Monkeys. If you watched this movie as a kid, you had bad luck, plain and simple.

1. Coraline

This animated film, titled “Coraline“, might be one of the scariest children’s movies ever made. The gloomy beginning sets the tone for Coraline’s life, and her spine-tingling confrontation with the Other Mother is visually stunning yet bone-chilling. Both kids and adults find it unsettling, as it delves into themes such as family values and the significance of cherishing what you have before it disappears. A profound message for a story revolving around an 11-year-old girl with blue hair.

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2025-03-14 16:55

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