If You're Awaiting Amazon’s Invincible, Then Watch These Animated Films.

Will there come a time when animated film directors earn the honor of name recognition? Will there even be a Fellini, a Scorcese, a Fritz Lang, a Charles Burnett, a Godard, a Hitchcock or Stanley Kubrick of animation? Animated film hasn't earned the appreciation it deserves in the western world. The same feelings and worlds we access with live-action cinema can be found within the realm of animated cinema. In fact, in the right director's hand, or should I say eyes, an animated film can take us to places beyond our imaginations.

There has been significant hype around the impending release of Amazon's Invincible. Critics have praised the show despite concerns about the hyper-violence displayed.

Invincible, the comic was written by Robert Kirkman The Walking Dead infamy. The series stars Steven Yeun as the

Mark Grayson, a seventeen-year-old who is just like every other guy his age, except that his father is the most powerful superhero on the planet, Omni-Man; as Mark develops powers of his own, he discovers his father's legacy may not be as heroic as it seems.

The premise sounds interesting and fans of animated cinema, The walking dead and the invincible comic books have something exciting to look forward to.

In the meantime here are some worthy offerings in the animated category that showcase the depth and nuance of animated films.

Staying in the realm of superheroes The Killing Joke is an excellent place to start on our animated cinematic journey. It’s a dark film, another Batman vs Joker showdown with flashbacks showing Jokers origin story. This film is very basic in its animation but this feels intentional. It allows the viewer to focus on the psychology of the characters. The viewers must pay attention especially for the most important part unscrambling what really happened in that last scene.

As a fan of film noir, Vincent Van Gogh’s art and animated film. This movie was the perfect storm. Loving Vincent is an animated biographical drama film about the life of the painter Vincent van Gogh, it examines themystery surrounding his death and is the first fully painted animated feature film. This movie is art in so many ways, it is intriguing and beautiful. A solid example of why animated cinema can stand next to live action films.

The violence in Invincible has been a major talking point. Famed director Luis Bunel knew a thing or two about that subject as cinematic art. Slicing an eyeball in Un Chien Andalou anyone? The filmmakers life is animated in Bunuel In The Labyrinth Of The Turtles. It is much less gratuitous in violent displays. The film is biographical with a focus on the period in the 1930s when Luis Buñuel is left penniless after a film leads to a falling out with Salvador Dalí. It is a unique film as the animation is interspersed with footage from Bunel’s 1933 fdocumentary, Las Hurdes: Tierra Sin Pan, the combination is artistic and cerebral.

Waltz with Bashir is a film that wiLl haunt you. This film exemplifies the emotive power of animated film. Waltz with Bashir is an autobiographical film, the film shows the filmmakers struggles with PTSD and memory loss after fighting against Lebanon in 1982, and witnessing the Sabra and Shatila massacre. The style of this film stands alone, the animation perfectly suits the mood of the film and presents the events with the seriousness they deserve. Additionally I'll always love this film for introducing me to some great music including Enola Gay by OMD.

Now I've shared a lot of dark, heavy films so the next is a palette cleanser of sorts.

It's a fact that Japan has consistently produced some of the best animated media. Studio Ghibli in particular is renowned for their films. Ocean Waves is one of their films. The story is simple; a teenage love triangle of sorts. However I find it is the cinematography and pacing of this film that makes it worthy. The visuals are just perfect, nostalgic and heart warming. The ocean sparkles in the most incandescent way. This movie is the visual vacation we all need, right now!

While Amazon's Invincible premiere date draws near, the aforementioned films will more than satisfy animated film lovers and newbies alike. You can eat cereal while watching them but these are certainly not Saturday morning ‘toons and deserve a place in your cinematic repertoire.