Fantasy is the genre that keeps on being. These are stories of magic, mythological creatures, and sprawling fictional worlds, and whether they’re low fantasy or high fantasy, films belonging to the genre can be some of the most imaginative in history. The ’90s in particular were an exceptional decade for fantasy, but as tends to be the case every decade, there were plenty of gems that ended up going under most people’s radars. About three decades later, they’re still some of the most underappreciated fantasy films of all time.
There is animated fantasy in The Thief and the Cobbler, fantasy horror in The Reflecting Skin, and surrealist fantasy in Jan Švankmajer‘s Faust. It doesn’t really matter how these excellent movies deploy the genre and its usual tropes; what matters is that they don’t get nearly as much love as they deserve nowadays. Some of them are imperfect, yet still great; while others come as close to flawlessness as the genre can possibly come. Whatever the case, they’re hidden and forgotten gems through and through.
7
‘The Thief and the Cobbler’ (1993)
Made by legendary animator Richard Williams, The Thief and the Cobbler had one of the longest—and most notorious—production histories in the history of animation. Originally devised by Williams as his revolutionary magnum opus, the film was in and out of production since the ’60s due to its low budget and tremendous ambitions. It finally went into full production in 1989, but after problems arose, Williams was forced out of the film, and it was cheaply re-edited and finished by producer Fred Calvert.
The actual result, which has been re-edited on a few occasions to more closely approximate its creator’s original vision, is still much better than it has any right to be.
We will never know what Williams’ original idea would have looked like. It may have very well been one of the greatest animated films of the 20th century. But regardless, the actual result, which has been re-edited on a few occasions to more closely approximate its creator’s original vision, is still much better than it has any right to be. Sure, there are elements of it that have aged poorly, but The Thief and the Cobbler is a cult classic fully deserving of the love that its followers have for it.
6
‘The Reflecting Skin’ (1990)
Part folk horror, part dark fantasy, part coming-of-age, The Reflecting Skin is one of the best and most underrated vampire flicks of the ’90s. It was one of Viggo Mortensen‘s earliest roles, and he is indeed phenomenal in this surrealist, darkly comedic, delectably Lynchian gem. The ’90s produced several forgotten horror movies that deserve to be essentials, and this is undeniably one of the best and most notorious.
A co-production between the United Kingdom and Canada, The Reflecting Skin premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, and it received wide acclaim from the moment it came out. It’s certainly a movie that delights itself in being as bizarre as it possibly can be, which will undoubtedly put off more than a few fantasy movie fans. Still, those with an appetite for surrealist fantasy horror will find this to be a hauntingly nightmarish cult classic without equal.
5
‘The Secret of Roan Inish’ (1994)
If anyone thinks that the ’90s weren’t great for fantasy, movies like The Secret of Roan Inish should be more than enough to prove them wrong. This family-friendly indie fantasy adventure borrows several elements from Irish folklore, namely the mythology around selkies, seals that can shed their skins to become human. It’s creative, atmospheric, and clearly quite fond of its source material. Even the most cold-hearted of adult fantasy fans craves some gentle, lighthearted doses of fantasy every now and then, and The Secret of Roan Inish scratches that itch perfectly.
Yes, the film is mostly aimed at families, but there are no cheap story beats nor emotionally condescending elements here. The film is deliberately paced, visually gorgeous, and refreshingly intelligent, touching on what has made folk tales so important throughout history. It’s an engrossing fable unlike any other of the ’90s, and certainly quite different from anything that big studios produced fantasy-wise during the era. For people looking for a unique family fantasy flick, this one’s a must-see.
4
‘Comet in Moominland’ (1992)
Based on the first installment in Finnish author Tove Jansson‘s series of Moomin books, Comet in Moominland is a Dutch-Japanese anime film that’s nothing short of one of the best animated movies of the ’90s. It’s old-school hand-drawn animation at its most visually delightful, a cult classic that all those who love weird animated films should find to be an absolute treat from start to finish.
The Moomins are some of the most endearing characters of any ’90s animated movie, as director Hiroshi Saitô makes sure that their identities and personalities shine through the screen in every scene. Simple yet mature, and surprisingly cutesy for a film that’s primarily about the end of the world, it’s an undeniably dark yet oddly heartwarming gem that more animation fans should shower with love nowadays.
3
‘The City of Lost Children’ (1995)
Directed by Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the French-German-Spanish co-production The City of Lost Children stars Ron Perlman in one of his most memorable roles ever. Quite stylistically similar to Jeunet’s other works, like Delicatessen and Amélie, it’s the kind of visually vibrant and atmospherically disturbing gem that’s meant to be experienced, not necessarily understood. Not that it would be possible, anyway: the film has a famously impenetrable plot that makes it all the more memorable.
Thematically profound and exquisitely twisted, City of Lost Children wears its influences on its sleeve and toys around with them with the glee of a kid in a candy store. It’s a Gothic steampunk masterpiece that’s as dark as it is enjoyable, made with state-of-the-art special effects that make this the kind of fantasy gem that couldn’t have been made in any decade other than the ’90s. That alone should be enough for it to be considered one of the decade’s best fantasy films.
2
‘Faust’ (1994)
The Czech auteur Jan Švankmajer is one of the greatest and most important surrealist filmmakers in modern history. Although he’s retired now, he left the world a legacy of several of the most memorable arthouse movies ever made, including underrated fantasy movie masterpieces like Faust,the director’s unique take on the legend of the titular character. Modernist, absurdist, Kafkaesque, and darkly humorous, it’s a perfect entry point for people who would like to venture into Švankmajer’s ambitious body of work.It’s smart, eccentric, and as deliciously weird as any fan of surrealist fantasy could possibly expect. It’s disturbing, but never off-putting; visually fascinating without ever sacrificing its narrative; and made with several elements of the stop-motion animation that characterizes Švankmajer’s filmography. Thematically profound and brilliantly bizarre, this version of Faust is one of the most inventive films of the ’90s, fantasy or otherwise.
1
‘Dreams’ (1990)
Throughout his immensely illustrious career, Akira Kurosawa made an impressive number of bangers. Today, many still remember him as not only the greatest Japanese filmmaker of all time, but perhaps even the best in the world. One could pick up any random Kurosawa film and find irrefutable proof of that praise, but picking up his third-to-last movie, Dreams, would be particularly effective.
By the time he made Dreams, Kurosawa was already partly blind, yet he still managed to make one of the most visually gorgeous movies of not just the ’90s, but the 20th century as a whole. For people interested in a dreamy atmosphere, eye-popping colors, a poetically-paced story, or seeing Martin Scorsese play Vincent Van Gogh, Dreams is an utter must-see. It’s one of the greatest films of the ’90s overall, and certainly one of the greatest fantasy films. It’s a shame that it doesn’t get more love nowadays, but not at all an irreparable shame.