Great animated movies that skipped theaters: 9 straight-to-video gems
Nine great animated movies released straight to video, from Aladdin: The Return of Jafar and Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island to The Animatrix, Batman: Under the Red Hood and Justice League: Doom.
Not every great animated film reached the big screen. This list gathers nine well-regarded animated movies released directly on home video, in release order, with posters and the directors.
For each film we explain the story, why fans still talk about it and what to watch for. The first two are for the whole family, while the DC superhero films are darker and more violent, so we note that too.
Why so many good animated films went straight to video
In the 1990s the home video market was huge, and studios discovered that animated films sold on VHS could be very profitable without the cost of a theatrical release. Disney opened the way in 1994 with Aladdin: The Return of Jafar, and soon other studios followed with sequels and spin-offs.
Warner Bros. used the same route for Scooby-Doo and, above all, for the DC superheroes. From 2007, the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line began adapting famous comic book stories for older audiences, many of them with a PG-13 rating and voice casting directed by Andrea Romano.
Without the pressure of the box office, these films could take risks: darker stories, faithful adaptations and running times of little more than an hour. Today most of them are on streaming services and digital stores, and some are better rated than theatrical films with the same characters.
How we chose
We chose animated features released straight to home video (DVD, Blu-ray or similar) and well received by critics and fans. This is not a numbered ranking, and release routes vary by country.
The list covers almost two decades, from Disney and Scooby-Doo to the DC animated films that defined a generation of fans. All nine are easy to find today, and none require you to know the comics.
Aladdin: The Return of Jafar (1994)
Directed by Tad Stones, Alan Zaslove, Toby Shelton.
Why it is worth finding: Aladdin: The Return of Jafar picks up after the first film: Jafar, trapped in his lamp, is freed by a clumsy thief and returns as an even more powerful genie. Meanwhile, the parrot Iago tries to change sides and win the trust of Aladdin and his friends.
It was Disney's first direct-to-video animated sequel and opened a long line of follow-ups. Robin Williams did not return as the Genie, who was voiced by Dan Castellaneta, the voice of Homer Simpson, and the film also served as the launch of the Aladdin television series.
The animation is simpler than in the original, but the songs and Iago's humor still work. Ideal for children who loved the first film and for anyone curious about how Disney's sequels began.
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998)
Directed by Jim Stenstrum.
Why it is worth finding: Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island reunites the gang years after they split up: Daphne now hosts a television show and invites everyone to look for a real ghost. The search leads them to an island in the Louisiana bayous with a dark secret.
The big surprise is that, for the first time, the monsters are real and not people in masks. The tone is more serious and atmospheric than the classic cartoon, with zombies, a cat cult and songs by the band Skycycle.
It started a long series of Scooby-Doo films released straight to video. Ideal for families with children who are not too easily scared, and a nostalgic treat for adults who grew up with the cartoon.
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000)
Directed by Curt Geda.
Why it is worth finding: Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker is set in the future Gotham of the animated series Batman Beyond, where the young Terry McGinnis wears the suit under the guidance of an elderly Bruce Wayne. The Joker, believed dead for decades, suddenly reappears.
Watch the flashback that reveals what happened to Tim Drake, the Robin of the time, one of the darkest scenes in DC animation. The first release was edited to soften the violence, and the uncut version came out later with a PG-13 rating.
Mark Hamill returns as the Joker and Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne. Ideal for teenagers and adults who like the Batman animated series, preferably in the uncut version.
The Animatrix (2003)
Directed by Andy Jones, Peter Chung, Shinichiro Watanabe, Takeshi Koike et al.
Why it is worth finding: The Animatrix is an anthology of nine short animated films set in the world of The Matrix, produced by the Wachowskis. The shorts were made by different directors and studios, many of them Japanese, each with its own style.
The two parts of The Second Renaissance explain how the war between humans and machines began, and Shinichiro Watanabe, the creator of Cowboy Bebop, directed two of the shorts. The computer-animated Final Flight of the Osiris was also shown in theaters before another film and connects directly to The Matrix Reloaded.
It is ideal for fans of the trilogy who want to understand the world better, and for anyone curious about Japanese animation. Some shorts are violent and abstract, so it is better for teenagers and adults.
Superman: Doomsday (2007)
Directed by Lauren Montgomery, Bruce Timm, Brandon Vietti.
Why it is worth finding: Superman: Doomsday adapts the famous comic book story The Death of Superman: a monster called Doomsday appears and Superman has to fight him to the end to save Metropolis. Lex Luthor sees the chance to take advantage of the hero's absence.
It was the first film in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line and showed that these films could tell more adult stories. Watch the fight between Superman and Doomsday, brutal for a superhero animation, and Lois Lane's grief.
The adaptation simplifies the comic but keeps its impact. Ideal for teenagers and adults who want to know one of Superman's most important stories in little more than an hour.
Wonder Woman (2009)
Directed by Lauren Montgomery.
Why it is worth finding: Wonder Woman tells the origin of Diana, princess of the Amazons of Themyscira, voiced by Keri Russell. When the pilot Steve Trevor, voiced by Nathan Fillion, crashes on the island and Ares, the god of war, escapes, Diana leaves for the world of men.
The story was co-written by Gail Simone, one of the best-known Wonder Woman comic book writers, and it mixes Greek mythology, action and humor about Diana's first contact with the modern world. Watch Alfred Molina as Ares and the final battle.
For years it was the only feature film about the character, long before the live-action version. Ideal for teenagers and adults who want a fast, faithful origin story.
Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010)
Directed by Brandon Vietti.
Why it is worth finding: Batman: Under the Red Hood shows Batman facing a new vigilante in Gotham, the Red Hood, who controls crime with methods far more violent than his. The mystery of his identity brings back the most painful moment in Batman's life.
The screenplay is by Judd Winick, who adapted his own comic book story. Watch the final confrontation, one of the most emotional scenes in DC animation, and the performances of Bruce Greenwood as Batman, Jensen Ackles as Red Hood and John DiMaggio as the Joker.
It is often cited by fans as the best of the DC animated films. Ideal for teenagers and adults, as it is violent and deals with death and grief.
Justice League: Doom (2012)
Directed by Lauren Montgomery.
Why it is worth finding: Justice League: Doom shows the immortal villain Vandal Savage stealing the secret plans Batman made to stop each member of the Justice League if one day they turned bad. Each hero is attacked with their own weakness.
It is loosely based on the comic book story Tower of Babel, and it was the last screenplay by Dwayne McDuffie, a central writer of the Justice League animated series, who died before the release. The film is dedicated to him.
Several voices from the animated series return, such as Kevin Conroy as Batman and Tim Daly as Superman. Ideal for those who like team stories and want a tense plot about trust between heroes.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012)
Directed by Jay Oliva.
Why it is worth finding: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 adapts the first half of Frank Miller's 1986 comic: Bruce Wayne, aged 55 and retired for ten years, puts on the suit again to face a violent gang called the Mutants.
Watch how the film keeps the dark tone and political satire of the comic, and the arrival of Carrie Kelley, a girl who becomes the new Robin. Peter Weller voices an older, tougher Batman.
The story ends in Part 2, released in 2013, which brings back the Joker. Ideal for adults and teenagers who like the darker side of Batman, and you can watch both parts in a row.
Where to start
Pick by who is watching:
- For children and families: Aladdin: The Return of Jafar or Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island.
- Superhero teams: Justice League: Doom.
- Batman at his best: Batman: Under the Red Hood or The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1.
- Science fiction and anime: The Animatrix.
If you only watch one, choose Batman: Under the Red Hood, which shows why these films earned so much respect. It works without knowing the comics and lasts little more than an hour.
For a family afternoon, Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is the safest bet, scary enough to be fun for children who like a good fright. Then rate what you watched on Rankiew and build your own list.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best direct-to-video animated movies?
Frequently praised are Batman: Under the Red Hood, Justice League: Doom, Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker and The Animatrix.
Why are some animated movies released straight to video?
Studios often use direct-to-video releases for sequels or niche audiences, which keeps costs lower than a theatrical release.
Are direct-to-video movies worse?
Not necessarily. Many have strong stories and animation, and some are better received than the theatrical films in the same series.
Are these movies suitable for children?
Aladdin: The Return of Jafar and Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island are for families. The DC films and The Animatrix are darker and more violent, better for teenagers and adults.
Where can I watch these movies today?
Most are available on streaming services and in digital stores, and availability varies by country. Many also had DVD and Blu-ray releases.
Rate these movies
Which one is your favorite? On Rankiew you can rate every film, write reviews and build your own lists.
Sources: official studio releases, filmographies and public records.
