The 10 Greatest R-Rated Animated Masterpieces, Ranked

Animation is often seen as kid-friendly, yet a notable number of films aim squarely at adult viewers. The rare R-rated animated picture signals mature themes, whether it leans into raunchy comedy or confronts painful, emotional material, and it can showcase animation as a serious cinematic artform.

Some titles use the rating to unleash satire and shock. 'South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut' amplifies the series’ raunch while operating as a wild musical that skewers censorship. Adam Elliot’s 'Memoir of a Snail' blends claymation, raunch, and genuine emotion through the melancholic misfit Grace (Sarah Snook).

Bill Plympton’s 'I Married a Strange Person!' is an unapologetic onslaught of manic visuals and absurd humor that leans into explicit content to boost its comedy. Other films take darker, more measured approaches. 'Jin‑Roh: The Wolf Brigade' simmers with dread and political weight; Ralph Bakshi’s 'American Pop' traces the Belinskys across generations to map American popular music.

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