If you loved the enchanting blend of history, romance, and animation in Anastasia (1997), you're in for a treat! This article explores 10 movies and shows that capture the same magical spirit, from sweeping adventures to heartfelt fairy tales. Whether you're drawn to royal mysteries, musical brilliance, or stunning animation, these picks will transport you to worlds just as captivating as Anastasia's journey.

The Secret of NIMH (1982)
Description: A beautifully animated adventure featuring a brave protagonist on a quest to save her family, blending fantasy elements with emotional depth.
Fact: This was Don Bluth's first directorial effort after leaving Disney. The film was based on the award-winning novel 'Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH'.


The Swan Princess (1994)
Description: A romantic fairy tale musical featuring transformation magic, a strong-willed heroine, and themes of love conquering evil enchantments.
Fact: The film was originally conceived as a Broadway musical before being adapted into an animated feature. It spawned several direct-to-video sequels.


Thumbelina (1994)
Description: A charming musical fairy tale about a tiny heroine's journey through a magical world, featuring themes of self-discovery and true love.
Fact: This was one of the last films to use traditional hand-painted cels before the industry transitioned to digital coloring. The character designs were inspired by Victorian illustrations.


The Prince of Egypt (1998)
Description: An epic musical drama with stunning animation that explores themes of identity, destiny, and the bond between siblings in a historical fantasy setting.
Fact: The film's parting of the Red Sea sequence required over 300,000 hours of rendering time. It was DreamWorks Animation's first traditionally animated feature.


Quest for Camelot (1998)
Description: A fantasy adventure featuring a determined young heroine, magical creatures, and a quest to save a kingdom, with musical numbers enhancing the storytelling.
Fact: The film features one of the earliest uses of computer-generated imagery blended with traditional animation in a Warner Bros. feature. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.


The Iron Giant (1999)
Description: A touching story about an unlikely friendship between a boy and a magical being, exploring themes of identity and choosing one's destiny against societal expectations.
Fact: The film was a box office disappointment but later gained a massive cult following. It was based on the 1968 novel 'The Iron Man' by British Poet Laureate Ted Hughes.


Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)
Description: A high-seas adventure featuring mythical creatures, daring heroics, and a race against time to save a loved one, all rendered in lush traditional animation.
Fact: This was DreamWorks' last traditionally animated feature before switching to CGI. The film's production overlapped with the studio's first CGI hit, 'Shrek'.


Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)
Description: A visually stunning adventure told from an animal's perspective, combining breathtaking animation with themes of freedom and perseverance.
Fact: The film used a unique animation technique that blended traditional 2D characters with 3D backgrounds. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.


Tangled (2010)
Description: A visually stunning musical adventure about a sheltered young woman discovering the world beyond her tower, featuring magical elements and a charming rogue companion.
Fact: The film's hair animation required new technology to realistically simulate 70 feet of golden locks. It was the most expensive animated film ever made at the time of its release.


The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Description: A musical fairy tale featuring a determined heroine, magical transformations, and a vibrant depiction of a specific cultural setting with jazz-inspired music.
Fact: This was Disney's last traditionally animated feature film to date. It marked the first African-American Disney princess in the studio's history.
