If you loved the surreal and visually stunning world of 'Cryptozoo' (2021), you're in for a treat! This article explores 10 movies and shows that share its unique blend of fantasy, animation, and thought-provoking storytelling. Whether you're drawn to its dreamlike visuals or its deep themes, these picks will keep you captivated.

Fantastic Planet (1973)
Description: This animated film shares a surreal and psychedelic visual style, exploring themes of oppression, freedom, and the coexistence of different species in a bizarre, otherworldly setting.
Fact: The film won the Special Jury Prize at the 1973 Cannes Film Festival. Its unique animation style was achieved using cut-out techniques and hand-painted backgrounds.


Heavy Metal (1981)
Description: An anthology of fantastical and often surreal stories, this film blends science fiction, fantasy, and horror with a distinctive, adult-oriented animation style.
Fact: The soundtrack features music from iconic rock bands like Black Sabbath and Blue Öyster Cult. It became a cult classic despite mixed initial reviews.


Waking Life (2001)
Description: Known for its rotoscoped animation and philosophical narrative, this film delves into dreams, reality, and existential questions, creating a visually and intellectually stimulating experience.
Fact: The film features a cameo by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, reprising their roles from 'Before Sunrise.' Director Richard Linklater used the same animation technique later in 'A Scanner Darkly.'


The Triplets of Belleville (2003)
Description: With its quirky, exaggerated animation and offbeat humor, this film tells a whimsical yet darkly comedic story about determination and eccentric characters.
Fact: The film was nominated for two Academy Awards. It features almost no dialogue, relying instead on visual storytelling and music.


A Scanner Darkly (2006)
Description: Using rotoscoping to create a disorienting visual effect, this film explores themes of identity, surveillance, and drug-induced paranoia in a dystopian setting.
Fact: The film is based on a novel by Philip K. Dick. The rotoscoping process took over 18 months to complete.


Mind Game (2004)
Description: A frenetic and visually inventive film that blends multiple animation styles to tell a story about life, death, and second chances, filled with surreal and existential themes.
Fact: The film took four years to complete. Director Masaaki Yuasa drew inspiration from his own dreams and subconscious for the story.


The Secret of Kells (2009)
Description: This film combines intricate, stylized animation with a mythological and historical narrative, focusing on the preservation of culture and the clash between tradition and modernity.
Fact: The movie was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Its art style is heavily inspired by medieval illuminated manuscripts.


Persepolis (2007)
Description: This black-and-white animated film combines personal and political narratives, exploring themes of identity, rebellion, and cultural displacement through a unique visual style.
Fact: The film won the Jury Prize at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. It is based on the autobiographical graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi.


Mary and Max (2009)
Description: This stop-motion animated film explores themes of loneliness, friendship, and mental health through a poignant and visually distinctive narrative.
Fact: The film was the first animated feature to open the Sundance Film Festival. It uses a monochromatic color palette with occasional splashes of red.


The Congress (2013)
Description: Mixing live-action and animation, this film delves into the blurring lines between reality and fantasy, questioning the nature of identity and celebrity in a futuristic world.
Fact: The film is loosely based on Stanisław Lem's novel 'The Futurological Congress.' Robin Wright plays a fictionalized version of herself.
