8 Surprisingly Scary Animated Films That Scarred The Kids

2. Paranorman

Sitting surrounded by children in my screening of this supernatural stop-motion, I couldn't help but wonder what their young minds were making of the sight of the ghoulish and complexly designed ghosts that play a very important part of the opening sequence, or the on-screen death of a character who plays an equally important part in the development of a key plot-line. That's about as spoilerish as I'll get, but needless to say, the film explores some more adult themes than the family friendly rating might suggest to some.

Paranorman is not for kids - it is like an Amblin film dressed up with astute horror B-Movie references and touches of successful humour that explores complex themes like social isolation, the dangers of mob mentality and ingrained prejudice. That it does so while playing with some established zombie film tropes is a triumph that isn't let down too much by the slight story sag in the middle, and it's mostly thanks to a great opening act that owes a debt to the gruesome imagination of Tim Burton circa Beetlejuice, and an astonishing final sequence that is particularly affecting.

That final sequence is emotionally piquant and extremely touching, as well as packing in a genuine threat to Norman and a complex and memorable villain whose back-story adds to the ferocity of the situation.