It’s not much of a surprise that many of the best science fiction movies that don’t feature significant human characters are animated movies. Not only is it more common for children’s content to feature non-human characters than movies made for adults, but the animation also makes it possible to explore bigger ideas without making it seem so unrealistic.
In part, this is because children have greater imaginations than adults and are able to connect with unfamiliar character experiences than adults. Regardless of whether storylines that follow non-human characters are made for children or adults, they tend to have the same themes. In general, the themes in these storylines are used to represent the demise of humanity, or they are used to represent a group of people who are ostracized and disowned by the rest of society.
There are plenty of live-action sci-fi movies that explore such themes of prejudice through non-human characters that are clearly intended for adults. The difference with these films, however, is that they almost always contain human characters. In part, they have to include human characters for the sake of budget, as it would be very expensive to bring to life an entire world where everyone needs heavy costumes, makeup or CGI effects.
That said, it makes more sense for certain sci-fi plotlines to exclude humans and introduce new creatures, relying on animation to bring the world to life. Animation ensures that the concepts are as big as possible without making the ideas look corny. While most animations are kid-friendly, these animated sci-fi movies are sure to put into perspective what it means to be human, while also making for an enjoyable viewing experience for a child or adult audience.
The dark crystal
The Dark Crystals creator, Jim Henson, had a clear interest in non-human worlds. This is evident in this film and other similar works, including his the land of Gorcho series. The concept of the dark crystal itself was actually inspired by an illustration for a Lewis Carroll poem that Henson saw, featuring a group of crocodiles wearing pretty robes and accessories. So it was clearly intended that the characters in this film were non-human. Although this series is not animated, the characters are created using puppets, which still gave the creators an almost limitless range of creative possibilities.
The visual result of these characters earned the film a lot of praise, mainly because of the time period. Despite the characters not being human, they still reflected some very human habits and qualities. Above all, they reflect a human theme. The theme of this film focuses on the change and speaking up, pushing back when injustice happens to a group or groups of people. It encourages every viewer in the audience to stand up for others and do the right thing, even when it’s challenging.
Chicken Little
The characters in this animated sci-fi movie from Disney are simply animals, rather than the sci-fi genre determining their species. The purpose of these characters as animals is to pay tribute to the Anglo-Saxon folktale that inspired the film, which follows a cowardly chicken. To make sense of the chicken as a character, it only seemed sensible to make the characters around him animals as well. As well as staying true to its roots, the use of animalistic characters also makes the story more palatable to an audience of children.
Again, the characters all still have human elements that make them recognizable to viewers. The most essential theme in this film is the message to accept who you are and embrace what makes you different, because those qualities often become strengths. The characters are all different kinds of animals, which emphasizes this point and illustrates how different but the same we all are.
robots
The whole concept of this film explores the value of community and connection. In other words, living among others like us should be more than just a way to earn money; it should also be a source of acceptance and support.
Although they still live in a relatively flawed society, the robots are suitable characters to explore this concept as robots are a human invention and thus are a direct reflection of humans and human behavior. Although the world in this film has different priorities than ours, it functions much the same and serves as a valuable example to the audience, without being too direct.
Mune: Guardian of the Moon
This French film is set in a different realm with a different species of creatures, whose entire world revolves around the sun and the moon. In some ways their world mirrors ours, but in other ways this world is simpler than ours, in the sense that it relies more on what is essential and not so much on outrageous things that are present in our society.
Ultimately, the main theme in this film is believing in themselves, despite what their position in the world makes them believe about themselves. While this film didn’t have a particularly large global impact, it painted a world much like our own, without being too intrusive, helping us reassess our priorities in our own lives.
9
Unlike the other movies in the list, a few people play a pivotal role in this science fiction movie. The scientist is responsible for creating the world in which the story takes place, and the chancellor is the driving force behind it all. They are essentially the origin story of the film. However, it is not the characters that drive the plot points in the story forward.
The characters that make up the story are a kind of animated puppets, brought to life with the help of alchemy. The film’s message emphasizes how important it is to be considerate of others and not always put yourself first. This is an essential part of any community. Perhaps, because we are not always so successful in keeping this priority high in our own societies, at least this theme will help us recognize that there is a need for it.
If all these non-human-oriented movies prove anything, it’s that the best films about non-human characters teach us a lot about being human. The best thing about these movies that are animated is that they are accessible to both kids and adults, making their valuable themes appealing to both as well. As the graphics and makeup options continue to expand, such storylines could move from animated to more broadly live-action. But whatever form they take, they will likely always reflect the same essential themes that remind us of what it really means to be human.
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