A couple of the most famous westerns ever made are animated, and vice versa. Thus, plenty of titles on this list are bound to ring a bell. That said, don’t be surprised if just as many appear more unfamiliar, as several animated westerns are highly underrated. But name value aside, most titles on this list feature star-studded casts, and they’re each crafted with high-quality tactics of behind-the-scenes filmmaking.
They’re all worth a watch for fans of westerns, animation, or both. But these are also well-made pieces of cinema in general, with most titles running a wonderful gamut of emotion, comedic in one scene and poignant in the next. Audiences of all ages and preferences should find a project for them — these are the ten best examples of animated western movies, ranked.
10 Lucky Luke: The Ballad of the Daltons (1978)
Comic book character Lucky Luke has been depicted in numerous films, both live action and animated, with The Ballad of the Daltons (1978) being a representation of the latter. Created by a cartoonist named Maurice De Bevere — also known as Morris — the comics first kicked off in 1946, published in French. As such, The Ballad of the Daltons is a French production, as well.
An Essential French Western
Plenty of genre entries have been produced in France, such as an acid western called Blueberry (2004). Easily more popular, the Lucky Luke films feature some engrossing visuals for their time as the eponymous gunslinger combats a group of outlaws known as the Dalton brothers. Audiences will root for Luke and his trusty steed Jolly Jumper throughout every frame of the forgotten film’s well-paced runtime.
9 Scooby Doo: Shaggy’s Showdown (2017)
Off the bat, it’s worth noting the sheer talent of the voice cast for Scooby-Doo: Shaggy’s Showdown (2017). Take Gary Anthony Williams, for instance. He voices a minor character in Shaggy’s Showdown, which marks his first of three westerns. There’s also Frank Welker, who’s voiced Fred Jones since Scooby-Doo first aired in 1969. He’s played a part in numerous westerns, with Shaggy’s Showdown being the most acclaimed of the bunch.
The Ghost of Shaggy’s Ancestor
On top of playing Fred, famous voice actor Frank Welker also provides Scooby’s intonations. There’s also Grey DeLisle as Daphne and Kate Micucci as Velma, with Matthew Lillard voicing the fan-favorite character Shaggy. After being invited to a farm owned by his cousin, the Mystery Gang puts a stop to the ghostly antics of Shaggy’s wily ancestor. A classic plot for Scooby-Doo, now set in the wonderful, wild west.
8 West and Soda (1965)
Spoofing the famous Hollywood western, West and Soda (1965) chronicles a mysterious figure who arrives in a small town to place himself directly in the middle of a couple of local conflicts. Most themes and archetypes you could muster from westerns past are utilized in West and Soda, and in endlessly endearing fashion.
The Genisis of a Subgenre
Thanks to Sergio Leone and movies like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966), the Spaghetti western has been a fan-favorite subgenre for the past several decades. Typically cited as the insurgence thereof is A Fistful of Dollars (1964), also by Leone. However, West and Soda auteur Bruno Bozzetto took issue with that record, as his animated western technically went into development before Leone’s trilogy. Unfortunately, West and Soda is a directorial debut that’s fallen by the wayside.
7 Daisy Town (1971)
Without the smooth animation and engrossing plot of Daisy Town (1971), there never would have been a Ballad of the Daltons. The state of animation with regard to westerns as a whole could be entirely different, in fact. But luckily for fans of shootouts set in the wild west, writer-director René Goscinny graced our screens with Daisy Town.
Comic Book Collaborators
For over twenty years, writer René Goscinny worked with series creator Morris to produce the most popular comics that Lucky Luke has to offer. It was during the golden years that Goscinny made Daisy Town, which holds up wonderfully today as an essential, animated western. Replete with whimsical characters and hilarious sequences, it’s a classic western experience that’s bound to elicit laughter. Undoubtedly one of the best.
6 Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)
Unlike most animated westerns, the animals in Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002) are not anthropomorphic. Instead, dialogue is shared between soldiers of the U.S. Cavalry, who Spirit the Mustang is sent to after being captured by some wranglers. Narration is provided by Matt Damon, who voices Spirit’s monologues to deliver endless exposition.
Atmospheric Storytelling
A soaring score and gorgeous visuals drive the quality of Spirit until the fireworks of the film’s finale, when Damon’s eponymous protagonist is finally reacquainted with his forever beloved herd. It’s a touching tale, but again: The score by Hans Zimmer outweighs the importance of a straightforward story, with Spirit primarily being a masterclass in atmospheric storytelling. Just like its well-animated characters, audiences will revel in the wide-open plains of the picturesque Cimarron.
5 BraveStarr: The Movie (1988)
Although it bombed at the box office, BraveStarr: The Movie (1988) received rave reviews from critics. And with good reason. It’s also held in high regard by fans of Filmation’s television series, which was in turn based on a line of BraveStarr action figures. Both forms of media follow titular character Galactic Marshall BraveStarr as he combats his most notorious enemy: a wanted outlaw by the name of Tex Hex.
An Overlooked Franchise
Highly underrated, the BraveStarr property in general has always flown beneath the radar of public relevance. Television and action figures included, BraveStarr: The Movie is perhaps the most overlooked of the bunch, with a talented cast of famous voice actors — Charlie Adler and Pat Fraley, for instance — performing brilliantly in a well-made, animated western.
4 An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991)
The second entry in the American Tail film franchise, Fievel Goes West (1991) boasts notable name value with regard to animated westerns. Decent money at the worldwide box office, even more admirable statistics with regard to home video sales — film fans have long been intrigued by the animated tales of Fievel Mousekewitz, and his venture through the west holds up wonderfully today.
A Budding Cult Classic
Considering the positive responses it’s received from modern audiences, An American Tail: Fievel Goes West is destined to become a surefire cult classic. At least, it should be. Anthropomorphic protagonist Fievel leads a colorful cast of characters as he moves to the wild west, and their charming antics facilitate a commanding sense of humor. While not a critical success upon release in the nineties, Fievel’s western endeavor reigns tall as an all-time great.
3 Home on the Range (2004)
One of the more famous examples of an animated western is Home on the Range (2004), written and directed by both Will Finn and John Sanford. Taking its title from the cowboy song of the same name, it follows three dairy cows who attempt to prevent their farm from undergoing foreclosure. Simple plot, with charm shining through in every exchange of characters.
Endearing Personalities
On top of the three dairy cows, audiences should quickly become invested in these Dixon Ranch characters, from pigs and horses to goats and chickens. Voiced by famous actors like Judi Dench, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Steve Buscemi, these characters each harbor unique personalities while exchanging hilarious dialogue. The dynamics developed throughout their journey to save Dixon Ranch make Home on the Range an essential animated western.
2 Quantum Cowboys (2022)
Perhaps the weirdest western ever made is Quantum Cowboys (2022), which combines live action footage with a unique brand of animation. As the auteur, Geoff Marslett deserves far more respect for the sheer craziness of the western at hand. None of his works gets their due, but if one of Marslett’s projects stands tall as his most overlooked, it’s easily Quantum Cowboys.
Cinema’s Cowboys
From Lily Gladstone and David Arquette to Gary Farmer and Alex Cox, this bizarre and unforgettable fever dream of a film features a star-studded cast of bona fide western superstars. Each of the aforementioned names made wild-west waves before Quantum Cowboys ever came into fruition, but thanks to some idiosyncratic visuals working in perfect tandem with a hilarious script, this hybrid project remains among their respective bests.
1 Rango (2011)
Directed by Gore Verbenski from John Logan’s original script, Rango (2011) features Johnny Depp as an anthropomorphic chameleon. Though not the sharpest shooter in the shed, he’s technically a gunslinger, and to kick off the plot, he accidentally becomes sheriff of a town known as Dirt. What plays out is a masterclass in storytelling, animation, voice acting, and more, with Rango going down as one of the finest films its genre has ever seen.
The Best of Its Kind
Whether considering modern westerns or contemporary animation, Rango is commonly considered among the absolute cream of the crop. Easy to see why, as some inventive screenwriting paves the way for truly alluring visuals, and none of that even touches on the efforts of its star-studded voice cast. The best western from everyone involved, Rango is also the genre’s pinnacle when it comes to animation.
