Ralph Bakshi is something of a bad boy in the animation world. After all, this is the man who created the first X-rated animated film, "Fritz the Cat." Bakshi formed his own studio to provide a space for adult animation and himself directed a number of animated films in the 1970s and '80s, including "Wizards" and "The Lord of the Rings." His most exciting film, however, may just be "Fire and Ice," a thrilling action epic.
The film's title is quite literal, as evil Lord Nekron advances his land of ice through the kingdom, destroying anything and everything in its path. All that stands in his way is King Jarol, whose castle sits atop a volcano that holds back an enormous ocean of fire. It's something like an animated Dungeons & Dragons campaign, featuring endlessly muscular men, scantily clad women, and various creatures.
While "Fire and Ice" is a bit rougher around the edges than some others on this list, that only serves as a reminder of the amazing nature of hand-drawn animation. There's plenty of epic action that's beautifully rendered, including a moment when Larn leaps off the top of a tall tree that exemplifies the film's remarkable depth of field. In addition, the Dragonhawk riding is nothing short of awe-inspiring. You can feel the influence of Bakshi's film in the video game series "The Banner Saga," which employs a similar style of hand-drawn animation.
