Mind Game (Maindo gēmu, Masaaki Yuasa, 2004, Japan)

Mind Game is an imaginative animated film by Masaaki Yuasa, a visionary Japanese director known for inventive, mind-bending storytelling. This surreal adventure follows a young man's unexpected journey with unexpected companions and reality-defying twists. Yuasa's style blends humor, heart, and wildly creative animation techniques that shift and transform throughout the film. Families with older kids who enjoy clever, offbeat stories and don't mind visual weirdness will find this a memorable and thought-provoking experience—though it's definitely more sophisticated than mainstream animation.