I'm not generally much for controversial filmmakers, but I appreciated your perspective in this article. While some films generate controversy almost accidentally, there are certainly filmmakers like Von Trier or Gallo who seem to intentionally court it. It reads to me as a crutch, using the controversial material as a patch over other narrative or character shortcomings.

My favorite on your list though is Watership Down, which is actually controversial because it pursues the depths of its character (Fiver) all the way. Sure, a kids film could leave out his visions (as this sometimes does) but it sends such a more powerful message by showing them. It makes this film a passionate, emotional plee for sustainability and environmentalism, and maybe I can trace back some of those feelings I have all the way to being "traumatized" by this as a child.