Top 10 Pixar Movies

Finding Nemo

A couple of years after Monsters Inc. blew me away with how stunning it looked Finding Nemo came along and impressed me again. The story is a tale of adventure for Nemo who embarks on a journey of discovery in trying to return home. Finding Nemo remains a Pixar classic for its endearing and touching storyline and although I think it’s aimed more at children than adults it still appeals to a massive audience, myself included.

Monsters, Inc.

With Monsters Inc. Pixar took a huge leap forward in terms of the possibilities with computer animation and having had the pleasure of seeing it again on blu-ray I can really appreciate how wonderfully creative and unique Monsters Inc. is. I think the story is perhaps one of the most original and innovative that Pixar have dreamt up and harks back to the days when Disney was wowing audiences with their unique ability to appeal to children, teens and adults at the same time.

Toy Story

If I could have chosen a joint number one for my Pixar top ten I would have put Toy Story up there with Ratatouille and UP sharing the podium. Whilst I think UP has built so brilliantly on the quality and detail of the animation and Ratatouille features my favourite script, Toy Story was where it all began 15 years ago and for that alone it deserves a top three spot. Woody and Buzz are the defining animated kids’ characters to me and Toy Story will always remain the film of my childhood.

Toy Story 3

Following the second film closely is the most recent and final release in the franchise Toy Story 3 which I saw in glorious IMAX 3D. First and foremost I think it is the best-looking and most vibrantly animated Toy Story film to date and again Pixar has managed to introduce new characters and a brand new, unique storyline that feel as much a part of the trilogy as Woody and Buzz. Much like the earlier two films also Toy Story 3 has a huge amount of depth offering jokes to both young and old audiences.

Shrek

Cars

One of the great testaments to how great Pixar films are is that Cars is probably my least favourite of their releases and yet I still love it! It doesn’t have the timelessness of Toy Story or UP but it is a beautifully made and truly unique story. Much like Finding Nemo I see Cars as a more child-targeted Pixar movie but nevertheless I’m a huge fan.

Wall-E

With a not-so-subtle but equally unintentional comment on global warming and consumer culture Wall-E can appear to be a very serious animated feature indeed. However, through a child’s eyes Wall-E is fun, adventurous entertainment with a brilliantly told story of robot love in the middle. This remains the case for adults if you wish but you can also read more into it too. Wall-E is one of Pixar’s cleverest movies as it relies almost entirely on the quality of the storytelling and the animation as the lead character can’t speak.