While many associate Pixar Studios with Disney, it should be noted that the studio began as an independent company in 1979. It wasn’t until 2006 that the two merged after a decade of back-to-back hits from Pixar, which began in 1995 with Toy Story. Pixar has proven to be a worthy contender, both opposite and alongside Disney since then.
These films often deal with themes of family, coming-of-age, and even grief through inventive premises and wholesome – oftentimes tragic – stories. Impressively, 23 of Pixar’s 29 movies have been nominated or won an Academy Award, with 11 winning Best Animated Feature. While Pixar may have declined in recent years, there is promise in recent entries like Soul and Inside Out, as they continue to experiment in modern times. From Cars to Wall-E, these Pixar movies are perfect in every way.
10
‘Ratatouille’ (2007)
Ratatouille — the name of the film, not the rat, which is a common misconception — follows Remy (Patton Oswalt), a young rat from the countryside, in his pursuit of culinary greatness. Much like other Pixar movies, Ratatouille is an inspiring journey about reaching one’s full potential. While Remy’s status as a rat initially deters his opportunities, he ultimately proves everyone wrong via unconventional methods.
As Gustav’s saying goes, “Everyone can cook, but only the fearless can be great.” Ratatouille features impressive character construction and worldbuilding, earning the movie the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film. Additionally, the movie’s creators consulted renowned chefs to ensure the most accurate depiction of the culinary world. Together, these facets earned Ratatouille the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
9
‘The Incredibles’ (2004)
The Incredibles is a beloved children’s movie released at the start of the Superhero genre boom. The Parrs are an apparently normal family residing in the suburbs outside a big city. But they’re hiding a secret — each member of the family possesses superhuman abilities. Can former superheroes Helen (Holly Hunter) and Bob (Craig T. Nelson) come out of retirement now that they have a family? Are there children who can aid them?
The Incredibles explores themes of family and power through various intersecting plots. The movie’s success is evident in its accolades, including $631 million at the box office and an impressive 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. Additionally, a second entry into the franchise was released 14 years later, retaining the same fandom that grew up with the original.
8
‘Soul’ (2020)
Pixar is no stranger to taking risks; Soul may have been the biggest one in recent years. It seamlessly blends worlds from a more transcendental, almost existential, perspective. The movie’s premise is relatively straightforward, in that jazz pianist Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) is about to achieve his dreams but dies in a freak accident before he can do so. When he finds himself in the Great Before, this serves as an opportunity to alter his ways back on Earth with the help of 22 (Tina Fey).
While this might be complex for younger audiences, the presentation of themes and plotlines is tailored to them. After a series of duds throughout the 2010s, Pixar found itself in a somewhat stalemate with original material. That’s not to say they weren’t good; they just couldn’t compete with the Golden Age of the 2000s. But Soul offered something new and inventive.
7
‘Inside Out’ (2015)
Moving to a new city can be challenging, especially for a young girl at an age when personal identity and relationships with others are developing. So, while Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) navigates this change, we, as viewers, get to see what that looks like from within her mind through five essential emotions: Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Bill Hader), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), and Anger (Lewis Black). Ultimately, Inside Out is a coming-of-age story.
More importantly, it shows audiences that life will not always be ruled by happiness; they will face a range of moments, and that’s okay. Inside Out is as clever as it is entertaining. The complexity of emotions and their responses can be challenging to navigate (even for adults). From forgotten childhood memories to islands of experience, Riley’s journey towards embracing her new environment unfolds with careful consideration and stellar writing. Inside Out earned respect from fans and critics alike, including the 2021 Best Animated Feature Film award.
6
‘Cars’ (2006)
Pixar excels at worldbuilding. The world of Cars only furthers this argument as we traverse the big cities to Radiator Springs from the perspective of personified vehicles. The 2006 movie follows famed (race)car driver Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) and his fall from grace due to pompousness and failure.
Who is he without that fame? What lengths will he go to take back that positive reputation? In the case of Cars, Lightning McQueen will do all that it takes. This brings him to the humble town of Radiator Springs. Pixar expanded Cars into a franchise following the original film’s success. While they may not be at the same level as the original, it is a feat that audiences found one car’s story so inspiring.
5
‘Up’ (2009)
Up proved itself worthy of praise just within the first ten minutes. That is, a beautifully tragic montage which follows Carl Fredricksen’s (Ed Asner) love story with his late wife. Set to composer Michael Giacchino’s “Married Life,” this sequence alone is like a short film.
The movie certainly lives up to its categorization as a “comedy/drama,” infusing Carl’s life as a widower with his adventures across South America. And of course, the hilarious moments alongside Russell (Jordan Nagai). Pixar often focuses more on younger characters with whom their children’s audiences can resonate. Yet, Up showed that the studio’s risk of doing the opposite can have just as much impact.
4
‘Finding Nemo’ (2003)
Finding Nemo takes us down under to the Great Barrier Reef. Family and relationships are at the core of the movie; how far will one father go to find his son? Along the way, Marlin (Albert Brooks) meets friends — Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) — and foes in many forms. As does Nemo (Alexander Gould), who must learn to navigate the vast oceans and one dentist’s sinister fish tank on his own in order to reunite with his father.
Finding Nemo notably follows the Hero’s Journey archetype, making for an enticing adventure and protagonist to root for. It’s these elements that make the movie distinct within the animated children’s movie genre. More than that, the movie teaches powerful lessons through memorable quotes, including “Just keep swimming.”
3
‘Toy Story’ (1995)
The nostalgia of youth. Toy Story explores one child’s imaginative world and his collection of toys. What do they get up to when he’s not there? But Toy Story is not just about playing pretend. It personifies each toy, led by cowboy Woody (Tom Hanks) and their purpose in Andy’s (John Morris) world.
Toy Story is undoubtedly one of the most quotable Pixar movies and features a beloved soundtrack. Pixar’s first full-length feature film placed the studio on the map alongside major players at the time. Toy Story is now a billion-dollar franchise and, for better or worse, remains a mainstay in pop culture today through continuing entries.
2
’Toy Story 3′ (2010)
Toy Story 3 is much darker than Toy Story and Toy Story 2. Between Andy (John Morris) leaving them and finding themselves literally out on the curb, his toys are put to their most significant test yet. Thematically, their survival mirrors Andy’s, who will soon have to leave him and navigate the world at college. While the 1995 original will always be a classic, Toy Story 3 proved triumphant in its own right.
Fans who were once Andy’s age, too, were entering young adulthood, underscoring the emotional impact they share with him. Unfortunately, the decision to create Toy Story 4 did an injustice to the near-perfect ending. Not only did Toy Story 3 win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, but it was one of Pixar’s only movies to be nominated for Best Picture. Toy Story 3 remains one of the highest-grossing animated movies of all time and boasts a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
1
‘WALL-E’ (2008)
Pixar aimed to teach young audiences about the dangers of our climate crisis in the 2008 film WALL-E (Ben Burtt). It begins with the titular robot — an acronym for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class — and his lonely existence on a planet void of life. Riddled with trash and remnants of destruction. But his fate changes when he meets Eve (Elissa Knight). The advanced robot signifies life beyond Earth and companionship for what will soon become an adventure beyond what WALL-E has ever known.
WALL-E is proof that Pixar can tackle any genre, even sci-fi dystopia. It teaches children about the dangers of climate change and the dangers of reliance on technology. Beyond that (or in addition to), WALL-E also presents a love story for the ages. Not only is it a 10/10 Pixar movie, but it’s also a masterpiece of dystopian cinema altogether. WALL-E is one of the few Pixar movies from the 2000s that did not continue into a franchise — it didn’t need to.
