In light of the release of Toy Story 4, I thought I would run down the best and worst films from the greatest modern animation studio.
May I just add, there is a serious argument to be made that the entire top 5 deserve that #1 spot.
#18: CARS
I thought I might as well group together the worst Pixar films all in one, the Cars trilogy.
#17: THE GOOD DINOSAUR
One of the most stunningly animated films I have ever seen, but the way it rips off The Lion King is almost insulting.
#16: A BUG'S LIFE
Fun, inventive... forgettable.
#16: A BUG'S LIFE
Fun, inventive... forgettable.
#15: BRAVE
This is one of two films on this list which I feel belongs at Disney Animation Studios. There is a distinctive Scottish flavour and an unconventional protagonist in Merida, but Brave could've been so much more.
#14: FINDING DORY
A very solid sequel, but, although doing an excellent job when developing Dory, the story still feels a bit thin and although endlessly entertaining, it does not live up to the childhood-defining predecessor.
#13: THE INCREDIBLES
Yes, its iconic, but I don't adore this as much as the rest of the world does. I thank this film for the introduction of the quintessential superfamily and... Edna Mode.
#12: MONSTERS UNIVERSITY
Many people feel that this is a significant step down from its preceding classic, but I found it to be a really fun, enjoyable, inventive and satisfying prequel story.
#11: MONSTERS, INC.
A whole lot of fun, a brilliant concept, and one of the greatest animated duos.
#10: RATATOUILLE
Regardless of my fear of rats, this film is inherently entertaining, with a sumptuous french flavour embedded in the visual and musical scope, and overall, a really enjoyable story.
#9: TOY STORY 2
To say that this is the weakest of the Toy Story films does, in no way, mean its weak, because, well, it is still a pretty-much-perfect film.
#8: FINDING NEMO
A wonderful story about the relationships between a parent and child, serene visuals, and one of the most iconic characters of all-time in Ellen DeGeneres' Dory.
#7: WALL-E
Easily the most intelligent film on this list, WALL-E is an exceptionally crafted piece of animation. It is a very relevant commentary on what our world could become, and the emotion conveyed in minimal dialogue is rather profound - having only seen the film three times over the span of 11 years, it most certainly leaves its mark.
#6: INCREDIBLES 2
An excellent sequel, exceeding its predecessor. Especially with a packed audience, Incredibles 2 makes for one of the most enjoyable experiences you will have in a movie theatre for the next few years. Creepy, hysterically hilarious, fast, witty, and action-packed.
#5: TOY STORY
The one that started it all. The beginning of the story about some of the most iconic characters in animated movie history. No explanation is required.
#4: UP
There is simply explanation needed here. The first 10 minutes alone is some of the most powerful piece of filmmaking in the history of cinema. Has anyone not sobbed at it at least once?
#3: INSIDE OUT
This is an absolutely masterful exploration of what it means to be human, all under the sheen of vibrant animation, wonderful characters and a spectacular and accessible visualisation of our emotions, Inside Out is a true masterpiece and - as evidenced by its position on this list - a Pixar classic.
#2: COCO
A wonderfully honourable homage to Mexican culture with the backbone of the story being a monumental Mexican festival, The Day Of The Dead. Coco offers beautifully wholesome messages about the importance of family in addition with allowing audiences to lose themselves in the gorgeous scope of visuals showcased throughout, a backdrop for an incredibly emotional and gripping story. Anyone can love Coco. There is no higher praise.
#1: TOY STORY 3
The final film in the original Toy Story trilogy couldn't be more perfect. Its thrilling, dark, hilarious, poignant and genuinely heart-breaking. Imagine an 8-year-old sobbing under his 3D glasses. That was me back in 2010. Now, imagine a 17-year old sobbing whilst re-watching one of the films that defined his childhood. That is me in 2019. Toy Story 3 ranks among the very, very greatest animated films to ever be put to screen.
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