"What's up kitty? Wanna hear about every major event in US history in 3 minutes?"
(Special Mention) Oliver and Company
Director: George Scribner
Starring: Joseph Lawrence, Billy Joel, Cheech Marin, and Dom DeLuise
I need to mention this movie on the list even though it isn't one of my ten favorite animated films, simply due to the fact that it is the first movie I remember seeing in the theaters. It was a rerelease and my mom took me and I remember loving it. It's just Oliver Twist, but for kids. And that's totally fine. But I didn't see the movie ever again after that initial viewing, but I had it ingrained in my mind. It was always lingering. And then, on my 23rd birthday, the Gods smiled down upon me and released the Blu Ray of this movie that day. It was a sign. I picked it up that day and watched it. Nostalgia overload. I personally love the movie, but it isn't perfect Disney. And there have been others to top it. But in pure nostalgia, not many can beat it.
A movie about dogs doing things, one voiced by Cheech. Even as a kid, I was sold.
Starring: Joseph Lawrence, Billy Joel, Cheech Marin, and Dom DeLuise
I need to mention this movie on the list even though it isn't one of my ten favorite animated films, simply due to the fact that it is the first movie I remember seeing in the theaters. It was a rerelease and my mom took me and I remember loving it. It's just Oliver Twist, but for kids. And that's totally fine. But I didn't see the movie ever again after that initial viewing, but I had it ingrained in my mind. It was always lingering. And then, on my 23rd birthday, the Gods smiled down upon me and released the Blu Ray of this movie that day. It was a sign. I picked it up that day and watched it. Nostalgia overload. I personally love the movie, but it isn't perfect Disney. And there have been others to top it. But in pure nostalgia, not many can beat it.
The calm before the time traveling shit storm.
10. Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
Director: Jay Oliva
Starring: Justin Chambers, Kevin McKidd, Michael B. Jordan, and C. Thomas Howell
I decided I was going to put one comic book movie on here and it came down to this and The Dark Knight Returns (I haven't seen Mask of The Phantasm, relax). But Flashpoint edges it out for two reasons. One is that TDKR has some of the same flaws that the book has. Two is that Flashpoint managed to invoke an emotional response out of me that wasn't just "FUCK YEAH!" or "I can't believe I'm watching something I read as a kid". Based on the graphic novel by Geoff Johns, The Flash wakes up one day and realizes he isn't The Flash anymore, he's just Barry Allen and he realizes something is up. The entire world is different and he has to figure out why. What follows is an epic tale of an alternate world that is divided by war, and features some brilliant alternate versions of the Justice League. The best of this comes in the new Batman, which I won't spoil for the uninitiated. But the relationship between him and Barry is just fantastic, especially with the payoff for them. This is also one of the few adaptations that is better than the source material. It takes the general outline and many of the details, but tweaks things a bit to make it work better as a whole. More streamlined and more details to craft a fully realized world. Simply put, it is a thrilling adventure with a lot of heart and a lot of ideas. DC animations crowning achievement thus far.
The heart of this movie is thanks to these two.
Starring: Justin Chambers, Kevin McKidd, Michael B. Jordan, and C. Thomas Howell
I decided I was going to put one comic book movie on here and it came down to this and The Dark Knight Returns (I haven't seen Mask of The Phantasm, relax). But Flashpoint edges it out for two reasons. One is that TDKR has some of the same flaws that the book has. Two is that Flashpoint managed to invoke an emotional response out of me that wasn't just "FUCK YEAH!" or "I can't believe I'm watching something I read as a kid". Based on the graphic novel by Geoff Johns, The Flash wakes up one day and realizes he isn't The Flash anymore, he's just Barry Allen and he realizes something is up. The entire world is different and he has to figure out why. What follows is an epic tale of an alternate world that is divided by war, and features some brilliant alternate versions of the Justice League. The best of this comes in the new Batman, which I won't spoil for the uninitiated. But the relationship between him and Barry is just fantastic, especially with the payoff for them. This is also one of the few adaptations that is better than the source material. It takes the general outline and many of the details, but tweaks things a bit to make it work better as a whole. More streamlined and more details to craft a fully realized world. Simply put, it is a thrilling adventure with a lot of heart and a lot of ideas. DC animations crowning achievement thus far.
Anyone who grew up in the 90s lost it in this scene
9. Wreck It Ralph
Director: Rich Moore
Starring: John C Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Alan Tudyk, and Jane Lynch
The Who Framed Roger Rabbit of my generation. Instead of old cartoon characters, we get a buffet of video game characters. We follow the titular Ralph, a video game bad guy who doesn't want to be a bad guy anymore. So he hops out of his game looking to prove his worth. What follows is a surprisingly emotional ride that almost goes full Iron Giant on us. The movie also gets really heavy towards the end with the potential of insanity and death coming at the characters. But really, the main thing about the movie is it is hilarious. Reilly is perfect as Ralph, nailing the big bruiser with a heart of gold. Silverman is even bearable as Vanellope. Tudyk is completely unrecognizable as King Candy and Jane Lynch is, well, Jane Lynch. There are many a references to games new and old, and many cameos. This movie really was just a trip down memory lane and really made me happy. A movie for all ages, if you played games as a kid or you have kids that do now, this movie is tailor made for you.
A surprisingly emotional scene in an otherwise laugh riot
An image still sticking to young minds today
"Jeez, I gotta stop taking amphetamines"
Starring: John C Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Alan Tudyk, and Jane Lynch
The Who Framed Roger Rabbit of my generation. Instead of old cartoon characters, we get a buffet of video game characters. We follow the titular Ralph, a video game bad guy who doesn't want to be a bad guy anymore. So he hops out of his game looking to prove his worth. What follows is a surprisingly emotional ride that almost goes full Iron Giant on us. The movie also gets really heavy towards the end with the potential of insanity and death coming at the characters. But really, the main thing about the movie is it is hilarious. Reilly is perfect as Ralph, nailing the big bruiser with a heart of gold. Silverman is even bearable as Vanellope. Tudyk is completely unrecognizable as King Candy and Jane Lynch is, well, Jane Lynch. There are many a references to games new and old, and many cameos. This movie really was just a trip down memory lane and really made me happy. A movie for all ages, if you played games as a kid or you have kids that do now, this movie is tailor made for you.
8. The Nightmare Before Christmas
Director: Henry Selick
Starring: Chris Sarandon, Danny Elfman, and Catharine O'Hara
If you had to ask a bunch of random people who directed this movie, the majority of them would say Tim Burton. They'd be wrong, but not really. No slight to Selick, who delivered a great god damn movie. But this is like the "who really directed Poltergeist" question that's been asked for a while. The directors of these two movies may get the technical credit, but each delivered a movie that feels so completely like one of the producers movie that we don't really know now. But no matter who gets the credit, Nightmare Before Christmas is one of the best animated movies ever. Filmed with the stop motion technique, the movie is visually one of the best and most unique on this list. It also has one of the most unique stories on the whole list, as it involves the citizens of Halloween Town trying to take over Christmas from Santa in Christmas Town. But it's not a war or anything. The guys in Halloween Town, led by Jack Skellington, wanna help and be nice and do good things. Jack is having a mid life crisis, sick of only doing Halloween. So he tries to be the new "Sandy Claws" for the world. But it doesn't go too well, and the "crime boss" of Halloween Town makes things worse. The movie is a blast to watch, a unique experience that really is just singularly Burton even if he isn't the "director". The cast is great, the songs by Elfman are wonderful and catchy, and the moral of the story is something every kid needs to hear. Don't try to be like everyone else. Be who you are, do what you're good at and be proud. It's great that the moral is in such a good damn movie. Don't expect to be moved like the other movies on this list. It tries for those moments, but doesn't hit them as hard as even Flashpoint Paradox does. But for a pure, fun time there aren't many better options.
Director: Henry Selick
Starring: Chris Sarandon, Danny Elfman, and Catharine O'Hara
If you had to ask a bunch of random people who directed this movie, the majority of them would say Tim Burton. They'd be wrong, but not really. No slight to Selick, who delivered a great god damn movie. But this is like the "who really directed Poltergeist" question that's been asked for a while. The directors of these two movies may get the technical credit, but each delivered a movie that feels so completely like one of the producers movie that we don't really know now. But no matter who gets the credit, Nightmare Before Christmas is one of the best animated movies ever. Filmed with the stop motion technique, the movie is visually one of the best and most unique on this list. It also has one of the most unique stories on the whole list, as it involves the citizens of Halloween Town trying to take over Christmas from Santa in Christmas Town. But it's not a war or anything. The guys in Halloween Town, led by Jack Skellington, wanna help and be nice and do good things. Jack is having a mid life crisis, sick of only doing Halloween. So he tries to be the new "Sandy Claws" for the world. But it doesn't go too well, and the "crime boss" of Halloween Town makes things worse. The movie is a blast to watch, a unique experience that really is just singularly Burton even if he isn't the "director". The cast is great, the songs by Elfman are wonderful and catchy, and the moral of the story is something every kid needs to hear. Don't try to be like everyone else. Be who you are, do what you're good at and be proud. It's great that the moral is in such a good damn movie. Don't expect to be moved like the other movies on this list. It tries for those moments, but doesn't hit them as hard as even Flashpoint Paradox does. But for a pure, fun time there aren't many better options.
7. Wall-E
Director: Andrew Stanton
This is the movie that proved Pixar was the best in the biz. Yeah, we knew for a while they were unreal and unbeatable. Yeah, they stumbled with Cars and are in a bit of a dry spell since after Toy Story 3. But this movie was just a monumental achievement that people still can't believe it. It's a movie about a robot that can only say his name, Wall-E, as he embarks on a journey that changes the notions of what he can do and that changes the Earth. An almost dialogue-less movie, this movie is still just a technical marvel. The fact that we can understand everything thats going on, what the characters are thinking and not be bored is unreal. It's a funny, thrilling and poignant movie that just kind of throws the gauntlet down for what can be done with narratives, not just in animation but in all of cinema.
Just an incredible relationship
This is the movie that proved Pixar was the best in the biz. Yeah, we knew for a while they were unreal and unbeatable. Yeah, they stumbled with Cars and are in a bit of a dry spell since after Toy Story 3. But this movie was just a monumental achievement that people still can't believe it. It's a movie about a robot that can only say his name, Wall-E, as he embarks on a journey that changes the notions of what he can do and that changes the Earth. An almost dialogue-less movie, this movie is still just a technical marvel. The fact that we can understand everything thats going on, what the characters are thinking and not be bored is unreal. It's a funny, thrilling and poignant movie that just kind of throws the gauntlet down for what can be done with narratives, not just in animation but in all of cinema.
6. The Lion King
Directors: Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Jeremy Irons, and James Earl Jones
In my humblest of opinions, this is the best work Disney has done. Yes, it is just Hamlet with animals. But, it's Hamlet with animals so it's already better than Hamlet. But seriously, this movie has it all. It is funny, fun but also just a tear jerker. Seriously, if you don't well up at all during this movie, fuck you you dead soul prick. You got great characters all fully realized by a perfect voice cast. Elton John delivers a perfect soundtrack that lives on to this day. And there are moments in this movie that are just absolutely transcendent. You get an epic power struggle between a Lion family and the epic tragedy that unfolds throughout. The movie is great and iconic for all who watch it, but there is one group that this movie hits a lot harder and that is boys. Whether you have issues with your father like me, or you have a great relationship with him, this movie is just rough. It takes everything you feel about that specific parent and sticks an emotional blade in your ribs. It's like the Brians Song for kids. But stripped down of any greater details or analysis, the movie is just perfect. Disney's best work is also the last great movie they made on their own, with out the help of Pixar (note: I haven't seen Frozen so shut up about and... Let It Go, fucking nailed it).
Look at this image. If you ain't sold, go watch Grimm or some shit
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Jeremy Irons, and James Earl Jones
In my humblest of opinions, this is the best work Disney has done. Yes, it is just Hamlet with animals. But, it's Hamlet with animals so it's already better than Hamlet. But seriously, this movie has it all. It is funny, fun but also just a tear jerker. Seriously, if you don't well up at all during this movie, fuck you you dead soul prick. You got great characters all fully realized by a perfect voice cast. Elton John delivers a perfect soundtrack that lives on to this day. And there are moments in this movie that are just absolutely transcendent. You get an epic power struggle between a Lion family and the epic tragedy that unfolds throughout. The movie is great and iconic for all who watch it, but there is one group that this movie hits a lot harder and that is boys. Whether you have issues with your father like me, or you have a great relationship with him, this movie is just rough. It takes everything you feel about that specific parent and sticks an emotional blade in your ribs. It's like the Brians Song for kids. But stripped down of any greater details or analysis, the movie is just perfect. Disney's best work is also the last great movie they made on their own, with out the help of Pixar (note: I haven't seen Frozen so shut up about and... Let It Go, fucking nailed it).
The ideal pairing for True Detective Season 2
5. Up
Directors: Pete Docter and Bob Peterson
Starring: Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson, and Christopher Plummer
Up is a movie that everyone loves, but you just hate for the beginning of it. Not because it's bad. But because it just rapes your emotions and doesn't take no for an answer. Essentially a short film before the rest of the film plays out, we watch as Carl and his wife Ellie live out their lives. We see the highs and the heart wrenching lows till we eventually get to the moment when Carl is all alone with his memories. All set to music, we still get caught up in the emotional roller coaster that is their life. And when Carl is about to be forced out of the home that he made with his wife, he hatches a plan to lift his home off the ground and into the skies by inflating hundreds of helium balloons and flying to the exotic location that he planned to go with Ellie. But a hyper, lonely boy scout is stuck with him and they almost make it to the location before getting into an epic adventure. The movie is just a well oiled machine, knowing when to make you laugh or to cry or to sit on the edge of your seat. The relationship between Carl and Russell the boy scout is great. Add in the talking dog Dug, then you got a hell of a trio. But watching as Russell manages to thaw the icy shield that Carl has erected after losing his love is fantastic. You got a great bad guy in Charles Muntz (Plummer) who is the inverse of Carl. A man who is so unable to let go of the past that he has curdled and turned bad. Really, I'd say this is the best Pixar movie if there wasn't an entry later on in this list. But suffice it to say, this coming right after Wall-E has cemented their place right next to old school Disney.
Literally the saddest thing in a cartoon ever. Literally.
An odd, but powerful friendship begins
4. The Iron Giant
Director: Brad Bird
Starring: Eli Marienthal, Jennifer Aniston, Christopher McDonald, and Vin Diesel
This fucking movie. Seriously, this is one of those movies that just makes men weep like little babies. And it is all thanks to the masterful direction of Brad Bird. The movie that put him on everyones radar, before Pixar had him build a monster hit for them with The Incredibles (just barely missed the list). Set in the 50s, we follow the loner outcast Hogarth (Marienthal) as he lives his life with his imagination as his only friend. But wandering through the woods one day, he stumbles across a giant robot (yes, the titular giant). With no clues as to who he is or where he's from, the giant essentially learns how to act by Hogarths example. And as the movie goes along, a very special bond builds between the two and ends in tearjerker fashion. From a stunning script to wonderful casting (Diesel has little to do, but makes every moment count) to Birds, again, masterful direction we had a classic that slipped under the radar. By using the paranoia of communism prevalent in the 50s and the plethora of sci movies from the time, the movie has a dated but timeless feel. Even though it's steeped in that eras paranoia and fears, it builds a movie about friendship and destiny and identity that is completely timeless. And while it didn't light the world on fire initially, it has developed quite the rep. It is rightfully considered one of the best, and probably the last great hand drawn animated film. Just a perfect experience.
The day every boy learned how to cry
Sorry. THIS is the best True Detective season 2 pairing
Starring: Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson, and Christopher Plummer
Up is a movie that everyone loves, but you just hate for the beginning of it. Not because it's bad. But because it just rapes your emotions and doesn't take no for an answer. Essentially a short film before the rest of the film plays out, we watch as Carl and his wife Ellie live out their lives. We see the highs and the heart wrenching lows till we eventually get to the moment when Carl is all alone with his memories. All set to music, we still get caught up in the emotional roller coaster that is their life. And when Carl is about to be forced out of the home that he made with his wife, he hatches a plan to lift his home off the ground and into the skies by inflating hundreds of helium balloons and flying to the exotic location that he planned to go with Ellie. But a hyper, lonely boy scout is stuck with him and they almost make it to the location before getting into an epic adventure. The movie is just a well oiled machine, knowing when to make you laugh or to cry or to sit on the edge of your seat. The relationship between Carl and Russell the boy scout is great. Add in the talking dog Dug, then you got a hell of a trio. But watching as Russell manages to thaw the icy shield that Carl has erected after losing his love is fantastic. You got a great bad guy in Charles Muntz (Plummer) who is the inverse of Carl. A man who is so unable to let go of the past that he has curdled and turned bad. Really, I'd say this is the best Pixar movie if there wasn't an entry later on in this list. But suffice it to say, this coming right after Wall-E has cemented their place right next to old school Disney.
4. The Iron Giant
Director: Brad Bird
Starring: Eli Marienthal, Jennifer Aniston, Christopher McDonald, and Vin Diesel
This fucking movie. Seriously, this is one of those movies that just makes men weep like little babies. And it is all thanks to the masterful direction of Brad Bird. The movie that put him on everyones radar, before Pixar had him build a monster hit for them with The Incredibles (just barely missed the list). Set in the 50s, we follow the loner outcast Hogarth (Marienthal) as he lives his life with his imagination as his only friend. But wandering through the woods one day, he stumbles across a giant robot (yes, the titular giant). With no clues as to who he is or where he's from, the giant essentially learns how to act by Hogarths example. And as the movie goes along, a very special bond builds between the two and ends in tearjerker fashion. From a stunning script to wonderful casting (Diesel has little to do, but makes every moment count) to Birds, again, masterful direction we had a classic that slipped under the radar. By using the paranoia of communism prevalent in the 50s and the plethora of sci movies from the time, the movie has a dated but timeless feel. Even though it's steeped in that eras paranoia and fears, it builds a movie about friendship and destiny and identity that is completely timeless. And while it didn't light the world on fire initially, it has developed quite the rep. It is rightfully considered one of the best, and probably the last great hand drawn animated film. Just a perfect experience.
3. Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Charles Fleischer and Kathleen Turner
One of the most innovative technical achievements on this list. It is also kind of a cheat, but fuck it. It's my list and most of the characters in this movie are animated, and the climax takes place in Toon Town. An old school noir mixed with the zany antics of the Looney Tunes, the movie stars Hoskins as Eddie Valiant. He is a PI who used to work in Toon Town, but is no a burnout drunk. But when he gets roped into a plot to frame Roger Rabbit for murder, he is thrust back into the zany world he thought he left behind. This is a movie everyone sees as a kid, and it is the perfect middle ground of being fun enough for kids to watch and serious enough for adults to enjoy. It never leans too far either way, and it makes it one of the best early movies to show kids that isn't just ADD cartoon bullshit. This is Zemeckis at peak form, better than Back To The Future in my opinion. Hoskins is perfect, nailing the old school noir detective role while feeling perfectly in line with the cartoonish world around him. Lloyd is just terrifying and haunting to any child, completely insane. So basically, Lloyd being Lloyd. And then you got Fleischer and Turner just turning these two toons into new animated icons. Fleischer nailing the semi retarded tone that Roger has. Turner nails the animated femme fatale that every noir needs, just animated this time. The story is perfectly noir esque, a conspiracy involving powerful people and the ruination of a peoples, but involving cartoons. Really, this is the staying power of the movie. It somehow manages to be completely insane with this toeing of tones that it never falls into either one. It manages that timelessness by embracing different aesthetics from different eras, combining into one masterpiece of cinema.
Oh, hey childhood nightmares. What's good?
One of the most innovative technical achievements on this list. It is also kind of a cheat, but fuck it. It's my list and most of the characters in this movie are animated, and the climax takes place in Toon Town. An old school noir mixed with the zany antics of the Looney Tunes, the movie stars Hoskins as Eddie Valiant. He is a PI who used to work in Toon Town, but is no a burnout drunk. But when he gets roped into a plot to frame Roger Rabbit for murder, he is thrust back into the zany world he thought he left behind. This is a movie everyone sees as a kid, and it is the perfect middle ground of being fun enough for kids to watch and serious enough for adults to enjoy. It never leans too far either way, and it makes it one of the best early movies to show kids that isn't just ADD cartoon bullshit. This is Zemeckis at peak form, better than Back To The Future in my opinion. Hoskins is perfect, nailing the old school noir detective role while feeling perfectly in line with the cartoonish world around him. Lloyd is just terrifying and haunting to any child, completely insane. So basically, Lloyd being Lloyd. And then you got Fleischer and Turner just turning these two toons into new animated icons. Fleischer nailing the semi retarded tone that Roger has. Turner nails the animated femme fatale that every noir needs, just animated this time. The story is perfectly noir esque, a conspiracy involving powerful people and the ruination of a peoples, but involving cartoons. Really, this is the staying power of the movie. It somehow manages to be completely insane with this toeing of tones that it never falls into either one. It manages that timelessness by embracing different aesthetics from different eras, combining into one masterpiece of cinema.
2. South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut
Director: Trey Parker
Starring: Matt Stone and Trey Parker
Starring: Matt Stone and Trey Parker
Time to put on my controversy hat and make a bold statement. The first two seasons of South Park aren't very good. They were just typical animated stories but with alot more filth. Yeah, at the time it was great. But age hasn't been too kind to it. Mainly, it was kinda stupid. Nothing else going on. But it was so big it managed to warrant a big screen movie. And then something special happened. Matt and Trey grew up a bit, making a movie filthier than anything they've done before but with a lot of brains. This is basically them responding to all the criticisms they got from parents groups and the likes about being too filthy for kids. So they made a movie about that. This was the moment when the show reached iconic status, and Matt and Trey became comedy icons. But that alone doesn't make a funny movie. Luckily, they bring the funny in fucking dump trucks. Shit, look at the title. From the get go, they give you a joke you may not get on first glance. It's just them saying its the movie version of the show. But it's a dick joke. Laying on complete filth that was never seen in a comedy before, let alone one so mainstream. Matt and Trey lay the jokes upon jokes, writing hilarious songs and building the story to completely insane ends. This may be the start of the tradition of taking a simple story, and going overboard with the outcomes. The movie is about the effects of foul shows and movies. So they start with censorship, but instead of building to a low key ending where everyone learns a lesson, it just goes to completely illogical extremes for real life but sensible for that world. They take a movie about censorship and throw in a world war and the apocalypse led by Satan and Saddam Hussein, all while being a musical. This is a movie that shouldn't exist, but it does and it is glorious. Not only is it the funniest and smartest cartoon I've seen, it's one of the best movies I've seen.
The best friendship my generation ever saw
1. Toy Story Trilogy
Directors: John Lasseter, Ash Brannon and Lee Unkrich
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack and John Ratzenberger
This entry is very important to me. Hell, it's an important part of anyone in my generations lives. The first Toy Story is the movie that we all go back to. It is one of the best animated ever. Pixar wouldn't exist if the movie didn't work as well as it did. Hell, animated films would be completely different. This movie is a landmark on every front. With a story that manages to transcend age, about friendship and growing up and even the prospect of a newborn sibling in a way, this movie can be appreciated by all. And really, it has such a great damn hook. What if our toys were sentient and lived lives when we weren't looking? Just brilliant. And we just funny damn character, from the ornery old man Mr Potato Head to the loyal Slinky Dog to our two main men. Woody and Buzz Lightyear. I really can't stress just how important these two are. Perfectly imbued with life by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, they are the two whose friendship taught alot of kids how to be friends. Hell, it taught them how to even be siblings in a way. Woody going from the big dog to being humbled by the arrival of the shiny new Buzz Lightyear is great stuff. And even Buzz Lightyear, going from the man who thinks he knows everything to realizing the world he actually lives in is not what he thinks is mindblowing for a kids movie. But the journey of these two from enemies to the best friends in the world is just movie magic of the highest order. But we figured it was the end of it. But we kids got lucky and 4 years later got a sequel that introduces more characters that are just as iconic. We get Jessie and Bullseye and Stinky Pete. Jessie's plight is another mindfuck for kids, as she suffers from serious PTSD from losing her previous owner and suffering from intense claustrophobia. Even Stinky Pete, that rat bastard, is so deadset on being valuable that he tries to essential kidnap Woody and Jessie. This second installment is loads of fun and a good time for all ages, but it also introduces a bit of a darker tone. Kidnapping and enslavement and abandonment are crazy topics for a kids movie like this. The darker tone pushes through into the 3rd installment 11 years later. Andy is all grown up and heading to college. So the toys are about to be put into storage when adventure strikes. Ending up in a day care ruled with an iron fist by the despotic Lotso Huggin Bear (a great, subtle Starsky and Hutch joke). So we essentially get the toy version of a prison escape movie and it is as fun as one would expect. We even get Buzz getting "reset" and reverting back to his factory settings, but it Spanish. But towards the end of the movie, things take a turn for the dark. And we don't know how far it's going to go. By the end of the movie, anyone who grew up with these awesome little bastards are in tears as we are forced to say goodbye to the past. This movie is the ultimate series of animated movies for my generation, because we grew up with them. We were Andy. We were kids when the first came out, and off to College like Andy by the 3rd. We had to grow up and leave the past behind. This is like the Before Sunrise trilogy, but for animation. It stands to reason we won't see anything as powerful and able to catch the zeitgeist the way these movies did. For me, the pinnacle of animation. My childhood, wrapped into close to 5 hours of perfect.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack and John Ratzenberger
This entry is very important to me. Hell, it's an important part of anyone in my generations lives. The first Toy Story is the movie that we all go back to. It is one of the best animated ever. Pixar wouldn't exist if the movie didn't work as well as it did. Hell, animated films would be completely different. This movie is a landmark on every front. With a story that manages to transcend age, about friendship and growing up and even the prospect of a newborn sibling in a way, this movie can be appreciated by all. And really, it has such a great damn hook. What if our toys were sentient and lived lives when we weren't looking? Just brilliant. And we just funny damn character, from the ornery old man Mr Potato Head to the loyal Slinky Dog to our two main men. Woody and Buzz Lightyear. I really can't stress just how important these two are. Perfectly imbued with life by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, they are the two whose friendship taught alot of kids how to be friends. Hell, it taught them how to even be siblings in a way. Woody going from the big dog to being humbled by the arrival of the shiny new Buzz Lightyear is great stuff. And even Buzz Lightyear, going from the man who thinks he knows everything to realizing the world he actually lives in is not what he thinks is mindblowing for a kids movie. But the journey of these two from enemies to the best friends in the world is just movie magic of the highest order. But we figured it was the end of it. But we kids got lucky and 4 years later got a sequel that introduces more characters that are just as iconic. We get Jessie and Bullseye and Stinky Pete. Jessie's plight is another mindfuck for kids, as she suffers from serious PTSD from losing her previous owner and suffering from intense claustrophobia. Even Stinky Pete, that rat bastard, is so deadset on being valuable that he tries to essential kidnap Woody and Jessie. This second installment is loads of fun and a good time for all ages, but it also introduces a bit of a darker tone. Kidnapping and enslavement and abandonment are crazy topics for a kids movie like this. The darker tone pushes through into the 3rd installment 11 years later. Andy is all grown up and heading to college. So the toys are about to be put into storage when adventure strikes. Ending up in a day care ruled with an iron fist by the despotic Lotso Huggin Bear (a great, subtle Starsky and Hutch joke). So we essentially get the toy version of a prison escape movie and it is as fun as one would expect. We even get Buzz getting "reset" and reverting back to his factory settings, but it Spanish. But towards the end of the movie, things take a turn for the dark. And we don't know how far it's going to go. By the end of the movie, anyone who grew up with these awesome little bastards are in tears as we are forced to say goodbye to the past. This movie is the ultimate series of animated movies for my generation, because we grew up with them. We were Andy. We were kids when the first came out, and off to College like Andy by the 3rd. We had to grow up and leave the past behind. This is like the Before Sunrise trilogy, but for animation. It stands to reason we won't see anything as powerful and able to catch the zeitgeist the way these movies did. For me, the pinnacle of animation. My childhood, wrapped into close to 5 hours of perfect.
The gang came back to say goodbye
- Tom Lorenzo
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