Top 10 PIXAR Films

This summer, PIXAR Animation studios releases their 18th film, Cars 3. To commemorate this film, I have created a list of my top ten films by the studio. This list is my own opinion. If you like a film, click the title to watch it on Amazon Video.

In tenth place, we have The Incredibles.

PIXAR created a superhero film that actually had a villain with a compelling story. Most movies of this genre really don't give strong cause to the villains, but Syndrome's origin is actually truly tragic. I won't spoil it here, but it makes you wonder about how your actions can shape another person's life. The animation is very crisp and clean, despite having a lot going on, especially the jungle chase and the final battle. If you haven't seen it yet, it's worth the time.

Coming in ninth is Cars.

I remember being unimpressed by the trailers of this film, but then I was presently surprised by this film. The story has been seen before, but not necessarily in a way meant for younger audiences. The ideas of humility and compassion are incredibly handled in this film, as we see the characters grow. While some moments are a little out there, as was the sequel, the original still has ideas within it that can be discovered at any and all ages. A great film with a powerful message.

In eighth place is Monsters Inc.

This was a challenging film technically, and the creativity is beyond anything I had ever seen before. Imagine a world where monsters aren't scary, but rather act scary to produce power for their city. This clever film will have adults and children alike wondering what's in their closets, but in a positive light. If you have a child whose afraid of monsters, this film may help solve the problem.

Seventh place goes to Up.

Now I know some of you would place this higher on the list, but hear me out. While the opening is truly remarkable and unexpected for the film, the overall film has moments where it was trying too hard to do something edgy, especially at the entrance of the labyrinth. That being said, Up will likely leave people full of emotions and looking at how far you will go to keep a promise.

Next we have Brave.

I really found this one fascinating, as it was unlike anything PIXAR had done before. Rather than give human-like qualities to something else, such as a bug or a toy, Brave was almost a classic Disney Princess story. But it still challenged the ideas of the Disney formula. The film also made a point that what you have is what makes you who you are, and if you try to change that, you might lose yourself or someone you care about. A fantastic example of why you don't want to change your fate, no matter how much you hate the prospects, Brave tells a folk legend about needing to find a common ground, rather than demanding what you want, as Merida and her mother do. A creative twist of a Princess tale, Brave will definitely be worth a watch.

Now for the top five...

Fifth Place goes to Wall-e.

I cannot tell you how many times I have found new and exciting things in this film. The remarkably gorgeous love story between Wall-e and Eve will make everybody believe in the power of love to conquer all. The diversity of character within the robots adds the the creative force of this film. Finally, add an environmental message, but avoid it being too prominent (as in Cars 2) and you have a story that will drive people to clean up the planet.

The fourth best PIXAR film is Toy Story 3. 

I don't typically cry at movies, but this one got me. The original came out the year I was born, and I had grown up with Buzz, Woody, and the rest of the gang. There was nothing more emotional than seeing their journey with Andy come to a close. The film was by far the most intense and emotional ride of the trilogy (soon to have a 4th film), and featured a fantastic antagonist. They also really played with the concept of being a toy in this film, such as the reset button, language settings, and other creative ideas. This was a truly fitting end to the story of this group of toys, as well as furthering the idea of toy abandonment fostered in the second film. Grab the tissues and enjoy an emotion-filled send off for the toys that started it all.

Taking the bronze is Inside Out.

This film came out just two years ago, but it did something unprecedented in the world of animation. It teaches us all that every emotion, whether a positive emotion or a negative one, shapes who we are as a person. In addition, the film handles the explanation of complex ideas of psychology in an imaginative way that kids can actually follow, both in how emotions work and how memories change over time.

The runner up would have to be Finding Nemo.

Here we have an epic journey that has a lot to say about the importance of family. As the journey goes on, the determination of Marlin to find his son becomes more and more empowering, which makes it even more powerful when he feels he has failed. Full of creative jokes for the older generation, such as Bruce, Anchor, and Chum having a sea creature equivalent to the Alcoholics Anonymous program, and some amusing joke moments for the kids, such as those seagulls, there is something for everybody to laugh and feel for in this truly epic film. 

And my number one pick for the best PIXAR film is...

Toy Story.

I choose this because it was where it all began. Without the challenges and risks PIXAR took to create the film, animation as we know it would likely not exist. Despite being 20+ years old, the animation is still remarkably good. You can feel the air in this universe, and there is still a sense of danger during the tense moment. This is truly one of the best films of all.