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3. WALL-E (2008)

It seems like only yesterday when the stunning exclusion from WALL-E and The Dark Knight from the crowded field of Best Picture nominees caused such outcry that the Academy was forced to revisit the number of nominees in that category. As if that (and its six Oscar nominations, Pixar’s records) were not sufficient proof of this film’s cultural impact, consider the controversy that some saw in it for the movie’s clear and unambiguous message regarding the perilous consequences to humanity of man’s gluttonous, excessive relationship with his environment, coupled with the willful ignorance about this problem that has started to define a part of our generation.

On top of this important and well-analyzed message, the movie features a beautiful outer space palate and a memorable main character (which is not always the clear Pixar formula). They’ve gotten us to love fish, mice, and stuffed animals, but the outpour of tenderness for the little robot may have been their grandest coup of all. Indeed, the love story is endearing, the Thomas Newman score is moving, and the overall texture of the movie is much more analytical and smart than most live action films. WALL-E will play well in years to come when, hopefully, it will not be seen as an “oops, too late” warning that we ignored.

2. The Incredibles (2004)

While The Incredibles has its detractors, it is perhaps my personal guilty pleasure favorite. This movie is simply fun. The action sequences are entertaining and nerve-wracking, and the payout from the expected complicated plot (and one of the clearest, most pitiable villains) completely worth it.

Not to stay behind its brethren, The Incredibles features strong messages about family, love, and unity, and a clear point about what a superhero makes: not some sort of supernatural or above average talent, but the ability to recognize one strength’s and weaknesses, and then channel them towards the greater good and/or the benefit of others.

Considering that it was still one of Pixar’s earliest entries, the animation is also not too shabby. Indeed, one may call it a breakthrough for Pixar, as this was the first movie that featured humans as the lead characters. On top of the already complex challenge of animating humans into CGI, the filmmakers had to deal with adding explosions, smoke, water, and fire to the max. At times, it seems as if the movie is hand-drawn. Other times, however, the movie achieves levels of human realism that honestly I didn’t see again until Inside Out. Thank perhaps the meticulous Brad Bird, who wrote and directed the movie (and later Ratatouille (and, more recently, ahem, Tomorrowland). But do not discount the beautiful and animated score by - who else, at this point? - Michael Giacchino, in his first of oh, so many successful Pixar collaborations.

The Incredibles, again then, has all of the Pixar defining traits, if you look only past the surface: the growing and sometimes aging heroes, the melancholy of the past, the kooky characters, and the technical prowess. Of course, it has the brilliant and funny and adventurous story, with the same message: look past the surface, and there may yet be a hero in you, too.

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