Favorite Animated Movies
After talking about "Lilo and Stitch" with 
jewelsong in the comment section of my last entry, I find myself wanting to talk more about my favorite animated movies. Here's a random list of such movies near and dear to my heart:
1. Toy Story 1 and 2
Just finished talking about these two movies in my Pixar entry, but they are just wonderful.
2. Lilo and Stitch
A real surprise from last year, as I no longer expect animated movies as wonky, joyful and eccentric as this to come out of the Disney factory. Lilo is just about the strangest and most delightful child heroine ever. The look of the movie is beautiful, the script is hilarious and the messages about family are really moving.
3. The Iron Giant
I've always regretted this movie didn't do better than it did in the theatres because I just love it. The characters are just wonderful- Hogarth and the robot and the mother and the beatnik and the FBI agent (forgive me for not remembering names...). The movie has a whole 50's retro look that seems fresh and the growing relationship between Hogarth and the robot is funny and heart-warming. The message of peace over weapons is satisfying and doesn't feel forced. The folks behind this movie are releasing a new movie next year called "The Invincibles". The trailer before "Finding Nemo" is really funny and shouldn't be missed.
4. Nightmare Before Christmas
This movie just dazzled me the first time I saw it and it's been one of my favorite animated films ever since. Tim Burton has an artistic vision that is just breath-taking and the knowledge that characters in this movie like Jack Skellington and Sally have become cult favorites doesn't surprise me at all. The stop-action animation used here has never been better, the story is unique and fun and I -really- love the music. Until this movie I had no idea that composer Danny Elfman could sing, though I know now he used to be in a band called Oingo Boingo. Didn't like Burton's follow-up "James and the Giant Peach" nearly so well, but "Nightmare" could well be my favorite animated movie of all.
5. Yellow Submarine
This movie is just such a treat to watch. All the colours, man... Great fun, lots of classic lines (I have a hole in me pocket...), all kinds of bizarre things happening in every corner of the screen. And, oh, yeah, a rather groovy soundtrack by The Beatles :). Jeremy Hilary Boob and Blue Meanies and The Glove and LOVE that saves the world. What's not to like? :)
6. Shrek
A wonderful clear-eyed cynical look at fairy tales that ends up not being cynical at all. Another movie that had me on the ground laughing when it wasn't moving me to tears. Shrek, Donkey and Princess Fiona are a terrific trio of wanderers who you really learn to care about and by the time events are winding down at the end you just want to see them living happily ever after. Scenes like the bullet time send-up with the Merry Men and the exploding bird still make me laugh. Great use of music, both the contemporary songs in the soundtrack and the use of the fairy tale theme throughout the movie. I hear a sequel is in the works for next year. Let's hope "Shrek" has as good a sequel as "Toy Story" did.
Beauty and The Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Probably my two favorites of all the recent Disney animated musicals that are out there. Beauty and The Beast raised the bar for all the mainstream animated movies that came after it. Beautiful settings, classic characters, scenes that are humorous and heart-warming and a whole selection of memorable songs. I know "Hunchback" wasn't nearly so well-received, but it really stirred me the first time I saw it. Yes, it shreds the story of the book, yes, some characters are too Disneyfied, but there was a darkness and operatic feel to many of the scenes that really appealed to me a lot- the whole opening sequence, a handful of songs set in the Cathedriel. I know I'm going against the crowd liking this movie.
That's enough for now, though I'm bound to think of some movie that should have been on this list as soon as I send this entry out. I'd be interested in hearing about your favorite mainstream animated movies (as opposed to anime, etc., which is another whole entry to itself).
jewelsong in the comment section of my last entry, I find myself wanting to talk more about my favorite animated movies. Here's a random list of such movies near and dear to my heart:1. Toy Story 1 and 2
Just finished talking about these two movies in my Pixar entry, but they are just wonderful.
2. Lilo and Stitch
A real surprise from last year, as I no longer expect animated movies as wonky, joyful and eccentric as this to come out of the Disney factory. Lilo is just about the strangest and most delightful child heroine ever. The look of the movie is beautiful, the script is hilarious and the messages about family are really moving.
3. The Iron Giant
I've always regretted this movie didn't do better than it did in the theatres because I just love it. The characters are just wonderful- Hogarth and the robot and the mother and the beatnik and the FBI agent (forgive me for not remembering names...). The movie has a whole 50's retro look that seems fresh and the growing relationship between Hogarth and the robot is funny and heart-warming. The message of peace over weapons is satisfying and doesn't feel forced. The folks behind this movie are releasing a new movie next year called "The Invincibles". The trailer before "Finding Nemo" is really funny and shouldn't be missed.
4. Nightmare Before Christmas
This movie just dazzled me the first time I saw it and it's been one of my favorite animated films ever since. Tim Burton has an artistic vision that is just breath-taking and the knowledge that characters in this movie like Jack Skellington and Sally have become cult favorites doesn't surprise me at all. The stop-action animation used here has never been better, the story is unique and fun and I -really- love the music. Until this movie I had no idea that composer Danny Elfman could sing, though I know now he used to be in a band called Oingo Boingo. Didn't like Burton's follow-up "James and the Giant Peach" nearly so well, but "Nightmare" could well be my favorite animated movie of all.
5. Yellow Submarine
This movie is just such a treat to watch. All the colours, man... Great fun, lots of classic lines (I have a hole in me pocket...), all kinds of bizarre things happening in every corner of the screen. And, oh, yeah, a rather groovy soundtrack by The Beatles :). Jeremy Hilary Boob and Blue Meanies and The Glove and LOVE that saves the world. What's not to like? :)
6. Shrek
A wonderful clear-eyed cynical look at fairy tales that ends up not being cynical at all. Another movie that had me on the ground laughing when it wasn't moving me to tears. Shrek, Donkey and Princess Fiona are a terrific trio of wanderers who you really learn to care about and by the time events are winding down at the end you just want to see them living happily ever after. Scenes like the bullet time send-up with the Merry Men and the exploding bird still make me laugh. Great use of music, both the contemporary songs in the soundtrack and the use of the fairy tale theme throughout the movie. I hear a sequel is in the works for next year. Let's hope "Shrek" has as good a sequel as "Toy Story" did.
Beauty and The Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Probably my two favorites of all the recent Disney animated musicals that are out there. Beauty and The Beast raised the bar for all the mainstream animated movies that came after it. Beautiful settings, classic characters, scenes that are humorous and heart-warming and a whole selection of memorable songs. I know "Hunchback" wasn't nearly so well-received, but it really stirred me the first time I saw it. Yes, it shreds the story of the book, yes, some characters are too Disneyfied, but there was a darkness and operatic feel to many of the scenes that really appealed to me a lot- the whole opening sequence, a handful of songs set in the Cathedriel. I know I'm going against the crowd liking this movie.
That's enough for now, though I'm bound to think of some movie that should have been on this list as soon as I send this entry out. I'd be interested in hearing about your favorite mainstream animated movies (as opposed to anime, etc., which is another whole entry to itself).