As The Good Dinosaur stomps into theaters Thanksgiving Day, Pixar's 16th animated feature looks to continue the studios legacy of delivering quality computer animated entertainment. Before then, we take a look back at what made the Studio such a success as we explore and rank their films from best to worst. From toys to cars, monsters and ants, robots, fish, bugs, and even a house tied to balloons, we see which entries have become modern classics over the course of Pixar's illustrious twenty year run that saw the studio revolutionize the animation landscape once dominated by Disney.
15. Cars 2- When Lightning Mcqueen is challenged to an international Grand Prix, the cars of Radiator Springs travel to every corner of the earth, and Mater, the lovable hillbilly tow truck, is thrown into the world of espionage when he’s confused with a debonair spy. Pixar’s first real clunker, Cars 2 is an unimaginative, bottom-of-the-barrel film devoid of any of its predecessor’s spirit or heart. Its insipid, clichéd spy premise ignores the first film’s strengths, and Cars 2 is just a chance for Pixar to sell more merchandise for its most lucrative brand.
14. Brave- When a rebellious young princess rejects an age-old Scottish tradition, she inadvertently sends her family’s kingdom into turmoil as she clashes with her shrewd mother. Pixar’s first film to feature a female protagonist is ultimately a missed opportunity for the studio, and it feels like a failed attempt to reproduce the success of the Disney princess formula. Bravefeels oddly incomplete as the main story meanders along in fits and starts, never able to decide if it wants to focus on the drama of the mother/daughter relationship or the more fantastical elements of its fairytale premise.
13. Monsters University- A prequel that explores Mike and Sully’s formative years in college, this film scores big points by re-teaming Crystal and Goodman and then pitting them as rivals who come to respect each others’ strengths. The voice acting and gorgeous visuals are still on full display, but University never breaks out of the genre’s stagnated structure as it meanders through a series of college tropes with a monster spin. University is content to skate by on the first film’s honors instead of excelling on its own merit.
12. Cars- After falling out of his trailer in the run down town of Radiator Springs, an arrogant race car named Lightning McQueen bonds with the locals and learns that there is more to life than just racing. A loving tribute to car culture and the enigmatic spirit of Route 66, Cars somehow manages to stave off the imaginative slump that would befall the studio a few years later by investing in a quirky (albeit stereotypical) cast of characters. If a movie can make Larry the Cable Guy tolerable, it earns a few points in my book.
11. A Bug’s Life- Pixar’s sophomore effort, A Bug’s Life, widens the scope of animation and storytelling as it follows the adventures of Flik, a misfit ant who sets out to save his colony from a swarm of menacing grasshoppers by employing a group of circus bugs. While not as tightly plotted as Toy Story, Life is still a fun romp through the perspective of being one inch off the ground.
10. Toy Story 2- When Woody is kidnapped by a toy collector, Buzz and the rest of Andy's toys set out to find him. On his journey, Woody discovers that he is the main character of a famous retro television series and befriends the other toys featured on the show. By expanding the cast of characters and developing another original story, Toy Story 2 is not only a worthy sequel, but also a precursor to what the studio would explore in future films. Jessie’s roadside abandonment by her previous owner which plays out over a somber montage symbolizes Pixar’s confidence in their younger viewers to not only tolerate, but embrace more mature themes in their family entertainment.
10. Toy Story 2- When Woody is kidnapped by a toy collector, Buzz and the rest of Andy's toys set out to find him. On his journey, Woody discovers that he is the main character of a famous retro television series and befriends the other toys featured on the show. By expanding the cast of characters and developing another original story, Toy Story 2 is not only a worthy sequel, but also a precursor to what the studio would explore in future films. Jessie’s roadside abandonment by her previous owner which plays out over a somber montage symbolizes Pixar’s confidence in their younger viewers to not only tolerate, but embrace more mature themes in their family entertainment.
