Pixar Animation Studios, a subsidiary of Disney, has been a pioneering force in the world of animated cinema for over three decades. Since its debut with "Toy Story" in 1995, Pixar has consistently produced exceptional films that have not only set new standards for animation but also touched the hearts of audiences worldwide. In this article, we'll delve into the top 10 most popular Pixar movies that have shaped the animation industry and left an indelible mark on film history.
What is a Pixar Movie?
A Pixar movie, or a film produced by Pixar Animation Studios, is a type of animated feature film known for its high-quality animation, compelling storytelling, and innovative use of computer-generated imagery (CGI). Pixar Animation Studios, often simply referred to as Pixar, is a renowned American animation studio that was founded in 1986 as part of Lucasfilm and later became a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. Pixar is known for pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the field of animation and has produced a series of critically acclaimed and commercially successful animated movies.
Key characteristics of Pixar movies include:
1. Innovative Animation: Pixar is at the forefront of CGI animation technology. Their films often showcase cutting-edge techniques and lifelike visual effects.
2. Compelling Storytelling: Pixar movies are celebrated for their engaging and emotionally resonant stories. They are known for creating memorable characters and narratives that appeal to both children and adults.
3. Diverse Themes: Pixar movies explore a wide range of themes, from friendship and family to self-discovery and environmental issues. They are known for tackling complex subjects while maintaining accessibility for audiences of all ages.
4. Memorable Characters: Pixar movies introduce audiences to a host of memorable and relatable characters. Many of these characters, such as Woody and Buzz from "Toy Story" or Dory from "Finding Nemo," have become iconic in the world of animation.
5. Critical and Commercial Success: Pixar movies consistently receive critical acclaim and perform well at the box office, making them some of the most successful animated films in the industry.
6. Franchise Building: Pixar often creates successful franchises with sequels that extend the stories of beloved characters. Examples include the "Toy Story," "Finding Nemo," and "Cars" franchises.
Some of the most popular and beloved Pixar movies include "Toy Story," "Finding Nemo," "The Incredibles," "Up," "WALL-E," "Ratatouille," "Coco," "Inside Out," "Monsters, Inc.," and "Toy Story 3." These films have left a lasting impact on the world of animation and continue to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages.
Top Ten Most Popular Pixar Movies
Pixar is one of the most acclaimed and successful animation studios in the world, producing iconic films that appeal to audiences of all ages. But which are the most popular Pixar movies among fans and critics? Here is a list of the top 10 Pixar films, based on various sources and rankings.
1. Toy Story (1995)
Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film was directed by John Lasseter, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen, and Alec Sokolow. The film features the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Jim Varney, Annie Potts, R. Lee Ermey, John Morris, Laurie Metcalf, and Erik von Detten. Toy Story was the first feature-length film to be made entirely using computer-generated imagery (CGI).
The film follows the adventures of two rival toys: Woody, a traditional cowboy doll who is the leader of a group of toys that belong to a boy named Andy; and Buzz Lightyear, a modern space ranger action figure who thinks he is a real space hero. When Andy's family moves to a new house, Woody and Buzz are accidentally left behind and have to work together to escape from the clutches of Sid, Andy's sadistic neighbor who enjoys torturing toys. Along the way, they learn to overcome their differences and become friends.
Toy Story was a critical and commercial success, earning over $373 million worldwide. It was praised for its groundbreaking animation, witty script, charming characters, and emotional depth. It received three Academy Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Original Song for "You've Got a Friend in Me." It also won a Special Achievement Academy Award for Lasseter's direction. The film spawned three sequels: Toy Story 2 (1999), Toy Story 3 (2010), and Toy Story 4 (2019), as well as several spin-offs and short films. Toy Story is widely considered to be one of the best-animated films of all time and one of the most influential films in the history of cinema.
2. Finding Nemo (2003)
Finding Nemo is a computer-animated comedy-drama adventure film that follows the journey of a clownfish named Marlin, who searches for his son Nemo after he is captured by a diver and taken to Sydney. Along the way, Marlin meets a forgetful blue tang named Dory, who helps him overcome various obstacles and dangers in the ocean. Meanwhile, Nemo tries to escape from a dentist's fish tank with the help of his new friends.
The film was produced by Pixar Animation Studios and directed by Andrew Stanton, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Bob Peterson and David Reynolds. The film features the voices of Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, and Geoffrey Rush. Finding Nemo was a critical and commercial success, winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and becoming the highest-grossing animated film at the time of its release.
3. The Incredibles (2004)
The Incredibles is a computer-animated superhero film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film follows a family of superheroes who are forced to hide their powers and live a normal suburban life. However, they are drawn into a conflict with a former fan-turned-villain and his killer robot army. The film was written and directed by Brad Bird, who also voiced the character of Edna Mode, a fashion designer for superheroes.
The film features the voices of Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee, Sarah Vowell, and Spencer Fox. The Incredibles (2004) was praised for its animation, humor, action, story, and characters. It won two Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Sound Editing and was nominated for two more. It also received four Golden Globe nominations and won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form. The film is considered one of the best-animated films of all time and one of Pixar's finest works. A sequel, Incredibles 2, was released in 2018.
4. Up (2009)
Up is a computer-animated comedy-drama adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film tells the story of Carl Fredricksen, a 78-year-old widower who fulfills his dream of flying to Paradise Falls, a remote location in South America, by tying thousands of helium balloons to his house. Along the way, he meets Russell, a young wilderness explorer who becomes his unlikely companion, as well as other colorful characters and challenges.
The film explores themes of aging, grief, friendship, and adventure, and has been praised for its emotional depth, humor, animation, and voice acting. Up was the first animated film to open the Cannes Film Festival and the second animated film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. It also won two Oscars for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score.
5. WALL-E (2008)
WALL-E is a computer-animated science fiction film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and directed by Andrew Stanton. The film follows the story of a lonely robot named WALL-E, who is the last of his kind on a deserted and polluted Earth. He spends his days collecting and compacting trash until he meets EVE, a sleek probe sent by the starship Axiom to look for signs of life. WALL-E falls in love with EVE and follows her to the Axiom, where he discovers that the human passengers have become obese and lazy due to the ship's automated systems. WALL-E and EVE must work together to save humans from their ignorance and restore life on Earth.
The film explores themes such as environmentalism, consumerism, social isolation, and the meaning of love. It is widely regarded as one of Pixar's best and most original films, as well as one of the greatest animated films of all time. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, among other accolades, and was nominated for five other Oscars, including Best Original Screenplay and Best Original Score. The film also received critical acclaim for its stunning visuals, charming characters, emotional storytelling, and innovative use of sound and silence.
6. Ratatouille (2007)
Ratatouille is an animated film produced by Pixar and directed by Brad Bird. It tells the story of a rat named Remy who has a passion for cooking and dreams of becoming a chef in a famous Parisian restaurant. He befriends a young kitchen worker named Linguini, who is the son of the late chef Gusteau and helps him create delicious dishes by controlling his movements from under his hat. Together, they face various challenges, such as the evil chef Skinner, who wants to exploit Gusteau's name for his profit, and the harsh critic Anton Ego, who has a low opinion of Gusteau's cooking.
The film explores themes such as identity, family, friendship, and following one's dreams. It also showcases the culture and cuisine of France, with realistic and appetizing depictions of food. The film was a critical and commercial success, winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and receiving praise for its animation, humor, voice acting, and music.
7. Coco (2017)
Coco is an animated fantasy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film is inspired by the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead and follows the journey of a 12-year-old boy named Miguel, who loves music but lives in a family that has banned it for generations. Miguel accidentally enters the Land of the Dead, where he meets his deceased relatives and a charming trickster named Hector. Together, they try to find Miguel's great-great-grandfather, who was a famous musician and who might hold the key to Miguel's return to the living world and his family's acceptance of music.
8. Inside Out (2015)
Inside Out is a computer-animated comedy-drama film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film is directed by Pete Docter and co-directed by Ronnie del Carmen, with a screenplay written by Docter, Meg LeFauve, and Josh Cooley, based on an original idea by Docter and del Carmen.
The film is set in the mind of a young girl named Riley Andersen (Kaitlyn Dias), where five personified emotions—Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Bill Hader), and Disgust (Mindy Kaling)—try to lead her through life as she moves with her parents (Diane Lane and Kyle MacLachlan) to a new city. The film explores the concept of how emotions influence memories, personality, and identity, as well as how to cope with difficult emotions and life changes.
9. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Monsters, Inc. is a computer-animated comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The film follows the adventures of two monsters, James P. "Sulley" Sullivan and his best friend Mike Wazowski, who work at a company that generates power by scaring human children. However, their lives are turned upside down when a little girl named Boo accidentally enters their world and they must protect her from the authorities while trying to return her home.
The film was directed by Pete Docter, co-directed by Lee Unkrich and David Silverman, and written by Andrew Stanton and Daniel Gerson. The voice cast includes John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Mary Gibbs, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly, and Frank Oz. The film was praised for its animation, humor, story, and voice acting, and was a box office success, grossing over $577 million worldwide. It also won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and was nominated for three other Oscars. The film spawned a prequel, Monsters University (2013), and a spin-off series, Monsters at Work (2021).
10. Toy Story 3 (2010)
Toy Story 3 (2010) is a computer-animated comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the third in the Toy Story series, following Toy Story (1995) and Toy Story 2 (1999). The film follows the adventures of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and their friends, who are accidentally donated to a daycare center by their owner Andy, who is leaving for college.
There, they meet new toys, some of whom are friendly, but others who are not. They soon discover that the daycare is run by a tyrannical teddy bear named Lotso, who has a dark past and a sinister plan. The toys must work together to escape from the daycare and return to Andy before he leaves for college.
Summary
Pixar's legacy in the world of animation is undeniable. The top 10 most popular Pixar movies have consistently showcased the studio's unparalleled storytelling skills, stunning animation techniques, and an uncanny ability to resonate with audiences of all ages. As Pixar continues to produce new films, it is clear that its commitment to creating captivating stories that touch our hearts will persist, ensuring that it remains a dominant force in the world of animation for years to come. Pixar's rich filmography is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the magic of animation.
See more: Top 15 Pixar Movies of All Time (1995 - 2022)