Sunday 6 July 2008

Up where they walk, up where they run, up where they stay all day in the sun. Wandering free, wish I could be part of that world.

heather A couple of weeks ago, the American Film Institute released their 10 Top 10. It's a list of top ten movies in ten genres. We couldn't let them get away with some of their lame choices, so at the Collective this week we're each choosing a genre and giving you the real top 10. I chose animated movies, because, well, of course I did.

#10: Who Framed Roger Rabbit, 1988

I know it's not completely animated, but animation is the story in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. It was the first film to pair Disney characters with Warner Brothers characters. I kept asking my uncle the photographer how they combined the live action with the animation. "Magic," he always said.






#9: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 1937

It was the first full-length animated feature to be produced by Walt Disney, and Snow White became the template for dozens and decades of Disney Princesses.







#8: Lady and the Tramp, 1955

This was the 15th Disney film, but the first to feature widescreen cinemascope technology. Plus also, it's practically Pride and Prejudice with puppies.







#7: A Charlie Brown Christmas, 1965

Vince Guaraldi's score for this animated special is the soundtrack of my Christmases, and it's almost as iconic as old Charlie Brown himself.








#6: Finding Nemo, 2003

Finding Nemo has more heart than every other movie released in 2003 combined. It will make you belly laugh and cry, all in the same mouthful of popcorn.








#5: How The Grinch Stole Christmas, 1966

Dr. Seuss's wife walked out of the premiere of that Jim Carey Grinch monstrosity back a couple of years ago. And good for her: it was the worst thing I have ever seen. Nothing could hold up to the 1966 classic. I wouldn't touch any other remakes with a 30 1/2 foot pole.






#4: Beauty and the Beast, 1991

Beauty and the Beast was the first movie to use computer generated animation. The scene when Belle and Beast are dancing, and the camera pans down from the chandelier, that is the beginning of the future of animated films.






#3: Toy Story, 1995

It was the first fully computer-generated animation, and it blew all of our minds. It kind of still blows mine.








#2: The Little Mermaid, 1989

This is the film that ushered in Disney's Golden Age of animation. I've never met a girl who can't sing "Part of Your World."








#1: Wall-E, 2008

Perfect.









Yes? No? What do you think?

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