10 Pixar Masterpieces Ranked for Flawless Storytelling From Opening Scene to End Credits

You would need to be living in isolation to be unaware that Pixar Animation Studios is a dominant titan of the animated industry. For decades, the studio has crafted and released some of the greatest animated stories ever told, and every one of their projects—even their lesser successes—serves as proof of their high bar. They have maintained this momentum for over 30 years, and there are no signs of stopping anytime soon.

While almost every project they touch is excellent, certain titles stand out far above the rest for the best possible reasons. Pixar has created some of the finest animated films in history. They typically manage to balance mature themes and childlike wonder perfectly. The studio consistently pairs great directors with projects, allowing them to fulfill their vision with minimal interference from above.

10

‘Inside Out’ (2015)

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“Do you ever look at someone and wonder, ‘what is going on inside their head?'” perfectly describes Inside Out and explains why it resonates so deeply with audiences. Pixar’s iconic 2015 film is one of their best projects of the 2010s, and for good reason. Within this wonderful project, director Pete Docter dissects the human mind and why people behave the way they do.

Inside Out follows a young girl named Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) as she stresses about moving across the country, facing an entirely new life ahead of her. Inside her head, her emotions struggle alongside her, and the film’s protagonists, Joy (Amy Poehler) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith), are swept away into the outer limits of Riley’s mind. They must find their way back to keep her, well, from falling apart. It’s a beautiful story about appreciating life for what it is and finding joy within it.

9

‘Brave’ (2012)

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If there is one thing Pixar is very good at when planning their films, it’s offering audiences a variety of worlds to explore. Brave is a great example of this, being unlike anything Pixar has ever released. The story of young princess Merida (Kelly Macdonald) is nothing like a typical princess narrative, and that is the whole point.

Centering around the rocky relationship she has with her mother, Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson), Brave captures what a natural, rough-around-the-edges familial dynamic actually looks like, without villainizing either party. Directors Brenda Chapman and Mark Andrews utilize Queen Elinor’s transformation into a dialogueless bear to emphasize the disconnect in their communication, and it works extremely well. If anything, Brave features an incredibly smart screenplay.

8

‘A Bug’s Life’ (1998)

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By far one of the most underrated Pixar movies is John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton‘s A Bug’s Life. This 1998 insect-led adventure did not receive the recognition it deserved, though it has since built a cult following. What makes this project so special is that, while it is a film for families, it is actually about fighting oppressive forces and corrupt institutions—advocating for the little guy and the power people have when they unite.

A Bug’s Life is a more important film now than it has ever been. The underdog story, following the clumsy Flik (Dave Foley), is inspiring and shows people how strong the masses can be. Not to mention, the villain, Hopper (Kevin Spacey), is a genuinely fearsome foe that adds a sense of true tension throughout the entire runtime.

7

‘Monsters Inc.’ (2001)

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Pixar is really good at coming up with unique worlds and characters, and one of the best examples of this is Monsters Inc. Centered around two monsters named James “Sully” Sullivan (John Goodman) and Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal), who discover a little human girl and must try to get her back home in secret. However, things become difficult when their troublesome co-worker, Randall Boggs (Steve Buscemi), tries to expose them and get them fired.

Monsters Inc. feels very much like Three Men and a Baby as the two grown monsters try to take care of a child—something they are far unequipped to do. This allows for some great comedy and heartwarming moments throughout. The characters are also memorable because of how well they were designed—the character design team led by Ricky Nierva—and that adds to how much people look back on this film.

6

‘Finding Nemo’ (2003)

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Finding Nemo is another Pixar film known as one of their absolute classics. Being their fifth movie as a studio, Pixar continued to push their standards and technology with Finding Nemo. Having released the first-ever 3D-animated theatrical feature just four movies earlier, jumping all the way underwater now was a significant step. Pixar spearheaded new technology and graphics engines that allowed them to craft underwater lighting, non-linear movement systems (to best replicate aquatic life), and more.

When the adventurous little clownfish known as Nemo (Alexander Gould) is taken from his father, Marlin (Albert Brooks), both father and son have to fight their way through the vast world to get back to each other. This is a beautiful story about a father and son, showcasing how hard it can be for parents to let go—let their child swim out into the ocean that is the rest of the world. It’s a gorgeous film that is genuinely moving.

5

‘WALL-E’ (2008)

It’s hard not to love WALL-E. It’s simply an adorable film that also sends an incredible message about environmental conservation—needed now more than ever. WALL-E follows the titular little trash-compacting robot—voiced by Ben Burtt—as he is one of the last beings left on Earth after humanity fled because they, to put it plainly, trashed the entire planet.

What is so special about this movie is the fact that it has major silent film vibes for almost the entire runtime. With the plot mainly revolving around little WALL-E and his new companion, the high-tech EVE (Elissa Knight), there is not a lot of dialogue outside of them saying their own names. This forced director Andrew Stanton to really hone in on visual storytelling, rather than dialogue—far easier said than done, which is a testament to his talent as a director.

4

‘Cars’ (2006)

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Having a flawed protagonist is incredibly important for a plot like Cars‘, but this is also incredibly difficult to accomplish, because—especially with a film for all families—one doesn’t want their protagonist to be too unlikable. They need to be flawed enough so that they have a lot of room to improve. One of the most flawed protagonists in the Pixar catalog comes in the form of Cars‘ Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson).

When Lightning starts the movie, he’s an egotistical dude—sometimes even a jerk—who cannot get his head out of his own rear bumper. It’s an emotionally compelling story about slowing down in life and letting go of selfishness and arrogance. Forcing such a hot shot into a small town like Radiator Springs leads to an incredibly well-told story.

3

‘Toy Story’ (1995)

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Toy Story isn’t just an amazing movie. First off, it’s an incredibly important one, as well. Being the very first 3D-animated feature film to be released in theaters, this project, directed by the one and only John Lasseter, is one of the most important films in the history of animated film—especially given how prominent CG-animated movies have become over the decades since Toy Story‘s release.

If there’s one thing that Lasseter is really good at—as proven through his work across the years—it’s his ability to make non-human beings feel more human than one could ever imagine. His first example of this with Pixar comes in the form of this 1995 project, and, in it, he showcases the prowess he’s capable of. These toys are living and breathing, fully-fleshed out characters that are a joy to watch from beginning to end.

2

‘The Incredibles’ (2004)

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If one thing is true, it’s that Brad Bird is one of the titans of animated filmmaking. Known for movies like The Iron Giant, he is, at times, simply unbeatable. That much is certainly true with his first directorial outing with Pixar, The Incredibles. This family-led flick isn’t just one of the best animated movies out there, but also one of the best superhero movies out there, as well.

The Incredibles is often considered the best Fantastic Four film, while simultaneously not being a Fantastic Four film. The way it handles imperfect family dynamics, and the mature themes at play are excellent. This manages to be a movie that has deeply mature themes that can compel not just kids and teens, but adults, as well.

1

‘Ratatouille’ (2007)

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Brad Bird’s best work, however, is the one and the only Ratatouille. Commonly considered Pixar and Bird’s “magnum opus,” this production tells a story of dreams and passions—the pursuit of them. The world often looks down on people who follow their dreams with such an intense drive—borderline blind—and Ratatouille tells those people who do to ignore it.

Remy (Patton Oswalt), the rodent protagonist, is one that is so inspiring and riveting. Audiences often wish they could have the kind of love and drive for their dreams that he does, which makes him so relatable and a fantasy of a character, in a way. This, plus an invigorating plot, make Ratatouille unforgettable in every way.

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