Vivasuzi's Favorite Animated Flicks!

I've seen many many animated movies. Even as an adult I still watch a lot of the new animated movies that come out, and I still really enjoy them. Animated Movies are the best family films, but they can also be great for any group of any age. They are usually G or PG and usually you can watch them and laugh without having to be grossed out or worrying about swearing all the time. If you haven't seen a lot of Animated Films, you should check out these :)

Below are 10 movies that I feel everyone "Must See". Some are older, some are brand new - but they are all great. It was hard enough to narrow this down to 10, so they are not in order from 1-10. Instead they are in alphabetical order since I can't decide which of these 10 is my absolute favorite - I love them All! Keep in mind that I haven't seen EVERY animated film, so there may be something better that isn't on this list... if I ever see something better, I'll update my list :)

The Old (from when I was young)
1a and 1b. Aladdin & The Lion King I had to combine these two as one entry because I just couldn't choose one over the other! Aladdin (1992) is a fun musical movie about a poor boy who meets a Princess. But there's more! He also finds a Genie and wants to use this Genie to help him get his Princess. Robin Williams as the Genie is what makes the movie for me. I used to laugh every time I watched it, and I still do laugh when I see it today! The songs are even funny :) It's not just all fun and games though. Your kids will learn a very valuable lesson about friendship and also that "wishes" won't always make your life better.
....................
The Lion King (1994) was a much more somber movie. It involves a young lion cub who runs away after losing his father. There are definitely it's funny parts, but this movie is entertaining because of the story behind it. Simba, the lion cub, must deal with the hurt of his father's death as well as learn to overcome his guilt as he feels it was his fault that he died. The movie is half light and peppy and half dark and somber but teaches a great lesson that running away won't solve all your problems. Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella bring in the humor as the animals that help Simba survive in the wilderness.

Aladdin: Now about my three wishes...
Genie: Dost mine ears deceive me? "Three?" You are down by one, boy!
Aladdin: Ah, no, I never actually wished to get out of the cave. Heh. You did that on your own.
[the Genie's mouth drops]
Genie: Oh. Well, I feel sheepish.
[turns into a sheep]
Genie: All right, you baaaaaad boy. But no more freebies.
....................
Pumbaa: Timon, ever wonder what those sparkly dots are up there?
Timon: Pumbaa, I don't wonder; I know.
Pumbaa: Oh. What are they?
Timon: They're fireflies. Fireflies that, uh... got stuck up on that big bluish-black thing.
Pumbaa: Oh, gee. I always thought they were balls of gas burning billions of miles away.
Timon: Pumbaa, with you, everything's gas.

2. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) Although the newer real-people version of this movie is cute, the animated version is still a classic! Cruella De Vil steals some dalmation puppies from a man and his wife. She intends to make them into a coat. The puppies find themselves among a lot of other Dalmations and cause Cruella a lot of trouble as they try to escape. This is a feel good movie as you watch the dogs work together and try to get back home. All the dogs are so cute :) and each has their own unique personality.

Lucky: I'm tired and I'm hungry and my tail's froze and my nose is froze and my ears are froze. And my toes are froze.

3. Alice in Wonderland (1951) There have been a few remakes of this movie since 1951, but nothing beats the classic Alice. Alice is a nice young girl who falls into a world of "wonder". Everything in this world is odd - the flowers and animals will talk to her - she celebrates a very "unhappy" birthday - and the queen is out to get her. Although you're never really sure if this land is real, or if it's all in Alice's head, it is still a lot of fun. Alice meets so many fun characters along the way and the way she treats them shows how nice and innocent she is. I don't know if there's a specific lesson behind this one, but it is still lots of fun for kids and adults. It will really help you expand your imagination

Alice: Oh, but that's nonsense. Flowers can't talk.
The Rose: But of course we can talk, my dear.
Orchid: If there's anyone around worth talking to.
Daisy: Or about.
[giggles]

4. Pinocchio (1940) Once again there have been a few remakes of this, but the original is always the best. Pinocchio is not a real boy, at least not yet. He is a wooden puppet that came to life because his creator wanted a son so badly. Pinocchio is trying to live amongst the real boys, but since he is made of wood he doesn't fit in. He gets caught up in a lot of crazy adventures and also learns a lesson about telling the truth. It's a cute movie that will leave a smile on your face :)

[Shortly after Pinocchio comes to life, Geppetto doesn't know it yet]
Geppetto: [hears a noise in his usually quiet house] Who's there?
Pinocchio: It's me.
Geppetto: [relieved] Oh. It's me.

The New (newish)
5. Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) I saw this on the Disney Channel a few times and I just loved it. I don't know if it was the adventure, or the story, but I thought it was great. Milo joins an exploration group that is out to find Atlantis. Some people don't even believe it exists, but Milo has faith it is out there and wants to find it. There is a hidden agenda of the crew however, they aren't just out to find the city. The movie is full of adventure that the timid Milo enjoys and fears at the same time. It really is just a great film.

Commander Rourke: Are you sure you're checked out on this class of vehicle?
Milo: Uhm...
Commander Rourke: Can you drive a truck?
Milo: 'Course I can drive a truck. Sure, you got your steering and your gas and your brake and, of course, this metal, uh, looking... thing. Okay, so it was a bumper car at Coney Island, but it's the same basic principle.

6. Finding Nemo (2003) The award for cutest funny animated movie of all time goes to Finding Nemo. Nemo is a young clown fish who longs for adventure. The trouble is that one day he finds adventure, but it's not quite what he was looking for. His overly-worried father must go into the depths of the ocean to try and save Nemo, but he isn't even sure where he can be found. As both Nemo and his father go on their adventures we see a lot of creatures of the ocean that are very true to life. I watched a discovery channel show about the ocean and saw that many of these creatures in the movie are really found in the ocean. Not only is this a fun movie, with a touching story, but it also has a lot of truth in the animation. It is a great learning experience! You and your kids can feel what it's like to be miles under water. Ellen DeGeneres played my favorite funny character as the fish with a very short term memory. Love it :-D

Dory: How about we play a game?
Marlin: All right.
Dory: Okay, I'm thinking of something orange, and it's small...
Marlin: It's me.
Dory: Right!
[Later]
Dory: I'm thinking of something orange and small...
Marlin: Me again.
Dory: All right, Mr. Smartypants...
[Later]
Dory: ... It's orange and small, and has stripes...
Marlin: Me, and the next one - just a guess - me.
Dory: Okay, that's just scary.

7. Ice Age (2002) I almost forgot about this movie until I saw the DVD on my shelf. I gotta watch this again. This movie is very funny, and as with Finding Nemo tells a "true" story. Obviously the story itself is not true, but the situation of the Ice Age is very true and very well depicted. Kids can learn about the Ice Age and how it all happened while at the same time following the story a sabertooth tiger, a sloth, and a woolly mammoth. These three characters are very unlikely friends, but they are stuck together and learn to live together. This could be a great lesson for your kids - and it's still very entertaining for adults.

Diego: What are you doing?
Sid: I'm putting sloths on the map.
Manfred: Why don't you make him more realistic and draw him lying down.
Diego: And make him rounder.
[Manfred draws a pot belly on Sid's drawing]
Diego: Perfect.
Sid: Ha, ha. I forgot how to laugh.

8. Madagascar (2005) I loved this movie when I saw it and plan to own it soon. Here we have 4 animals from the zoo. The Zebra isn't always happy with the zoo life and decides to run away. The lion, giraffe, and hippo go after him to bring him back. As they go through the city, the ocean, and more, they end up on the island of Madagascar where they must learn to get along and help each other survive. This is very hard for these spoiled spoiled animals, but that's what makes it funny for us :) There are also great voices in the movie with Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett Smith, David Schwimmer and Ben Stiller just being a few.

Gloria the Hippo: Melman! Are you okay?
Melman the Giraffe: Yeah. I often doze off while I'm getting an MRI.
Alex the Lion: Melman, you're not getting an MRI.
Melman the Giraffe: CAT scan?
Alex the Lion: No! No CAT scan! It's a transfer! It's a zoo transfer!
Melman the Giraffe: Zoo transfer? Oh, no. No, no. I can't be transferred. I have an appointment with Dr. Goldberg at five. There are prescriptions that have to be filled! No other zoo can afford my medical care! And I am not going HMO!
Marty the Zebra: Take it easy, Melman. We are gonna be o-kizzay.
Alex the Lion: No, we're not gonna be o-kizzay! Because of you, we're ruined!

9. Monsters, Inc (2001) It's only been four years but this is already a classic that I've seen many times. The story is about Monsters, and you get to see what's going on behind your closet door. It turns out Monsters have been sneaking into bedrooms for years to collect screams. These screams power their city. Lately, however, there isn't as much screams to go around. Kids just aren't so scared anymore. Mike and Sulley are two monsters who encounter a big problem - one of the kids escapes and is in their care. Laughs are everywhere as these two try to sneak her back into her bedroom. There's also some drama going on as their enemy (Randall) is trying to collect more screams then anyone else. John Goodman and Billy Crystal voice the two main characters and keep you laughing the whole time!

Mike: Can I borrow your odorant?
Sulley: Yeah, I got, uh, smelly garbage or old dumpster.
Mike: You got, uh, low tide?
Sulley: No.
Mike: How about wet dog?
Sulley: Yep. Stink it up.

10. Shrek 1 and 2 (2001 and 2004) I had to put these two together since they are both so funny, but #2 wouldn't be as funny unless you saw #1. In Shrek 1, an ogre named Shrek and his donkey "pal" go out to find the Princess that is locked in a tower. They do this as a mission for their king, but as they are on their adventure things don't go as planned. In Shrek 2, the ogres are married and now her parents want to meet Shrek... however they are quite surprised with what they see. Shrek doesn't feel like he belongs and tries to change. There are lots of magical fairy-tale characters in both movies that will remind you of stories you've heard before. These are both full of subtle jokes and sarcastic remarks that will keep the adults laughing :) Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz headline this one.

Shrek 1......
Princess Fiona: Shrek's hurt.
The Donkey: What? Shrek's hurt? Oh, no, Shrek's gonna die!
Shrek: Donkey, I'm fine.
The Donkey: You can't die on me, Shrek! I'm too young for you to die! Keep your feet elevated! Turn your head and cough! Does anybody know the Heimlich?

Shrek 2......
Shrek: Quick tell a lie!
Pinocchio: What should I say?
Donkey: Say something crazy... like you're wearing ladies underwear.
Pinocchio: Um, ok. I'm wearing ladies underwear.
Pinocchio: [silence]
Shrek: Are you?
Pinocchio: I most certainly am not.
Pinocchio: [nose extends] .
Donkey: It looks like you most certainly am are.
Pinocchio: I am not.
Pinocchio: [nose extends]
Puss-in-Boots: What Kind?
Gingerbread Man: IT'S A THONG!

Close calls
These movies were close in the running but just didn't quite make it into my Top Ten.

A Bug's Life (1998)... cute but not always that funny. Much better for kids.

Adventures of Robin Hood, The (1973)...I like it a lot, but I prefer the newer versions with real people.

Antz (1998)...cute and funny, but not every single time.

Chicken Run (2000)...some good "British" humor but not everyone will enjoy the subtle jokes

Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003)...not completely animated, but a good choice for fans of Looney Tunes

Shark Tale (2004)...some funny parts, but not as funny as the ones I choose

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)...a good story but got kind of boring with age

Toy Story 1 and 2 (1995 and 1999)...Cute, but more geared towards kids. Adults will enjoy, but can't watch over and over

Conclusion
So if you haven't seen any of my top 10, what are you waiting for? You'll laugh, your kids will learn, and you'll be entertained :) Enjoy!