Words Liam Hall

To say Pixar has been the cornerstone of modern animation is an understatement, they're the benchmark by which all other animated films are judged. From Toy Story to Ratatouille and A Bug's Life to Inside Out their timeless tales have touched our hearts for over twenty-five years. In a year that marks the twenty-fifth anniversary since their debut feature film and sees them release two brand-new original animations Onward and Soul, we want to look back at their back catalogue. With the likes of Toy Story, Monsters Inc, Finding Nemo, and many other beloved films to choose from choosing your five favourite Pixar films might seem an impossible task, so here are our suggestions to get you started.

5. The Incredibles (2004)

Super family fun came in the form of The Incredibles in 2004. With its entertaining characters, lightning-quick plot, unforgettable quotes, and one of the best scores of the twenty-first-century by Michael Giacchino, there is just so much to love. But what's most impressive of all is how well it holds up and is still able to go toe to toe with the big-budget behemoths of today's superhero cinema.

4. Toy Story 3 (2010)

The third instalment of the Toy Story franchise is many fans' overall favourite, and it's not hard to see why. The great toy escape had evolved into an epic adventure that took the toys further away from Andy's bedroom and closed a chapter on a part of people's lives. Humour and heartbreak collide in true Pixar style.

3. Up (2009)

Think choosing your favourite Pixar films is impossible? Try to stop your tears in the opening ten minutes of Pixar's Up. The tale of an old man going on an adventure in his flying house is endlessly entertaining. Bursting with twists and turns and touching on "grownup" themes of loneliness, loss, and family, Up was one of the most prominent animations that took animation away from a lazy "children's cinema" label to deliver a story for all generations.

2. Toy Story (1995)

No list about Pixar's best films would be complete without the one that started it all. Toy Story was a game-changer, the first film to ever be completely computer-animated and quite literally got the ball rolling for the successful studio. The film is beautifully crafted in terms of its visual storytelling but also carries the hallmark of tackling weighty subjects of existentialism and nihilism in a way that was thought-provoking yet suitable for children.

1. Wall-E (2008)

Whoever thought a love story between a trash compactor and a high-tech research robot could be so good? Wall-E remains Pixar's most daring films to date, a near-silent sci-fi romance that tackled tough subjects of environmentalism and humanity's overreliance on technology. It succeeded in everything it set out but most of all to deliver an engaging and sweet story that pulls every heartstring.