For far too long, animation has been viewed as inferior to live-action, largely because it remains associated with children and their supposedly simple needs and desires as viewers. Over the years, however, studios from Disney to Pixar to Studio Ghibli have shown that there is a lot of emotional power in animation, which has the power to take the viewer out of their everyday world and into one of magic and beauty and utopia. What’s more, the very best animated movies are those that explore emotions and feelings, which leave a lasting impression on the viewer, becoming film classics in their own right.
'The Iron Giant' There’s always something magical about a story focusing on a boy and his bond with another creature, whether a dog, an alien, or, as in the case of The Iron Giant , a giant robot from outer space. Though this film might not have been a huge success when it was first released, it has become beloved precisely because of the heartwarming bond between the boy, Hogarth, and the Iron Giant. 'Finding Nemo' Throughout its history, Pixar has shown an ability to create characters and storylines that really tug on the viewer’s heartstrings.
Finding Nemo , for example, focuses on a father clownfish, Marlin, who sets out to rescue his son, Nemo. The film is gorgeously animated — capturing the beauty of the ocean around Australia — but the father/son dynamic sets the film apart. There is likewise something endearing and, at times, even sad about the character of Dor.
