My two-year-old son stayed home from daycare with a fever, and because I had important work stuff to do like entertain you lot with articles about World Cup soccer and video games, a lot of his day was spent watching some of his favorite movies to ensure he wouldn’t burn the house down.
If you’re a parent, you’re aware that not all kids’ movies are created equal, and because we have to watch the same five or six things in my household ad nauseam, it’s nice when you can enjoy them almost as much as your kid.
No one has a higher success rate in that regard than Pixar, and luckily for me, my kid is a fiend for any movie made by the Disney animation studio.
As an ode to the creators of some of my son’s favorite pieces of entertainment, I wanted to offer my Mt. Rushmore of Pixar movies from the perspective of a parent who has to sit through a good number of them multiple times a week.
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These are four movies that (almost) never get old, so let’s dive in.
Monster’s Inc. (2001)
It’s a buddy comedy mixed with a mystery movie combined with a heartfelt story about the importance of friendship, how could you not love “Monsters, Inc.?”
The story of Mike and Sully trying to break the all-time scare record at Monsters Incorporated before accidentally stumbling upon a company-wide conspiracy makes for a great story in its own right, but when you throw in the adorable Boo and her friendship with Sully, it takes the film to another level.
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Bonus points for the theme of ingenuity in the face of necessity, as Mike and Sully discover that children’s laughter is more powerful than their fear.
It’s a great lesson for the little ones that there is always another way.
The voice acting is incredible and the humor from a parents’ perspective is what makes this one easier to swallow when you’re seeing it for the sixth time in a month, and for that, I am eternally thankful.
The Incredibles (2004)
Who knew Disney had such an individualistic story about the moral responsibility of excellence in them?
“The Incredibles” is such a great allegory for not hiding who you are and being proud of your gifts, and it isn’t shy about this either.
The main character, Bob Parr (aka Mr. Incredible), is constantly extolling the virtues of superheroes while the villain, Syndrome, is some nerd who wants everyone to have powers so “no one is special.”
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It’s heavy-handed but in the best way possible.
“The Incredibles” has action and unique animation to keep the kids engaged but the central messaging and humor is something that can entertain even the most cynical parents.
This movie is a personal favorite of mine and belongs squarely on this Mt. Rushmore.
Finding Nemo (2003)
This one is a little personal.
“Finding Nemo” used to be another decent Disney movie to me, but then my son came along, and the story about a father doing everything in his power to save his little boy hits so deep that it’s almost indescribable.
Marlin being an overbearing dad is somewhat relatable, especially in the modern day of everything being dangerous for kids, but it’s also great to see his evolution from nervous to confident thanks to his experiences.
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It isn’t all emotional impact, either, as the movie has plenty of light-hearted humor to make sure this one isn’t too heavy at all times.
Incredibly quotable and with a surprisingly tight runtime, “Finding Nemo” is a masterpiece of a kids’ film that is re-watchable no matter how many times your child forces you to put it on for them.
Toy Story 2 (1999)
I fought this for so long, but I can’t fight it any longer.
I still think the original “Toy Story” is more enjoyable, personally — and maybe that’s just nostalgia speaking — but “Toy Story 2” is the better film in almost every aspect.
The adventure is more grand, the animation is cleaner without being too “antiseptic,” and the introduction of more characters and locations without bogging the story down make this the perfect sequel.
I can’t find any holes in it.
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The emotional beats are incredible but don’t linger for too long and the humor is great for both kids and parents.
I would also be remiss if I didn’t talk about the stellar voice acting, spearheaded by Tim Allen’s Buzz Lightyear and Tom Hanks’ Woody, who really bring their two characters to life.
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It might be the George Washington of this particular Mt. Rushmore, and I’m not just saying that because it’s my son’s favorite movie.
They don’t make ’em like this anymore (looking at you, “Toy Story 5”).