By: Oberst Von Berauscht - 

This week’s list will not have as much analysis as I’m typically prone to, owing to schedule conflicts.  But long story short, I love Pixar Studios, whose films all (with the notable exception of Cars 2) bear a stamp of quality unmatched by any of their peers.  Their films set a standard unsurpassed by American studios.  What follows is a shortlist of some of my favorite exceptions to this rule.

(5.) The Lion King

Disney’s only entry to this list. the classic story and beautifully rendered cel-animation still amazed on the big screen 17 years later in its re-release (even in spite of the lame 3-D post rendering).  Though nothing can compare to my first viewing, where my younger self simply looked on with awe.

(4.) Waking Life

A film even more experimental than Richard Linklater’s earlier film Slacker, Waking Life utilized rotoscoping animation to create a dreamlike flow to a loose stream-of-consciousness narrative exploring existentialism, and what exactly constitutes reality.

(3.) Fantastic Mr. Fox

Director Wes Anderson’s first animated effort utilized stop-motion brilliantly with this loose adaptation of Roald Dahl’s 1970 children’s novel.  Anderson’s brand of dry humor is easily carried into the animated medium, as his previous films already contain a “storybook” feel to them anyway.

(2.) South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut

Low-tech, sophomoric and shameless, Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s feature-length adaptation of their hugely popular television series mixed sharp social commentary with unabashed musical themes.  The film is notable for finally answering the age-old question; “What would Brian Boitano do?”

(1.) The Iron Giant

Director Brad Bird would be recruited into Pixar years later, making The Incredibles, and Ratatouille.  But it was with The Iron Giant that he made his first real artistic statement.  Combining a classic Spielbergian coming of age tale with Cold War paranoia and 50′s sci-fi themes,  this movie was a box office bomb upon its initial release, only receiving its due credit years later as a cult audience began to re-appraise it.  Simply brilliant.

Is Oberst ignoring your favorite movie?

Because I’m sure he did it just to spite you…

Leave a comment and let us know!

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