Princess Mononoke 

Ashitaka, a warrior who suffers from a curse, ends up in the middle of a conflict between humans who are wrecking the forest, and its creatures who are accompanied by…

Madagascar

In a desperate attempt to find wilderness, a zebra escapes from the New York Central Zoo, inspiring other animals to join him. In 2005, there were plenty of good computer-animated movies,…

Finding Nemo: Beyond the Sea

Photo: Pixar Perhaps the best film of 2003 was animated and primarily targeted at kids. That's a reason for some people to think less of it, but it is a…

Ice Age 

We're in the middle of the last ice age; a mammoth, a sloth and a saber-toothed tiger with a hidden agenda try to bring a human baby back to its…

Spirited Away: Never Forget Your Name

Photo: Ghibli After making Princess Mononoke (1997), director Hayao Miyazaki, one of Japan’s most celebrated artists, looked forward to retiring after a prosperous career. But a guy who’s only pushing…

Curse of the Were-Rabbit: Gorgeously Cheesy

Photo: DreamWorks Here’s a few numbers for you: 2.8 tons of Plasticine in 42 colors were used for the characters and the miniature sets, of which there were 30; it…

Monsters, Inc.

Another well-made, visually impressive film from Pixar, this time about a community of monsters in a city whose power supply consists of screams from children who have encountered the monsters…

The Incredibles: It’s a Family Affair

Photo: Pixar In 1999, there was a film called The Iron Giant. It was an animated tale about a boy who ran into a being from outer space, a gigantic…

a bug’s life 

In my opinion, a bug’s life and its same-year rival Antz are equally good, but this one might appeal more to kids. Conceived with plenty of imagination, this is a…