As the first studio to ever make a full feature-length movie using computer animation, Pixar has consistently released movies year after year that are of the highest quality. There is no argument that Pixar is the gold standard of not just animation, but all round storytelling at large.
The 1990s saw Pixar cutting their teeth and pushing the technology they had to the limit. The 2000s saw the studio refining their movies and creating incredible, original stries. And the 2010s followed the studio dive in to whipping up sequels for those very movies, but they weren’t any less well-crafted, and some may even say they’re better than the originals.
Original: Ratatouille
Ratatouille is classically Pixar, as it is full of equally sad and funny moments, and by this point in to the studio’s life, they had gotten in to a rhythm of creating absolute gold, as it was the first of a run that was followed by Wall-E and Up.
As the movie follows a French chef learning the ropes of the industry in Paris, it was the first of Pixar’s movies to be based across the pond, and they absolutely nailed the culture and the tone of the European city.
Sequel Was Better: Cars 3
Choosing the lesser of two evil might still be choosing evil, but when it comes to the Cars franchise, Cars 3 did everything it possibly could to salvage the series from the depths of movie hell.
After the catastrophic, globe trotting Cars 2, which didn’t make a lick of sense, its successor is a much more grounded, interesting, and well thought out children’s movie, and it gives the original movie a run for its money too.
Original: A Bug’s Life
Unfortunately, A Bug’s Life often gets overlooked when fans discuss Pixar, as it was sandwiched between two massively successful Pixar movies and had competition with the similarly themed Antz.
However, just as there are with most Pixar movies, A Bug’s Life features a huge variety of characters made up of different types of bugs, and a strong, well researched story, which is one of the reasons A Bug’s Life is Better than Antz.
Sequel Was Better: Toy Story 2
With the original Toy Story movie being a classic and the first Pixar movie ever, it put the studio on the map as a great movie studio. But a couple of years later when the studio followed the instant classic with a sequel, Pixar expanded the universe, introduced more iconic toys, and doubled down on the emotions.
Without Toy Story 2, we wouldn’t have Emperor Zurg, the Barbies, or Jesse, and they are some of the best characters to have appeared in the series.
Original: Inside Out
As the bulk of Pixar’s filmography is directed by a the same revolving group of directors, such as Brad Bird, Andrew Stanton, and John Lasseter, the best of the lot might be Pete Doctor. Doctor is the brains behind Monsters Inc, Up, and the recently released Soul, but he also directed 2015’s incredible Inside Out.
Being one of the strangest concepts of a Pixar movie, though Inside Out is largely based inside the mind of a young girl, the message speaks volumes to people of all ages.
Sequel Was Better: Incredibles 2
If box office numbers are anything to go by, Incredibles 2 was easily better than its predecessor, as it is the highest-grossing Pixar movie ever.
But there’s a reason why it was so successful worldwide. The sequel is action-packed and sees the return of some beloved characters for the first time in 14 years with their best scenes. Edna, the fashion designer for superheroes, steals the show and Jack-Jack’s superpowers elevates the series tenfold.
Original: Up
Everyone knows that the one thing Pixar does better than any other studio is hit the heartstrings hard, which is one of the reasons why Up is arguably Pixar’s best movie.
The first 10 minutes alone will send audiences into a flood of tears, as it spans decades of a couple’s relationship, from when they first meet right up until death. Then, there’s still another 80 minutes to go, and it’s full of colorful, vibrant landscapes, talking dogs, and one of the most heartfelt father-son type relationships ever.
Sequel Was Better: Finding Dory
Finding Dory had some big shoes to fill, as Finding Nemo was so good that it managed to be one of the best movies with no protagonists.
However, Finding Dory blew all expectations out of the water, as Pixar managed to focus the movie on a character that was initially seen as annoying, and the completely humanized her, which is a great achievement in and of itself. Not only that, but as the narrative is simply repeating the original movie, it still comes off as better.
Original: Coco
Even though there are ton of references to the studio’s previous movies and loads of easter eggs in the land of the dead, Coco is one of the best original Pixar movies.
It might even be the most original and imaginative of the lot, as it follows a living boy travel in to the land of the dead and meet his ancestors, and though it sounds strange, Coco is one of the most beautiful looking and beautifully told stories in an animated movie.
Sequel Was Better: Toy Story 3
Being one of the best Pixar movies of the 2010s, Toy Story 3 is unquestionably better than both of its predecessors. The movie is possibly the most mature animated children’s movie of all time, as it has themes of mortality when the toys confront death, and themes of our place in the universe, as Woody and company lose any sense of purpose they have as living things.
Its movies such as this that proves that not only is Pixar the best animated studio, but brings it in to contention for being the best movie studio, period.