The power of Pixar: Fun, emotional, memorable films

I remember that after I first saw “Toy Story,” I felt like I did after I saw “Star Wars” for the first time.

“This is a game changer,” I thought to myself. And it certainly was, in lots of ways.

It catapulted computer animation into the mainstream, and dazzled us with its gleaming, glowing visuals, the likes of which we hadn’t seen before. And it was only a taste of what was to come.

But “Toy Story” was more than just a technical breakthrough. It was a creative triumph, as well.

It connected with kids and adults in different ways. The Oscar-nominated script was full of back story and richly drawn characters with distinct personalities. A T-Rex that hates confrontation? A grouchy Mr. Potato Head? A spaceman action figure that thinks it’s real? All genius.

And it was funny, too. Downright hilarious, with little touches that the kids didn’t get, but made the adults laugh out loud.

But the film was also tender, emotional, and said bigger-picture things about friendship and loyalty.

So Pixar didn’t just raise the bar for animated films, it created a new one. It elevated them into an art form.

I’m looking forward to “Inside Out,” which starts Friday. Pixar had seemed to lose a little steam with its most recent efforts “Cars 2,” “Brave” and “Monsters University.” But early word on “Inside Out” is glowing, and that Pixar has found its stride again.

I hope so. Because it has some great company to be in.

Here are six more of my favorite Pixar films:

“Monsters, Inc.” (2001) – What a creative premise! A factory that collects screams from little children to power its city, and monsters that are afraid of being contaminated by humans. What’s great about all Pixar films is that they create their own universes with their own rules and revel in them. A top-notch vocal cast, led by Billy Crystal and John Goodman, made this even more memorable.

“Finding Nemo” (2003) – An unfunny clownfish searches for his lost son in this sprawling, under-the-sea epic. But it was really about the dynamic of Marlin and Dory and the stellar vocal performances by Albert Brooks and Ellen DeGeneres that made this a beautiful, rewarding experience.

“The Incredibles” (2004) – Pixar goes the action route with this tale of a family of superheroes that was a sly wink at spy movies. It also spoke about just what it means to be a family, and ultimately, about staying true to one’s self. Although every character is memorable, Edna Mode stole the show: “I never look back, darling. It distracts from the now.”

“Wall-E” (2008) – This is just simply breathtaking and heartwarming, the story of two robots who fall in love. That each could have such vibrant personalities without using words is amazing. And when Wall-E and EVE dance across the stars, it felt like we were, too.

“Up” (2009) – This made me weep like a crying baby at only 10 minutes in. But that was nothing compared to what would come later, in this warm, loving story about finding adventure in the ordinary. Because, indeed, adventure is out there.

“Toy Story 3” (2010) – Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang return, this time facing abandonment when their owner, Andy, leaves for college. Paying clever homage to suspenseful prison escape films, this was expectedly fun. But we weren’t prepared for the profound message that came with it – about growing up, letting go and moving on. It made us recall our own childhoods, and, yes, our own beloved toys.

This story was originally published June 14, 2015 at 8:10 AM with the headline "The power of Pixar: Fun, emotional, memorable films."