Monsters

Disney's Monsters, Inc. will easily resonate with practically every parent (and child) that has experienced the unique sensation of "things that go bump-in-the-night." This Pixar Studios animated comedy production takes viewers to Monstropolis, that shadowy and mysterious land that can only be accessed via closet doors in children's bedrooms. 

Two-year old Boo accidentally wanders into Monstropolis and sets off pandemonium in both the human and monster worlds. With the help of two Monsters, Inc. (Monstropolis' power plant) employees who've become charmed by the tyke, a series of thrilling chases and calamities ensue as they attempt to hide Boo from the power plants' security staff. 

Monsters, Inc. offers a star-studded voice cast, led by John Goodman and Billy Crystal as the two sympathetic employees. Others adding their skills to the production include James Coburn (in one of his last roles), Steve Buscemi, Jennifer Tilly and John Ratzenberger. 

Randy Newman won an Oscar for Best Original Song, If I Didn't Have You.

Spirited Away

Chihiro is a nervous, apprehensive young girl who moves with her family to a new city. When they detour into a mysterious new town, Chihiro is immediately alarmed. It isn't long before her worst nightmares come true as evil monsters and ghosts start turning everyone into animals.

Tangled

Walt Disney Animation Studios' 50th feature production in the Walt Disney Classic Series is Tangled, an animated comedy/musical fantasy that borrows heavily from the classic Grimm Brothers fairy tale, Rapunzel. Six years in the making, Tangled is reportedly the most expensive animated film in history, with production costs estimated to approach $260 million. 

The timeless story of the Princess with golden hair takes on a freshness and simplicity that harkens back to earlier Disney animated films, with an innocence and almost nostalgic aura that quickly draws viewers in. Even the "bad guys" in Tangled project a charm and whimsy that makes it difficult to root against them. 

Tangled features an excellent voice cast, including Mandy Moore as the heroine. Other notable voices lending their talents to the production are Brad Garrett, Zachary Levi, Ron Perlman, Jeffrey Tambor and Donna Murphy. 

Composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song for I See the Light.

Little Mermaid

Adapted from the Hans Christian Andersen children's classic, The Mermaid, 1989's animated Walt Disney Production of The Little Mermaid is a tour-de-force of both filmmaking and entertainment for practically any age group. 

Adhering to the adage that "Simple is Better," The Little Mermaid doesn't try to overwhelm or dazzle audiences with either technological wizardry or hackneyed stereotypes. Instead, it tells an entertaining story with plenty of "awww" moments which effortlessly tug at the heart strings. 

The Little Mermaid borrows from several other Disney classics, (a wicked witch, a handsome prince, a disaffected would-be princess, etc.) but the film is never overtly derivative or pandering. To the contrary, it maintains a fresh, contemporary feel even with the story being nearly two hundred years old. 

Brilliantly animated and excellently voiced by several notable actors, The Little Mermaid also includes many wonderful songs as well as enough excitement to keep the kids (and most grown-ups) on the edge of their seats.

Finding Nemo

Father and son team Marlin and Nemo are separated when a Scuba diver snags Nemo and takes him away to live in an aquarium in a dentist's office. Father and son frantically plot ways to reunite, but time isn't on their side. If Nemo doesn't find a way out soon, he may never see his father again!

Toy Story

Toy Story

The first production from Walt Disney Pictures' Pixar Studios is the ground-breaking computer-animated Toy Story. The film was the first feature film to fully utilize CGI (Computer Generated Imagery), and is nearly unanimously hailed as the benchmark film for animation. 

Aside from being technically revolutionary, Toy Story features a virtual "Who's Who" of contributors, from executive producer Steve Jobs, director John Lasseter, music by Randy Newman, and voicings by such iconic performers as Tom Hanks, Don Rickles, Tim Allen and Jim Varney. The film also introduces such unforgettable characters as Buzz Lightyear, Woody and Mr. Potato Head. 

The critical and box-office success of Toy Story spawned a nearly endless legacy of two sequels, merchandising tie-ins, video games and theme park attractions, not to mention the impact on the film industry itself in terms of what CGI was capable of. 

Toy Story's dazzling graphics and timeless characters are a treat for all ages.

Aladdin

Aladdin

The 1992 Disney animated film, Aladdin, is adapted from the Arabian classic folktale, Aladdin and the One Thousand and One Nights, continuing the series of Walt Disney Animated Classics. 

This version is generally faithful to the original story, however, improvisation and modernization serve to create a more contemporary "feel." The animation, as to be expected, is superb. 

The street-smart Aladdin and his pet monkey are regulars along the city streets, but when by chance they encounter Princess Jasmine, things begin to change. Looked upon unfavorably by the Sultan's top henchman, the evil Jafar, Aladdin winds up tossed in jail, subsequently finding himself in the middle of Jafar's plot to take over the kingdom with the aid of a magic lamp. 

Providing the voices for the film are such notables as Robin Williams (who also narrates), Scott Weinger, Linda Larkin, Gilbert Gottfried and Frank Welker. The celebrated animation team of Ron Clements and John Musker both produced and directed