Why We Need More Animated Movies

Anthropomorphic toys. Houses that fly with just the help of helium balloons. Rats that get under a cook’s toque and almost become a secondary brain. Cavemen using starfish to create makeshift footwear. You have seen them all and you will see more, thanks to animated movies.

Nineteen ninety-five is a landmark year in the history of animation. The first ever 3D animated movie of the world—Toy Story—released with great fanfare and managed to capture many a heart across the world. It wasn’t until 2010, the year the final part of the trilogy released, that I got to watch the movie, however. Since then I’d have watched the entire Toy Story trilogy at least 4-5 times.

It’s not just the treat to the eyes that makes me love animated movies. The messages they try to convey, the lessons they strive to teach, the efforts they take to remind “mankind” of “humanity”. Not many movies remind us of the ‘fun’ side and good things of life as much as animated movies do.

Woody and Buzz (Toy Story) taught me to not give up on friendship, no matter what situation one is in. Horton (Horton Hears a Who) taught me that everyone, irrespective of their size and status, deserves to be treated well. Guy (The Croods) taught me to follow light in order to progress in life and that change is not such a bad thing. Carl and Ellie (Up), in that little montage, showed me how married life is supposed to be. Hero Girl (The Polar Express) taught me the value of belief. Mumble (Happy Feet) showed that it’s ok for one to be different. Alex, Marty, Gloria, and Melman (Madagascar) showed me that people can be great friends despite their differences. Marlin (Finding Nemo) showed me what pure fatherly love is. Diego (Ice Age) taught me it's never too late to turn a new leaf and be a good person.

I can go on. I can keep talking endlessly about characters in animated movies and what I learnt from them.

Considering that the first ever 3D-animated movie came out in 1995, we can see that 3D animation is just a teenager. But a very responsible teenager who knows what’s right and wrong. One who understands life. One who values relationships more than materialistic pleasures. One who wishes good for all. One who continues to teach mankind of virtues. The teenager whom parents wish their kids would hopefully emulate. The ideal teenager.

I’m basically the kind of person who considers each movie a work of art. That way, animated movies easily top my list of favourite artworks. There’s so much to watch and enjoy. There’s so much to learn from them and apply in our lives.

Francis Pharcellus Church, in his famous “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” letter, writes:

“Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.”

Animated movies, again, are like the same Santa Claus. They make tolerable this existence. Their very existence and the lessons they teach can bring happiness to people's lives. We constantly praise animated movies for the ‘imagination’ and ‘creativity’ in them. I believe they deserve praise for their ‘life’ too.

Like I said, animated movies remind “mankind” of “humanity”.

So, yes. The world does need more animated movies.