3D Animated Features

Hoodwinked (2006) Directed by Cory and Todd Edwards Animation by Blue Yonder Films Released by The Weinstein Company Official Site**	Doogal (2006) * Animation by Action Films Released by The Weinstein Company Noteworthy: A French import dubbed into english	Ice Age 2: The Meltdown (2006) * Directed by Carlos Saldanha Animation by Blue Sky Released by 20th Century Fox Official Site**
The Wild (2006) * Directed by Steve "Spaz" Williams Animation by Complete Pandemonium Released by Disney Official Site Noteworthy: First full length feature for Complete Pandemonium, an animation studio who up till now has done mostly TV spots like the Blockbuster hamster ads.	Over the Hedge (2006) * Directed by Tim Johnson and Karey Kirkpatrick Animation by Dreamworks Animation Released by Dreamworks Official Site**	Cars (2006) *** Directed by John Lasseter Animation by Pixar Released by Disney Official Site
Monster House (2006) ** Directed by Gil Kenan Animation by Sony Pictures Animation Released by Columbia Trailer**	Ant Bully (2006) * Directed by John A Davis Animation by DNA Productions Release by Warner Brothers Official Site**	Barnyard (2006) Directed by Steve Oedekerk Animation by Nickelodeon Pictures Released by Paramount Official Site**
Everyone's Hero (2006) Directed by Colin Brady, Christopher Reeve, Dan St. Pierre Animation by Digital Production Solutions Released by 20th Century Fox Official Site Noteworthy:** The late Christopher Reeve is given directing credit, he was working on this film at the time of his death. This is the first animated feature by Digital Production Solutions whose only other credit I could find was an interactive DVD game called Scourge of the World: A Dungeons and Dragon's Adventure	Open Season (2006) * Directed by Roger Allers and Jill Culton Animation by Sony Pictures Animation Released by Columbia Official Site**	Flushed Away (2006) * Directed by David Bowers and Sam Fell Animation by Aardman Animations Released by Dreamworks Official Site Noteworthy:** First 3D animated film by Aardman Studios, who usually do clay animations like Nick Price's Wallace and Gromit
Happy Feet (2006) ** Directed by George Miller Released by Warner Brothers Official Site Noteworthy:** Like Polar Express, this film was released in 3D IMAX at the same time it is released in theaters. Won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature

	Toy Story (1995) Directed by John Lasseter Animation by Pixar Released by Disney Animation Movie * Official Site	The first and still one of the best. This film started it all. You may ask why I only give it two stars for animation, it is because this is the baseline film all the others are measured by. Toy Story won a special Oscar for being a breakthrough film. It reinvented animation forever. Tom Hanks should have won his third Oscar for his voice work as Woody. Noteworthy: First 3D Animated Feature!
	Antz (1998) Directed by Eric Darnell and Tim Johnson Animation by PDI Released by Dreamworks Animation Movie * Wiki	Battling 3D animated films about ants were in a race to be in theaters first. Disney blinked in hopes of bringing in the kid traffic during Thanksgiving Day weekend, and Antz came out in October. Antz was geared toward a more mature audience anyways. Woody Allen starred as "Ant z" a neurotic ant who wants to stand out from the crowd and it causes him no end of trouble. A great film even if it wasn't the second 3D film. Noteworthy: A few scenes featured thousands of animated ants, the first animated crowd scenes.
	A Bugs Life (1998) Directed by John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton Animation by Pixar Released by Disney Animation * Movie Official Site	This "Magnificent Seven" like plot about a group of circus performing bugs rescuing an ant hill from a gang of evil grasshoppers was a step beyond the two films that came before. This film was geared more toward kids than Antz, and as a result it ultimately made more money. Noteworthy: Antz may have had crowd scenes first, but A Bugs Life had some crowd scenes where every ant was doing something different. It just shows the attention to detail that goes into a Pixar film.
	Toy Story 2 (1999) Directed by Ash Brannon and John Lasseter Animation by Pixar Released by Disney Animation * Movie Official Site**	Easily one of the funniest films, for both kids and adults, of the decade. Even though 1999 was a particularly good year for movies, Toy Story 2 managed a place on many critics top 10 lists. Noteworthy: Numerous advances in texture layer maps allowed realistic hair and even realistic cotton swabs. Especially impressive was the hairy arms of Al of "Al's Toy Barn" which is probably the most realistic looking animated character until Aki in Final Fantasy came along.
	Dinosaur (2000) Directed by Eric Leighton and Ralph Zondag Animation by Disney Animation Released by Disney Animation *** Movie * Wiki	The first ten minutes of the film, which was also featured on the trailer, was the most impressive thing I had ever seen in an animated movie. Unfortunately, when the dinosaurs and monkeys started talking, the film went downhill quickly. This is pure kids fare and nothing more. Noteworthy: Much of the backgrounds were not animated at all, they were filmed locations, making this the first hybrid 3D-Live Action film made entirely of 3D characters.
	Sinbad: Beyond the Veils of the Mist (2000) Directed by Evan Ricks Animation by Pentafour Released by Phaedra/Trimark Animation * Movie *	This film was only released in theaters in the western states, but was eventually shown nationwide on Fox. It was an experimental collaboration between an American motion capture house (Improvision) and an animation company based out of India (Pentafour). Being experimental it ultimately was not that impressive. Noteworthy: First 3D animation import (it won't be the last as many Anime houses in Japan are experimenting with 3D), first 3D animation feature that used motion capture (actors performing the moves for the 3D characters) extensively.
	Shrek (2001) Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson Animation by PDI Released by Dreamworks Animation * Movie Official Site**	The makers of Antz went for a wider audience and scored big. The wonderful talents of Mike Meyers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow made the wildly funny script into movie magic. It became the most successful 3D film, a distinction it would hold for two more years. It also won the first Oscar ever for Animated Long Feature, beating out two other 3D animated films. Noteworthy: Like Antz, huge crowds of characters on the screen simultaneously, this time every character not only looks different but acts different.
	Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001) Directed by Hironobu Sakaguchi and Moto Sakakibara Animation by SquareSoft Released by Sony/Columbia Animation **** Movie * Wiki	SquareSoft has been doing some impressive realistic animation on their video games for years, so why not break into movies? Lesson one, get a good script! In this otherwise good year for 3D animation, Final Fantasy:TSW managed to lose between 110 and 160 million dollars, making it one of the biggest box office busts in movie history. Noteworthy: This film is easily one of the best looking films ever. Using motion capture, and improved hair technology, it combined ultra realism with fantastic dreamlike effects with impressive results.
	Monsters, Inc. (2001) Directed by Peter Docter and David Silverman Animation by Pixar Released by Disney Animation ** Movie Official Site**	If you think Aki's head of hair in Final Fantasy was impressive, check out the realistic hair covering Scully's entire body in Monster's, Inc. Also unlike FF, it had one of the most original scripts of any film (animated or not) in 2001. Mike and Scully are the modern day Abbot and Costello. Noteworthy: I was one of many who thought Monsters should have won the Oscar over Shrek. It got its revenge the next year when an animated short "Mike's New Car" featuring the same characters won for best animated short.
	Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001) Directed by John A. Davis Animation by DNA Productions Released by Paramount Animation Movie Official Site	While Jimmy Neutron may have been the least impressive 3D film of the four in 2001, it may well prove the most influential of the four: It was the first successful low budget 3D animated feature. While us 3D animation junkies can spot the shortcuts used in this film, most of the viewing audience cannot. It made enough money to pay for the Dallas Texas based animation studio it was created in. Noteworthy: First 3D animated film produced entirely on desktop computers, running off the shelf Lightwave software which anyone can purchase for $600.
	Ice Age (2002) Directed by Carlos Saldanha and Chris Wedge Animation by Blue Sky/Fox Animation Released by 20th Century Fox Animation Movie Official Site	The failure of Titan A.E. in 2000 nearly ended the animation department of Fox Studios, until the company owned CGI house Blue Sky proposed getting into less risky 3D animation (this was after they won an Oscar for a short called Bunny and before the colossal failure of Final Fantasy). The result was Ice Age, a 3D film that looks more like Chuck Jones than Pixar, though not as funny as either (except for that Squirrel with the Acorns who deserves its own series of shorts.) Noteworthy: First film by Blue Sky Productions and they are already a major player along side Pixar and PDI.
	Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie (2002) Directed by Mike Nawrocki and Phil Vischer Animation by Big Idea Released by Artisan Animation * Movie (not reviewed) Official Site	Nickelodeon's 3D animated TV series Veggie Tales makes its way to the big screen, and from the previews and stills I have seen, it looks like a TV series ported to the big screen. Noteworthy: First 3D animated feature based on a TV series.
	Finding Nemo (2003) Directed by Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich Animation by Pixar Released by Disney Animation ** Movie Official Site**	Pixar gave us talking toys, talking bugs, talking monsters, and now talking fish, and like the previous films, this one impresses. Most of the film takes place under water, giving us a whole new visual world we have not seen before. Add an adorable father and son story, a hilariously funny fish with memory problems, and a cast of wonderful supporting players both ocean based and aquarium based, and you have a wonderful film. Noteworthy: Passed Shrek to be the most successful 3D animated film ever, also it holds the second spot of any film with box office and critical acclaim so far in 2003.
	Shrek 2 (2004) Directed by Andrew Adamson and Kelly Asbury Animation by PDI Released by Dreamworks Animation ** Movie * Official Site	The second sequel in 3D Feature Animation history is like a typical sequel. Not as good as the original, but still very funny. Lets face it, convincing skeptical parents may be as hard as stopping a dragon, but it is not quite as exciting. Loved the pub filled with famous bad guys, including captain hook playing the piano with his hook, and also "Puss in Boots". Noteworthy: Managed $108 million on its opening weekend, one of the biggest weekends in movie history. Passed Finding Nemo as the most successful 3D film.
	Shark Tale (2004) Directed by Bilbo Bergeron and Vicky Jenson Animation by PDI Released by Dreamworks Animation ** Movie Official Site	Produced by the same people who did Shrek, this fish tale looks nothing like Finding Nemo, which it will be unfairly compared to no doubt. Will Smith plays the voice of a small fish who takes credit for defeating a shark, only to face danger from the shark "mob". It has some funny moments, but the story seems a bit over done. This film was too hip for its own good. As Roger Ebert stated, how many kids will get the references to Jaws and The Godfather, two R rated films from 30 years ago? Noteworthy: This 3D animated film to marketed itself based on the voice talents alone, and all the animation was done based on the actors real faces.
	The Incredibles (2004) Directed by Brad Bird Animation by Pixar Released by Disney Animation *** Movie Official Site**	This film about a family of superheroes may be one of the best 3D films so far. This is Brad Bird's first writing and directorial job with Pixar, but his previous animation experience includes "Creative Consultant" credits during the best seasons of The Simpsons and directing the highly underrated feature The Iron Giant. Noteworthy: Many of the most difficult problems in 3D animation include realistic clothing, realistic hair, and one of the most difficult, realistic water. Pixar has broken new ground once again, by getting past these problems and creating an artistic masterpiece as well.
	The Polar Express (2004) Directed by Robert Zemeckis Animation by Sony Imageworks / Universal CGI Released by Warner Bros. Animation * Movie 3D Imax Version * Official Site**	With Oscar winning director Robert Zemeckis (Forest Gump, Back to the Future), and the voice talents of Tom Hanks, and a popular children's book to work with, this movie has a lot of talent behind it. Warner Brothers is the sixth major studio to jump on the 3D animation band wagon. The "Performance Capture" sometimes lags behind traditional animation, but it is a marked improvement over motion capture used in Sinbad. Noteworthy: First use of the next generation motion capture technology called "Performance Capture" which not only works with body movement, but also face movement and expression. First feature length animated 3D IMAX film.
	Robots (2005) Directed by Carlos Saldanha and Chris Wedge Animation by Blue Sky Released by 20th Century Fox Animation ** Movie* Official Site	Like Ice Age the biggest influence on this film is the Looney Toons shorts. This film is far funnier than Ice Age however. Two reasons: 1) two animated sequence, one a cross town transport, one a dominos gag, that are inspired genius, 2) the inclusion of Robin Williams in the cast, whose last animated feature Aladdin is a comedy classic. The cute and clever film is designed to be a satire on human life. We do not know how these robots evolved, and we don't care. They seem human enough. Now 3D animators know right off the bat that robot characters are easier than say humans or monsters, because the robots are made up of basic geometrical parts. The hard part is putting a human touch into these geometrical parts. Every character in this film is an original look and design, there are no generic looking robots, because the animators refuse to define "generic". Combine that with a bright color palate, and you have a beautiful looking film.
	Madagascar (2005) Directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath Animation by PDI Released by Dreamworks Animation ** Movie Official Site	This is the third of four movies released by Dreamworks Animation over two years. It has done very well at the box office, (its the only animated movie during summer 2005) but it is not shattering records (box office is down this year across the board).
	Valiant (2005) Directed by Gary Chapman Animation by Vanguard Animation Released by Disney Animation** Movie* Official Site	A British import released by Disney (during a summer with very few animated films). The animation in the trailer looks first rate, but the rendering engine they used is second rate, lots of weird shadow blotches on the faces. This is the first by Vanguard Animation.
	Chicken Little (2005) Directed by Mark Dindal Animation by Disney Animation Released by Disney Animation * Movie * Official Site	Disney's first "in house" (non-Pixar) 3D animated feature since Dinosaur. The trailer found on the official site is very funny. "This time the sky really is falling"
	Delgo (?) Directed by Mark F Adler and Jason Maurer Animation by Fathom Studios Opening ? Official Site	This is a footnote film created during the 1995-2005 time frame. It has still not been released. Its the first sci-fi fantasy animation since Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within scared everyone away from the genre. It also holds the distinction of being Anne Bancroft's last movie credit. Being made independently, the project was started in 1998, and does not yet have a distributor or an official release date. It was originally scheduled for 2003. Now in 2007 it has a web site, but still no firm release date.