Latest news with #Lightyear
CNBC
2 hours ago
- CNBC
35-year-old American left the U.S. for China, spends $568/month: 'I'm living large'
In 2019, just after her 30th birthday, Aleese Lightyear left a career in reality TV production behind to teach English as a second language in China. At the time, Lightyear was earning around $100,000 a year, working eight months out of the year. "I was living check to check, which sucked. My last few years living and working in New York City were some of the most stressful years of my life," Lightyear tells CNBC Make It. "I was tired of working 70 hours a week for ten years. Being in my 20s, I felt like a 50-year-old woman." It was a quick Google search that helped Lightyear decide to leave life as she knew it in New York City, for something very different. She searched "How do I make money and travel the world?" and the result at the very top of the list was all about teaching English abroad. She then spoke with a coworker who had taught in South Korea, and started learning as much as she could about what it would take to teach overseas with no experience. For the rest of that year, she took on various odd jobs to supplement her income. As a freelancer, Lightyear had no retirement savings, benefits, or health insurance. "On paper [it] sounds great, but New York City is one of the world's most expensive cities, so that $100,000 went extremely fast," Lightyear says. "I should have been saving for those things. I was living check to check, which sucked. My last few years living and working in New York City were some of the most stressful years of my life." After completing a 13-week program to get a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification, Lightyear moved to Beijing. She lived in the Chinese capital for four years, working as a teacher, before relocating to Chengdu in 2023, where she currently teaches English essay writing at a university. Lightyear works 18 hours a week, four days a week and has a yearly salary of about $30,000 USD. ″$30,000 a year is poverty in America but in China, I'm living large," she says. Some of the benefits and perks of Lightyear's job include free health insurance, a travel stipend, a flight allowance, two months of paid summer and winter vacation, and a rent stipend. Lightyear took a pay cut when she left her teaching job in Beijing, but doesn't regret it because life in the Chinese capital started to feel too similar to her time in New York City. "I didn't move all the way across the world to work as much as I did in New York," she says. "My current work-life balance is a dream. I'm able to have time to do so many different hobbies, to take the time to actually learn the language and to do whatever I want when I want, and that feels amazing. I just feel so lucky and happy to be able to have so much time to myself." In Chengdu, Lightyear lives in a pre-furnished three-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment with a balcony and laundry room. Because of the rent stipend , Lightyear pays only $278 for her accommodations. She also spends about $15 a month for her Internet, cell phone and Wi-Fi, $75 a month on groceries, $50 a month on electricity and $150 a month on eating out — roughly $568 a month in expenses. That doesn't include her water and gas bill, which Lightyear says she still hasn't had to pay for because her landlord prepaid for those utilities before she moved into the apartment. Lightyear also works as a content creator and has an active YouTube channel. That supplemental income allows her to save up to $1,000 a month. "I haven't saved enough money to buy a house in the U.S. but I have saved enough money to pay off a lot of my student loans and I think I've saved enough money to buy a little casita on the beach in Mexico," she says. "Fingers crossed that is the plan." Lightyear recently renewed her lease and plans to stay in Chengdu for at least another year or so. After that, the 35-year-old American plans to return home to Michigan, where she will decide where to settle next. While Lightyear knows she's ready to leave China, she doesn't know if there is another country she could move to that will give her the same thrill. "I just think China is the hardest country to live and travel in as a non-Chinese person, so I know that anything other than this will be so much easier, but I fear that I might find that boring," she says. "In China, I can challenge myself every day and I know that in another country, after a while, those challenges leave." 0.14
CNBC
15-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
35-year-old American moved to China, pays $278 a month in rent for a 3-bedroom apartment—take a look inside
At 30 years old, Alesse Lightyear decided it was time to leave New York City and her job in reality TV production. "I was living check to check, which sucked. My last few years living and working in New York City were some of the most stressful years of my life," Lightyear tells CNBC Make It. "I was tired of working 70 hours a week for ten years. Being in my 20s, I felt like a 50-year-old woman." Lightyear had lived in neighborhoods all across NYC and in Jersey City at one point, too. "At the height of my career in New York, I was probably making $100,000 a year [and] working eight months out of the year, which on paper sounds great, but New York City is one of the world's most expensive cities, so that $100,000 went extremely fast," Lightyear says. Lightyear took some time to consider where she might land next and decided on China, where should could teach English as a second language. In 2019, she made her official move to Beijing and hasn't looked back. Lightyear lived in the capital city for four years before relocating to Chengdu, where she got a job teaching at a university. After securing her job, Lightyear had just a few days to find an apartment. She looked at six places in 48 hours and settled on a furnished three-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment with a balcony and laundry room. It's located in downtown Chengdu and only a five-minute walk from the subway. Some of the benefits and perks of Lightyear's job include free health insurance, a travel stipend, a flight allowance, two months of paid summer and winter vacation, and a rent stipend. The rent stipend she receives means Lightyear only has to pay half of her the $556 monthly rent — just $278 a month. To secure the apartment, Lightyear had to pay a security deposit, a broker's fee, and three months' rent totaling $2,780. Because her rent stipend didn't kick in until after she received her first paycheck, Lightyear was responsible for paying that full amount up front. "The process happens easily. As long as you have the money, you do everything right then and there," she says. In China, it's customary for potential tenants to try to negotiate the rent price, Lightyear says. But when she tried, the landlord wouldn't budge. Lightyear says she was OK with that because she liked the landlord and the apartment. "The benefits of this job just make life easy and cheap," Lightyear says. "The quality of my lifestyle in China is much better than the quality of life I had living in the U.S." Unlike in the U.S., most of Lightyear's utilities are pay-as-you-go versus the usual monthly or quarterly bill. Since she moved into the apartment, she hasn't had to pay for gas because her landlord loaded more than enough money on the gas card. Her additional expenses include $15 a month on her unlimited cell phone plan, Wi-Fi, and Internet. Lightyear also pays $50 a month for electricity, an average of $75 a month on groceries and $150 a month on eating out. Since moving to China and supplementing her teaching salary with content creation and an active YouTube channel, Lightyear estimates she's been able to save $1,000 a month. With the additional money she's able to save, Lightyear says she plans on buying a house outside the U.S., as she can't afford to buy a house back home. "I haven't saved enough money to buy a house in the U.S. but I have saved enough money to pay off a lot of my student loans and I think I've saved enough money to buy a little casita on the beach in Mexico," she says. "Fingers crossed that is the plan." Lightyear says she's staying in Chengdu for at least another 18 months, since she recently renewed her lease. Eventually, she'll return to Michigan while deciding where to settle down next. Lightyear says she knows she's ready to leave the country she's called home for six years, but isn't quite sure which country will give her the same thrill. "I just think China is the hardest country to live and travel in as a non-Chinese person, so I know that anything other than this will be so much easier, but I fear that I might find that boring," she says. "In China, I can challenge myself every day and I know that in another country, after a while, those challenges leave."
![35-year-old American moved to Chengdu and lives on $30,000 a year: "[It's] poverty in America, but in China I'm living large'](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimage.cnbcfm.com%2Fapi%2Fv1%2Fimage%2F108167583-1751548516689-chinacelia1.jpg%3Fv%3D1751549197%26w%3D1920%26h%3D1080&w=3840&q=100)
CNBC
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNBC
35-year-old American moved to Chengdu and lives on $30,000 a year: "[It's] poverty in America, but in China I'm living large'
In her late 20s, Aleese Lightyear worked in reality TV production and lived in New York City, which she thought was her dream. "At the height of my career in New York, I was probably making $100,000 a year [and] working eight months out of the year, which on paper sounds great, but New York City is one of the world's most expensive cities, so that $100,000 went extremely fast," Lightyear tells CNBC Make It. "I was spending all of my money going out and buying clothes so that I could be trendy and feel like I was living in the 'Sex and the City' New York City dream." As her 30th birthday approached, Lightyear realized she was still working 70 to 80 hours a week, but didn't have any retirement savings. And because she was a freelancer, she didn't have benefits or health insurance. "I should have been saving for those things. I was living check to check, which sucked. My last few years living and working in New York City were some of the most stressful years of my life," she says. "I came up with this idea that I wanted to leave New York because I was tired of working 70 hours a week for ten years. Being in my 20s, I felt like a 50-year-old woman." One day, Lightyear woke up and searched, "How do I make money and travel the world?" The first result was about teaching English. After speaking with a coworker who had taught in South Korea, Lightyear began researching what it would entail to teach overseas with no prior experience. "I kind of put that on pause because I just wasn't sure if that was right for me. It took me about two years to make the decision that I wanted to become a teacher," she says. "Google told me I just needed a TEFL certificate to teach English to foreign language learners, so I enrolled." Lightyear completed a 13-week program to earn her Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification, initially setting her sights on South America. She quickly changed course, however, deciding that if she was going to leave her life in New York behind, she would go as far as possible. "If I'm going to move all the way across the world, I better go to the furthest country that I know absolutely nothing about and have a full adventure, and China just seemed like pure adventure, fun, excitement, and great money," Lightyear says. "I'm someone who has traveled a lot but I'd never been to Asia before, so I didn't really know what to expect and to be honest, my first few days were just a huge blur because there was so much culture shock." Lightyear, 31 at the time, made her official move to Beijing, China in 2019 — and she hasn't looked back. She lived in the Chinese capital for four years before moving to Chengdu, where she is a teacher at a university. Lightyear works 18 hours a week, four days a week and has a yearly salary of about $30,000 USD. "$30,000 a year is poverty in America but in China, I'm living large," she says. Her typical work week is entirely different than it was in New York. In China, she works Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, offering two to three classes a day. Some of her benefits include free health insurance, a travel stipend, a rent stipend, a flight allowance and two months of paid summer and winter vacation. Lightyear took a pay cut when she left her job in Beijing for one in Chengdu. But her life in Beijing had started to feel too similar to her time in NYC, so she has no regrets. "I didn't move all the way across the world to work as much as I did in New York," she says. "My current work-life balance is a dream. I'm able to have time to do so many different hobbies, to take the time to actually learn the language and to do whatever I want when I want, and that feels amazing. I just feel so lucky and happy to be able to have so much time to myself." In Chengdu, Lightyear lives in a pre-furnished three-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment with a balcony and laundry room. Because of the rent stipend she gets, Lightyear only has to pay $278 a month for her accommodations. Lightyear supplements her income as a teacher with content creation and an active YouTube channel. Both of those things allow her to save up to $1,000 a month. It's something she was never able to do living in the U.S. Now that she's been living in China for over five years, Lightyear says when she visits the U.S., she experiences reverse culture shock. She's almost always having to explain to friends, family and strangers why her life now is so much better there than it was before. "For the typical American, there is a lot of confusion and misinformation about what life is truly like in China, but I feel completely safe as a woman, as a woman of color, being independent, doing anything. I feel very at ease in this country," she says. Though she feels comfortable in China, Lightyear says that because the country is so homogeneous, as a person of color she "sticks out like a sore thumb," and it does bother her at times. "I probably cannot go an hour being outside without someone pointing at me and saying, in Chinese, 'there's a black person, look, there's a foreigner," she says. "If I'm going to a touristy spot, the amount of people who take photos of me while I'm not looking or will ask me to take photos, then next thing I know, there's a line of people who want to take photos with me." Despite those uncomfortable moments and the time it's taken to adjust to Chinese culture, Lightyear says her self-confidence has skyrocketed. "I still face a lot of challenges [and] there are so many things I still have no idea about, and in the very beginning, that was the hardest part," she says. "You know the saying that if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere? Well, throw that away and apply it to China. If you can make it in China, you can truly make it anywhere. I feel fearless and like there's nothing I can't do." 0.14
Fox News
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Pixar staff reportedly 'deeply saddened' LGBTQ elements were cut from studio's latest film, 'Elio'
Multiple Pixar employees are reportedly very unhappy with the theatrical cut of Pixar's latest film, "Elio." According to The Hollywood Reporter (THR), staff at the beloved animated film studio, which is owned by Disney, are upset that LGBTQ elements of the film were removed before its final theatrical release. "It was pretty clear through the production of the first version of the film that [studio leaders] were constantly sanding down these moments in the film that alluded to Elio's sexuality of being queer," an anonymous artist who worked on the film told the outlet. Several Pixar staff members revealed to the outlet that "Elio" – the latest Pixar offering about a boy who is mistakenly beamed up from earth to interact with an intergalactic body of alien races – was heavily edited to be less overtly LGBTQ. "According to multiple insiders who spoke to The Hollywood Reporter, Elio was initially portrayed as a queer-coded character, reflecting original director Adrian Molina's identity as an openly gay filmmaker," the piece stated. After Molina screened his cut of the film for Pixar leadership, the director exited the project. Rumors circulated that his post-screening conversation with Pixar COO Peter Docter "hurt" him. Molina was replaced by co-directors Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi. Elements cut from the film were said to include Elio performing in his own makeshift fashion show, his love for environmentalism, as well as scenes suggesting he had a crush on another boy. As the outlet noted, "this characterization gradually faded away throughout the production process as Elio became more masculine following feedback from leadership." Despite these changes, the movie became the worst box office bomb in Pixar's history, earning only $20.8 million domestically during its opening weekend. The movie cost over $200 million to make and had been delayed for about a year, after it was initially slated for release in March 2024. Sarah Ligatich, a member of Pixar's internal LGTBQ group PixPRIDE, told The Hollywood Reporter that she was "deeply saddened and aggrieved by the changes that were made." She added that there was an "exodus of talent" after staff saw Sharafian and Domee's cut of the film, noting that the exit was "really indicative of how unhappy a lot of people were that they had changed and destroyed this beautiful work." The anonymous artist characterized the changes to the film, telling THR, "Suddenly, you remove this big, key piece, which is all about identity, and Elio just becomes about totally nothing. The Elio that is in theaters right now is far worse than Adrian's best version of the original." Reports of "Elio" having its LGBTQ themes sanded down follow Pixar courting controversy for LGBTQ themes in its other films. Pixar's 2022 film "Lightyear" featured a same-sex kiss that was reportedly removed and then reinstated for the film's theatrical version. Pixar's 2020 film "Onward" features a female cyclops character who mentions her girlfriend at one point in the film. The anonymous Pixar artist called out company executives for the cuts to "Elio," saying, "I'd love to ask Pete and the other Disney executives whether they thought the rewrite was worth it. Would they have lost this much money if they simply let Adrian [Molina] tell his story?" Docter, Pixar and Disney did not immediately reply to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.
Time Magazine
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Magazine
All 29 Pixar Movies, Ranked
While they've certainly relied on sequels more often since being acquired by Disney in 2006, Pixar still looks to original storytelling to win the hearts and minds of kids and adults all over the world. That's the Pixar difference—their films aren't interested in pandering to children, but instead offer them new perspectives on the world that often appeal equally to adults. All of their films can make you laugh, and most of them will make you cry, too. And though familiar properties are revisited frequently—we just got a sneak peek at Toy Story 5—six of their last 10 films have been entirely original concepts. It doesn't hurt that their films are generally box-office smashes, with five grossing over $1 billion, and Inside Out 2 currently standing as the ninth highest-grossing movie of all time (not adjusting for inflation). The trouble with ranking a studio like Pixar is that the vast majority of their films are at the very least exceptional. Typically a movie near the bottom of a list suggests it's awful, but not so here. Except for a few stinkers, Pixar has rarely made a truly bad movie. Even those low on the list still fail with style, and many of these films are masterpieces. We've accounted for animation style, balance of humor and heart, characters, storytelling, and cultural impact—everything that makes Pixar, well, Pixar. As Pixar is back in theaters with its latest film, Elio, let's go to infinity and beyond and find out which of Pixar's 29 films is the best of an extraordinary bunch. 29. Lightyear (2022) Have you ever wanted a film about the man who inspired the Buzz Lightyear toy? If not, you are not alone. Pixar's Lightyear is, according to the title sequence, the favorite movie of Toy Story protagonist Andy, a fictional movie within a real one. But it's never a promising sign if a film has to justify its existence before it even starts. Lightyear, which reportedly lost Pixar over $100 million, finds a world-class animation studio scrambling for an identity. Despite a starry voice cast led by Chris Evans, its plot is as convoluted as its reach for an origin story, it lacks compelling characters, and feels like an excuse to sell toys rather than tell a story on film. 28. Cars 2 (2011) Everything about the sequel to 2006's Cars is bigger, but not better. For reasons beyond mortal comprehension, Cars 2 is an international spy film, sidelining Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) for beloved tow truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy). While Mater shines as a supporting character, in a lead role he's exhausting, and his schtick gets old quickly. Cars 2 throws far too many characters into the mix, resulting in a frustratingly overlong and underwhelming movie. It's a sequel that finds a franchise that started off strong to the races running on fumes. 27. The Good Dinosaur (2015) Arlo (Raymond Ochoa) is a young Apatosaurus who longs to make his mark on the world, embarking on a daunting journey alongside a caveboy (Jack Bright). In Pete Sohn's The Good Dinosaur, the photorealistic backgrounds are nothing short of astonishing, but they clash with the oversimplified and somewhat forgettable character designs. Despite some gorgeous visual moments, the biggest problem with The Good Dinosaur is that it's boring. The film went through numerous issues in production, and it shows. 26. Onward (2020) In a Pixar era flush with sequels, the studio made a welcome return to original storytelling with Onward. That excitement, though, is never quite fulfilled in this story of two elf brothers (voiced by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt) who try to complete a spell to bring their father back to life for a day. The ending brings everything together in a winning, tearjerking fashion, though everything leading up to it feels more like a generic adventure movie rather than a unique Pixar classic. 25. Elemental (2023) Elemental was considered an all-time flop after its opening weekend, before finding its legs over the following weeks to become a surprise hit for the studio as word of mouth and global popularity gave it a boost. There's some lovely world-building on display in Elemental, which touches on themes of immigration and interracial relationships. Wade (Mamoudou Athie), who's made of water, and Ember (Leah Lewis), who's made of fire, strike up an unlikely relationship, despite the long-held belief that fire and water don't mix. And while it's exciting to see Pixar venture into rom-com territory, the couple at the center of the film leave a lot to be desired. 24. Soul (2020) Soul has the unfortunate distinction of being the first Pixar film released straight to streaming thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic (though it did eventually get a theatrical release in the U.S.). Pixar mainstay Pete Docter's film follows middle-school teacher Joe (Jamie Foxx), who finally gets his big break as a jazz musician—but dies before he gets the chance to perform. In the afterlife (known here as the 'Great Beyond') he meets 22 (Tina Fey), a soul who's lost any and all interest in life. There's plenty to admire about Soul, including spirited animation and a lively Oscar-winning jazz-infused score by Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Jon Batiste. And it's the first Pixar movie to feature a Black protagonist, 25 years into the studio's run. But things get weighed down by a clumsy body-swapping plot and a pairing between Joe and 22 that never fully pays off. 23. A Bug's Life (1998) In its beginning, Pixar developed a quick reputation for taking big risks. In their sophomore feature they did just that, crafting a bug-filled charmer that's a riff on Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of family fare. Despite the early computer animation, A Bug's Life still holds up beautifully, with vibrant colors and plenty of impressive water effects. It's not as memorable or impactful as other Pixar offerings, but it's a satisfying adventure with an inviting cast of characters voiced by actors including Richard King, Bonnie Hunt, and Brad Garrett. 22. Finding Dory (2016) Improving on the formula introduced in Cars 2, Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) takes the reins in this sequel to Finding Nemo (which you'll find higher on this list). That proves a wise decision, and the choice to flesh out Dory's past, homing in on her lifelong issues with short-term memory loss, makes for a strong narrative. The new additions impress (especially octopus Hank, voiced by Ed O'Neill), and Finding Dory makes for solid family entertainment. And the design of baby Dory is one of the most eye-wateringly adorable characters in all of Pixar. 21. Inside Out 2 (2024) Pixar's highest-grossing film, Inside Out 2 veers awfully close to the original, essentially recycling the original story for a new chapter in Riley's life (adolescence) and throwing a few new pubescent emotions into the mix, including Anxiety (Maya Hawke) and Envy (Ayo Edibiri). Despite that familiarity, it's full of excellent visual gags (especially a play on 'sarcasm') and some top-notch jokes throughout. It's funny and poignant, even if you feel like you've basically seen it before. 20. Luca (2021) Taking inspiration from the films of Hayao Miyazaki and Federico Fellini, Luca is a sweet, meditative slice-of-life fantasy. It's so small-scale that it inevitably feels like a more minor work, but it's a warmly crafted story, set on an Italian seaside littered with Vespas and seafood, about finding yourself and the friends who shape your identity along the way, sea monster or not. It's also a story that many have received as being queer coded. 19. Incredibles 2 (2018) Brad Bird returned to his beloved Parr family (more on them below) with Incredibles 2, which he wrote and directed. The focus on Helen Parr (Holly Hunter) is a smart choice, as Elastigirl is a dynamic character, and Hunter is a lively talent. The Parr family is as exciting as ever with their multifaceted superpowers. But a new supporting cast that includes Voyd (Sophia Bush), Winston (Bob Odenkirk), and Evelyn (Catherine Keener) fades into the background. It's a satisfying and very fun superhero movie that's wonderful to look at, and some excellent set pieces help keep the energy high. 18. Cars 3 (2017) Generally, the Cars movies have been more about satisfying family entertainment than the big emotional moments and introspection Pixar is known for. But Cars 3 finds a surprising and engaging question at its center: What does life look like after you've already accomplished your dreams? It's a big question for Lightning McQueen, and the film handles it well. It's your character, Cars 3 suggests, not your achievements, that defines the kind of person (or vehicle) you can be. 17. Elio (2025) Elio finds Pixar back in fine form, delivering high-quality original storytelling. The film follows its titular character (Yonas Kibreab), an 11-year-old desperate to be abducted by aliens. He's achingly lonely, and hopes that somewhere out there is a planet where he'll fit in. It's a striking story about a young boy, who some moviegoers are reading as neurodivergent, seeking to find his place in a challenging world. It's hopeful, emotional, and wise, full of bold color and enchanting character designs. 16. Brave (2012) Pixar's first (and only) foray into the world of princesses, Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman's Brave transports us to Scotland, where rebellious Merida (Kelly Macdonald) refuses to be betrothed according to longstanding traditions. The first film made with their (at the time) new animation system Presto, Brave puts breathtaking detail into Merida's long ginger locks. It's a solid, moving film about a mother-daughter relationship with an unforgettable lead in Merida. 15. Up (2009) In its opening sequence, Up set a new standard in storytelling for the studio. In these scenes, we see the extraordinary love blossoming between Carl (Ed Asner) and his beloved Ellie, from the beginning of their romance to the loss of their baby to their decades living together—all done without dialogue. Set to Michael Giacchino's effortlessly emotive 'Married Life,' it's a truly perfect, heart-wrenching opening. The next 90-odd minutes can't quite live up to the immense promise of those first ones, but there's still plenty to enjoy in Up, including a Golden Retriever named Dug with a collar that allows him to speak in a human voice ('squirrel!). It's the kind of film that makes you believe adventure—not to mention true love—is really out there. 14. Toy Story 4 (2019) After Toy Story 3 ended the trilogy in an enormously satisfying fashion, it was something of a shock to hear Pixar would return with Toy Story 4. Thankfully, the movie proves there's plenty of life left in Andy's—and now his sister Bonnie's—toys. The level of visual detail is phenomenal, and brings the very welcome return of Bo Peep (Annie Potts). Forky (Tony Hale) is a brilliant new addition, and his constant desire to end his life is a remarkably bold choice for a family film. 13. Monsters University (2013) Pixar's only prequel, Monsters University traces the origins of Mike Wazowski's (Billy Crystal) and James 'Sulley' Sullivan's (John Goodman) friendship. Going back to their university days, it shows when both were training to be scarers, and both have very different paths to success. Its final act is a marvel, and there's a great cast of supporting characters and exciting action throughout the film. Monsters University dares to tell kids that their dreams may not come true, and that changing the goalposts of your ambitions is a healthy part of life. 12. Coco (2017) Pixar's Coco features an entirely Latin principal cast in a film that revolves around the traditions of the Day of the Dead. Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) enlists the help of his dead great-great-grandfather Héctor (Gael García Bernal) in a story that straddles the line between the land of the living and the dead. One of Pixar's finest tearjerkers, Coco is a vibrant smorgasbord of Mexican culture with phenomenal Oscar-winning music, from powerhouse married composers Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, that celebrates family legacies. 11. Finding Nemo (2003) It's a story of impossible odds. When clownfish Marlin's (Albert Brooks) son Nemo (Alexander Gould) is kidnapped by divers, he embarks on a mission to rescue his son with the help of blue tang Dory, who suffers from short-term memory loss. Directed by Andrew Stanton and written by Stanton, Bob Peterson, and David Reynolds, Finding Nemo is effortlessly quotable (everyone knows P. Sherman's address) and flush with incredible underwater animation. 10. Cars (2006) Cars talk! In a world where everyone is a vehicle, Lightning McQueen is emerging as one of the world's premier racers with a serious ego problem. When he gets lost in Radiator Springs, he meets a group of lovable characters who change his worldview. In Cars, Pixar delivered a very funny and immensely satisfying adventure for the entire family. It lacks some of the shattering emotional moments that have come to define the studio, but that's by design. Cars is supposed to be a whole lot of fun, and it delivers with gusto. 9. Turning Red (2022) Toronto is a locale that's often on-screen masquerading as various American cities, but Turning Red lets the Canadian city shine all on its own. Thirteen-year-old Mei is a boy-band-crazy girl whose puberty has a fascinating side effect: her mood swings turn her into a giant red panda. It's lovely to see Pixar embrace female puberty and normalize periods. Directed by Domee Shi, Turning Red is a celebration of Chinese culture, a pastel-loaded fantasy with catchy earworms (composed by Billie Eilish and Finneas) and an expertly layered coming-of-age story about carving a path for yourself. It's also a nostalgic dream for any millennials who came of age in the era of NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys. It's a travesy it never got a proper theatrical release. 8. Inside Out (2015) Pete Docter's Inside Out has a top-notch premise, exploring the inner workings of the human brain by turning key emotions into characters. Inside Out follows Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), and the emotions in Riley's brain that control her daily life: Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), and Disgust (Mindy Kaling). The film is a marvel, with a cornucopia of inventive gags and a story that captures the heartbreak and hilarity of growing up. It offers up something radical, too. Most films encourage kids to smile, but Inside Out dares to suggest that embracing sadness is the key to a richer life. 7. The Incredibles (2004) After one too many incidents, people with superpowers are ordered to hide their powers from the world. That's bad news for the Parr family, and especially father Bob (Craig T. Nelson), who hates his office job and longs to return to his super life. When a fan-turned-foe enters Bob's life, it springs the entire family into action. Brad Bird's The Incredibles is an irresistible popcorn flick with incredible characters (Edna Mode!) and a witty, incisive script about embracing your true self. It's an original superhero movie that some could argue manages to outshine every film in the MCU. 6. Toy Story (1995) The first feature-length computer-animated movie, Toy Story immediately established Pixar as a studio to watch. But the film didn't merely indicate promise—Toy Story fulfills the promise of its new format in tremendous fashion. It takes a brilliant and relatable concept—what if your toys had lives of their own?—and turns it into a massively engaging story about identity and finding your place in the world. It introduced legendary characters including cowboy Woody (Tom Hanks) and space ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), who are still adored today. Not bad for the studio's first feature film. 5. Toy Story 3 (2010) The toys are back, and they're facing their biggest crisis yet: their owner Andy no longer plays with them. For those of us who grew up with these characters, Toy Story 3 is Pixar's most emotionally devastating film, and a pitch-perfect conclusion to a journey 15 years in the making. Toy Story 3 is about the transition from childhood to adulthood, and how good it can feel—as well as how much it can hurt—to grow up. 4. Monsters, Inc. (2001) Monsters Mike and Sully work at Monsters Inc. in Monstropolis, a world powered by the screams of children, and it's their job to help extract those screams to keep the city going. When human child Boo (Mary Gibbs) finds her way into Monstropolis, it'll change the world forever. The movie's laughs are earned so consistently that it feels effortless (thanks in no small part to Billy Crystal and John Goodman), and 'Put that thing back where it came from' may be the funniest joke in all of Pixar. Monsters, Inc. is a whipsmart, madcap adventure buoyed by an energetic and whimsical Randy Newman score and inimitable chemistry from its leads. 3. Ratatouille (2007) At first glance, Ratatouille is one of Pixar's silliest concepts. Written and directed by Brad Bird, the film follows a rat named Remy (Patton Oswalt) who dreams of being a professional chef. To do so, he partners with a not-so-gifted human chef, Linguini (Lou Romano), hiding under his chef's hat and using his hair to control his body. But Pixar turns that ludicrous idea into something grounded and believable. Ratatouille is one of Pixar's finest masterpieces, and a heartwarming, visually sumptuous feast about artistic pursuit and ambition. Food critic and antagonist Anton Ego (Peter O'Toole) delivers a gorgeous monologue in the film's brilliant finale. In a stroke of genius writing, it summarizes the film to perfection: 'Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere.' 2. Toy Story 2 (1999) People complain that Pixar relies too much on sequels these days. While I don't disagree, wouldn't you keep making sequels if your first effort was this perfect? Toy Story 2 does everything a great sequel should do, expanding the first film's world in ways that are bigger, bolder, and yes, better than the original. It's the first Pixar movie that showed the studio is just as capable of breaking your heart as it is of filling it with childlike wonder. It's hard to believe that one of the best sequels in history almost got deleted before it ever saw the light of day. Sequels have never surpassed Toy Story 2. 1. WALL-E (2008) Taking a simple concept and turning it into something extraordinary, WALL-E tells the story of a now desolate Earth, where the last robot roams, following his directive to clean up the waste humans have left behind. But when he finds another robot named Eve, he discovers there's more to life than what he's been programmed for. Andrew Stanton's WALL-E is an inventive and heartwarming sci-fi odyssey with jaw-dropping animation and sequences (like the robots dancing gracefully through space) that leave you in awe. It's also alarmingly prescient about the perils humans have largely created for themselves, but in the face of fear, it offers hope in abundance. WALL-E finds Pixar working at the peak of its game-changing powers.
