AFI!

I love the lists put out by the American Film Institute (AFI) despite the fact that a friend of mine can't seem to understand that international movies aren't going to be considered by something focusing on America. Anyway, this year, the institute is counting down the top ten films in ten different movie genres. They kicked off the countdown with the best in animation. And just like I predicted to my family before it started, Disney dominated the category. Only "Shrek" was the non-Disney movie on the list, though I agree with my dad that "Polar Express" should've made it on the list. The animation in the movie brought the computer generated movie to a whole new level. And the story about believing is always a welcome addition. And a welcome respite from the usual Christmas movie plotlines: another "It's a Wonderful Life" knock-off (which placed in the top 10 fantasy lists, capped by "The Wizard of Oz"), "A Christmas Carol" knock off, or the poor man's version of "Groundshog Day" (which also placed in the top 10 fantasy list).

But honestly, there is no surprise that Disney would dominate the list. Walt Disney set the standard for animation with "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" (which was the top animated movie on AFI's list) and kept finding ways to raise the bar--"Cinderella," "Bambi," "Fantasia," etc. (All which placed). And to this day, Walt Disney Studios strives to make Walt proud and the Disney name at the forefront of family entertainment and animation, such as partnering with Pixar ("Finding Nemo" and "Toy Story" also placed). It is the reason why many other animated features such as "Anastasia" and "The Swan Princess" are often mistaken for being Disney when they aren't. And I was glad to see my favorite movie "Beauty and the Beast" place on the list as well, the only animated film to ever be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. (It lost to "Silence of the Lambs").

And you know that somewhere, there is a publicist for the Disney company sitting in a cubicle typing up a press release trumpeting the fact that nine out of the top ten best animated movies of all time (according to AFI) were Disney movies. God, I wish that were me!