1. Toy Story 3 (2010) VS Shrek 2 (2004)
Before you start complaining that these films have nothing in common, the reason for their inclusion and comparison is that the Toy Story series of films are Pixar's most successful and most well respected, and the Shrek series of films are Dreamworks most successful and well respected. It only seemed fair that to end this battle, we compare arguably each film studios greatest ever films. Shrek 2 did the impossible- it was even better than it's original, and considering its original won the Academy Award that is really saying something. Shrek was a difficult film to create a sequel to because the fairly simple concept which every fairy tale film follows... man and woman fall in love and get married... had already been done. The reason Disney never creates actual sequels to its movies (just direct to DVD rubbish) is because by the time the first film is over, the whole fairy tale story has finished. No one cares what happens to Cinderella after the first movie- all we want to know is that she lived happily ever after the end- none of this "a twist in time" lunacy. Shrek 2 however made us actually want to know what happens after happily ever after. It introduced us to a much larger filmic world and to characters we have since all fallen in love with (Puss in Boots anyone?). It also used Jennifer Saunders to perfection as the menacing fairy godmother and the scene where Shrek rides the giant gingerbread man to the castle whilst Jennifer Saunders sings Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out For A Hero" is one of the most thrilling, heart racing scenes in animated film history. Toy Story 3 though is Toy Story 3... perhaps the most loved film of recent years. As much as I love the film, I would actually make the argument that it is possibly the worst of the Toy Story films. It is certainly the most beautiful and also by far the most emotional , but I find the story drags in places (particularly the middle) and isn't as engaging (except for the scene where they are all almost burnt to death) as the other two. It is still one of Pixar's greatest films and one of the best animated films of all time however. I know what I am about to say is going to be controversial, but you guys love opinions different than your own don't you? (You sure seem to love telling me how wrong I am in the comments sections on my previous articles). Personally, out of these two films, I would prefer to sit down again and watch Shrek 2 than I would watch Toy Story 3. I really love Shrek 2, and probably would enjoy watching it just as much as either Toy Story 1 and 2 (which I consider my favorite animated 1/2 of all time). Although I initially began this article thinking that Dreamworks may actually end up beating out Pixar, this has clearly not been the case. As much as Dreamworks have made some truly brilliant films over the years, and a much as Pixar is slowly loosing it's touch and becoming more and more average, Pixar is still the undefeated champion of the computer animated world. For all of those that care or remember (or indeed read this far), Up is my second least favorite Pixar film. For some reason I struggle to even stay awake during that film though I know many people who consider it their favorite Pixar movie. If it wasn't Pixar and I wasn't frightened of being laughed out of all movie circles I would even go as far as to say that I find Up to be a pretty bad, unoriginal film and if it had been a Dreamworks film, I believe many people would have given it a much harder time than it got. The opening 5 minutes aren't even all that good really either are they... cheesy emotional blackmail if you ask me. This article has been much more about starting a conversation than really anything else. My winner is Pixar, but I could still be persuaded to turn to Dreamworks (especially if you bring up Cars 2). Please, I'd love to hear your favorite animated film studio and your reasons why below in the comments section. If you manage to change my mind I will be sure to tell you...