Film Review of the Year Part 6 of 8

With the release of Pixar's WALL-E animation reached new levels of quality in 2008. Recently awarded the LA Film Critics Best Film of 2008. Upon release the film was described as being Pixar's best effort to date, and the film contains some of the best silent film work since before the coming of sound. A technical marvel as much as a great story the film is a testament to the exemplary being being carried out by Pixar studios.


Two other notable animated features from 2008 which challenged WALL-E on different levels were Persepolis and Waltz with Bashir. Both films used animation to deal with the effects of war and oppression on the lifes of the creators.

Where Waltz with Bashir's animation is much more striking and evocative, the simple black and white graphics of Persepolis perfectly fits the narrative created by Marjane Satrapi. Based on the life of the Satrapi the film explores Iran's oppressive and religious past and sheds a illuminating eye on a history not too well known in Britain.

Waltz with Bashir achieved a similar result, as Ari Folman tried to come to terms with and understand his role in the First Lebanon War. Filled with strikingly violent acts of war, and documentary style interviews, this was the first animated documentary I have seen and Folman delivered a shocking evocation of the terrible nature of war.

For me, animation is more than a style of storytelling directed at children. With the unique and artistic approach of films such as Persepolis and Waltz with Bashir, and the universal appeal of WALL-E 2008 was a superb year for animation as the artform enabled new and unique approaches to political, religious and even environmental themes.

2009 should also offer some animation to look forward to with the release of Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo on the Cliff.