10. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

The only animated film in Oscar history to be nominated for Best Picture (before the Academy introduced the Best Animated Feature category in 2001), Beauty and the Beast truly deserves a spot in any favorite movie list. With an intelligent, independent heroine whose love of reading should inspire young ones to do the same, Beauty follows a great story arc and has impeccable animation to boot. With its Oscar-winning song and music, an amazingly believable love story, colorful characters (including a delicious villain in the form of Gaston) and an eye-popping ballroom scene, Beauty and the Beast will be the classic to beat in decades to come.

Fan Favorite Character(s): Lumière the Candelabra, Beast

9. Toy Story (1995)

As the first feature film to rely completely on Computer Generated Imagery (CGI), Toy Story quickly became a fan favorite upon its release. Audiences were wowed by the level of detail provided, as they followed the adventures of a handful of toys which came to life when no one was watching. Disney (along with Pixar Animation Studios) played it smart by populating its voice cast with marquee names (Tom Hanks and Tim Allen), adding prestige to the already impressive project. This film (and its sequels) is great for families who wish to instill a sense of honesty and friendship into their children, letting them know it's OK to ask for help. Fun fact: one of the co-writers of this film is Joss Whedon, TV creator of such inventive hits as Buffy, Angel, Firefly and Dollhouse.

Fan Favorite Character(s): Buzz Lightyear and Woody

8. Ratatouille (2007)

The eighth film produced by Pixar, Ratatouille is both an ode to good food and a nice morality tale about the power of positivity and ambition. As Remy the rat yearns to become a refined chef, helping young Linguini the bumbling chef to believe in himself thanks to some covert teamwork both work through the growing pains of mastering French Cuisine in their mutual dream of achieving kitchen greatness. Peppered with humor and containing beautiful CGI visuals of Paris, Ratatouille continues in the Pixar/Disney tradition of providing entertaining stories while teaching young viewers about the importance of holding on to one's dreams.

Fan Favorite Character(s): Colette the female chef, Emile the rat

7. Finding Nemo

In many ways, Finding Nemo is the kid equivalent of a road movie. As worried clownfish dad Marlin goes off on an inter-oceanic search for his boy Nemo (hence the title, naturally), he slowly realizes life isn't always about playing it safe, and that someday each child will learn to be on his own. The plot elements are educational: preparing young ones for the later responsibilities of leaving home for school and learning to be self-sufficient. For now, however, it's still a funny, fully CGI film by the same boys from Pixar, managing great underwater sequences. Add to that some priceless comic relief by Ellen Degeneres (as Dory, the Regal tang reef fish) and you have another winner.

Fan Favorite Character(s): Dory, Bubbles, Crush the gnarly turtle

6. WALL-E (2008)

A cautionary tale about the irreparable damage humans have caused to the environment, WALL-E is highly educational. It's also very funny. Many have complained that the diminutive robot bears too much resemblance to Short Circuit's Johnny Five but that doesn't mean he's any less adorable as a disposal droid who finds love in unusual places. Another impeccable example of Pixar's genius in creating loveable characters that don't need much dialogue, WALL-E is a winner for children and parents. Makes you wonder if Al Gore owns a copy.

Fan Favorite Character(s): M-O the obsessive compulsive sanitizing droid, WALL-E

    5. The Little Mermaid (1989)

After Disney went through a dry spell in the 1980s (with failed hits such as The Black Cauldron, The Great Mouse Detective and Oliver and Company), the big cheeses at the Mouse House returned to the good old classic company values. As a result, The Little Mermaid was the first of many new features to revisit famous fairy tales (the first since Sleeping Beauty in 1959), ensuring public knowledge of the product and better luck at the box office. A cute and honest love story about a curious mermaid princess finding true love above water, The Little Mermaid will endure for years to come.

Fan Favorite Character(s): Sebastian the Lobster, Scuttle the seagull


 4. Star Wars (1977)

One of only two live-action titles on this list, Star Wars remains the universal standard for space adventure and wholesome heroics suitable for all ages. With mystical elements like the Force, nifty light saber battles and ambiguous scoundrels who have a moral change of heart, kids can identify with righteous farm boy Luke Skywalker and his quest to become a legendary Jedi knight. Parents, meanwhile, can get a kick out of the space-age soap opera unveiling before their eyes. And the best part? For sustained fun, the film is one of six stories mapping out an epic tale: the symbolic fight between good and evil, even if it was "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away."

Fan Favorite Character(s):  Darth Vader, Han Solo, R2D2

3. Aladdin (1992)

Another example of the Disney Renaissance movement begun with The Little Mermaid, Aladdin manages to be one of the more popular kids' choices, thanks to Robin Williams' priceless hyperactive performance as the voice of the Genie. Parents are finally able to share with their kids Williams' kinetic style while still enjoying the underlying morality tale about honesty and responsibility. Note that Aladdin seems to borrow some of Dreamworks' later formula (that of inserting frequent pop culture references) to good effect, resulting in a wholesome viewing for young and old.

Fan Favorite Character(s): The Genie of the Lamp

2. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Among the most enduring movies ever, The Wizard of Oz brings parents and children together, since Mom and Dad likely shared the same experience with their parents a generation ago. Though some of the scarier scenes may be off-putting to younger viewers, Oz remains a great way to introduce children to something more mature, easing them into movies with increasingly complex themes. The set design is colorful enough to command attention and the songs are catchy. Viewers young and old catch the important lesson about enjoying what you have, rather than pining for what you don't.

Fan Favorite Character(s): Scarecrow, Tin Man, Toto the dog

1. The Lion King (1994)

With its tale of betrayal and dark themes of loss and perseverance, The Lion King exerts a mystical appeal over kids. Young viewers won't grasp the Shakespearian undertones of patricide woven into the story but the film still manages to convey moral values while flagging inevitable personal hardships that arise with age. The central character of Simba acts as a surrogate for each viewer, as he deals with the pressures of a life filled with responsibility and duty, though he'd rather just eat grub and hang out with his laid-back buddies.

Fan Favorite Character(s): Timon and Pumbaa