I’ve never hidden the fact that I’m a big kid at heart. Some of my favorite movies to see on the big screen are either computer or traditionally animated movies.

I do believe this stems from the fact that I grew up during the era where so many classic animated movies came out. I’m not talking the REALLY classic Disney movies, but many that were released in the 70’s and 80’s.

With the advent of computer animation, I must admit my choice in favorite animated movies changed. I found I liked the animation far more than traditional animation. I know there are many people who would argue with me over that fact.

I like what I like, it really is that simple. All the movies that I am going to bring up in this top five list are from the past fifteen years or so. I’ve seen pretty much all the movies that have been released over the years, and have managed to whittle down the vast majority of these to my top five.

There have been a few real stinkers as well, which is a real let down, but I won’t go into that. It might be a good choice for my top five worst animated movies though, but I can’t promise I will do such a list.

There are a few that will get an honorable mention as well. I’ll start with Big Hero Six: Alternate timeline from our own, deals with loss and love, and how it changes people. The fact the characters end up becoming heroes was a real draw.  The Incredibles: What happens when two superheroes fall in love, get married and have kids, and then try to hold down a regular life and job.  Hotel Transylvania: Even monsters need a vacation, and where else would they go but to the birthplace of the horror genre? Ice Age: One word – Scrat! And Megamind: Think of superman and his arch nemesis, who turned evil (but really isn’t) due to circumstances. A wonderful movie and one I would dearly love to see sequels to!

1. Shrek – I had the pleasure of watching this way back in 2001. It was pretty much the first really big computer animated movie that I fell in love with. It’s also one of the few computer animated movies I saw more than once in the theater. I loved how it took the classic fairytale and totally destroyed it! The humor, the characters and the fact it covered so many of the tales I grew up with made it a classic. The second was just as fun as the first, but sadly the third and fourth? Not so much. I barely even remember the third one!
2. How to train your dragon – I’ve always had a thing for Vikings. I liked the fact they were rough and always ready for a fight – although the whole loot and pillage? Not so much. Still, out of all the various mythologies out there, the whole Norse myth has always been my favorite. This brought the mythical Vikings together with even more mythical dragons. A story of how a life-long fight between the Vikings and Dragons was finally brought to an end by an unlikely hero who made friends with the rarest of all dragons. It has spawned a heart-wrenching sequel, as well as two seasons of an animated TV series. I am eager to see both the movies and the television series continue.
3. Kung Fu Panda ­– I train Shaolin Kung Fu in real life, so it’s a natural that I am drawn to this movie, the sequel and the animated series on television. An unlikely hero, a fat, clumsy and some might say dim-witted Panda, through a series of unexpected circumstances, finds he has a chance to become a mythical warrior. The movies show a great deal about respect, learning tolerance, friendship and overcoming hardships. More importantly, learning to do your best and achieve greatness. It helps there is a great deal of humor in the movies and you really do grow to care about the characters.
4. Despicable Me – Take an evil genius who wants to steal everything possible, but is being one-upped by another genius. This evil genius decides having a couple of children will help him, as he plans on using them for his own nefarious reasons. The only problem is that he grows to love the little ones. This has spawned two movies and I have one word for you… Minions! Love those little yellow freaks and I am eagerly awaiting their own movie this summer.
5. Madagascar – I enjoyed these movies about a group of animals, all of whom have lived their lives in the zoo, suddenly find themselves out in the wilds and away from the only life they have ever known. Okay, okay, I’ll admit it willingly and openly. I love the Penguins from the movies. I was seriously tickled when I discovered they had their own television series and a movie of their very own, which came out last year. I will continue to enjoy the penguins as long as they keep appearing, and here is hoping that will be for a very long time!