This is a fantastic article. WALL-E has a lot of staying power. When I first saw it in theaters, I was really hoping there would be zero dialogue whatsoever, but it was done remarkably well regardless. It’s definitely stood the test of time because it provides such powerful commentary on materialism and purpose. And the credit sequence is nothing short of amazing, it’s like you’re watching an addendum to the story of human history.
I think some other “perfect animated movie” contenders might be Soul, Ratatouille, The Iron Giant, and even Coco, although the religiosity probably varies between them. I’ve watched them all multiple times and I just can’t find any flaws, at least to my taste…
If you want biblical allusions, Toy Story 4 is a good place to start. It deals with how the toys come alive. Woody ends up meeting Forky, a sorta discombobulated arts and crafts creation. (He’s a spork with doodle eyes, fuzzy wire arms, and tiny plastic feet in clay.) He talks all about how Forky’s creator (Bonnie, a little human girl) loves him, how he’s a toy, not a piece of garbage, how he brings joy to children and he can’t just give up on life. It was obvious to me long before I joined any church that he was talking about people’s relationship with God.
Wow! I’d NEVER seek out a 4th movie - except maybe Star Trek! I’ll see Toy Story 4 now! Peter Kreeft whom I learned of when he spoke on the existence of good and evil at UT following 9/11, (I took my middle daughter, whom I belatedly realized was growing up!) holds it as axiomatic that any creative endeavor must borrow from the Bible to succeed - or maybe as you say, have staying power! He also had a great line in that 911 talk: that disaster had, he said, the effect on America with its new moral relativism, of making [Norman Vincent] “Peale appalling, and [Apostle] Paul appealing!” Maybe you can run with that quote next time you hear someone tickling people’s ears with Christian Science or Indian guru-type malarky!
Love the movie analysis, I also find that the best movies feed our souls due to their ability to impart Biblical truth (which many don’t take the time or have the gift to discern). I forgot about the Hello, Dolly link - and wonder if that story has any redeeming truth. I just remember singing the songs one summer when I was in the play growing up, going to be adding that and wall-e to our list of movies for the next rainy day.
I have a daughter who gave a presentation on how not to fear AI but learn to use it on the job. I was demonizing it - however when I thought recently of how my normally quiet physicist Dad from the Captain America generation gave me a lesson I’m only now appreciating fully, (he let me ride his shoulders playing volleyball at a laboratory picnic; we won: no thanks to me, since I would later realize being born cross eyed & age 6 surgery to fix that, would NEVER give me stereo vision—yet the next day, when some far sportier friends across the street came over I showed off by telling how we won and that “the other team was LOUSY.” Dad, not one to express himself but thus more effective WHEN HE DID, wasn’t pleased with that comment and told me so in front of my friends. Feeling sentimental and convicted at the same time a couple months ago, I asked a text-to-AI service how to ask Chat GPT to make a photo of me on Dad’s shoulders playing volleyball. I input photos of myself from elementary school, and my Dad from a lab photo: and it created a great image, even regressing his age, and adding the government-issue black horn rim glasses he wore to his photo! I’m going to put the AI creation on my wall !
I loved “The Incredibles” (the first one) so much that I told people it was the “perfect movie” (chiefly over how it described marriage) which maybe not surprisingly, Sarah has shown me is a key purpose of Wall-E —the choice of the name “Eve” should have clued me in but I’m a little thick! I am sorry but it’s just occurring to me that Bill Cosby has a funny skit from ancient history in which his girls are standing around the potty urinating very hard and one says, “try harder and your wally wally will come out!”, yeah, that’s probably TMI… and Freud as Sarah says had only nuggets sandwiched between nonsense !
I will watch Wall-E again: looking for the universal Biblical truths which Peter Kreeft says any successful story must borrow from the Bible if it is to succeed: from your recap I already see the plant entering Eve and her temporary shutdown as mimicking what men are often reputed to feel when a pregnant wife / mother of young children appears romantically in exhaustion to “shut down!”
What I recall likewise as a new not-quite-so-new-as-you Christian feeling about Wall-E was depression at the fattening and lazy-ing (I’ve invented a verb!) of America; and a slight feeling that it was a continuation of the theme of the first “Earth Day,” which ead marked in my elementary school by a trip to a glass recycling plant which mechanically crushed bottles for later (hopeful) reuse. And I do recycle even when on paper, I should throw away, in my work, —if I only cared about the money… So that school trip WORKED! As it should! Even Jesus had 12 baskets of bread fragments collected up!
Thanks for asking for the guess as to your next fave animated movie. The Holy Spirit certainly had me see your push notification because the first time I utter the words “perfect movie“, was regarding the movie “Incredibles“, (the first one). It would be great if you felt that was on YOUR short list! But, we are all such individuals, that might be too much to hope for! —Thank you for a great article. I read it in its entirety! Likely The Lord woke me early like the insomniac King in Esther.
Ok don’t laugh - it’s not a perfect movie, but KPop Demon Hunters (it’s on Netflix) shocked me. It’s not meant to be Christian, but had some really deep themes that are SO close. In the end they kind of lose it, but it sparked some great conversations with my older kids about shame and temptation, idols, and even demons.
Another one that surprised me was Migration - it’s about a father duck stepping up to lead his family and I loved how the mom duck lifts him up and supports him without trying to take control or undermine him. Again, not a perfect movie, but with a common theme in kids movies today being the dumb dad, it was refreshing.
This made me tear up. So beautifully said. I would so watch Wall-E tonight, but for some unknown reason, I don't bloody own it. Now I need to buy it stat. I love animated films and looking forward to the next movie you talk about.
Good choice! I saw it at the cinema when it came out (with another guy from church, not the kids!) and found it charming, but it struck me mostly as a critique of consumerism -- which it is, of course -- with a big nod to *Silent Running* and a bit of Archie and Mehitabel. But you bring out the themes of "Eden spoiled" and "Eden reborn" that make me realise I need to revisit it. Thanks
This is a fantastic article. WALL-E has a lot of staying power. When I first saw it in theaters, I was really hoping there would be zero dialogue whatsoever, but it was done remarkably well regardless. It’s definitely stood the test of time because it provides such powerful commentary on materialism and purpose. And the credit sequence is nothing short of amazing, it’s like you’re watching an addendum to the story of human history.
I think some other “perfect animated movie” contenders might be Soul, Ratatouille, The Iron Giant, and even Coco, although the religiosity probably varies between them. I’ve watched them all multiple times and I just can’t find any flaws, at least to my taste…
If you want biblical allusions, Toy Story 4 is a good place to start. It deals with how the toys come alive. Woody ends up meeting Forky, a sorta discombobulated arts and crafts creation. (He’s a spork with doodle eyes, fuzzy wire arms, and tiny plastic feet in clay.) He talks all about how Forky’s creator (Bonnie, a little human girl) loves him, how he’s a toy, not a piece of garbage, how he brings joy to children and he can’t just give up on life. It was obvious to me long before I joined any church that he was talking about people’s relationship with God.
I never thought about Forky that way. He annoyed me in Toy Story 4, but I guess that could serve as an analogy for our relationship with God.
Wow! I’d NEVER seek out a 4th movie - except maybe Star Trek! I’ll see Toy Story 4 now! Peter Kreeft whom I learned of when he spoke on the existence of good and evil at UT following 9/11, (I took my middle daughter, whom I belatedly realized was growing up!) holds it as axiomatic that any creative endeavor must borrow from the Bible to succeed - or maybe as you say, have staying power! He also had a great line in that 911 talk: that disaster had, he said, the effect on America with its new moral relativism, of making [Norman Vincent] “Peale appalling, and [Apostle] Paul appealing!” Maybe you can run with that quote next time you hear someone tickling people’s ears with Christian Science or Indian guru-type malarky!
Love the movie analysis, I also find that the best movies feed our souls due to their ability to impart Biblical truth (which many don’t take the time or have the gift to discern). I forgot about the Hello, Dolly link - and wonder if that story has any redeeming truth. I just remember singing the songs one summer when I was in the play growing up, going to be adding that and wall-e to our list of movies for the next rainy day.
I've never seen this movie, but I will now.
Very good essay, I really enjoyed that. Thanks Sarah.
I saw WALL-E when it first came out and hated it. I thought I’d never watch it again. But your article has inspired me to take another look at it.
I didn't like it at first either. I love it now.
Up, and Toy Story, first come to mind.
I have an adult friend who says he never watches cartoons. I've told Him he's missing out on a lot.
I heard either Clay or Buck, who’ve replaced Rush Limbaugh, say “Up” was a classic
It absolutely is.
He is.
Quite a contrast to the empty fare that Hollywood/Disney et al are offering these days. No surprise there.
I felt a little sad watching WALL-E again and realizing we don't get that kind of movie anymore.
Optimistic that Advanced AI will allow that from many independents. Perhaps from yourself.
I have a daughter who gave a presentation on how not to fear AI but learn to use it on the job. I was demonizing it - however when I thought recently of how my normally quiet physicist Dad from the Captain America generation gave me a lesson I’m only now appreciating fully, (he let me ride his shoulders playing volleyball at a laboratory picnic; we won: no thanks to me, since I would later realize being born cross eyed & age 6 surgery to fix that, would NEVER give me stereo vision—yet the next day, when some far sportier friends across the street came over I showed off by telling how we won and that “the other team was LOUSY.” Dad, not one to express himself but thus more effective WHEN HE DID, wasn’t pleased with that comment and told me so in front of my friends. Feeling sentimental and convicted at the same time a couple months ago, I asked a text-to-AI service how to ask Chat GPT to make a photo of me on Dad’s shoulders playing volleyball. I input photos of myself from elementary school, and my Dad from a lab photo: and it created a great image, even regressing his age, and adding the government-issue black horn rim glasses he wore to his photo! I’m going to put the AI creation on my wall !
AI certainly has its uses, and that's a really neat one.
I loved “The Incredibles” (the first one) so much that I told people it was the “perfect movie” (chiefly over how it described marriage) which maybe not surprisingly, Sarah has shown me is a key purpose of Wall-E —the choice of the name “Eve” should have clued me in but I’m a little thick! I am sorry but it’s just occurring to me that Bill Cosby has a funny skit from ancient history in which his girls are standing around the potty urinating very hard and one says, “try harder and your wally wally will come out!”, yeah, that’s probably TMI… and Freud as Sarah says had only nuggets sandwiched between nonsense !
Encanto is one animated movie that deeply impacted me because of its biblical truths shining through. Excited for this series!
I'm really fond of Encanto.
I will watch Wall-E again: looking for the universal Biblical truths which Peter Kreeft says any successful story must borrow from the Bible if it is to succeed: from your recap I already see the plant entering Eve and her temporary shutdown as mimicking what men are often reputed to feel when a pregnant wife / mother of young children appears romantically in exhaustion to “shut down!”
What I recall likewise as a new not-quite-so-new-as-you Christian feeling about Wall-E was depression at the fattening and lazy-ing (I’ve invented a verb!) of America; and a slight feeling that it was a continuation of the theme of the first “Earth Day,” which ead marked in my elementary school by a trip to a glass recycling plant which mechanically crushed bottles for later (hopeful) reuse. And I do recycle even when on paper, I should throw away, in my work, —if I only cared about the money… So that school trip WORKED! As it should! Even Jesus had 12 baskets of bread fragments collected up!
Thanks for asking for the guess as to your next fave animated movie. The Holy Spirit certainly had me see your push notification because the first time I utter the words “perfect movie“, was regarding the movie “Incredibles“, (the first one). It would be great if you felt that was on YOUR short list! But, we are all such individuals, that might be too much to hope for! —Thank you for a great article. I read it in its entirety! Likely The Lord woke me early like the insomniac King in Esther.
Ok don’t laugh - it’s not a perfect movie, but KPop Demon Hunters (it’s on Netflix) shocked me. It’s not meant to be Christian, but had some really deep themes that are SO close. In the end they kind of lose it, but it sparked some great conversations with my older kids about shame and temptation, idols, and even demons.
Another one that surprised me was Migration - it’s about a father duck stepping up to lead his family and I loved how the mom duck lifts him up and supports him without trying to take control or undermine him. Again, not a perfect movie, but with a common theme in kids movies today being the dumb dad, it was refreshing.
Both 'Up' and 'The Iron Giant' would be in the perfect movie category for me.
This made me tear up. So beautifully said. I would so watch Wall-E tonight, but for some unknown reason, I don't bloody own it. Now I need to buy it stat. I love animated films and looking forward to the next movie you talk about.
Good choice! I saw it at the cinema when it came out (with another guy from church, not the kids!) and found it charming, but it struck me mostly as a critique of consumerism -- which it is, of course -- with a big nod to *Silent Running* and a bit of Archie and Mehitabel. But you bring out the themes of "Eden spoiled" and "Eden reborn" that make me realise I need to revisit it. Thanks
I suggest Japanese shows be covered, to also reach Christian "otakus" out there.
I'm fascinated by Japanese culture, but find it a bit impenetrable. Alas, I lost my ambassador to that world when my BFF died a few years ago.