"Monsters, Inc." (2001)
The first Pixar feature not directed by Lasseter, this high-concept comedy features John Goodman and Billy Crystal as two monsters in charge of scaring the world's children. The irony is that they themselves are frightened of kids. "Monsters, Inc." was nominated in the inaugural Best Animated Feature category at the Oscars but lost to the DreamWorks behemoth "Shrek" in one of the night's tightest races. However, it did win Randy Newman an Oscar for Best Song after 15 nominations. The climactic flying-doors sequence remains one of the most exhilarating scenes in recent animation history.

"Finding Nemo" (2003)
Pixar's first film to nab the Oscar for Best Animated Feature follows worried father Marlin as he searches the ocean for his lost son, Nemo. Along the way, he pairs with an oddball, memory-impaired fish and meets turtles, sharks and jellyfish. Among many accomplishments, "Finding Nemo" catapulted Ellen DeGeneres back to stardom. The movie was instrumental in getting her syndicated talk show on the air in September 2003, where it continues today to high ratings and much acclaim. The film was also the first Pixar feature adapted into a musical. New songs by Tony-winning "Avenue Q" composer Robert Lopez, combined with puppets from Broadway's "Lion King" designer Michael Curry, have created a wildly popular half-hour show at Disney World's Animal Kingdom park in Orlando, Fla. "Finding Nemo" is also the highest-grossing G-rated film of all time and the 14th-highest-grossing movie ever.

"The Incredibles" (2004)
Winner of two Oscars, including Best Animated Feature, this was the first Pixar film to feature humans as the main characters. The Incredibles are a family of superheroes who must band together to save the world from evil forces. Helmed by Brad Bird, a longtime "Simpsons" consultant and director of the underrated and little-seen animated film "The Iron Giant," "The Incredibles" was another big hit for Pixar. While the stunning PG-rated action sequences are a bit much for younger children, the film saw Pixar widening its audience. Bird also directed this month's "Ratatouille."

"Cars" (2006)
The first film released jointly under the Disney-Pixar banner, "Cars" follows a hotshot race car trying to make a comeback. The film contains touching family lessons about the degradation of small businesses and the evil bottom-line mentality of corporate America -- two topics Disney has absolutely no authority to complain about. Regardless, the film shows that the Pixar formula can be applied to just about anything: toys, bugs, fish, cars or people. The attention to story and quality voice acting remain, with Paul Newman turning in a particularly effective performance as a once-great racer. The film lost the Best Animated Feature Oscar to "Happy Feet" this year.

Shorts
Pixar resurrected a cinematic tradition when it began putting short films in front of its features for theatrical release. Since "A Bug's Life," a Pixar short has preceded every one of its features. Additional shorts often are included as bonus DVD features. These pieces include four nominees -- and three winners -- for the Best Animated Short Oscar. Audiences may remember "Knick Knack," the 1989 short about a snowman trying to escape from a snow globe, which appeared before "Finding Nemo"; "Cars" was preceded by the charming "One Man Band," which shows two street performers competing over a child's single coin; and "Ratatouille" will follow the funny "Lifted," a short about a teen alien struggling with abduction training.

Which Pixar film is your favorite? Would you pay to see a full-length "Finding Nemo" musical? How does "Ratatouille" look to you? Share your thoughts at heymsn@microsoft.com

In addition to making regular contributions to MSN Movies, Frank Paiva is a junior at New York University, where he studies theater and writing. His work has appeared in The New York Times, the Seattle Weekly, the Not for Tourists guide and EDGE.

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