WALL-E is the last remaining Waste Allocation Load Lifter - Earth-Class unit left behind on Earth 700 years previous to clean up the planet after humankind's wasteful ways left it uninhabitable. He continues to stack junk into cubes as per his programming, but also spends his time collecting interesting items left behind while learning about human interactions through the old musical Hello Dolly. It was an absolute delight being introduced to WALL-E and his world, experiencing the post-apocalyptic world through his enthusiastic eyes. It's a credit to the animators that we experience WALL-E's thoughts and motivations not only without dialogue, but also without exaggerating the expressions a robot should be able to produce.

It all comes down to a careful dedication to storytelling, which is Pixar's hallmark even more than phenomenal computer animation. At this point, it goes without saying that WALL-E looks fantastic, as the studio has already proved it has the tools to create whatever it wants visually. The standout innovation this time in terms of animation was how it played with the cinematography of its shots, contrasting the dusty haze of Earth with the antiseptic polish of the Axiom spaceship WALL-E eventually finds himself in. I'll admit that I found the Earth scenes more compelling visually, as the garbage-strewn world the animators created was a more unique environment than was the cruise ship-orientated Axiom, but all the animation was fantastic, as per usual.

But these days, even the most crassly commercial animated endeavours boast impressive animation, but none can match Pixar's storytelling chops. The movie had my largely adult, late show screening audibly laughing, gasping, and crying throughout the film (well, at appropriate intervals... they weren't crying at the good stuff or anything). I was in wide-eyed awe throughout, and loved every second of it.

So I'll keep demanding more from my movies, so I never fail to appreciate it when they deliver. It might not be easy to make truly special movies, but movies like WALL-E prove it possible, even while their competitors prove it unnecessary from a moneymaking standpoint. Thankfully, Pixar also continues to prove that they can keep pushing artistic boundaries, and the money will take care of itself.

Directed by: Andrew Stanton

Starring: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Fred Willard, Jeff Garlin, Sigourney Weaver, John Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy