This year I’m sharing some of my favorite animated films of all time. Each Saturday I’ll be dropping another entry as I count down my favorites in the animated genre. Periodically throughout the year I’ll be sharing them in this Binge Watch space. Today, I offer my picks for No. 50 to No. 41, with entries appearing in ascending order. If you want to keep up weekly, follow along Saturdays on my blog.

No. 50: Shrek (2001)
About: We see a lot of different fairy tales in the animated genre, but it’s fair to say we’ve never seen one like this! I remember watching it in theaters when I was in college. This franchise has never been my favorite, but I’ve long enjoyed the first installment.

No. 49: Tangled (2010)
About: Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi are a lot of fun in this tale of Rapunzel. It’s a fun, musical take on the story and one that I’ve long enjoyed.

No. 48: The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
About: Batman is my favorite superhero and I have enjoyed all the different versions of his story. I love these Lego animated films, too. This is a wild and fun ride.

No. 47: Up (2009)
About: Pixar has done a wonderful job of storytelling over the years. This one hits hard—at least at the beginning. The opening, which plays almost like a short, is one of the most beautiful sequences I’ve ever seen. That’s always lifted the film to me, which has a story that’s just fine from the opening going forward.

No. 46: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
About: This film is unique. I enjoy the animation style and the story. It’s a perfect holiday film that can run from Halloween through Christmas. This is a classic that was an easy pick for my final list.

No. 45: Sing (2016)
About: This film has a loaded cast, some great music and a fun premise. I like following the story of Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey) and all these other characters. There’s laughs and pathos and a fun story.

No. 44: Toy Story 2 (1999)
About: The Toy Story franchise practically built Pixar. I love the stories and can relate to the journey. You’ll see other installments on this list, but I start with this sequel. It’s fun and has some good moments but it doesn’t hit quite as hard as some of the others in the franchise.

No. 43: The Little Mermaid (1989
About: I remember the classic Disney animated releases from when I was growing up. A number of them will be on this list. I begin with The Little Mermaid, which has a fun story and some iconic musical numbers. While I enjoyed the live-action re-make, the animated film has always been among my favorites.

No. 42: Batman and the Long Halloween, Part 1 (2021)
About: I mentioned I love Batman and Batman tales. This is a different kind of Batman story. It’s darker and filled with violence and drama. It’s the first half of a longer tale, one we’ve seen play out in live action form as well. I enjoyed the way this was put together.

No. 41: Inside Out (2015)
About: How do you do a meaningful exploration of emotions in an animated film? You literally explore the emotions. That’s what we get in Inside Out, which was a clever way to explore this topic with a great look and strong voice cast.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.