Ten animated films every adult must see - 7. The Tale of Despereaux

The immediate draw to this film was the cast.  Including Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Watson, Stanley Tucci, Sigourney Weaver and many more the talent present is unmistakeable.  The Tale of Despereaux, based on the book by Kate DiCamillo, is the story of a fearless and brave mouse who defies all expectations placed on him by his family, society and even his enemies.  His family expects him to cower and be afraid.  His society expects him to fall in line and do what he's told.  His enemies expect him to stay away or get killed.  He abides by none of these negative expectations.  Instead, he invests in courage, bravery, honor and chivalry and the riches he yields from his investments are immeasurable.  The fruits of his labor restore a King to his kingdom, a daughter to her father, a son to his family and respect to a whole race.  The most powerful moment in the film is where all the offenders apologize to the offended and the audience realizes that resolution has arrived.  If there is an old offense that has separated you from an individual or group you love, or if you feel weighed down by the negative atmosphere that defined your family or place of origin then this film may just be what you're looking for.  Despereaux shows all of us that courage is sufficient to confront all obstacles.

Ten animated films every adult must see - 8. Horton Hears a Who

If I told you about a movie starring Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Seth Rogen, Carol Burnett, Will Arnett, Jonah Hill, and Amy Poehler wouldn't you immediately be interested?  Wouldn't you be even more interested if I told you the script was based on a classic Dr. Seuss book?  The script and the cast of this movie are stellar and the story and its moral are even better.  There are several high points in this amazing film.  First, the point at which the Mayor and Horton meet, Horton asks the Mayor "how's it going down there?"  The mayor responds "I don't know, you've got the speck."  So huge.  The mayor realizes his world is in the hands of someone much bigger than himself.  Second, at the end of the movie it is very moving for me to hear all the Whos chant "we are here, we are  here, we are here!"  The whole town is raising a ruckus and some of the people in the big world just don't get it.  So relevant.  Finally, at the very end there is a scene in which Horton gives the Kangaroo a cookie.  That sounds silly unless you've seen the film.  Horton gave the Kangaroo a cookie to let her know that he had forgiven her for all the terrible things she had done to him.  The Kangaroo was awful to Horton in the whole story but Horton returns good for evil.  He forgives her.  In addition to these three important morals there is a load of humor that only Jim and Steve could bring to a movie.  If you need help remembering that the safety of your world is not up to you or if you need to be reminded that there are people in your world that you have been ignoring for a long time or if you need to forgive someone who has treated you very badly then this movie may just be what you've been looking for.  Check it out!

Ten animated films every adult must see - 9. The Lion King

The reason every adult must see this movie is because it teaches responsibility and overcoming one's past.  Simba believes he was responsible for his father, Mufasa's, death.  The villian, Scar, leads Simba to believe that it was his irresponsibility and immaturity that led to the death of Mufasa.  So, Scar uses Simba's guilt, shame and confusion as a tool of exile and Simba flees from his homeland.  Simba grows up in the jungle with his friends Timon and Pumba and buries his emotions with the care-free easy life so humorously portrayed by his meerkat and warthog friends.  One day, Simba's childhood friend, Nala, appears and Simba is thrilled at first but resists the responsibility to which Nala is calling him.  Simba's guilt is strong and he doesn't want to go back and face his past.  Thankfully, Simba has a spiritual experience with his baboon advisor, Rafiki, and a vision of his father, Mufasa.  Rafiki taught Mufasa that facing the past is painful but learning from it instead of running from it is the wisest choice.  What a powerfull lesson!  In the end, Simba does choose to face his past and he discovers that he was never responsible for his father's death.  Scar is revealed to be a liar and he is undone by his own devices.  In addition to the incredible story that this film tells it features an amazing voice cast with James Earl Jones, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Jeremy Irons, Whoopee Goldberg, Ernie Sabella, Nathan Lane, Robert Guillaume, Rowan Atkinson, Cheech Marin, and Matthew Broderick.  Also, Elton John and Hans Zimmer provide a score and soundtrack second to none.  If you need help facing your past and accepting the heavy responsibility you are being called to then I highly recommend this film.  Who knows?  Maybe a lioness and a baboon have the advice for your own spiritual experience.

Ten animated films every adult must see - 10. Kung Fu Panda

The reason I think so highly of this movie is because it elevates humility over ability.  Po, the overweight Panda voiced by Jack Black, works as a server in his father's noodle shop.  He is a huge fan of the art of Kung Fu and the local heroes, the Furious Five but he has never learned or practiced Kung Fu for himself.  On a mountain top, the audience is introduced to Master Oogway and Master Shifu where it is learned that the antagonist, Tai Lung, will soon escape from prison.  The solution to the panic of such an escape is for one of the Furious Five to receive the powerful Dragon Scroll and thus become the Dragon Warrior.  Oogway and Shifu both believe that the Kung Fu master who becomes the Dragon Warrior will be powerful enough to stop Tai Lung.  Thousands assemble to find out which member of the Furious Five will be the Dragon Warrior but none of them will be.  To the surprise of everyone except Oogway, Po is declared to be the Dragon Warrior.  The Furious Five are just that and Master Shifu is outraged.  Oogway holds to his decision despite oposition from everyone and in the end he is vindicated by his wisdom.  Po was the right one for the job.  The reason Po was the perfect candidate to be the Dragon Warrior was because he had a lion's share of humility where every member of the Furious Five was lacking.  The lesson I learned from this movie is that humility supercedes ability.  Po had zero ability and all kinds of humility.