Shrek vs. Monsters, Inc. vs. Ice Age

Ugh, me again talking about cartoons, but hey, I’m a huge fan, so deal with it...😉

Rewatched Shrek yesterday and it made me want to get your take on things.
These three movies from the recent era are hands down some of the funniest animated films out there. They basically represent this whole new wave of animation that moves away from that super "cute" Disney-era style (don't get me wrong, I love Disney), where characters are drawn more caricatured and goofy rather than just being sweet. Sometimes just looking at a character makes you crack up. Plus, the humor is way edgier and sharper—let's be real, they aren't just for kids... half the jokes would fly right over a kid's head.

It’s honestly kind of unfair to pit these three against each other because they're all top-tier, and picking a winner is tough, but I know you guys have your favorites.

Actually, I noticed a massive similarity—actually, scratch that, they’re basically identical:

what they share in terms of plot structure
- one big, powerful, somewhat serious lead - Shrek (1st movie), Sully (2nd movie), Manfred the mammoth (3rd movie)
- a smaller, annoying, talkative sidekick who clings to the big guy and carries most of the comedy - Donkey (1st), Mike (2nd), Sid the sloth (3rd)
- they have to escort someone somewhere or successfully deliver/return someone - a princess (1st), a little girl (2nd), a baby (3rd)
Now, they've added extra layers in every film, like enemies turning into friends (the dragon in Shrek, Diego in Ice Age), along with other little details that make them unique.

But basically, the formula for all three is the exact same. Whatever, it works.

Even though I think they're all awesome, I laughed my head off at Sid the sloth in Ice Age.😁 (Though Donkey from Shrek is a close second.)😁

I just finished watching Shrek, and I have to say, it was actually fantastic. There’s something genuinely compelling about how Shrek is such a misunderstood character. I haven't had the chance to sit down with those other two yet, but they are definitely on my list for the near future. Also, if you're looking for something else, I highly recommend Jimmy Neutron. It’s a top-tier animated film.

Here are a few more titles for you:
- Fantasia (the absolute best)
- Mulan
- Beauty and the Beast
- Princess Mononoke
- Spirited Away
- Atlantis
- Sleeping Beauty (the non-adult version😁)
- An Anime Music Video for Rammstein's Angel

lonemarlin40 originally posted
Shrek vs. Monsters, Inc. vs. Ice Age

Antz. 😉

Timothy Cox2 said:- An Anime Music Video featuring Rammstein's Angel

Uhh
I haven't seen that music video yet.
Is there a place for having it where to download ???

I would like to remind the users on this forum about some unforgettable classics:
Robin Hood
Jungle Book

And my personal rule is that in Shrek, it's the villain's voice that provides the grit, much like old Hollywood legends. 😁

Timothy Cox2 said:- An AMV using scenes from Rammstein's Angel

Okay, first off, it's not called a "manga video." It actually has its own specific term... it's an AMV, or an "Anime Music Video." To be clear, animated manga is what we call 'anime,' whereas a music video made of clips from an anime is an AMV.
By the way, it’s from the Neon Genesis Evangelion series.

Anyway, enough about the Japanese stuff. That's not really the point here.

So, let's talk Shrek vs Monsters vs Ice Age.

Unfortunately, I haven't seen Monsters, Inc., but I have seen the other two, and I have to say: "Ice Age All The Way."

It has a much better story—if you can even call it more original—and it's way funnier, with a much more sophisticated sense of humor.

Shrek is okay, I guess, but I wouldn't go out of my way to watch it again.

Yeah... all three follow the same basic formula... but honestly, when it comes to American studios over the last decade, it's hard to expect much originality or creativity. That goes for both live-action and animated films.

Still, "Ice Age" stands out a bit, and maybe it's slowly restoring my faith in American filmmaking and their feature-length animation.

To me
Princess Mononoke
is total garbage.

I mean, I actually love Shrek, Mulan, A Bug's Life, and Antz.

Before I dive into this thread, just gotta say again that > is a freaking masterpiece of animation. Also, > is way better than the original, and > is easily one of the best Western animated flicks out there. I’ll skip the fantasy stuff since that’s all just subjective taste anyway...

Alright, fine. I’ve seen all three. Only saw > on some tiny little airplane screen, so maybe that messed with my head a bit...
Out of those three, > was clearly trying to be the most revolutionary... or at least the weirdest. And while the movie has some GREAT individual jokes, as a whole? Not so much. Honestly, > feels more like a spoof comedy than anything else. You're basically just waiting for the next gag every few seconds, while the plot, drama, and actual emotions just get sidelined. It feels like the story is just there to hold the jokes together.

Now, >—even if the humor isn't quite hitting the same highs as >—it doesn't fall short when you need a real laugh. But honestly, that’s its only "flaw." The writers actually cared about the story, and the movie would still work even without half the jokes. Maybe it doesn't balance the sentimental stuff as perfectly as >, but the overall rating is way higher than >. To put it simply: unlike >, > is an actual movie where scenes have a purpose and flow together, taking you from a thriller moment straight into drama, all in service of the plot.

As for >, the animation can't quite compete with > or > (though the character design makes up for it), but it holds its own when it comes to the story. Sure, it’s the biggest cliché of the bunch, but it’s done well enough. The characters are solid and pretty engaging. It’s definitely more "cinematic" than >, even if it lacks the laughs, though it does have a few brilliant gags.

Final verdict: > takes the top spot, with > and > fighting for second.

Oh, and before anyone starts complaining... yeah, this is just my opinion. I’m not forcing it on anyone. Taste plays a huge part in everything, no matter what aspect of a movie you're looking at.

Look, it’s a fact: in terms of pure storytelling and actual drama, Monsters, Inc. is the heavyweight here. Honestly, trying to rank these three is a total headache, but if I had to put them in order, Shrek would land at number 3. For the top two spots, it’s basically a toss-up between Monsters, Inc. and Ice Age depending on my mood, but let's just say Monsters, Inc. takes 2nd and Ice Age grabs the #1 spot. That's just my take, though.

If I actually sat down and broke it all down properly, I might change my mind.

zeljko said:I mean, honestly...
Princess Mononoke
This is absolute garbage.

Maybe it’s because you were watching some VHS Dubbed version in English—or heaven forbid, an American dub—instead of the actual original Japanese audio.

Personally, I think Princess Mononoke is easily one of the greatest animated films ever made, especially when you consider it came out back in 1997. This was long before Disney rolled out their inferior version of Mulan and stuff like that—not that Mulan is a bad movie or anything, but it’s definitely a tier below Princess Mononoke if you ask me. Plus, considering it pulled in $160 million in just its first week of release, I guess I’m clearly not the only one who feels this way.

runner said:I just watched Shrek and honestly, I loved it. It's actually pretty cool how Shrek is such a misunderstood guy.

😲 😲 😲 Where are you even getting that from?

Shrek isn't some villain at all!

Shrek is easily one of my favorite movies, and I don't just mean animated ones.
The symbolism is deep and the character development is actually really solid.
Plus, it's hilarious!
Absolute masterpiece 👍

Man, seriously, none of these are even half as good as Emperor's New Groove.
🙂

Monsters, Inc. and Shrek are absolute bangers, and Ice Age is... I don't know, okay? Kind of solid, kind of pathetic, kind of annoying all at once.

And oh my god, Toy Story 2 is just so freaking adorable, it's pure bliss. Honestly, I'm gonna (swear I won't flake!) watch both of them tomorrow.

Hmm, damn it, now I feel like I gotta rewatch Lilo & Stitch too.
And Spirited Away.

Long live animation! Woo!

Ice Age