Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

This movie isn't on the 1001 list, but I still wanted to give my input so I have created a new list of "honorable mentions".  Just because a movie isn't on the list (yet), doesn't mean that it can't be enjoyable or thought-provoking.

My daughter Azalea enjoyed the colorful scenery and fun characters.  As a child of the '80s, I had fun recognizing all the old video game characters and jokes that only we could get.  For example, Ralph goes to a support group for video game villains. Some of the other group members are Dr. Robotnik, Scorpion, a zombie, and Bowzer.  When the bad guy of the film (I won't say who is really the bad guy) unlocks a game's code to reprogram it, the secret code he uses is Up-Up, Down-Down, Left-Right-Left-Right,  B, A, Start.

    Fix-It Felix is voiced by Jack McBrayer, better known as Kenny from 30 Rock, and Wreck-It Ralph is voiced by John C. Reilly.  One thing I noticed is that Fix-It Felix and Wreck-It Ralph, the two main characters of their arcade game, are comparable to the Norse gods, Thor and Loki.  The Hero is Felix, who fixes everything Ralph destroys with his hammer.  But, it's not just any hammer. We learn from Ralph that it is actually a magic hammer given to him by his dad. "If he were just a regular contracter, he'd have a more difficult time".  Ralph is the jealous, destructive villain who is despised by the other games inhabitants.   Ralph, like Loki, creates chaos wherever he goes, even when he doesn't mean to.  

Tired and lonely because of his villain status, he leaves his own game in search of another to win a medal and become a hero for once. He winds up in "Hero's Duty", an cross between "Halo" and "Metroid".  He grabs the game's medal and tries his best to return to his home game, but there are many obstacles in his way.  The only person who sets out looking for him is Felix, who realizes his value to the game.  He even refers to Ralph as "brother" a number of times.

After winning his medal, Ralph crashes into "Sugar Rush", a candy go-kart racing game, and meets a girl with a glitch who is just as hated as he is. Through her, he soon learns that he can use his destructive powers for good as well as evil. (How does he set off the Diet Coke volcano? With Mentos!).  I am rating this movie a 10/10 for being one of the most well-written animations I have ever seen.