Wall · E

Released: 18th July 2008

Director: Andrew Stanton

Starring: Ben Burt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard

Insignificant and alone - left adrift amongst an unimaginable expanse of human waste. The sole surviving member of a race doomed never to fulfill their destiny. Long, shaky, tracking shots of the diminutive Wall·E as he trundles through mountains of rubbish evoke a dystopian melancholy reminiscent of the most destitute of natural and unnatural disasters. But at its core Pixar's latest creation is not an environmental parable, or a damning polemic of our throw-away culture - it is a love story.

The lonely robot's search for a soul mate had extended only so far as intriguing detritus and an indestructible cockroach before the curvaceous EVE pays abandoned Earth an exploratory visit. Half Apple Mac, half feminine killing machine, to the naive Wall·E she seems the perfect partner for the courting rituals gleaned from repeated viewings of Hello Dolly. So begins a highly charged, but ultimately soft centered, stampede into outer space.

What has made the wide array of offerings from the world's premier animation studio so consistently appealing is their humanity. An undeniable charm ekes from every frame, a universal sense of warmth that is to no extent diminished by our hero's mechanical shell. The overabundance of humans is a break from the Pixar norm, however it is we who have become the homogenised, assembly line creations - while our robotic slaves blush with variation and character.

Ultimately what will makes Wall·E such an enjoyable experience is the fact that the titular automaton is one of the most endearing characters ever created. We care deeply about his hopes and desires even when they are set against the specter of an uninhabitable Earth. Throw this character so close to our hearts into a classic love story and you have the ultimate recipe for success. Supplement with astounding visuals, brilliant sound and a cavalcade of unique and beguiling supporting players and you are left with what must come close to being a masterpiece.