A little more than 10 years ago, no one really knew what would happen to the genre of computer-animated movies, or whether it would replace the traditional 2D animated features.

Today, you can count on at least five major 3D animated movies per year, and with DreamWorks Animation's "Bee Movie" just out in theatres, what better time to take a step back and look at some of the best and simply most original computer-animated flicks of the past decade.

The scope of the following list is quite narrowed, which makes the selection a little harder, but feel free to share your own thoughts on the picks or even your own top five.

5. "Ratatouille"

It was either "Ice Age" or "Ratatouille" for the no. 5 spot, but I just had to put the rat before the ground sloth. In a nutshell, "Ratatouille," the latest Pixar adventure, is just deliciously funny. If you have ever been to France and experienced the French culture first hand, you won't have much time to rest from laughing, but to all others who didn't yet had to chance to walk the streets of Paris, the film will taste just as great. Pixar films always explore wonderful relationships between the most diverse characters, but "Ratatouille" offers one of the most subtle and sincerest. The movie also inspires people to cook and appreciate the deliciousness of food, and the result is as tasty as ever.

Watch nine minutes from "Rataouille."

4. "Finding Nemo"

My heart warms up every time I think about "Finding Nemo." The great thing about Pixar is the studio's unique ability to make their characters address complex real-life issues in a way kids understand them well enough. "Finding Nemo" is yet another glorious animated movie that takes children for a passionate ride and shows them what they may have to deal with in the future. At the same time, it offers parents a horde of things they can already relate too. Then there's the first-class entertainment, and the action-loaded plot and so much more. To me personally, "Finding Nemo" remains the Pixar film with the biggest heart and soul. It's funny and dramatic, colorful and at times dark and supplies its viewers with a horde of characters that despite being three dimensional and fishy, still manage to touch everyone staring at the big screen. Splendid!

Watch a clip from "Fining Nemo."

3. "Shrek"

I am sure some of my readers will shout at me for not picking "Shrek 2." Yes, you are right, "Shrek 2" may be slightly superior to its predecessor, but I prefer to go back to the film that started it all. I have to admit that whenever the first film hit theatres, I showed no interest in the green ogre and his talkative donkey, but after I finally got to watch "Shrek," I was impressed. DreamWorks did a great job on the animation, but what amazed me the most was the original idea behind the story: a dirty ogre with no manners embarks on a perilous mission to save a princess from the claws of an evil dragon. As many excellent animated flicks today, "Shrek" comprises many adult-targeted jokes and a story that is simple enough to appeal to younger audiences as well. Yay!

Watch the trailer for "Shrek."

2. "The Incredibles"

Super cool they are indeed! "The Incredibles" is not just one of the most impressive and most entertaining animated movies ever, but it also deserves a secured spot in the top five best superhero flicks of all time. This Pixar adventure about a family of superheroes who struggle with real-life challenges is pure action, pure drama and pure comedy at once, all bundled up in two hours of first-class entertainment. The surprises keep coming until the end credits roll, and the countless gags and references to other famous films of the genre continually boost the movie's fantastic comical touch. The CGI is beautiful, the stunts are incredible and the two hours rush by faster than you can imagine. Michael Bay, take notes...

Watch a hilarious clip from "The Incredibles."

1. "Toy Story"

Didn't we all want to be a toy after being thrust into the magical world of this timeless masterpiece of an animated movie? "Toy Story" was not only the first real computer-animated feature and the first major release by Pixar, but it also marked the beginning of a new and utterly original way of storytelling that enchanted both young spectators and their parents. The animation - revolutionary back then - introduced cinemagoers to a new way of filmmaking, and the story's heartwarming characters took us on a wild ride into the colorful world of toys, and what they think about us, playful humans. In the words of the great Buzz Lightyear: "To infinity, and beyond."

Watch the trailer for "Toy Story ."

The following films almost made the final cut: Monsters, Inc. ," "Ice Age," "The Iron Giant," "Cars" and "Monster House."