My Top 10 Favorite Trilogies

If there’s one thing that “Schoolhouse Rock” taught me as a kid, it’s that 3 is a magic number. It’s no surprise that I love long running film series, but they always feel the most complete when there in a package of three. There are some very famous trilogies, and there’s some less appreciated, but whatever the common critical or cultural consent, these are my personal top 10 favorite movie trilogies all leading to my absolute favorite trilogy ... which might just take you by surprise.  

# 10 The Initial Matrix Trilogy 

Oh man, in the early 2000’s, no other film series held my attention more than the Matrix trilogy. To this day, the first movie is still one of my all-time favorites. I’ll admit the trilogy isn’t perfect from beginning to end, especially because the finale is so muddling, but regardless, I just couldn’t leave this series off my list. It may not be perfect, but each film still has something special to offer. They're visually fascinating to look at, the action is some of the most stylized and awesome I’ve ever seen, and I love how their storytelling infuses both religion and philosophical with fantasy and ingenuity. While there has been spin-off material and even more sequels, I still view the first three as a standalone package deal.  

#9 Heather Langenkamp’s "Nightmare on Elm Street" trilogy

When it comes to the famous long running "Nightmare on Elm Street" franchise, most will recognize its frightening mascot Freddy Kruger, and the unique dream settings of each film ... but there's three special instalments that are unified by one thing ... and that's Heather Langenkamp as Nancy Thompson. For my liking, it's not a proper (or even quality) "Nightmare on Elm Street" experience without her presence. Watching the original classic "A Nightmare on Elm Street", along with "A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors", and "Wes Cravens New Nightmare" isn't exactly a conventional film trilogy with a beginning, middle and end ... but for me, they work as a three-part viewing experience ... bound together by the best character in the franchise.  

#8 The Back to the Future Trilogy 

This is arguably the most perfectly self-contained trilogy ever made, as there's currently no other movie spin-offs or tie-in’s, it’s just this trilogy. “Back to the Future” is arguably one of the greatest Sci-Fi family movies ever made, and both sequels capture the same spirit and excitement perfectly. Every film in this series picks up right where the last one ends, making it one of the tightest strings of sequels I’ve ever seen. In fact, you could watch all three films back-to-back, and it would be like watching one long feature film. With lots of exciting time travel adventures, a great sense of humor and with stars Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd as two of the most charismatic leads I’ve seen, it’s hard not to have fun going back to this classic 80’s film series.  

    

#7 The Captain America "Steve Rogers" Trilogy 

Just about every superhero from Marvel's ever growing cinematic universe has their own set trilogy of films, and I think the best by far is Steve Roger's Captain America three-part film series. This is a special case in which the films just get progressively better with each installment, leading to an epic finale in the form of “Captain America: Civil War”. Each film has their own respective style and tone, so it never feels like you’re watching the same film twice. The first film is like an adventure serial from the 1940’s, the second is a riveting political thriller, and the third is a clash between various heroes on opposing sides. Captain America himself admittedly isn’t one of my favorite superheroes, but his films are without a doubt some of the best the genera has to offer.  

#6 The 80's Indiana Jones Trilogy 

Yes, there are technically more than three movies, even a live action TV series, but I’ll always remember the 1980's Indiana Jones as a trilogy first, and a great one at that. This is the series that re-defined the adventure genera, set a new template for escapist entertainment and Harrison Ford as the title character is still one of the most iconic in Hollywood history. Unlike the previously mentioned “Back to the Future” trilogy, these movies are more self-contained and can be watched as standalone films, which I like. It’s nice to have a series of films that can be viewed out of order, without the baggage of a linear story. The third film “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” is hands down my favorite, and personally one of my all-time favorite movies.

#5 Andy's Toy Story Trilogy 

When it comes to a near perfect trilogy of films, the “Toy Story” series often comes to mind first. While I obviously love all the previous trilogies mentioned, I’ve still had ups and downs with individual installments. This is the series that has a perfect entry all the way around, every film is among my top 30 favorite movies, and each installment is a solid 10 out of 10. The “Toy Story” movies will always stand as some of the greatest, if not the greatest family movies of all time for me, as they perfectly capture all the charms and nostalgia of our youths. These films do an amazing job combining laughs with thoughtful beats of character drama, all while focusing on mature themes of friendship, identity and loyalty at the center. The only thing holding these three films back is that it didn't stop at three and kept going, which makes its trilogy status questionable. Still, I view the first three as a trilogy, and a great one at that. Every installment has the power to make you laugh, cry and just warm your heart with repeated viewings. 

# 4 The Dark Knight Trilogy 

Often regarded as the greatest comic book film series in recent years, Christopher Nolan’s take on the famous crime fighter blew audiences away and raised the bar for the standards of a great superhero movie. Full of dark themes, ideal casting, sharp cinematography, and a more grounded character driven stories, this is the franchise that made Batman awesome again. The respect for the source material is obvious, but the mature tone and execution of these films make them feel like the “Citizen Kane” of comic book movies.         

#3 “The How to Train Your Dragon Trilogy” 

It was the start of a new millennia, and this was the animated experience that topped anything I had previously grown up with. The “How to Train Your Dragon” trilogy perfectly bookended the 2000-teens and can be regarded as one of the great trilogies of our time. It’s the tail of a young Viking who becomes friends with a Dragon, during a time when man and beast was wagging war with each other. The story is built on old concepts and formulas that have been done in countless other movies, but the execution of it was done so well, that it made every convention feel fresh and new again. The characters felt real, the emotions felt real, it didn’t rely on traditional selling points like big musical numbers, and even the first movie soared without the appeal of a villain. It was just a very well-paced experience, laced with honest dramatic depth, and multilayered characters. Even the dragons made for fascinating characters that convey so much without even speaking. Following on the heels of a masterpiece film like the first "How to Train your Dragon" was no small task, yet it's two sequels built on the first in every way good sequels should. They both moved the story forward, one up the stakes, explored the world, had grander battles, and our heroes grow into completely different people then they were at the start. They're also movie's that dared to take chances and gave younger viewers some really mature material. In short, the "How to Train your Dragon" trilogy is every bit as stunning, beautiful, thematically poignant, and uplifting as animated offerings get, and it makes for a perfect three-part story. 
     

# 2 The Lord of the Rings Trilogy 

Rarely do I watch a movie ... let alone a trilogy of movies and say upon first viewing ... "Wow, I'm watching a new classic for my generation". I was just transitioning from elementary school to middle school when the original "Lord of the Rings" trilogy debuted, and it wasn't just a string of great movies ... it was an event that seemed to win everyone over, whether they be fantasy fans or not. Somehow, they achieved a near perfect trilogy of films, with consistent quality, stunning imagery, memorable characters, iconic music and a sense of grandeur rarely achieved by others. While the source material was already classic, these movies assured "Lord of the Rings" will always have a place in the public continence, and these first three films have a secure spot among the greatest movie trilogies ever made.  

  

Before I reveal my #1 favorite, here are some quick Honorable Mentions ...

The Chronicles of Narnia Trilogy 

The Original X-Men Trilogy

Caesar's "Planet of the Apes" trilogy 

The Original Star Trek Trilogy

The Spider-Man Trilogy

# 1 The Star Wars Trilogy 

Obviously “Star Wars” is arguably the most iconic and legendary film trilogy of all time, and while very predictable ... I just can't bring myself to say it's anything less than my favorite movie trilogy. Each one could be my favorite depending on which I happen to be watching in the moment, and even with objective faults to single out or pick at ... they still feel perfect to me. The characters are unforgettable, the effects were milestones, and the imagination behind it captured our attention in a way that no other series did before. More than anything, I love the universe this series creates, as it’s so vast and imaginative that I just want to explore it. The first two films are great classics, and even with “Return of the Jedi” singled out as a lesser entry, it's still just as much one of my favorite films, and the reason this trilogy has stuck with me. Regardless, from beginning to end, this is as classic as movie trilogies get and one that I feel will last till the end of Hollywood. 

All that being said, while the original "Star Wars" is my favorite movie trilogy ... there's still one more I need to highlight as one of my all-time favorites.

Time for a bonus ... 

# 0 The Avatar: The Last Airbender Trilogy 

This is it, right here, when I think of the textbook definition of a perfect trilogy, I think of the three seasons of the TV series “Avatar: The Last Airbender”. The overall layout and structure of this series is eerily similar to the original Star Wars trilogy. Both revolve around a small band of hero’s who need to overthrow an evil empire, they face similar hardships, looses, while gaining similar friends and building strong attachments, and at the center of the conflict is a menacing yet complex villain who needs to find redemption in the end (and ironically is horribly burned too). Yet, for all their similarities, “Avatar: The Last Airbender” is a very different experience, and in some ways is even superior. The characters are just as lovable, the various stories were intriguing, the action was exhilarating, the animation was incredible, the messages were more thought provoking, and even the philosophy was more enlightening. Also, just like Star Wars before it, this show took old formulas and weaved them all into one of the most intriguing and original franchises to be viewed on screen. Even though there were several episodes in the seasons, each of the three told a self-contained story that as a whole came together as a complete trilogy. In my opinion, it’s the most satisfying and solid trilogy of them all, and definitely one to check out.      

Thanks for reading my countdown ... and continue to enjoy the stories you Love! 

All Batman Movie Girl Friends Ranked

Unlike Superman or Spider-Man, Batman has never had a stand-out girlfriend, in fact the girl friends change in every movie, much like the James Boned women. With all my Batman reviews completed for the month, here’s a quick post ranking all of Batman’s theatrical girls friends in my own personal opinion from least favorite to absolute favorite.

#12 Julie Madison played by Elle Macpherson from "Batman and Robin" 

In this movie, Bruce Wayne has a rather pointless love interest, who has no bearing on the film at all, and thus, there’s nothing else to say about her.

#11 Kitka played by Lee Meriwether from "Batman: The Movie" 

There's a sub-plot in which Cat-woman has a relationship with Bruce Wane, all while posing as a girl named Kitka. While Bruce is head over heals for her, this relation is only leverage, and in the end, it becomes her most powerful weapon against our hero. While a solid portrayal of Cat-woman, she just can't rank any higher, as there's no real love in the relationship.

#10 Rachel Dawes played by Maggie Gyllenhaal from "The Dark Knight" 

The only cast change in this squeal was for Batman’s girlfriend Rachel. Originally, she was played by Katie Holmes in “Batman Begins”, but now she’s played by Maggie Gyllenhaal. Thankfully, she looks just like an older version of Katie Holmes, and she even delivers a more dignified performance then her predecessor. Having said that, I truthfully felt a little more chemistry between Katie Holmes and Christion Bale, in fact, for all her faults, I actually found Katie Holmes to be a pinch more memorable. That’s not to put down Maggie Gyllenhaal, as she’s definitely a bright spot in regards to her performance, but she just didn’t leave that big an impact on me either. Truthfully, I think it had more to do with the written character as opposed to the performance. I just felt that Rachel contributed more to “Batman Begins” as opposed to Rachel in "The Dark Knight".

#9 Selina Kyle played by Anne Hathaway from "The Dark Knight Rises" 

Speaking personally, this is my absolute favorite portrayal of the character by a mile, although, I think she's just okay when viewed as a love interest. She and Batman do have chemistry when their just two vigilantes working together … and in that regard, they’re just a dynamite pair. Whenever they're on screen fighting together, infiltrating a bad guy base, or just plain walking together, it’s an absolute thrill. Also, I came from a generation that grew up with Anne Hathaway in Disney movies like “The Princess Diaries” and “Ella Enchanted”, so I couldn’t even imagine her pulling off a great Cat-Woman, but she really did. Every inflection she gives as this character is spot on, she has a lot of energy, and is clearly having a blast with this role. So, while obviously not best love-interest, this is still a shining performance in the actress’s carrier.

#8 Wonder Woman played by Gal Gadot from "Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice" 

The introduction of Wonder Woman played by Gal Gadot was absolutely my favorite part of this whole movie. Granted, she isn’t even in the film for very long, nor is she written into the film very well, but still, she absolutely thrilled me whenever she was on screen. Gal Gadot shined in the role, she had terrific chemistry with Bruce Wayne, and it was just plain awesome to see Wonder Woman fighting for the first time in a live action movie. Also, her theme song was freaking amazing! It’s actually kind of ironic that neither Batman nor Superman have any stand out music tracks in this movie, yet Wonder Woman has a score that left me exhilarated.

#7 Selina Kyle played by Michelle Pfeiffer from "Batman Returns" 

Our hero's only real character arc in this squeal is a relationship with Cat-Woman, and more specifically her alter ego Selina Kyle. The two could relate to living with split lives, and they even shared an engaging chemistry on screen, but I just don’t think it was developed enough, especially when their story is sidelined in favor of everyone else’s character arcs. Michelle Pfeiffer at least owned the role, and while not one of my favorite love interests, she certainly shined as a great villain ... but that's for another list. 

#6 Batgirl voiced by Rosario Dawson from "The Lego Batman Movie" 

Now let’s look at Batgirl, who thankfully is old-enough in this film to have a romantic relationship with Batman. Honestly, I never understood why other shows and spin off material would push a relationship between the two, especially when one character was half the age of the other. Well, this film finely got it right, although, I admittedly liked her more as just plain police commissioner Barbara Gordon. However, it’s still cool to have Batgirl there to complete the Batman family, and I even liked the purple and yellow redesign of her costume. She’s voiced by Rosario Dawson, who I’ve had a small crush on ever sense I saw the 2005 musical "Rent", and even though she’s not present on screen, I still think she has a sexy voice.

#5 Rachel Dawes played by Katie Holmes from "Batman Begins" 

I know I'm a minority on this one, but here she is ... Rachel Dawes, played by the very cute Katie Holmes. This character is admittedly a mixed blessing, and the one thing that fans point to as a weakness in the film. On the one hand, she's devoid of common clichés, as she doesn’t run around in a hot dress, she can take out a super-villain like the Scarecrow, and the chemistry between her and Bruce feels natural. Rachel even teaches the hero important morals like “it’s not who you are underneath, but what you do that defines you.”, which makes her a decent role model. The down side is that Katie Holmes, despite her best efforts, just doesn’t feel right in the role. She just looks and feels too much like a high school student rather than someone working in a District Attorney office, and she certainly doesn’t look like someone who’d get paired with Batman. Regardless, the positives of her character for me are just enough to out-way the negatives. 

#4 Dr. Chase Meridian played by Nichol Kidman from "Batman Forever" 

Nichol Kidman plays Bruce Wayne's most attractive love interest named Dr. Chase Meridian, and while she's very appealing, she also comes off as a missed opportunity. This character as written on paper had a lot of potential to be, perhaps Batman’s best love interest. I love the idea of a girlfriend that’s a psychiatrist, and it’s a cool idea for her to be in love with one of the hero’s identities but dismissive of the other. Also, in general, I love Nichol Kidman, and it’s awesome to see her in this kind of role.

Putting aside her obviously attractive screen presence, I think she has the coolest eye brows of any Batman girl. There’s just something about that look and stair of hers that makes her feel bad ass when paired with Batman. Unfortunately, while she’s written as a character with both brains and brawns, neither of them is utilized effectively in this film. It’s as if all the right ingredients are there for a strong female lead, but something just falls flat on the delivery. I think the movie got too distracted by capitalizing her as the good-looking eye candy for Batman to rescue, before utilizing her potential strengths to leave a memorable impression. Never the less, she still ranks higher then most as a personal favorite ... I mean it's Nichole Kidman, and she was one of my first movie crushes, so that alone puts her in my top five.

#3 Selina Kyle played by Zoe Kravitz from "The Batman" 

This is the first time Cat-Woman is depicted as a full-on protagonist, and it’s great to see how these two crime fighters work together. While they don’t always see eye to eye, she never once dose anything against Batman, and it just feels like a welcome change-up. This is also a rare case in which I found myself preferring Selina Kyle on screen over Cat-Woman, as Zoe Kravitz is dynamite in the role, looks great using her feminine whiles to her advantage, also has long sharp fingernails, and even her relation with Batman is great. While it’s not the best written romance between the two, I find it one of the best acted, as well as one of the best staged. I love when they share a strong bonding scene, the two are on a rooftop, silhouetted against a beautiful sun-rise backdrop.

#2 Vicki Vale played by Kim Basinger from "Batman" 

Our lead girlfriend in the original Tim Burton classic is Vicki Vale, played by the lovely Kim Basinger. She’s a surprisingly likable, albeit cliched damsel in distress, always in need of rescuing, always losing her shoes and always screaming. 

However, despite being such an obvious cliché, she could still stick up for herself, she was supportive, yet had her limits, and it just made her a really fun character to have present. As for the girl always loosing her shoes, Kim Basinger was actually the tallest person on set, so she always had to go around either bare foot or sock footed in order to appear shorter then either Michael Keaton or Jack Nicholson. One side note, I really like Vales wardrobe, as most of Batman’s girl friends are always in black attire, but Vale was always in white, and that was a much cooler contrast to both Batman and the dark, Gothic surroundings.

#1 Andrea Beaumont voiced by Dana Delany from "Batman Mask of the Phantasm" 

Let’s finally cut to the chase, Bruce’s love interest Andrea Beaumont is in my opinion the absolute best female lead from any Batman movie. She’s fearlessly independent, can fight for herself, but is also brimming with personality and still keeps her femininity in check when acting tuff. Her voice is supplied by the exceptionally talented Dana Delany, who’s best known for voicing Lois Lane in the 90’s animated “Superman” TV series. Her relationship with Batman is naturally one of the films strengths, as it plays with our emotions by mixing the hopes and dreams of a beautiful life with the darkness of reality. I’ll admit, I don’t know if such polar opposite people as Bruce and Andrea would actually get together, but their on-screen chemistry still works, and I genuinely wanted to see them get together. Surprisingly, as the film goes on, we discover that Andrea has quiet the tragic backstory herself, and even makes Batman’s complexities look tame by comparison. 

Thanks for reading my countdown ... and continue to enjoy the movie couples you Love!  

My Top 10 Non-Romantic Animated Couples

It’s February, the Valentines season, and thus, a common topic or trend during the time is couples. However, I want to twist the formula a bit, and talk about male and female couples that still have great chemistry, yet have no romantic context in the relationship. Truthfully, I sometimes find it more enduring when a strong relationship can form without any romantic implications. It’s actually kind of healthy to look at things from the less formulaic fashion, yet still very wholesome in their own respected way. Now, originally, I was going to do Non-Romantic Couples from general movies and TV, but then I noticed that the majority of my picks were animated, so I decided to make this countdown more consistent by looking at parings from animated sources. So, for a little twist on this Valentines season, here are, in my view, the sweetest pairings of animated characters … with no romantic tie-ins.

#10 Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde (from “Zootopia”) 

In a world full of animals, a mystery is brewing, in which something is secretly causing certain beasts to act like savages, and it’s up to two poplar opposite animals to come together and crack the case. Who doesn’t love a good buddy cop parring, especially between two characters brimming with such distinct personalities? However, their partnership, and more specifically their friendship goes so much deeper then two quirky cops budding heads. They’re both at opposite ends of the animal food chain, and see past all that to form a really special bond. While the two do admit to loving one another, it’s still not conveyed in a romantic sense. Still, the two are delightful, and its great fun seeing them work together to solve the mystery. No matter what kind of funny or emotional situations they face, it’s always together.   

#9 Lilo and Stich (from “Lilo and Stich”) 

In this animated Disney classic, a little girl takes on a new pet, one that just happens to come from outer-space. The little girl also happens to be two parents short, and is having trouble getting along with her older sister. Thankfully, her new pet dose more then become a new friend, he ties this broken family back together, and becomes a figurative sibling in the prosses. I think most fans can agree that Lilo and Stich are some of the most enduring, emotional and all-around lovable characters under Disney’s banner, and none would disagree that they both have beautiful chemistry. It’s such a simple joy seeing two characters born galaxies apart, yet still come together as a family, and their relation varies from the affection a girl would have for a pet, to the love a sister would have for a brother.     

#8 Moana and Maui (from “Moana”) 

When a brave young village princess sets sail on a quest to save her island, she’s forced to team up with a powerless Demi God, and the two need to learn to work together in order to set things right. Something you may notice throughout my whole list are friendships that take shape between two polar opposite characters, and this is no exception. One is tinny and hopeful, while the other is big and full of himself. Both are brimming with charisma, and it makes for some really fun interplay. Moana lacks knowledge, while Maui lacks chivalry, and both help one another better themselves through the course of their journey. For the most part, their the only two human characters on screen, and they both carry the show with ease. Each character is charming on their own, but put them together and its movie magic. 

#7 Prince Zuko and Katara (from “Avatar: The Last Airbender”) 

From a magical land of four kingdoms, an evil army called the Fire Nation plots to rule it all, and small team of young hero’s set out on a quest to not only end the war, but bring peace to all nations. Watching such a vulnerable young group go on such an adventure is very exciting, but things are only more compelling when their greatest adversary, the Prince of the very nation their trying to defeat, becomes one with our heroes. Katara, being the emotional center of this group of heroes already felt sympathy for their foe, but was also the most resentful to take him on as an ally, as she’d been cruelly betrayed by the prince all while she tried to convey a sense of remorse to him. Seeing the villain make a full reformation is an enduring character arc in of itself, but seeing him form a deep friendship with the girl who both feared and hatted him the most is even more rewarding. The bond that forms between the two is so deep that other characters in the show call them out on being a romantic item, which they openly object to. Still, they make for an enduring pair, and were an important example of how peace and love can be achieved between enemies. They're friendship was so touching that a part of me genuinely wanted to see them both become an item, but I’m happy with them just being close friends.      

#6 Ralph and Vanellope (from “Wreck it Ralph” movies) 

Here’s yet another unique friendship that blooms between two polar opposites, one being a giant man and the other being a smart talking little girl. Despite being so different, the two can at least relate to being outcasts from their homes. One is regarded as merely a bad guy and the other is viewed as a glitch. It’s through this one connection that a warm and humble friendship takes shape, and it’s truly as sweet as they get. The two end up filling a void in each other’s lives, and their friendship is only deepened in the sequel. Not too much more needs to be said, just another solid, meaningful and heartfelt relationship between two best friends.     

#5 Quasimodo and Esmeralda (from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”) 

Quasimodo was a poor soul born with a human dis-figuration, and thus was regarded as an outcast by the world. However, one exceptional woman named Esmeralda stands as the first to see past the deformity, and aims to help expose the mans beautiful soul under the features. While Quasimodo does fall in love with Esmeralda, she on the other hand has her heart set on a soldier. It’s a bold move for an animated picture to have a main hero that doesn’t get the main girl in the end, but it works as the two still retain a meaningful friendship. No, Quasimodo and Esmeralda never become a romantic item, but it is still a beautiful friendship, and one that illuminates both their lives in the process.      

#4 Marlin and Dory (from “Finding Nemo”) 

Now if there was ever an obvious set-up for two characters to fall in love, “Finding Nemo” has it. The film literally begins with a wife tragically dying, and a husband left single. Yet, while a new woman comes into the picture, she does so without becoming an obvious romantic replacement. This is another terrific example of how a lead male and lead female can be a perfect match without being an item. Even though they’re not lovers, both their partnership and their friendship is as natural as they get. Plus, it’s just a real breath of fresh air to have a female character filling the void of a missing lover, without becoming a new girl-friend in the process. Instead, she’s just a close side kick to go along for the adventure, and in this regard, I’d say that Marlin and Dory are a perfect pair, even though they’re not a romantic couple.  

#3 Raven and Beast Boy (from “Teen Titans”) 

Many close friendships develop among this distinct team of young superheroes, and one of the most delightful is between the two most polar opposite characters. Raven is the shady, quiet, shut-out, while Beast Boy is the loud, colorful, jokey, party animal. The two get on each other’s nerves, and bicker like a dysfunctional brother and sister. Yet, like any pair of siblings, they can’t help but form a strong connection, and are secretly each other’s best friend. They are always there for emotional support, and will fight by each other’s side till the end. They’re also a hilarious pairing as their personalities are perfectly at odds, and it leads to some hilarious interplay. Ravens deadpan reactions to Beast Boys over-the-top jokes are comedy gold and I could watch them go back and forth all day.      

#2 Dipper and Mabel (from “Gravity Falls”) 

In the strange little town of Gravity Falls, twin siblings named Dipper and Mable spend their summer going on wild and hilarious supernatural adventures. As is typical with most siblings, they drive each other nuts, but their also respectively as close as best friends get. When it comes to the more conventional relationships I’ve seen between brother and sister characters, there usually kind of one-note. Dipper and Mabel by contrast are about as adorable as siblings get. They tease each other, they goof around, yet they also combine their individual strengths, and are always supportive of one another in both times of need, and plain emotional support. We see over the course of their adventures how a once awkward sibling hug becomes a sincere embrace between two loving siblings. There’s an infectious charm that leaps off the screen when these two work off each other, and through the course of the show, they share some absolutely precious moments together. They’re certainly no romantic couple, yet they still convey such lovable chemistry with each other.

Before I reveal my number one favorite non-romantic paring, here are some Honorable mentions … 

Gadget and Dale (“Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers”), 

Spike and Faye (“Cowboy Bebop”), 

Robin and Raven (“Teen Titans”), 

Ezra and Sabine (“Star Wars Rebels”), 

Sheeta and Pazu (“Castle in the Sky”)

  

 #1 Anakin and Ahsoka (from “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” & “Star Wars Rebels”) 

When it comes to the “Star Wars” saga, there’s a number of stand out relationships, including the struggles between a heroic son and his evil father, as well as the romance between a smuggler and a princess. However, my personal favorite relationship from the “Star Wars” franchise, and taking top honors on my countdown is the journey between a young master and his even younger apprentice. 

It was during the lengthy clone wars epidemic that Jedi Master Anakin Skywalker took on an eager apprentice named Ahsoka Tano. The two don’t see eye to eye at first, but through several harrowing adventures, and emotional struggles, the two made a special bond that was unbreakable. The beauty of this relationship is that it grows and changes over the course of one animated movie and two lengthy animated TV shows that ran for many years. In short, I felt like I embarked on a journey with these two, and the more adventures they shared, the closer their friendship got. While Anakin had a wife in the form of Padme, I never found that relationship nearly as enticing as with his apprentice Ahsoka. 

Things would reach emotional heights when Anakin inevitably became Darth Vader, and was forced to face his former apprentice in one of the most epic battles in all of “Star Wars”. Some may argue that there was a deeper connection between Luke and Vader, but for me, Anakin and Ahsoka had the lengthier experience together, shared more together, fought by each other’s side, supported one another, and in the end, I just felt like a made more of a connection between Anakin and Ahsoka then I did any other paring in the “Star Wars” saga. It was a multilayered relationship between teacher and student, and in my view, they’re the greatest non-romantic animated couple.

Thanks for reading my countdown ... and continue to enjoy the movies you Love!