10 Films That Changed Animation

Focus Features is calling their new film "9", directed by Shane Acker and produced by Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambatov, "the beginning of a new era in animation."

While certainly innovative and visually arresting, only history will tell whether "9" (opening 9/9/09) will indeed usher in a whole new era.

So what films did ultimately prove to be watershed moments in the evolution of animation on film?

From the first use of sound, color, to the pioneer of today's computer-generated standard, here's a look at 10 of cinema's true animation groundbreakers.