Today, we’re turning things over to our intern, Linda Cotrina: In the lead up to Valentine’s Day, there's nothing I enjoy more than watching a sweet animated movie, featuring a great love story. But I’m not talking about the typical Disney ones like Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty (although the seven-year old in me still enjoys them from time to time), where the maiden in distress is waiting to be saved by a charming prince. I like the ones that go beyond those typical love scenarios; I enjoy the ones that have a bit of humour to them and ones that eloquently and effectively illustrate an underlining arc of overwhelming love. When it comes to quality animation production houses, Pixar Animations tops my list. They have produced some of my favourite animated movies, because although Disney bought them in 2006, they have not been influenced by Disney's conventional guidelines. They are more creative and effective in storytelling; the CGI animation is beautifully detailed, and makes it that much easier to sit back and enjoy every aspect of the movie. DreamWorks Animation is another production house on my list, that produces top-quality animated movies. So on that note, here are three of my favourite animated movies that feature unconventional love stories (two from Pixar, the other from DreamWorks). They will take you on a wonderful (and sometimes sad) journey of emotions, but you’ll certainly enjoy any of them with friends, family or with your sweetheart. 1. Up (2009) The first time I watched Up, I was in the beginning stages of dating my boyfriend and he had rented it for us to watch. Since that day, it has grown to become my all-time favourite animated movie. A perfect blend of heart and humour, Pixar's Up tells the story of childhood sweethearts, Carl Fredrickson, a retired balloon seller, whose wife, Ellie, has recently passed away. His biggest regret is that he never took Ellie to visit Paradise Falls in South America  -- her dream destination. To fix this mistake, he embarks on a journey to the Falls by using an unconventional method of transportation: his house. What happens next is unexpected, but I'll leave it at that. Up is enjoyable from beginning to end, however, what makes this movie so beautiful and poignant is the montage of Ellie and Carl's relationship as it moves from their marriage to Ellie's death. I never imagined four minutes and 21 seconds of the most effective storytelling through images (no dialogue) in an animated movie would evoked such powerful emotions in me. Truly a first. Up is a great movie to enjoy with any loved one. You won’t be disappointed. 2. Wall-E (2008) Wall-E is a modern take on the classic storyline of boy meets girl, boy falls in love –- well, you get the idea. Except, instead of humans, they're robots in the future. Wall-E is a rusty, waste-disposing, hopeless romantic machine that falls for Eve, a robot vegetation analyst. He follows her across the galaxy to be with her. Imagine that – we think chasing someone across the planet is a romantic act of love – but actoss the galaxy? Wow. Though the movie has very little dialogue, it is still able to convey how beautiful life is and how a loving gesture can be as simple as holding hands. Perfect for a night in with loved ones or that special someone; Pixar's Wall-E is sure to take you on an out-of-this-world experience. 3. Shrek (2001) Now, I know I said I preferred animated movies that didn't have the typical romance storyline of a maiden in distress, waiting for Prince Charming to come and rescue her, but one of the reasons why I love Shrek is because it takes those conventional elements of a typical love story and reinvents them with humour and unexpected twists. It pokes a little fun at the fairy tales we've all grown to know and cherish and complicates the roles of beauty and beast, making it difficult to predict how the story will end. A quirky rom-com of sorts, Shrek delivers on the notions of true love and how beauty comes from within. It’s also filled with lessons about life, humours treats and a modern soundtrack. Here’s a movie your whole family will enjoy, regardless of your age. What are some of your favourite animated love stories? Image courtesy of SanK/FlickrCC