Pixar consistently shows that animation is *not* the most important thing. It's the *story* that matters most. And with WALL•E the story just tugs at your heartstrings. There is nothing 'preachy' about this movie. This is a movie about the human spirit - even the human spirit imbued in a robotic trash compactor like WALL•E. The comparison to Charlie Chaplin is right on the mark.
Thanks for reading this, and now I have to find a copy of "Hello Dolly"!