Animation has been an integral part of the entertainment industry for over seventy years. What is it about animated films that make them just as, or even more, captivating than live-action films? While animation is most typically associated with fantasy or escapism, there is certainly an element of reality exploration that causes animation to be more believable. Through examination of this and previous creative projects, it was found that a balance of fantasy and reality exploration, along with other key factors, help to make animation successful in relating to the viewer.