This is a continuation from the list I had started a few days ago. Let's continue...
#20: Tarzan
Last Time: 15
Where is the love for this one? Great action, superb cast (Minus an annoying Rosie O’Donnell), Phil Collins, strong family themes, vibrant colors, and an ability to water-down the drama? Tarzan was the last great film from the Disney Renaissance before it was followed by a Wild Card and a series of flops and disappointments—and seriously Phil Collins and that spellbinding soundtrack. But seriously though, Rosie O’Donnell….why??
#19: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Last Time: 10
The original. The classic. The gem. We all know Snow White, but do we remember it truly? Snow White may have been the first, but it set the benchmark already sky high just like what Toy Story did to computer animation. From music to characters to gags to the archetype villain that was pretty much created here, Snow White may have created a formula that was improved upon many, many times---it did create the formula.
Walt Disney went for broke with this one. Amidst allegations that animated movies would ultimately destroy your eyes and that children would never be able to survive such a long period of time seeing animation, Snow White would become the biggest film in the short history of the cinema. It would become the blueprint for the next several decades of Disney animated films.
#18: Winnie the Pooh
Last Time: n/a
This movie is short. This movie is devoid of any drama, devoid of any villain, devoid of any conflict whatsoever. But this under-the-radar gem was full of heart, full of humor, and has more charm than ten animated movies put together. It boasted a nice laid-back soundtrack powered by Zooey Deschanel and a flawless voice cast. It’s arguably the perfect film for the young-younglings if you want to get them started on the world of Disney.
Yes, ranking this small, tiny flick above Hunchback, Tarzan, and Lion King seems rather strange. However, unlike the previous three films, there is no inconsistency here. From start to finish it set out on a simple goal to merely glide from the first minute to the last and there were no bumps along the way.
#17: Frozen
Last Time: n/a
Ah, the Let it Go Movie. Frozen became arguably the Little Mermaid for Millenials and the Twitter Generation. A powerful song highlights a great soundtrack that sounds straight out of Broadway, and combining that with flawless animation and two strong likable princesses----one of them has amazing powers. Honestly it’s the music that runs this movie and allows for Frozen to fly past a weaker third act to become quite the anti-Disney movie with its strong feminism and themes of individualism.
Some movies become blockbusters and burn out quickly, others just linger and remain in the American psyche for a long period of time. Some movies just hit the right note at the right time. Frozen would not have been as big a hit in 1994, or 2001, or 2004 even. But in 2014, with Disney in full swing, reputation improved from earlier, and with the equal rights movement exploding alongside Twitter, Instigram, and Tumblr, Frozen took the global culture by storm. Even if it won’t ever be considered Disney’s best, it can be arguably the most successful movie on this list.
#16: One Hundred and One Dalmatians
Last Time: 8
In the entire barometer of the Disney Animated spectrum, there are a few movies that has a very unique art style. It can make the movie (Sleeping Beauty---later in the list), it can break the movie (Home on the Range…ugh). 101 Dalmatians’ art style was very jazzy/deco 1920s and was one of the strongest parts of the movie---which miraculously managed to compose of millions of spots from dozens of Dalmatians without breaking the willpower of all the animations involved. In terms of achievement alone, 101 Dalmatians is just as powerful and groundbreaking as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Now, let’s throw in a psychotic villain, superb cast of humans AND animals, lots of memorable moments (remember the rubbing scene?), plenty of subtle tension, and a nice villain song to hold it all together and you have yourself a bonafide Disney classic.
#15: Mulan
Last Time: 16
Probably the strongest female heroine in the entire Disney line, Mulan is not just front and center, she is a strong character with strong will, strong values, and kicks plenty of butt—especially against an underrated Disney villain and Chinese tradition. The movie boasts a great soundtrack, well-directed and edited animated action sequences, and does a good job staying away from the typical Disney tropes. It was a unique story driven by great writing and great characters. Seriously, watch it again, its still a darn good film.
I love how Frozen convinced everyone to forget that we had a strong female heroine to look up to. I love how Shrek convinced everyone to forget that Eddie Murphy had a similar strong sidekick performance right here. And finally, before Let it Go, we had Reflection. Mulan would create some of the necessary steps to make the eventual global phenomenon Frozen---and yes, usually the original is superior.
#14: Big Hero 6
Last Time: n/a
Shockingly buzzing past most of your Disney classics in terms of quality, Big Hero 6 is a very powerful film in terms of emotion and caps it off with an abundance of action comedy that entertains and prevents you from hitting full depression. Becoming a wonderful origin story that has all the style and tone of your classic Marvel comics, Big Hero 6 is sure to become a successful franchise down the road. But thanks to Beymax, Hiro, and the rest of the fun cast, you won’t mind seeing them again in the near future. A very likable film, this is the film that cements Disney Animation as fully rejuvenated after the Eisner downfall in 2000.
Love or hate Disney, they have the perfect formula for crafting a successful animated film: heavy loss, very likable and relatable lead character, superb supporting cast and required great best friend, villain that tinkers the line between interesting and intimidating, and always leaving room for growth via sequel or television show. This formula may make the Disney films predictable, and Big Hero 6 is quite predictable---but knowing you are going to have a blast witnessing it is half the fun.
#13: Princess and the Frog
Last Time: 18
To go back to the winning formula and start the Disney Renaissance II however, you needed to go back to the past. So Disney reached out to the directors of Aladdin/Little Mermaid/NobodySawThis Treasure Planet to introduce the world to Disney’s first black princess. And thanks to high energy, an awesome villain, delightful cast, and nice focus on Cajun detail, Princess and the Frog is fun, feels fresh, feels truly genuine. And lastly it was the beginning of the unraveling of the usual Disney tropes that had been hovering above the brand for decades.
Similar to Martin Campbell whom saved the Bond franchise twice, there isn’t enough love for Ron Clements and John Musker. These two are responsible for three Disney Renaissance films, and the one that started the sequel Renaissance. They know how to pace, they know how to keep the audience riveted, and knows how to keep the Disney magic flowing regardless of the setting—while at the same time give each film its unique voice.
#12: The Little Mermaid
Last Time: 20
Snow White. Cinderella. The Jungle Book. Fox and the Hound. These films jump-started new eras in Disney animation---for better or for worse. The Little Mermaid is part of this list, because it started the Disney Renaissance while at the same time obliterated the Don Bluth rivalry once and for all. And of course in order to become a major success and start a movement, the movie has to actually be good. The Little Mermaid became the first Disney film that flowed and sounded like a Broadway musical. You weren’t watching a film, you were watching an entertainment extravaganza of music, humor, action, and romance. Beautiful varied music, illustrious animation, and a memorable cast of characters to boot.
Argue what you will about her intentions, Ariel became the first Disney princess to truly defy the norm and truly have a wholesome adventurous personality that girls and females in general can look up to. She wasn’t a damsel in distress most of the time, she was out there chasing her dream. But Little Mermaid also became the first Disney movie to give the Prince a good personality as well. Little Mermaid set a new bar, and even though it does get raised down the road in the 90s, this film pretty much saved the Disney company.
#11: Pinocchio
Last Time: 9
Snow White may have been the original that laid out the tracks, but Pinocchio would be the locomotive that would steer the company into quality and financial heights. Pinocchio is a gem from start to finish. Not a single lost moment, not a single dull moment, and also was quite the ballsy film for its time. The slightly religious Wish upon a Star, the sinful and scary Pleasure Island sequence, the overpowering Monstro the Whale sequence, and the beautiful ending made for a complete work of art.
Pinocchio was about a simple creation transforming into a full human full of values, full of mistakes, and full of love and redemption that would overcome his weaker moments on his quest for becoming real. It was a beautiful story about family, about growing up, and about sacrificing for one another. It was about appreciating the important people in your life, and it was a quest for happiness. Right now we are entering flawless territory, where the classics become masterpieces. Pinocchio is an animated masterpiece, without a doubt. Nearly top-notch perfect from animation to music to the aesthetics.
The top 10 is coming up. Be ready to complain.....
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