My Top 10 Animated Disney Films
Let's get one thing clear here. When I say Disney, I mean nothing with the name Pixar attached to it. Those are their own beast as far as I'm concerned. What we are about to embark upon is a list of movies that informed my childhood even if that happens to leak into my late twenties.
Film:
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Why:
This movie wasn't the first animated film to be nominated for best picture for no reason. There is something so adult about this movie. It's visually more sophisticated than most of the other films on this list and yeah the beast went from scaring me to making me cheer for him when he got to dance with Belle.
Best Song:
Film:
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Why:
What a captivating villain! I remember my parents not even wanting to mention Ursula by name in the days after I saw this movie for my birthday. She had a catchy song about swindling the less fortunate, but when it came down to it she was all business and giant sea monster-mode! Scary stuff. Plus I liked all of Ariel's friends and how they mislead her in the use of most of the objects she found.
Best Song:
Film:
Pocahontas (1995)
Why:
When this movie came out my class was doing a unit on Native Americans and it just all came together for me in a neat package. School and pop culture finally being on the same page. I didn't know it at the time but Batman was sneakily among the ranks of this cast and that is worth celebrating too. Especially since he showed up in a live action Pocahontas film too.
Best Song:
Film:
The Jungle Book (1967)
Why:
I did a complete 180 on this film. I hated it at first. Or maybe I just didn't key in to it. All it took was a viewing at my grand parent's place with my cousin, from episode 11 of the LDF Podcast, to break the ice and have me realize I wanted to quote it all day. There is just such a frenetic energy to this movie. Plus the music really helps. I think we can also agree that the spin off, in the form of Talespin, is another treasure to behold.
Best Song:
Film:
Robin Hood (1967)
Why:
I'm sure I've told this story elsewhere but here goes again! My mom loved this movie so much and would always talk about it. One day we were in Toys R Us and I saw it for sale. That meant we could own it on video and watch it all day long! Of course I ran over to the display and started telling my mom how great it would be if we could watch the archery scene over and over... unfortunately, my mother had moved on to something else and I was sure I was abandoned. I decided to go to the front of the store and have them call my mom over the PA. She was mad until I, while wiping away tears, showed her the VHS! The moral of the story is I'm willing to go it alone in order to procure this film. It's great.
Best Song:
Film:
Mulan (1998)
Why:
I don't know why I like this movie so much. I could say it's the Eddie Murphy voice acting. I could say it's the martial arts on display. I could say it's the music. The problem is there's just an intangible magic to this movie that makes it possibly better than the sum of its parts. Also I really did buy into the story arc for Mulan. Man, did I ever want her to prove her detractors wrong and save the day!
Best Song:
Film:
Peter Pan (1953)
Why:
I've said it before and I'll say it again: it is not worth reading into why I appreciate a movie about a person who refuses to acknowledge that people need to grow up. The sword play in this movie is on point and who doesn't enjoy a good run in with Captain Hook and Mr. Smee? I know that the movie has some culturally insensitive parts but I'm sure we all have some grand parents with some culturally insensitive things to say; we don't love them any less.
Best Song:
Film:
Aladdin (1992)
Why:
WHAT A SOUNDTRACK! And have you played the Sega and Super Nintendo video games? They are different... I'm pretty sure one has more swords than the other. Either way this was the move back in the day. There were school yard chants based on Prince Ali, and if you didn't know the code to be able to skip levels in Aladdin, you weren't worth talking to, bruh! All due respect to Dan Castellaneta, but Robin Williams is the one true Genie. What a tour de force performance that clearly needed to repeated for the second straight to video sequel.
Best Song:
Film:
Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
Why:
I always knew I was going to like this movie based on the first teaser trailer. But how could this movie be so good? The constant references to video games was just the hook. This movie wins because of the relationship between Ralph and Vanellope. Listen to episode 6 of the LDF Podcast for more of my thoughts on this film.
Best Song:
Film:
The Lion King (1994)
Why:
This movie might be the earliest memory of a movie almost making me cry. As someone who thought it was almost the end of the world being lost in a Toys R Us, you can imagine the amount of empathy I had for Simba when Mufasa was taken out of the picture. On a happier note, this movie has a whole bunch of fun to even out the gravitas. It is the perfect Disney movie in my eyes.
Best Song:
-YG