I’m sure that most of you by now have had a chance to check out the latest Disney/Pixar masterpiece, Toy Story 3. I for one thought it surpassed its predecessor with quite a bit more heart and laughter. One of the preview’s before the film was of Disney’s next 2-D animated feature, Tangled. It is the story of Rapunzel, who is voiced by Mandy Moore. With hand drawn animation becoming more and more rare I miss the days of watching animators have to draw with a pencil instead of a mouse. The Disney/Pixar films are great, don’t get me wrong, but there is something so pure and raw about the films of ol’. So here are some of my favorite Disney animated films that Pixar didn’t have a hand in.
12. DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp (1990)
I know, I know, you’re asking yourself just how crazy can I be to put this film above classics like Cinderella and Lady and the Tramp? Well first off, those are girl movies, and I’m a boy! I remember seeing this film in theaters and being in wonder as Uncle Scrooge and the boys take their adventures from my small TV at home to the massive movie theater.
While searching for the treasure of Callie Baba Scrooge finds a magic lamp, which the evil Merlock has been hunting for years. Merlock has the a object that can grant the master an infinite number of wishes on the lamp. Scrooge, Huey, Dewy, Louie, and even Webby must get the lamp back from Merlock and reclaim Scrooges fortune before Merlock turns Duckberg into ground zero. My only complaint about this film; no Gizmo Duck!
11. Peter Pan (1953)
I have always been a moderate fan of “the boy who didn’t want to grow-up,” which is why I like this film so dearly. Neverland was a place full of adventure and danger that any young boy would have a field-day in. The sequel, Return To Neverland, was horrible, and one of the films Disney made to make a few bucks by ruining their classic films. The same magic only happens once, and we only need to see Peter rescue Tiger Lilly and defeat Captain Hook in one great film.
10. Bolt (2008)
John Travolta is the voice of Bolt, a movie star dog thinks he possesses super powers in real life. He’s on a quest to find his owner, voiced by Miley Cyrus. Bolt is accompanied by a reluctant feline, an eager hamster, and some ambitious pigeons.
This movie is the story about a dog and his owner. It also has a lot of funny lines, thanks to Rhino the hamster. This film became an instant classic the moment it was made, and it was also my first 3-D movie experience. It’s one of the few computer-animated films that isn’t done by Pixar, but Disney knows how to still make a good movie on their own.
9. The Sword in the Stone (1963)
This film plays with the legendary tale of King Arthur, and his trusted advisor, Merlin. After accidentally falling through Merlin’s roof the crazy wizard begins instructing young Arthur in the ways of the world, which personifies turning him into a fish, a squirrel, and even taking down an evil witch.
I love Disney, I love King Arthur, how could I not love this film? Merlin almost has a mad scientist vibe going on in this film and the magic battle between him and Mim is quite entertaining. In the end it just goes to show that even the smallest of people are destined to do great things.
8. Mickey’s A Christmas Carol (1983)
There are a few films I have to watch each Christmas season, and even though this one has been off my list for the past few years I must remind myself to watch it this year. Uncle Scrooge is a mean old man who hates Christmas, so much that he takes it out on his employee, Mickey. Then he is visited by three ghost and the Charles Dicken’s classic takes off with your favorite Disney characters.
7. Tarzan (1999)
He is the king of the jungle for a reason. In this new interpretation of Tarzan, the human is raised by apes and looks to find out more about who he is when Jane and her father show up. They are accompanied by the greedy Clayton, and Tarzan must choose between learning more about these strangers that look like him and his family.
The film has a great voice cast, including Glenn Close and Minnie Driver. The action sequences of Tarzan “tree surfing” are quite entertaining as well. The lesson of this film is about feeling alienated and knowing who your true family really is.
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6. Hercules (1997)
After The Lion King I skipped the next few Disney films, but luckily Hercules came along to bring me back. Hercules was stolen from his father Zeus and was raised as a human. As a man he must learn what being a hero truly means if he wants to rejoin Olympus. But Hades is looking to take Zeus down a few notches and Hercules is the one person that stands in his way.
This film has some great songs, along with a Michael Bolton hit. Danny DeVito helps provide the comedy as Hercules trainer, Phil, and James Woods is a great as Hades. Not even the gods can keep this film down!
5. A Goofy Movie (1995)
If you have an embarrassing dad, or parent, then you must have seen this film. Goofy wants nothing more than to take his son on a fishing trip for the summer. Max wants nothing more to get away from his dad and make to L.A. for a concert. It’s a movie that has a happy ending, and nobody gives us more laughs along the way than Goofy.
4. The Lion King (1994)
What could Disney do to follow up Aladdin? They take you from the Arabian desert to the African plains. The young lion cub can’t wait to grow up to be king like his dad, voiced by James Earl Jones. When tragedy strikes Simba runs away; never to be heard from again. His friend Nala finds him in paradise with two unlikely companions and must try to convince him to come home and save Pride Rock from his uncle Scar.
Timon and Pumbaa alone are enough to make this movie worth a watch. I also like it when animated films get away from using people and go with animals; it’s refreshing. This movie is packed with an all-star voice cast that will have you singing Hakuna Matata by the end.
3. The Fox and the Hound (1981)
So get this, there is this young fox, Todd, who is best friends with a hound dog named Copper. The whole world is trying to tell them they can’t be friends, and their bond is tested over and over again, almost to the point of death. I’ll go ahead and tell you I cry every time I watch this movie.
Young Todd and Copper are pretty adorable and the woodpecker provides some decent laughs. It’s a buddy movie that has a heart bigger than a bear. Why in dear lord did they try and make a sequel?
2. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
An enchanted castle; check. Great supporting characters; check. A musical number that can rival anything on Broadway; check. A young prince is curse to be a beast unless he can find someone to love him for who he really is, but can sweet Belle be that person before the spell is irreversible? Let’s hope so, otherwise little Chip is stuck as a tea cup for the rest of existence.
1. Aladdin (1992)
Why is this film my number one choice? It’s three fold:
a) Great songs
b) I would love to have a magic carpet
c) Nobody is funnier than Robin Williams
I rest my case.
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