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ordinaryschmuck · 2 years

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Walt Disney Animated Pictures Studios from Worst to Best-Part Six: The Top Ten BEST Disney Fillms

Salutations, random people on the internet who certainly won’t read this! I am an Ordinary Schmuck! I write stories and reviews and draw comics and cartoons.

Here it is: The top ten BEST movies from Walt Disney Animated Pictures Studios. These are the films that are masterpieces, being films that you must see if you’re a true Disney fan. If you don’t like them…that’s fine. But trust me when I say that there are FAR worse movies to hate then these ten. They made it this for for a reason, and let’s find out where they fall, shall we?

#10. Moana-And now we have the movie that perfectly represents the modern age of Disney. It leans even more towards comedy, works harder to perfect CGI animation, and often pokes fun at Disney’s tropes while still embracing them. Sometimes it works, but other times…

…Yeah.

I will say, the biggest strength Moana has is its titular character. She’s still the princess–

“She’s not a princess.”

SHUT UP!

Anyways, she’s still the princess who wants more, but there’s a difference between her and other princesses: She actually does most of the work in saving the day. Sure, Maui (who is also a pretty great character) helps her along the way, but only to teach her the basics of wayfinding. When it comes to actually doing the mission, guess who does most of the heavy lifting. And you can argue all the logistics in calling Moana a Disney Princess, she’s at least the first one I can think of who actually governs her people and genuinely leads them. Can’t really say that about a lot of the other Disney Princesses, who just sit around and waiting. So, while some things…

…don’t work in the slightest, I can at least appreciate Moana for giving us a princess who gets s**t done rather than relying on a big, strong, handsome man to do most of the work for her.

#9. Aladdin-...This is one of my favorite Disney movies. I love its animation with how fluid and expressive it can be, "One Jump Ahead," "Friend Like Me," and "Prince Ali" are some of my favorite Disney songs, and the characters are just so wonderful. Jasmine's probably not the best role model to have, but she still bounces well off of Aladdin for me to look past it. Jafar's motivation is basic, but his personality is so over-the-top that it more than makes up for it. Both Iago and Abu are solid sidekicks, with the late and great Gilbert Gottfried giving a few laughs as Iago. And do I even have to say anything about Robin Williams as the Genie?

But, by far, the best thing about Aladdin is, turns out, Aladdin himself. He's not only one of my favorite characters in the movie, nor my favorite character in a Disney property, but Aladdin is one of my favorite fictional characters. He's someone who gets out of a situation not with his might but with his wits. And I love a hero like that. One how outsmarts a villain rather than outfight them. That right there is a genuine role model to look up to, and I'm all for it.

Aladdin will always hold a special place in my heart. It might not be number one, but only because there's a difference between saying something's the best and something being my favorite. Still, it earns its spot.

#8. Mulan-“But you ranked Pocahontas so low because it was so historically inaccurate! Why is this different?”

THE HISTORICAL INACCURACIES WEREN’T THE PROBLEM AND YOU KNOW IT!

While Disney certainly took some creative liberties, they still remembered one important detail: Mulan is a hero.

Did the real Mulan kill dozens of Hun soldiers with an avalanche and single handedly save the emperor? Probably not. I don’t know jack about history. But, hey, at least the movie recognizes that she was an honorable soldier who did indeed earn the emperor’s favor only to deny the job he offered. Plus, Movie Mulan is an entertaining character even despite certain changes for the film. She worked hard to be a good soldier, was smart enough to outthink a general, and kind and respectable among her men. Now, is it weird that they gave Mushu a little too much influence on this version of Mulan’s journey? Yes. But do you want to know what’s a little less weird and a little more awesome? A “Disney Princess” wielding a sword. I mean, she rarely uses a sword, but it’s still awesome. On that note, it’s actually great how much this movie roots for “girl power” without trying too hard. Mulan isn’t this perfect warrior who wowed everyone the second she joined the army. It took time, effort, and a whole lot of training to do what she did, proving that any young girl could be like her. Everything else can be a bit inaccurate, but that little fact will always be true.

Also, if you’re worried about how China feels about this film, just know that they hate the 2020 remake more. So, you know…take that for what it is.

#7. Tangled-I always forget how funny this movie is. Almost every single moment has me cackling from the great comedic timing, slapstick, expressions, and delivery from…basically every single character in the movie. Everyone has their own comedic quirks that make them hilarious and add so much fun to the film…Except for the King and Queen, who have the most heartbreaking scene that is perfectly illustrated without a single word.

This brings me to another part of Tangled that’s great: the drama. Despite the great humor, there are still some tense and emotional scenes that succeed in getting the right reaction out of me. Mother Gothal, specifically, sells it as being a realistic manipulative kidnapper, who gives me goosebumps with how accurately she deals with Rapunzel like many real life kidnappers would. It makes her a decent threat, while still being well-balanced by her cynical humor. And that’s another thing about Tangled: The comedy and drama are both equally balanced, with neither feeling like they take away from the other. If there’s anything to complain about with Tangled, it’s that the animation is starting to show its age despite it being made in–2010?!

This movie came out in 2010?! I remember seeing it in theaters with my parents and sister! Is this what feeling old feels like?! Am I old now?! F**K!

Ok, well, anyways, this movie’s great. It’s funny and emotional in all the right ways even if the animation isn’t as great as it once was.

Also, yes, I’ve seen the show…it’s not my thing. NEXT!

#6. Wreck It Ralph-The comedy in this movie is hit or miss. There are some good jokes every now and again, but there are many more that just gets me rolling my eyes. But that’s fine because the comedy isn’t what makes the movie special. It’s the characters.

Ralph’s motivation is understandable, even if he does make some pretty risky decisions and a handful of mistakes. He still manages to put things right and, eventually, his heart is in the right place when dealing with Vanellope. Speaking of which, Ralph and Vanellope’s relationship is all kinds of wholesome, making it heartwarming seeing them bond and even heartbreaking seeing them…go through some stuff. They’re a great dynamic duo, and are much more entertaining than Felix and Sergeant Calhoun, who…could have had a relationship that was funny but was overall just…meh. But do you want to know what wasn’t ‘meh?’ The villain. I won’t give away who it is, but Wreck It Ralph is the only case where a Disney Twist Villain was done right. You see hints of who they are and what they’re planning scattered through the movie, to the point that if you paid close attention, the big reveal wouldn’t have been that surprising. Plus, the villain’s pretty funny to boot, both in what they say and how they move.

Overall, Wreck It Ralph is solid. The comedy was a little weak, but the foundations that the characters lay make for a great, standalone movie…That never had a sequel. Shut up.

#5. Lilo and Stitch-Yet another childhood favorite of mine. And, dang it, I can’t name a better movie that fills me with greater joy than Lilo and Stitch. Particularly because of, well, Lilo and Stitch. Both are well-written and well-directed characters that make this movie what it is. Lilo is one of the most accurate child characters in fiction, feeling authentic in her behavior and desires. She wants friends and people to like her, it’s just that, unfortunately, no one understands the things that Lilo likes or just how her mind operates. The only person who understands is Nani, who, despite some frustrations, genuinely cares about Lilo, wanting to do anything and everything to keep her around. Their relationship together not only brings forth some heartwarming moments, but even some compelling drama that hits me where it hurts.

And then there’s Stitch. A character that is equal parts adorable and disgusting, crafty and insane, and even hilarious and heartbreaking. Stitch is the whole package, and the slow build of his loyalty to Lilo is as believable as it is endearing. And with Stitch comes Jumba and Pleakley, who add most of the humor through their failures to capture him as well as dealing with Earth. Some say they take away from the drama with Nani and Lilo, but personally I don’t see it. I’m still invested with what Nani and Lilo are going through despite some cartoonish sci-fi nonsense. If anything, they add more humor, which I’m not going to knock. Not with how much both of them get a chuckle out of me.

I might be biased because this is one of those movies I’ve watched a dozen times as a kid…but I don’t care. I felt nothing but happiness when watching every minute of it, and if a movie can still do that to me all these years later, who am I to complain?

#4. The Lion King-This movie is best described as grandiose. The animation is larger than life, there are some epic set-pieces that are both musical and action packed, and the score is a wonder to the ears. It’s incredible to watch…even though there are some problems to be had. For one, there’s the characters. None of them are bad by any means, but there are a few that get to me a bit. The main source of my issues is Scarr. He was an engaging and terrifying villain with a silver tongue that got him everything he ever wanted, but once he actually gets what he wants, he becomes a wuss AND a bully somehow. Then there’s Timone and Pumba, who are funny…to a point. There are times when they get annoying and you can actually see how they influenced some of the more aggravating comedic animal sidekicks in the worst possible way. Finally, there’s the message, which is a well-intentioned one. It’s good to teach kids that they need to learn from the mistakes they’ve made in the past rather than put those mistakes behind them. The problem is that the lesson falls a little short when Simba doesn’t really make that big of a mistake to own up to. Scarr killed Mufasa. Not Simba. So he really has nothing to own up to other than leaving, which wasn’t really his fault either. It feels weird to rank The Lion King higher than others films, as I’ve seen past and even future Disney movies that have better characters and well executed morals. Yet, with how much work that went into making The Lion King the spectacle that it is, I can’t help but rank it higher. Other films did things better than it, but, eh. Hakuna Mattata, is what I say.

#3. Frozen-”NO!”

Hear me out!

“NO!”

Hear! Me! Out!

Once upon a time, we all loved Frozen. And those who didn’t respectfully agreed that it is worth being loved. But then Disney kept shoving Frozen into our faces and our ears to the point where we all got so gosh dang sick of it, where even those who loved the movie started avoiding it like the plague. Suddenly, a movie that was originally flawless started being remembered more for it’s flaws. For one, Elsa is more of a plot device than an actual character. She isn’t bad, but it’s not a good thing that her big song feels a little empty when there was no real build up to her embracing her wild side. And the movie also has the most infamous Disney Twist Villain to date, having a character that comes with a well intentioned message of not trusting a pretty face, but is horribly executed with how the character acts pre and post the big reveal.

These flaws are brought up a lot…but I still wouldn’t call the movie bad. Because, to tell you the truth, there are more pros than cons to Frozen. The other characters, for example, are actually pretty decent. Anna is adorkably endearing, Kristoph gives a lot of laughs as the film’s straight man, and Olaf…is someone you either love or you hate. Yeah, even I’ll admit he’s the perfect balance of annoying and funny.

As for the story, it is also pretty decent. The best way to describe Frozen as a modernized Disney fairytale. There are still the usual tropes and themes, but also some friendly jabs and a few altercations to make the movie feel like an improvement. Like the running joke about how crazy it is to marry someone you just met or actually making Elsa the first Disney queen instead of a princess. Turns out, queens don’t have to be evil. That’s nice.

And the songs. The songs are all pretty great…except for “Fixer Upper.” It’s…below average. But even then, it’s still catchy enough where it isn’t awful. In fact, none of the songs are awful. Yes, even the one that makes you want to shove an ice pick into your ears. “Let It Go” is beautiful in the way that it’s orchestrated, sung, and sometimes even animated, getting a genuine smile on my face when I heard it. And, admit it: Before you heard it everywhere you went, there was a time when you replayed that song over and over again, just because you willingly wanted to hear it. Maybe the song is a little empty due to Elsa’s character, but it’s still wonderful to hear and a spectacle to see.

Which brings me to another reason why Frozen’s great: The spectacle. There was so much effort into making this movie the grand film that it is that I honestly can’t hate it. It’s the same with The Lion King. There are probably better written movies in Disney’s line up…but I can’t help but rank Frozen higher for how much it amazes me. It might be a bit weird, but do you want to know what I say to that? Let it go…

Though, admittingly, there’s one thing better than spectacle. And that’s spectacle with substance.

#2. Encanto-I believe there are three things we all love about Disney: The music, the animation, and the characters. With Encanto, it checks off every one of those boxes and THEN some.

This just might be Disney’s best musical to date. The songs are all incredible, having so much life within them, making each one really stand out as incredible and addicting. Most musicals, especially ones made by Disney, tend to have one, maybe two songs that’s a bit skippable, but that’s not really the case with Encanto. I can listen to and watch every song in the movie and still have a fun time with each one as they’re orchestrated, sung, and choreographed to perfection. It’s also the choreography that should get more attention, as everyone and everything moves to the beat of each song so well that it just makes me smile throughout all of it. The animators even had a whole dance number to use as a reference when animating “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” making it even more of a sight to see.

Speaking of, the animation is just gorgeous. This is a time when Disney really nailed the CGI animation, having fluid movements and wild expressions that makes Encanto a blast to watch. The character designs are also where the movie shines, as everyone in the main cast looks unique while still looking like a family. There are physical features that show how they’re all related, such as sharp chins and types of hair, but other features and clothing help illustrate who they are. Like Abuela Alma, who’s stiff stature and dark clothing help make her look like a stereotypical Disney villain, which not only works for her character but there’s also a good reason for it, making her seem more sympathetic than apathetic.

As for the characters themselves, they’re all really great. Most of them are mildly entertaining, while others have this vulnerability and tragedy to their characters, with Mirabel being the best example of it. She wants so badly to have this one thing. This one understandable, even relatable, desire that Mirabel so desperately goes about to obtain. And when she got it, I genuinely cried tears of joy. That’s right, Encanto is the first and only movie not to make me cry because I was sad, but because I was happy. And that’s because I felt such a connection to these characters that seeing them get what they want makes me so happy that I cry. That is powerful.

And that’s not even mentioning the great themes of generational trauma, the consequences of being considered gifted, and how you yourself are a miracle, a gift, and…GOSH DANGIT, watch this movie!

Study this movie!

Love this movie, because it really is something special. If I had to complain about anything, it’d be that I wish we had more time to spend with the rest of the family. But if the biggest problem with Encanto is that I want more of it, that’s hardly an issue. I love every aspect of it, and it’s easily Disney’s best film…Film, to be precise.

#1. Fantasia-You see, Fantasia isn’t a movie. It’s a work of art.

Do you want to know what my favorite thing to do on YouTube is? Look up fan-made animatics to songs and see what these many artists can come up with. That's basically Fantasia. Seeing artists listen to songs and offer the perfect visuals that go perfectly with them. And the results are glorious, with only one or two sections going on just a little too long. In the end, it still all comes down to a fantastic movie that shows why Disney is at the top of the animation industry. They do more than make wonderful movies and characters. They make art. Art that can be appreciated at any age, whether you're a child or an adult. There are slip-ups, here and there, don't get me wrong. But when the right people are behind the right film, you'll get what is undoubtedly a masterpiece.

And that’s why it’s so easy to hate Disney as a company. They focus more on making a successful business and less on making art. Why change the game when you can buy the things people love? That’s certainly the mindset nowadays, and it really is damaging the entertainment industry as a whole. But, every now and again, you’ll have someone who fought with every fiber of their being to make a movie that fits with the Disney that they remember. The studio where the goal was to break boundaries on animation and make something everyone can love. Not just a movie people can put on because there’s nothing better to watch. Hopefully, we’ll get more art that proves Disney hasn’t completely lost its magic just yet.

#walt disney animated pictures studios #worst to best disney #moana #aladdin #disney's mulan #tangeled #wreck it ralph #lilo and stitch #the lion king #frozen #encanto #fantasia

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