10 Good Disney Animated Movies
Ever since Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs wowed audiences in 1937, Disney has been producing memorable animated films for viewers around the globe. Most of us grew up with these films, and modern-day kids continue to discover their magical stories and adorable characters. But for those of you who aren’t familiar with the legendary works of the Mouse House, I thought I’d put together this list of 10 good Disney animated movies. Please note that the works mentioned below were produced entirely in-house by Disney, so sister companies such as Pixar will be reserved for another discussion.
If you’ve got kids, they’re much better off watching these classics than the latest episode of Survivor. You can rent all these Disney animated movies from Netflix, and the small commission we receive when you become a member will help us keep bringing you more quality articles in the future.
Lady and the Tramp (1955) – An upper-class cocker spaniel named Lady engages in a mismatched romance with a mutt named Tramp. Along the way, they’ll take on a rat, dodge the dog catcher, and share spaghetti in one of the most timeless scenes in film history, animated or not. In fact, the American Film Institute named Lady and the Tramp one of the top 100 love stories of all time.
Beauty and the Beast (1991) – The first animated film to ever be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, Beauty and the Beast follows the adventures of Belle, a good-natured young woman who becomes the prisoner of a cursed, lonely prince. Combining traditional animation techniques with the latest technology, the film paved the way for even more sophisticated computer-generated effects in the future. The ballroom dance scene remains a classic and just as suited to adults as kids. Voice talent includes Jerry Orbach, Angela Lansbury, David Ogden Stiers, and Robby Benson.
Fantasia (1940) – If you’d like to entertain your kids and expose them to classical music at the same time, try this classic featuring eight animated segments. The short known as The Sorcerer’s Apprentice was meant as something of a comeback for Mickey Mouse, and the other stories were crafted around it. Features music from Schubert, Beethoven, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, and many more.
The Princess and the Frog (2009) – The first animated Disney movie to feature a black princess, this tale set in the 1920s features a handsome prince transformed into a frog by a practitioner of voodoo. When he kisses a girl named Tiana, he expects the spell to be broken. Instead, they both find themselves turned into frogs and must seek help from Mama Odie, a helpful voodoo queen who lives deep within the bayou. Featuring the voice work of Keith David, Jenifer Lewis, Anika Noni Rose, Terrence Howard, Jim Cummings, and Oprah Winfrey, The Princess and the Frog was nominated for three Academy Awards.
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Cinderella (1950) – Another Disney animated movie drawn from a pre-existing fairy tale (“Cendrillon” by Charles Perrault), Cinderella follows the coming-of-age of its title character, a beautiful young woman mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters. But when a ball is organized to find a wife for Prince Charming, Cinderella gets some much-needed help from the animals she’s befriended and her Fairy Godmother. While it’s over 60 years old, the tale remains a timeless example of fairy-tale romance.
Bambi (1942) – The most heartbreaking moment of all Disney animated movies comes when hunters gun down Bambi’s mother, but this tale of a young white-tailed deer growing into adulthood remains a favorite of kids (and adults) everywhere. The charming supporting characters include Flower the skunk, Thumper the rabbit, and a lovely doe called Faline. Just make sure you have plenty of tissues on hand, as this one is bound to reduce all but the most hard-hearted to a weeping mess.
Hercules (1997) – While the Greek media panned the film, calling it “another case of foreigners distorting our history and culture just to suit their commercial interests,” most viewers got a real kick out of seeing the legendary son of Zeus as a hero-in-training. James Woods is particularly memorable as the villainous Hades, and the talented voice cast is rounded out by Tate Donovan, Danny DeVito, Susan Egan, and Rip Torn.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) – The first full-length animated movie ever made in America, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs proved a massive success at the box office and signaled Disney’s slow transition away from short films. When the lovely princess Snow White is targeted for death by her wicked stepmother, she must flee into the woods and seek refuge with a bizarre collection of dwarfs. Based on the fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm, this remains one of the greatest Disney animated movies ever made. Trust me, your kids will love it…and so will you.
The Rescuers (1977) – The 23rd animated film from Disney, The Rescuers follows an organization of mice dedicated to helping victims of abduction around the globe. The particular adventure centers around rodent agents Bernard (voice by Bob Newhart) and Miss Bianca (Eva Gabor) as they seek to free a young girl from the clutches of ruthless treasure hunters. Based on the delightful series of books from Margery Sharp.
Fun and Fancy Free (1947) – This animated Disney film is actually made up of two shorter movies. The first, Bongo, tells of a bear who runs away from the circus and finds adventure in the wilderness. The second, Mickey and the Beanstalk, is an adaptation of Jack and the Beanstalk with Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Donald Duck playing the lead characters. Edgar Bergen narrates the latter.
I hope this list of 10 good Disney animated movies has brought out your inner child. If so, you might also want to take a look at the following articles from Only Good Movies:
This entry was posted on Thursday, July 8th, 2010 at 1:22 pm and is filed under Good Movies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
7 Responses to “10 Good Disney Animated Movies”
okay, stop right there. where is “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”!!! it should be here.
Hello, I really love this web site design plus the content and articles that you’ve created are breathtaking. Keep up the great work mate.
tangled is THE BEST disney movie!! just saying…. emmkay bye
Oles
I always cry when watching Bambi