The Disney Thread - Page 3

I like THE FOX AND THE HOUND. The rest I can do without.

Fox and the Hound is depressing.

The Lion King, IMO, is their best work.

It is a damn fine film. For once, the male and female romantic leads are equally interesting.

The entire score is littered with bits of other Disney scores. In fact, the whole film is filled with references to other Disney films. The voices of several Disney princesses turn up in cameo roles, and there's tons of visual nods as well. Look here.

I brought it up earlier. It's probably my favorite on-screen romance. But, man, that little Scottish Terrier getting hit by the car really messed me up as a kid.

Jock didn't get run over. It was Trusty.

Lady & The Tramp is definately my favorite Disney film. I really like 101 Dalmations and Fox and The Hound.

I like so many of their movies. I haven't really seen too much of their stuff since The Lion King though.

One thing that I was suprised by with rewatching some of the Disney movies over the years is how heavy some of the themes are for the young kids that obviously watch them.

Awesome thread. I grew up in a pretty animation obsessed family, be it Disney, Warner Brothers, anime or even Bakshi and anything else we could get our hands on. Dad was as into animation as much as us kids so we went to most animated flicks at the cinema - so not surprisingly saw a helluva lot of Disney stuff.

I'm pretty stunned this threads made it this far with nary a mention of The Jungle Book, probably my favourite of the classic Disney films growing up, tho I've come to appreciate Fantasia and Pinnochio more as I've gotten older.

I remember vivedly being taken to The Fox and The Hound around the same time as being sat down to Watership Downs actually, fuck me there was a one-two punch for my young mind to realise not all animated films needed to be sweetness and light with happy endings.

Of the lesser films I kinda enjoyed Robin Hood cause I was the target demographic when I watched it (and Ustinov is awesome), but preferred The Sword In The Stone - that wizards duel is just about one of the most enjoyable pieces in any Disney film ever. I still remember enjoying the hell out of The Great Mouse Detective but haven't seen it since that first cinematic viewing back in '86, so I remember very little about it.

Of the later pictures, even though I was 17 when The Lion King came out I shamelessly saw it at least three times in the cinema and many times on video, but after my old man died in '96 I found the Mufasa-Simba parts a bit hard to watch frankly, Zimmers incredible score really doesn't help that (but WHAT a score).

After that only The Hunchback of Notre Dame (some fucking beautiful songs in there) made a positive impression - Pocahontas had NO business ever becoming a Disney story in the first place, but it's very existence signalled my blind love of all things Disney coming to an end, I just found it fucking offensive personally. Maybe I'd just grown up a bit who knows.

As a consequence tho, I never saw any of their output after that - but this thread has made me want to at least give The Emperors New Groove and maybe Mulan a go.

ETA: special mentions have to go to:

Snow White - still brilliant

Sleeping Beauty - that ending with the evil witch becoming the dragon still holds up beautifully

Peter Pan - epic and great fun - Hook was such a deliciously done bad guy.

The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh - just brilliant "Oh Christopher Rooooobiiiiin"

Song Of The South - sure, its not PC these days but its also a great Disney film, all the Brer Rabbit animation parts are fantastic

Sleeping Beauty is the best piece of work that ever came out of the Disney Animation department to this day.

Home on the Range is unwatchable.

The Black Cauldron puts me to sleep, and I keep putting it in year after year.
Have never seen every minute of it. zzzz

Tarzan is undervalued.

Is this thread only for Animation?
WHERE'S there DVD of KIDNAPPED already?

Song of the South's animation portions are wonderful. The rest of the film is an enormous waste of celluloid. Leaving aside the 'PC' issues (which are BS - Gone With The Wind is just as 'bad'), the live-action stuff is intensely boring. Dull, dull, dull.

Sterling Holloway's vocals are perhaps my favorite of any Disney vet (tie/runner up goes to Phil Harris) - Pooh Bear, Kaa the Snake, the Cheshire Cat, Roquefort Mouse...the guy's voice is just ridiculously great for animation. It's instantly recognizable, yet malleable enough to color any number of different personalities.

So far, all of the talk has been around the feature length movies from Disney. Was anyone else a fan of the sport goofy cartoons? He was essentially a Disney version of Wile E. Coyote.

Loved these. The image you brought to mind was of Goofy swinging back and forth on the rings, and smashing through the ceiling at both ends.

Also: Professor Ludvig Von Drake's lectures were a huge favorite of mine back in the day. To my knowledge, they remain unavailable on DVD.

Bless you, Jesse; that's the sequence that I always remember from these shorts as well.

Sport Goofy ruled. My favorite is the hockey one which ends in an explosion of thousands of hockey pucks and a brutally violent riot in the stands.

Weird. There's an ad at the bottom of the page for "Song of the South" on (bootleg) DVD. Are the message board ads keyed to the topics being discussed? Or is that just insane coincidence?

Disney's gift for voice-casting often goes unrecognized. I like how they raided Vaudeville in the early days, with guys like Billy Gilbert (Sneezy) and Walter Catlett (Pinocchio's Fox), who were sizeable stars at the time. Another favorite of mine is Edward Brophy's Timothy in Dumbo.

How to Play Baseball is my favorite. And the one that had him using the little stretchy thing that he ended up getting all tangled up in. Hell they were all amazing.

I'm glad the Goofy shorts were mentioned. One that is worth tracking down is Motor Mania.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_Mania

I like to think I'm a calm guy, but I've been known to get like Mr. Wheeler when stuck in traffic.

A valid question. While we've spent quite a bit of time reliving some of the world's best animated stories here, when are we gonna discuss that lovely bit of dream casting that was Chris O'Donnell as d'Artagnan in Disney's 1993 production of The Three Musketeers?

Gabrielle Anwar was surely wasted in that piece of crap.

I don't know if I can watch this movie again now without thinking "Jack Bauer: Musketeer."

"Damnit, M'Lady! There isn't any time!"

I could go on forever about how Sleeping Beauty was the most influential disney flick I've seen-I'm pretty damned sure it's especially the Medieval Introduction Style and the ending with the changing colors that pretty much set me on my (hopeful) career path.

Though on an entertainment level, I enjoyed Great Mouse Detective and Robin Hood. But my copy of Watership Down is extremely well read, so perhaps I just like talking animals alot. I defintely grew to appreciate the Shakespearian elements of The Lion King and the more adult themes of most flicks, Hunchback of Notra Dame is the last one I remember having visually impacted me the most of the latter worthwile Disney efforts.

I was one of those kids who grew up in the 90s Disney era, and Hercules was the last movie I think we actually saw in theater as a family. Hell, my mom worked in a Disney Store after her divorce, so we grew up linked with that shit.

There were some fun toys.

This has been a fun read and trip through my childhood.

I love me some Robin Hood. The fact that it was essentially third-rate animation doesn't get in the way of fondness for Roger Miler and Peter Ustinov. Oh, and Phil Harris too.

As for the modern stuff, the last two non-Pixar Disney films I saw in theaters were Lilo and Stitch and The Emperor's New Groove, which were both hilarious. I've never seen the Emperor DVD, was there anything about Kingdom of the Sun?

The 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea DVD is also one of the better blind buys I've purchased. Essential, Kirk Douglas singing and cute seal aside.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/polaroi...55233/sizes/o/

That's pretty awesome- But I'm working towards a career in costume design.

But if it makes you feel better, my nonexistent hopes of being an animator are crushed. Totally and completely. Like a kicked puppy. Or something.

Standing in the Nautilus at Disny Land when I was 12 gave me a shiver up my spine that I will never ever forget, but then being a lover of all things Disney, I had a lot of those moments in my 3 days at Walts original theme park.

...and top call on the Goofy Sports shorts. The Goofster was always by far my favourite Disney character and these were the reason for it. The only shorts that come close to them for me were the Donald vs Chip & Dale battles.

I'm not sure why you'd think that would be such an unpopular opinion. I've never met anyone who didn't like that movie. It's hilarious.

That might have been me. Maybe I'm oversensitive to this stuff, but as someone who works with children, I have trouble recommending a movie that's basically about a girl who runs away from home to marry a man she just met because he's handsome. And the story rewards her choice. That's fucked up.

I hit page three expecting to have to post the exact same thing. The Jungle Book was a real departure for Disney in terms of the song stylings, and I think it's brilliant. As much as I loved the songs as a kid, I practically worship them now, and they've turned me on to the work of Louis Prima, who was awesome. The characters are all very sharply written and performed by a terrific cast. George Sanders' Shere Khan remains one of my all-time favorite screen villains (up there with Jones' voice work on Vader), and Phil Harris just owns the film. The animation isn't quite as lush as some earlier productions (note the lack of shadows), but the simplicity actually contributes somehow. I never get tired of this movie. I believe it was actually Walt Disney's last direct involvement, too.

Has anyone seen the Blu-ray for Sleeping Beauty? Christ, it's beautiful. On a good HDTV, each frame is literally a painting. It's so crisp and stable.

About Hunchback... one thing that hasn't aged well at all (and really stuck out like a sore thumb even then) is some of the shots that used CG for the crowd scenes. It looked dazzling for super wide-shots, but for some reason the filmmakers were compelled to use it for anonymous characters fighting in the background in medium shots. The animation is so horribly stiff especially when there are often hand-animated characters moving right in front of them. Ugh.

Speaking of Goofy, did anyone see the more recent "How to Set Up a Home Theater" short that was supposed to have played with Enchanted during its theatrical run?

Yep, nice modern take on the old Sport Goofy shorts. And it was just nice to see a short in front of the film.

They didn't have it in front of Enchanted when I saw it in theater - I kinda feel robbed now. I wonder if they included it on the DVD, which I have...hm.

I really admired, but sadly, couldn't love Atlantis. It was fantastic animation-wise, and had an intriguing story, but got remarkably lazy on characterization. I wish I could see more things like that, except with, you know, well-rounded characters.

Might as well ask it: What's everyone's top 5 FAVORITE Disney animated films? And, what are the top 5 you consider the BEST?

Favorite:
1. The Lion King
2. The Fox and the Hound
3. The Great Mouse Detective
4. Lilo and Stitch
5. Alice and Wonderland (massively underrated/forgotten)

Best
1. Beauty and the Best
2. Bambi
3. Pinnochio
4. The Lion King
5. Fantasia

Stunned by the Great Mouse Detective love here. I always thought no one but me liked that one. Everyone just likes the Holmes milieu, is my guess. Or maybe it's the most underrated song in Disney, The World's Greatest Criminal Mind. It's probably not Let Me Be Good To You.

I think my favorites are kind of fucked up:
1. Beauty and the Beast
2. The Great Mouse Detective
3. Robin Hood
4. Peter Pan
5. 101 Dalmatians

I don't care about "Best" for these.

Hey, here's the sporcle.

My name is HarleyQuinn22 and I am a Disneyholic. This is going to be an incredibly cornball post, but so many of my childhood memories are wrapped up in the Disney brand. My first memory ever in life is watching Oliver and Company at a military base in Honolulu where my dad was stationed at the time. I snatched that thing up on DVD the other day, and it's still just as great as it was when I was a kid. My all-time favorite film is The Lion King. I was in the front row opening weekend, and when that sun rises and that African cry rang out, I got goosebumps. By the end of Circle of Life, I had tears in my eyes. By the time Simba snuggles next to Mufasa's dead body, I was a complete and utter wreck. I'd never been so moved by a film before that one, and it's that film that sent me on my path to getting into the film industry. Beauty and the Beast is a wonderful film, and even though a friend of mine loves to wind me up about how the movie is nothing more than glorified Stockholm Syndrome, I still have enormous affection for that film. Belle was pretty much my hero growing up because I was a massive bookworm, just like her. But one Disney flick that a lot of folks don't give enough credit to is The Rescuers Down Under. That sequence with Cody riding on Marahute's back is a thrilling, gorgeous piece of animation. I always get a rush when Cody jumps off the waterfall and Marahute swoops in to catch him on her back.

Rescuers Down Under had the bad luck to be released just as Disney was moving to an all-pseudo-Broadway-musical format. I've always liked it-- it's the first film where CGI really feels integrated with the traditional animation, and Bruce Broughton's score is top quality. Plus: George C. Scott!

Detective is worth the love. It is a great tribute to Sherlock Holmes, Price has the prefect voice for an animated villain, and the fight that takes place both in and outside of Big Ben is still very impressive. I think that sequence was one of the first times Disney combined both traditional and computer animation.

I believe that was the very first time they combined the two.

Rescuers Down Under is a beautifully animated film and, if I'm not mistaken, it's the first Disney film to really lock into the Disney animation style that they later perfected in Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin.

Whoever mentioned the Donald v. Chip and Dale cartoons - thanks for the memory jolt. I loved those - most especially the one where Chip and Dale take Donald's boat in a bottle to an island with an acorn tree, and the one with Donald as a logger. Greatness.

It would be fucked up if she were younger. But within the context of the movie, she's come of age and ready to go live her life on her own. It's not about running away, it's about growing up.

But yes, it still has all the standard fucked up Disney Princess/gender roles bullshit.

I haven't seen it since I was a kid, and I don't even know if it's out on DVD, but anyone remember The Island at the Top of the World? Bunch of people heading north to find the whale equivalent of the mythical elephant's graveyard. I remember it had a cool airship and some killer whales in it, and that was enough for a six-year old me.

Doing a BEST list of Disney films is kind of a moot point; there are far too many that could rightfully claim the top spot.

My 5 FAVORITES:
'The Little Mermaid'
'Bambi'
'Dumbo'
'The Emperor's New Groove'
'Tarzan'

Didn't all the Goofy sports cartoons feature Goofy yelling in this odd human scream. I know what it is but I can't for the life remember how it sounds.

And while it has been years since I've seen it. I remember enjoying Tarzan and Aladdin. But dammit I can't think of a Disney movie I really enjoy now.

I remember those days. It started with Little Mermaid and reached its peak with Lion King. I think it started to drop with Hercules which was a disappointment at the box office. But man.. for a while each film just kept topping the previous one in terms of box office; Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Lion King. And Beauty and the Beast is still the ONLY animated film to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar.

Aladdin was a summer movie? I don't remember that being the case. But what do I know? I was nine at the time.

Mermaid, Beauty, and Aladdin were all winter releases. Lion King was their first huge summer release of the "second golden age" and it tore UP the box office.

Dammit, Ed...quite making me feel OLD.

I remember seeing Nathan Lane on a talk show shortly after the release of 'the Lion King'. He was asked what Hakuna Matata really meant, and he said that it was Swahili for 'I wish I had a piece of this film'. Was this one their biggest success at the box office?

How do you think I feel now a days Judas.

Just WAIT until you see how fast your 30s go, Ed. It's a blur. FUCK, I can't believe that I turn 39 in 10 days

Hey, I'm just surprised by this decade man. I can remeber 1/1/00 pretty well. And I don't want to relieve those days.

*gets on soap box*

Of course these kids today will never know decent Nickelodeon shows (Spongebob the exception), Weird Al at his prime and afternoon cartoon shows. Hand drawn animated films. I'm not saying I liked the 90s, no sir. But these kids today will never have those opportunities. Frankly, the Jonas Bros can only do so much.

*gets off soap box*

I need to revisit 'the Great Mouse Detective' one of these days. As I recall, there's a clock sequence with computer assisted animation that's pretty stunning in it.

The Nostalgia Critic had mentioned the sequel to The Rescuers called the Rescuers Down Under which had John Candy as the voice of an albatross. I remember seeing it in the theaters but nothing of the film.

It's the highest grossing 2D animated film of all time, and was the biggest animated film of all time before Finding Nemo came along.

I remember seeing this and Forrest Gump on the same day and looking at the audience reactions to both and thinking, "These movies are going to make more money than God."