My Top Five Disney Animated Films

     So, it's been a while....

      This is why perfectionists (like me) shouldn't get into blogging.  I can never get anything done.

      This is why this blog is private.

     Anyway... Earlier this morning, Charity over at "Confessions of an INTJ" posed a question to her readers... "What are your TOP FIVE Disney animated movies, and WHY?". Being the obedient reader that I am, I answered, and took way, way too long in the process, so I thought I'd post them here for funsies (after a bit of tinkering and serious re-arranging, tee hee).

      In some semblance of a ranking:

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5. “Bolt” – A lost and confused pup that thinks he’s a super-dog makes for a really original and fun story-line.  The movie also lends itself to the very un-modern-Disney theme that domestic life can be just as exciting and rewarding as the life of a superhero.  We all really enjoyed the many colorful secondary characters too.  The Evil minion cats, Mittens, Rhino, and the pigeons are all hysterical.

Bowler hat guy.

4. “The Aristocats” – Can’t say much about why I love this movie except that the nostalgia factor is strong with it.  It was practically on a constant loop at our house, growing up, and I love(d) it to bits.  The music is lovely, the animation has that sketchy, hand-drawn look to it, and I may or may not have wanted desperately to be a cat after seeing it as a tot.  Still a fun romp with another group of lost pets just trying to get home.  And the hound dogs are priceless.

3. “Meet the Robinsons” – I can’t say much about this one, since most of the fun is in all the twists and turns of the story.  But I can say that this definitely one of those films you absolutely should not judge by the trailer, and the bowler hat guy is one of our favorite villains of all time. ^

2. “Treasure Planet” – My family only recently came across this adaptation of “Treasure Island”, after seeing a recent, rather disappointing TV version.  We had read that this one was actually one of the more faithful to the book, despite the sci-fi setting, and decided to give it a whirl.  The way they incorporated the story into the environment lent itself to almost a sort of modern steam-punk feel, very fun and original.  Emma Thompson’s walking-dictionary of a Captain was fabulous (I really thought the script was just marvelously clever.  Someone on the writing team must have had a dizzying vocabulary).  The colorful animation and crazily-designed characters were most enjoyable to watch.  I was amazed to learn later that this movie was Disney’s biggest financial loss.  I think it deserved much better.

1. “Sleeping Beauty" – Prince Philip.  I have a weakness.  He’s not only one of the more active princes that actually does something for his gal,  but I also can't help but think there are some parallels to be drawn from the “Prince” coming and fighting to bring his bride back to life.  Maybe it's not just a romantic fairy-tale, but perhaps there’s some also Christ imagery going on here.  I love that they were able to pull so much of the beautiful music from the original ballet; and I’m also just a little bit gaga for Eyvind Earle’s incredible stylistic approach to the backgrounds and animation in this movie.  The story behind it and how much criticism the styling met with really gives an interesting peek into the mind of Disney himself, as well as the typical Disney production process at the time.  Lots of mutiny and office politics behind the creation of this movie.

Here’s a link to an article on the history of it’s stylistic production, and all the tumult of that ordeal.

It's definitely a very experimental piece on the part of Disney, and I think Eyvind Earle completely lived up to the task he was given.


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      Some of the order in the ranking maybe a little screwy... ranking is much harder than just listing.

      I'd really recommend to anyone reading that article on Eyvind Earle and Disney.  Even if you're not in the least interested in Eyvind Earle (though you should be), it's definitely an excellent insight into the heart of the Disney company of the time, and how the balance was really shaken by Walt Disney's own vision for Sleeping Beauty.  He rocked the boat even within his own company.

     Also, forgot to mention 'Lady and the Tramp"(delightful) and "Cinderella"(marvelous).  So, so close...

      Anyway, I, for one love "Top 20,15,10,5,etc" lists.  Love reading them and making them.  They sort of force you to simplify and create a concentrated sampling of the "best", "favorite", "worst", or "least favorite".  In a way, it also forces us to somewhat define ourselves by our favorites or least favorites.  Of course, there's always a danger in defining ourselves by things superficial as that, and we shouldn't always be trying to find identity in the physical (I definitely think that's something we do too much of).  We're obviously more than our "Top 5"s.  But I do think that these lists often provide a peek into our pasts, senses of humor, what we find meaningful, what aspects and interpretations to appreciate that we gather from the same films, and in a way, they give a glimpse into the very way we think.  (or think goose, as it were)