The Disney Classics have enormous importance in the history of animated cinema. ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ kicked off in 1937 and since then the studio has given us dozens of unforgettable titles that have marked the childhood (and adulthood) of millions of people throughout the world.
On this occasion we want to remember the studio’s most outstanding animated titles with a review of the Disney movies.
Before going into the matter, I would like to remind you that we also have a selection of the best animated movies in history, another review of the best movies you can see on Disney+ and another equivalent focused on the best series available on that platform. I also don’t forget our list of the best comedies of all time. Without further ado, let’s go with them .
‘101 Dalmatians’ (‘101 Dalmatians’)
There are many memorable villains in the company’s Animated Classics, but I will always stick with the fearsome Cruella de Vil, partly because she has a greater attachment to reality instead of having a more typical villainous origin. Of course, the movie also works quite well until her appearance with everything related to Pongo, Perdita and her owners, but then it goes to another level thanks to her.
‘Aladdin’
The unforgettable genius voiced by Robin Williams in the original version -and by Josema Yuste is one of the best Disney characters, but it is also that here there is a great adventure with a first-rate villain and the two protagonists are turn the most interesting characters. Add to that a handful of unforgettable songs and you’re left with something so exhilarating that even its first direct-to-video sequel ended up being quite worthy.
‘Alice in Wonderland’ (‘Alice in Wonderland’)
A waste of imagination with which I have to confess that I did not connect too much as a child but for which I have been gaining more and more appreciation over the years and the number of revisions. A succession of dazzling ideas that perhaps fit together in an improvable way, but that keep the viewer fascinated in the visual section, although the incredible display of secondaries also helps greatly.
‘Basil, the super detective mouse’ (‘The Great Mouse Detective’)
I am aware that it is not the best Disney movie, but that does not prevent it from being my favorite made by this studio. As a child I was fascinated by the variant that he proposed from the Sherlock Holmes universe, that darker touch than usual in the company, a couple of magnificent songs, that anthological villain with the voice of Vincent Price and that incredible animation work during the stretch final. A delight to claim.
‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ (‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’)
The movie that started it all, laying the foundation not only for Disney’s fairy tales, but for all the animated cinema that would follow. It is true that there are certain situations in it that can be seen as somewhat cheesy by today’s public, but its indisputable charm surpasses all of them given the enormous work done on it, which ranges from the animation to the characters themselves -the The only thing missing there is the prince, but the truth is that he didn’t need more of him here either-, especially the nice little dwarves.
‘Big Hero 6’
A clever, endearing and exciting cross between Disney’s own ways and those of Marvel‘s superheroes resulted in this film. I wouldn’t be surprised if some would just say how adorable Baymax is -which he is, and a lot-, but there’s much more to enjoy in it. Obviously he falls into certain clichés of the two worlds he unites, but in return he manages to make the virtues he inherits from both shine with their own light.
‘The emperor and his follies’ (‘The Emperor’s New Groove’)
I remember going in reluctant to see it because there were no tickets left for the one I really wanted to see and then leaving delighted with a fun madness in which anything seemed to go without ever falling into the feeling of being free. Her refreshing sense of humor, with an effective fondness for the absurd, has no equal within the Disney classics.
‘The Jungle Book’ (‘The Jungle Book’)
A free adaptation of the homonymous novel that includes some of the most emblematic songs of the Disney classics, also building everything a bit around those jazz rhythms that suit the film so well. A careful adaptation work -something in which some of those included fail, but which I have preferred not to leave out due to its virtues in other aspects- and some stimulating characters, especially the endearing Baloo.
‘Treasure Planet’ (‘Treasure Planet’)
A film that unfairly went unnoticed at the time and that deserves a proper claim. Yes, the Disney touch to make everything softer for children is there, but there is also a remarkable adventure that does manage to dodge certain common problems of the company’s characters, also creating an unexpectedly stimulating relationship between the two protagonists, not to mention mention the vigorous captain voiced by Emma Thompson in the original version.
‘The Lion King’ (‘The Lion King’)
One of the pinnacles of Disney, as simple as that, is that absolutely everything works on it. The songs are wonderful, the script doses the genre changes very well to build an adventure in which there is room for pain -come on, a certain death did not leave us all in shock-, fun, emotion and even a little bit of terror. All the major characters work great, including Scar, the excellent villain.
‘Charm’
A great movie that has everything, from hilarious scenes to that little bit of emotion necessary to reach the viewer’s heart, without forgetting its catchy songs or the great animation work behind this celebration of Colombian culture through the Madrigal family.
‘Tangled’ (‘Tangled’)
The company had already begun to show signs of improvement after a few years in which it was better to run away from its films, but it was here that it confirmed the beginning of a new era that has given us many joys in recent years. Here several ideas explored years later in ‘Frozen’ are brought forward in a dynamic and fun adventure.
‘Frozen’
A delight that is not exempt from some small problems -as the minutes go by it seems that it completely forgets that it is a musical when it has some fantastic songs like the now legendary ‘Let it go’-, but it shines so much when it is committed to fun – then they burned Olaf a lot, but here he was great- and when he chooses to enhance his modern fairy tale nature.
‘Goofy and son’ (‘A Goofy Movie’)
The only one that is not considered a Disney Classic that has managed to sneak into this list is this never sufficiently claimed 1995 film with some songs that have nothing to envy to some of the most emblematic themes of the study and that also draws a fascinating relationship father-son relationship between its two protagonists through a fun road movie.
‘Hercules’
A fun reformulation of Greek mythology -although the protagonist comes from the Roman one- for which I feel a great weakness, especially for how successful its tone is indebted to certain classic comedies. And it is that the film is very clear about its nature as a pure pastime and is committed to it resolutely, including Hades, the magnificent villain who must function at the same time as a threat and a comic resource, coming out on top of the stake.
‘Beauty and the Beast’ (‘Beauty and the Beast’)
If I had to say which is the best Disney movie, it would be the one that concerns us here. An authentic gem that became the first animated production to be nominated for an Oscar for best film. It’s a pity that it competed against a masterpiece like ‘The Silence of the Lambs’, since it is an exemplary fairy tale that really has that magic that is so difficult to define, starting with its characters, continuing with its songs -the initial gives foot to what is probably the best introduction to the history of cinema- and through everything else.
‘Lady and the Tramp’ (‘Lady and the Tramp’)
An irresistible comedy with romantic overtones in which the use of music was essential to give Golfo and Reina’s adventures a unique charm that goes far beyond the well-remembered scene of both eating pasta. Plus, it takes very good advantage of the honor of being the studio’s first film released in Cinemascope.
‘The Little Mermaid’
Fundamental film to understand the resurgence of Disney that took place in the early 90s by getting closer to the formula of a Broadway musical with several unforgettable songs in a film that mixes comedy, romance and adventure with enough ease.
‘Lilo and Stitch’
Another rarity within the Disney filmography that benefits from the great visual imagination of Chris Sanders, who was not by chance years later behind the extraordinary ‘How to Train Your Dragon’. It is also true that you defend the studio’s own values ​​-“Ohana means family”-, but it does so with a great personality -it is different without ceasing to be Disney- and using the eccentric contribution that Stitch makes to the film.
‘Mulan’
A film that is being claimed quite a lot lately, partly for its remarkable feminist values, but also for offering an unusual adventure within the Disney universe. For my part, I prefer both the physical and emotional journey of the protagonist and that nice scene-stealer that is the dragon Mushu. Perhaps his villain needs a little more development, far from the best in the company, but it works quite well to motivate Mulan.
‘Peter Pan’
The rivalry between the protagonist and the fearsome -although also somewhat comical- Captain Hook is memorable, although I always had a greater weakness for that crocodile that stalks the villain of the show. From the unforgettable night flight through London, the film becomes one of the best exponents of Disney magic, although to do so it has to lower the dark content of the literary original somewhat. A timeless delight.
‘Wreck It Ralph!
Soon we will see the sequel to this wonderful approach to the world of videogames that works better during its first hour, but I do not agree at all with those who dismiss it for not fully exploring its great starting point. He just chooses to follow a path and does it very well, plus Ralph and Vanellope make an unexpectedly cool adventuring couple.
‘Tarzan’
The swan song of the golden 90s for Disney is one of the best films dedicated to the king of the jungle, but even so it falls a little below other unforgettable productions made by the studio during the first half of this decade. It is also more faithful to the original material than usual in the company’s classics, it dazzles in the visual section -incredible what they achieve with the jungle- and has some solid and well-defined characters.
‘Tod and Toby’ (‘The Fox and the Hound’)
Another personal weakness that probably did not appear on the list of many, but it was the only Disney movie that really made me cry helplessly when I was a kid, especially in a specific scene that I will not reveal because of the spoilers, and the friendly relationship between the two protagonists works wonderfully. In general terms, it can be somewhat soft and represent what some hate about Disney, but for my taste it hits the target beyond the specific successes that many grant it.
‘Vaiana’ (‘Moana’)
A refreshing twist on the Disney princesses that this time sees that point limited to a mere anecdote. The protagonist is an adventurer and she has to do so with the help of an amazing ally like Maui. The excellent songs composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, an impeccable animation work -also pay attention to the moment in which traditional techniques enter the scenes- and a story that marvelously combines fun with emotion give shape to one of the best films of the study
‘Zootrópolis’ (‘Zootopia’)
A wonderful cross between entertainment, film noir and detective story that does not forget to take care of the development of characters at the same time that it knows which way to go at all times to give us a much more elaborate proposal than it might seem at first glance. Some will stick with just the extraordinary sloth sequence, but there’s so much more to celebrate here.
