My Top 12 Favorite Disney Animated Movies

Now that I have reviewed Zootopia I thought I would give you my top 12 favorite Disney movies. Why top 12? Two reasons, 1. Because I am a fan Nostalgia Critic,2. I like to go one step beyond him, 3. Because I love Disney so much.  I might talk about the other Disney movies not listed later. Keep in mind that these are my personal favorites.

12. The Great Mouse Detective: The Great Mouse Detective is a very fun Disney movie even if it’s not mentioned a lot. The hero Basil is badass and smart like Sherlock Holmes. Ratigan is one of the few villains that can come off as both entertaining and scary. The music while not the most memorable is still charming especially Ratigan’s song and the opening theme. It’s not the most faithful adaptation of Sherlock Holmes but it is one of the most enjoyable.

11. Frozen: I argued with myself on adding this on my list, but in the end there are a lot of things in this movie that puts it on here. The animation on the snow is very impression rather it’s beautiful like in the Let It Go scene, or intense like the climax. The songs are very memorable and the scenes that they play in fit perfectly into the story. I will admit that Anna seems too oblivious and Elsa seems too depressed (both have a reason though) that keeps me from putting this higher on the list. Still this movie is great to watch and was is now one of the most popular Disney movies of all time.

10.The Hunchback of Notre-Dame: I think this might be the most risky and adult of the Disney Canon.Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise are a really good directing pair. I say this because this isn’t the last time you’ll see a movie from them in this list. The chorus makes the film seem so huge and epic its just so awesome to listen to it. Judge Frollo is the greatest Disney villain ever.  He’s an authority figure but seems so threatening. He’s doing what he thinks is best for the city but really it isn’t. The only reasons it’s not higher is one word, gargoyles. Other then that its a great Disney movie. It shocks me that this was nominated for a Razzie.

9. Atlantis: The Lost Empire: To me, James Cameron’s Avatar has more similarities with this movie than Pocahontas, and I also never watched Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water. Much like how The Incredibles felt like the most adult of the Pixar films, I think this one is the most adult in the Disney cannon. There’s definitely an epic feel to this movie. I relate a lot to the hero Milo Thatch since we both have passions for things whether it’s the city of Atlantis or movies. The city itself it cool and the parallels with the heart of Atlantis and the atomic bomb are clever. The action seems more intense which is good switch of pace compared to other Disney movies and the climax with the giant balloon is one of my favorites. The villain and some of the other characters however are not very memorable which is why its at this number on the list. Still Atlantis is one of the most epic Disney movies even if it’s underrated.

8. Big Hero 6: This was one of the most anticipated Disney movies to me. I always kept checking the internet for new information on the movie and new trailers. I like how this movie deals with the theme of revenge having both the hero and villain’s goals having to do with avenging a person they loved and lost. The team members has great designs and the action is fun to watch. Baymax is so likeable and the relationship between Hiro and Baymax is heartwarming and the center of the movie. While it was underwhelming it still was very fun and I am looking forward to the animated series in 2017.

7. Pinocchio: This is probably the only movie in the Disney canon to technically swear (it was jackass). Now with that out of the way, Pinocchio feels so nostalgic to me. I don’t know whether it’s the animation, or music. It just makes me feel younger when I watch it. This version of the Pinocchio character is much more likable then other versions, having him be much more like a gullible kid rather then a rotten troublemaker. Jiminy Cricket is also a great character too. For one of the first Disney movies this one was impressive with it’s groundbreaking animation, dark scenes, and the famous song When You Wish Upon a Star makes this one of the most beloved Disney movies.

6. Zootopia: see review

5. Beauty and the Beast: For a while I thought this movie was a little overrated, but then I saw it at a 3d showing in theaters and came to like this movie more. This is probably the first Disney movie to actually have it take longer for Belle and Beast to fall in love. It doesn’t even tell you how long it takes. Alan Menken makes terrific music and songs and helps give the scene the perfect mood and atmosphere. Belle is very likable and developed. The design of the Beast is also perfect. The animation, songs, and characters make this movie defiantly make this movie one of the best.

4. Aladdin: Aladdin has a lot of what I love in Disney. Great animation, great songs, and great characters. Aladdin and Jasmine’s (favorite Disney princess) arcs are good. Robin Williams is wonderful and hilarious as the Genie. The songs are some of the best I have heard. The colors defiantly stand out to me, even having specific colors represent something, blue being good, red being evil, and yellow being neutral. Aladdin is a great mix between heartwarming and funny and that’s why its one of my favorites.

3. Wreck-It Ralph: I don’t play video games, (I watch my brother play them) but that doesn’t mean I don’t love this movie. The world they come up with for the arcade is creative and manages to place in some fun character cameos and references. Ralph’s arc is great and while he doesn’t become a good guy he gets the respect he deserves. The story is one of the most well thought out in the cannon and it makes sure that the characters, video game references, and twists play an important role in the story. This surprisingly feels more like a Pixar movie because Pixar movies take a common topic like toys or monsters and gets creative with it. Whether you play video games or not Wreck it Ralph is still enjoyable.

2. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: I also argued whether to place this as number 1 or not, but since it was more of three shorts combined together places it lower than number 1. Winnie the Pooh was a big part of my childhood whether it was watching the VHS tapes, playing the computer games or enjoying this movie. I love how innocent this movie is even if it’s just three stories in one. I love all the characters and the scenarios they encounter. The animation while not the most pretty has a lot atmosphere to it. It feels very laid back and it makes me want to visit the Hundred Acre Woods. I also like how rather then a 3 act story it’s just more of the life of Pooh Bear. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and the character himself will always have a special part in my heart.

1. Tarzan: This was the very first Disney movie, if not the very first movie I ever saw in the theaters. I got the toys from McDonald’s, and I listened to the soundtrack a lot. So this movie is pretty personal to me. The animation is beautiful and makes the movie feel humongous. The characters are entertaining and the story is done well showing Tarzan growing up and dealing with his people. The opening scene is one of my favorite openings in a Disney movie. It shows the parallels between Tarzan and Kala’s family and the tragedy that happens to them. The song Two Worlds is my favorite Disney song of all time. It’s so epic and gives the opening a huge scale.  From the opening, the animation, the characters, the songs, they are all reasons why I love this movie so much and why it’s my favorite Disney movie of all time.

 

Leave a comment with your top favorite Disney movies.