For today's first Friday Favorites, I will reveal my top five Disney animated films of all-time. This list is a difficult one to create because of all the classic Disney animated movies, how could one possibly narrow it down to five? To make this list a little simpler to compile, Pixar is not included. That's a list for another Friday. This list is exclusively for Walt Disney Animation films.
Let's start with a few honorable mentions that I absolutely love but just couldn't crack the top five. I'll start with a trio of Walt's own classics. First up, the one that started it all, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Not only did this movie start it all, but every movie on this list and every animated movie every produced by anyone owes a certain debt of gratitude to the innovation of Snow White. There's nothing really not to like about this one. The songs are wonderful ("Heigh-Ho" is an all-time favorite of mine), the animation is gorgeous (when Snow White first travels into the Enchanted Forest is breathtaking), and the characters are all well developed. The Evil Queen set the bar beautifully for all the other succeeding Disney villains, a testament to the greatness of Walt Disney.
Secondly, who could possibly create a favorite Disney animated movies list without mentioning Cinderella? I am fairly confident that if you were to look up 'classic' in the dictionary, a picture of this film's movie poster would appear right next to it (don't hold me to that though). The story is so simple and yet it has rightfully endured to stand the test of time. One of my all-time favorite scenes is when Cinderella is transformed by the Fairy Godmother from maiden to princess. Not only is the animation inspiring, but that is arguably the defining moment of Disney animation. The songs are magnificent, the characters are so memorable, and the story is just timeless.
Also, I must make mention of Peter Pan. This is one of the many Disney films that have grown on me exponentially the older I get. As a child (and even to this day), I thoroughly enjoyed the songs and the characters, but as I grew older, I began to really appreciate the messages and themes of this movie as much as I did singing along to "You Can Fly!" Once again, an all-time favorite scene of mine takes place in this movie and Peter Pan, Wendy, Michael, and John with the help of faith, trust, and pixie dust majestically fly over the streets of London. I'm getting chills just thinking about it.
Some other movies that are worth mentioning: Sleeping Beauty is amazing, thanks largely in part to Maleficent and her villainous ways as well as the beautifully animated "Once Upon a Dream" sequence. Mulan and Hercules are two of the most underrated Disney movies of all-time in my opinion. Both are just uproariously funny while also wonderfully portraying their intended messages. The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of the rare Disney movies that I went from being completely indifferent about when I was younger to absolutely in love with as I have grown up. "God Help the Outcast" is just an incredibly powerful song. Finally, the inclusion of this one little gem might bring me the most uproar, but I must mention Frozen. You have a right to disagree, but the songs are glorious, Olaf is hilarious, the animation is stunning, and I think everyone is just too afraid to admit how much they really love this movie. I'm not though. It just misses the cut of my top five.
Now, my top five Disney animated movies are...
5. Tangled
Disney was taking a fairly significant gamble when they decided to make Tangled. Coming off the moderate success of The Princess and the Frog, people were still questioning whether or not Disney princesses possessed a viable market in today's society. To further up the ante, Disney decided to follow up a princess movie with yet another princess movie, and this time, she would become the first computer-animated Disney princess in the studio's history, which meant that more money was being gambled. However, I can proudly proclaim that the gamble paid off masterfully. Tangled is a genuine Disney classic. As if straight out of the early 90s, the maestro Alan Menken beautifully conducts some of the best Disney songs to ever be written and performed, highlighted by Zachary Levi and Mandy Moore impeccably nailing one of the most romantic scenes of all-time when Rapunzel and Flynn (or Eugene) sing "I See the Light" with thousands of floating lanterns lighting up the night sky. The story, as is the case with Disney more often than not, is simple yet profound. The emotional payoff at the end is so satisfying and the hilarity that precedes the payoff is unrivaled. Tangled captivates the very best of Disney and puts it all together like never before.
4. The Little Mermaid
The fact that I am able to create such a list in 2015 about Disney movies is due in large part to the success of The Little Mermaid. Coming out of a stretch of about twenty five years after Walt Disney passed away, the studio went in desperate search of a smash hit critically and commercially. Unfortunately, that hit seemingly always alluded them until 1989 when a mermaid longed to be a part of the human world and Disney finally and rightfully had their hit. Introducing the aforementioned master Alan Menken to the world was a stroke of genius that would continue to catapult Disney to brand new highs, and his songs for this movie are some of the best Disney has ever produced. "Part of Your World" and "Under the Sea" are genuine classics. The characters are hilarious and emotionally, a testament to the wizardry of the storytellers and animators. The sea witch Ursula is terrifying from the start, perfectly setting the tone for the movie and putting herself squarely in the conversation for greatest Disney villain ever. Ariel is beautifully animated and well-developed, and who in their right mind doesn't have a smile on their face as her and Eric sail off into the sunset together?
3. Aladdin
This movie holds an extra special place in my heart as this movie blessed me with my first ever encounter with the late great Robin Williams. He went on to become, and continues to be, one of my favorite actors ever, and Aladdin was a perfect showcase of what made him so great. In my opinion, Genie is the greatest animated character ever created. Maybe that's my heart getting in the way of my head, but that's what I'm declaring and sticking to. Beyond the hilarity of Genie, Aladdin is just a perfect film in my eyes. The animation is stunningly beautiful, highlighted by Aladdin and Jasmine's magic carpet ride as they sing one of the greatest Disney songs ever "A Whole New World." Aladdin is one of the most relatable characters ever created by Disney as he is just simply like one of us. Jafar is menacing out of the gate and that provides a whole new level to this movie that is so incredible. Aladdin has laughs galore, classic songs and characters, and an emotional payoff. What else could one possibly want in a movie?
2. The Lion King
Never have I loved a movie so much after just the first five minutes than with The Lion King. If the film would have ended after "The Circle of Life" opening, it would have still probably made this list. I kid you not, every time I watch that scene and this entire movie, I get chills. If 'perfect' were to be defined by a movie scene, it would be when Rafiki triumphantly raises Simba over Pride Rock for the kingdom to behold. On top of that spectacle, the movie that follows features some of the best Disney songs every written by the incomparable Elton John and Tim Rice. "Hakuna Matata" is an anthem for a generation and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" will make anyone with a heart smile. The characters are so real and authentic even though they are, obviously, not human. Scar is one of my personal favorite Disney villains mainly because in addition to him being absolutely sinister, he is also hilarious and, dare I say it, relatable. I mean, we all have had those moments where we want to be in the spotlight and steal the show, and therein lies the beauty of The Lion King. I'm sympathizing with the villain! If that's not proof of a classic, I'm not sure what is.
1. Beauty and the Beast
It's a tale as old as time for a reason. Beauty and the Beast is the pinnacle of Disney animation. This one could have been made by Walt himself and it would have fit right in. One cannot discuss the awesomeness of this movie without mentioning the songs, written by who else than Alan Menken. Every single song, from the opening number "Belle" to the show stopping "Be Our Guest" to the majestic "Beauty and the Beast," is a absolute mastery of lyrics and instrumentals. The characters are all so richly unique and the cast beautifully portrays every single one of them. You've heard me mention a few of my favorite Disney scenes already on this list, but my absolute favorite Disney scene of all-time is the ballroom scene in this film. As Belle and the Beast slow dance to the melodious tones of the legendary Angela Lansbury serenading us with the film's theme song, the camera swoops down from the ceiling and the audience witnesses a lesson in how filmmaking should be done. Beauty and the Beast brings to the table what makes Disney so magical and so Disney.
There you have it, folks! Thank you for allowing me to share my Disney thoughts with you on this first edition of Five Friday Favorites!
-Cody Fleenor
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