It is virtually impossible to narrow down a list like this to just five, so I must start off with some honorable mentions. I would be remiss to make such a list and leave out the Sorcerer's Apprentice segment from Fantasia. Not only does it feature the Mouse himself, but it's just an excellently animated entertaining sequence. The music, obviously, is the best of the best and how could you possibly beat seeing Mickey on the big screen commanding the scene? It's iconic Disney through and through, and one of the best scenes Walt himself ever created.
I have on numerous occasions in posts past expressed my love for Aladdin, and one of the reasons I love this movie so dearly is because of the "A Whole New World" scene.Yet again, a scene is bolstered by the presence of one of the best songs Disney has ever recorded, but the animation isn't too shabby whatsoever. Actually, it's some of the best animation from Disney in the 1990s, and that's some high praise, if I do say so myself.
Another honorable mention goes to the first ten minutes of the Pixar classic, Up. This film does in ten minutes what a whole bunch of films fail to do in two hours plus: make us care. The entire opening sequence with the love story of Carl and Ellie being told is simply Pixar doing what they do best, and that is taking excellent animation and making us care for that animation. By the end of just ten minutes, the audience has already experienced a roller coaster of emotion, setting up what would eventually become known as a modern day animated classic.
The final honorable mention belongs to the "I See the Light" sequence from Tangled. One of the finest pieces of animation in Disney history, Rapunzel and Flynn shine while singing this modern Alan Menken classic with thousands of the kingdom lanterns floating around their romantic cruise. It is by far the best scene in the movie, and it is also one of the finest scenes of the modern Disney era.
I could go on and on with these iconic scenes, but without further ado, onward and upward to the top five!
5. The Spaghetti Dinner- Lady and the Tramp
Perhaps the most iconic scene in animation history, the romantic meal served by Tony to Lady and the Tramp will undoubtedly put a smile on just about anybody's face. With the beautiful "Bella Notte" playing in the background, who would have thought that we as humans could care so much about two dogs in love? The scene is iconic because of its simplicity: two dogs on a date enjoying a bowl of spaghetti. However, the buildup to the scene paves the way for this scene to stand as not only a shining moment in animation, but a legendary moment in film history period.
4. The Ballroom Scene- Beauty and the Beast
Never has an animated sequence been so elegantly created than when Belle and the Beast dance under the chandelier of the castle for the first time in their classic attire. With Angela Lansbury's angelic voice singing one of the greatest Disney songs ever, the scene could really not get more perfect. It is by far the highlight of a perfect film through and through, and what makes it so iconic is that it truly defines an entire generation of Disney film-making. From the swooping cinematography to the gorgeous animation, this is Disney at the top of its game, one of the crowning jewels of animation.
3. The Finale- Toy Story 3
The finale from Toy Story 3 marks the end of childhood for quite a bit of people from my generation, As kids growing up in the late nineties, you simply couldn't beat Buzz and Woody. We grew up with these classic characters from Toy Story and Toy Story. We played with our own Rex and Slinky every day as children and loved every minute of it. Then, when Toy Story 3 was released, Pixar effectively ended our childhood, and in the best way possible. The ending to Toy Story 3 is one the best endings to a movie ever because of the significance of the moment. These characters weren't just drawings on a screen; they were real, and people ranging from five to sixty five cared so deeply for these characters. When Andy has to move on to college by giving up his toys to Bonnie, an entire audience felt the pain of separation and the loss of innocence alongside Andy, but we also celebrated the brightness of the future just as I am sure Andy did. That's iconic to infinity and beyond.
2. Snow White's Funeral- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Every other scene on this list owes everything to this scene from the first animated classic. With the funeral of Snow White, Walt Disney achieved the impossible. He made actual human beings care for drawings. As the seven dwarfs, the forest animals, and the faithful Prince make their way to pay their respects to the recently poisoned Snow White, we felt and understood their loss while grieving alongside them. As far as animation goes, without this scene, animation would look radically different today. Thanks to this powerful moment, animation becomes just as powerful as live action entertainment, if not more so. The subtle music playing in the background as well as the emotion height of this scene will melt the hardest of hearts, something unimaginable prior to 1937.
5. The Spaghetti Dinner- Lady and the Tramp
Perhaps the most iconic scene in animation history, the romantic meal served by Tony to Lady and the Tramp will undoubtedly put a smile on just about anybody's face. With the beautiful "Bella Notte" playing in the background, who would have thought that we as humans could care so much about two dogs in love? The scene is iconic because of its simplicity: two dogs on a date enjoying a bowl of spaghetti. However, the buildup to the scene paves the way for this scene to stand as not only a shining moment in animation, but a legendary moment in film history period.
4. The Ballroom Scene- Beauty and the Beast
Never has an animated sequence been so elegantly created than when Belle and the Beast dance under the chandelier of the castle for the first time in their classic attire. With Angela Lansbury's angelic voice singing one of the greatest Disney songs ever, the scene could really not get more perfect. It is by far the highlight of a perfect film through and through, and what makes it so iconic is that it truly defines an entire generation of Disney film-making. From the swooping cinematography to the gorgeous animation, this is Disney at the top of its game, one of the crowning jewels of animation.
3. The Finale- Toy Story 3
The finale from Toy Story 3 marks the end of childhood for quite a bit of people from my generation, As kids growing up in the late nineties, you simply couldn't beat Buzz and Woody. We grew up with these classic characters from Toy Story and Toy Story. We played with our own Rex and Slinky every day as children and loved every minute of it. Then, when Toy Story 3 was released, Pixar effectively ended our childhood, and in the best way possible. The ending to Toy Story 3 is one the best endings to a movie ever because of the significance of the moment. These characters weren't just drawings on a screen; they were real, and people ranging from five to sixty five cared so deeply for these characters. When Andy has to move on to college by giving up his toys to Bonnie, an entire audience felt the pain of separation and the loss of innocence alongside Andy, but we also celebrated the brightness of the future just as I am sure Andy did. That's iconic to infinity and beyond.
2. Snow White's Funeral- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Every other scene on this list owes everything to this scene from the first animated classic. With the funeral of Snow White, Walt Disney achieved the impossible. He made actual human beings care for drawings. As the seven dwarfs, the forest animals, and the faithful Prince make their way to pay their respects to the recently poisoned Snow White, we felt and understood their loss while grieving alongside them. As far as animation goes, without this scene, animation would look radically different today. Thanks to this powerful moment, animation becomes just as powerful as live action entertainment, if not more so. The subtle music playing in the background as well as the emotion height of this scene will melt the hardest of hearts, something unimaginable prior to 1937.1. The Opening- The Lion King
Throughout the history of animation, no other film has accomplished in its first five minutes what The Lion King accomplishes with its opening. Before we are ever even situated comfortably in our seats, the "Circle of Life" introduction propels us to give the film a standing ovation, and the characters haven't even said a word! Think back to the first time you saw that sun coming over the horizon with the entire Pridelands coming to see the coronation of the future king, Simba. Aren't you getting chills just thinking about it? When Rafiki majestically raises up Simba to present him to the kingdom, a new standard for animation is set yet again. No longer do you need a backstory to open a film. You actually don't even need your characters to talk at all. You just need a song brilliantly written by Elton John and some of the most beautiful animation sequences ever produced and you'll instantly have your audience right where you want them. The Lion King is a genuine classic, and the highlight of this classic is without question this opening.
There are an abundance of more great Disney movie moments. One simple list could not contain all of the iconic scenes in the history of Disney, but I hope that this list will allow for us to continue to foster our appreciation for animation. Animation is not just for kids as many people might think; in fact, a majority of the time, an animated film is just as important to the adult as it is the child. That's what a list like this is designed for: to get the word out about the amazing art of animation. So spread the word and let animation live!
-Cody Fleenor
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