On October 16, 1923, the well-known Disney studio was born. In honor of its centennial anniversary, the After Credits team discussed their favorite Disney animated films and compiled a top list for you. So sit back, because we proudly present… Your dinner.
(Editor's note: our top list turned out to be very subjective, so please don't throw slippers at us)
10. The Sword in the Stone (1963)
A classic cartoon from the golden age of Disney studio, based on one of the many chivalric epics about the rise of King Arthur to the throne.
The film was directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, who contributed to the most classic and easily recognizable Disney stories, including '101 Dalmatians', 'The Jungle Book', 'Winnie the Pooh', and 'Robin Hood'.
The story of a boy who becomes the chosen one, destined to ascend the throne and lead his kingdom out of dark times, would later periodically appear in various genre films (most notably, of course, in the Wachowskis' 'The Matrix', not counting similar stories before 'The Sword in the Stone'). And this is not surprising, because Reitherman's cartoon has all the ingredients for a good fantasy: knights, tournaments, villains, magic, the mystery of initiation, and magical artifacts in the form of a sword in the stone and magic wands.
It is a bright, coherent, and captivating story, packed to the brim with music, hope, romance, friendship, and mutual support.
9. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
A beloved fairy tale from childhood, which I try to rewatch at least once a year to remind myself of those glorious days. An undeniable Disney classic that makes you fall in love with it with each new viewing. The smooth, meticulously drawn story of the confrontation between good and evil in the familiar format of an animated musical (which will become less and less over time) captivates attention from the very first frames, thanks to the animated yet so lively characters whose inspiration helps drive the plot, and an unconventional approach to the resolution.
It was the ending of the story that impressed me even during my first viewing. Not because it was completely unexpected, but because of how the creators of 'Beauty and the Beast' approached it. The story of Belle and Adam is not only a moral about how beauty and love can be found where you least expect them, but also a good old fairy tale, timeless, that will live on and delight more than one generation of adults and children.
8. Big Hero 6 (2014)
For many, it may come as a surprise that 'Big Hero 6' is even on our list, but I personally love this story with all my heart. A young genius loses his brother and sees his reflection and legacy in the medical robot Baymax he created. The boy finds friends, modifies the adorable medic, and assembles a team of superheroes from smart (almost all) university students.
It is a kind, energetic, and magnificent story based on Marvel comics (yes, imagine, they have that too), capable of making you fall in love with science. The Disney film perfectly balances between funny situations, epic battles, and touching moments. Plus, it has a great soundtrack ('Immortals' by Fall Out Boy in particular). I could praise the team of smart superheroes and Fredzilla all day, but if someone hates them, I immediately rate my emotional pain at 10 out of 10. Fortunately, when watching 'Big Hero 6', Baymax helps heal that pain.
P.S. The film has sequels that may not be as magnificent but are quite watchable and interesting: the animated series 'Big Hero 6: The Series' and 'Baymax!', so if you love the robot-medic-superhero and his friends as much as I do, I recommend checking them out.
7. Aladdin (1992)
Arabian nights
Like Arabian days
More often than not
Are hotter than hot
In a lot of good ways
The legendary film by Ron Clements and John Musker captivates viewers from the first seconds like a lamp holding a genie, and stays in your mind even decades after watching.
In this dizzying story of a poor thief who falls in love with a princess and gets the chance to make three wishes, there is room for brilliant, memorable songs (and not just the title theme), hilarious situations, colorful characters (the genie voiced by Robin Williams is a masterclass in voice acting), and a clear moral: you shouldn't compromise your principles for success, and the opinions of loved ones should always be heard. And all of this is presented in a cohesive and extremely engaging way, so the hour and a half of viewing flies by as easily and unnoticed as the friendly but lively flying carpet on screen.
6. Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
Probably, 'Atlantis' is the first studio project that can be fully called a science fiction action film. And what an action film!
The studio took a big risk (back when it still knew how to do that) to tell the story of young scientist Milo Thatch, obsessed with finding the lost empire of Atlantis. Moreover, to visually distinguish the film, Mike Mignola, the well-known comic book author of Hellboy, was invited as production designer. And as the main inspiration, the creators mention… 'Castle in the Sky' by our beloved Hayao Miyazaki.
On December 7, possibly the last anime by the brilliant Hayao Miyazaki, 'The Boy and the Heron', will be released in official Russian distribution. In this regard, our editorial team decided to briefly tell why
Open materialIn the end, we got a dynamic, fun, even a little scary, but very sincere film about the importance of honesty and friendship in the fight against greed and the desire to quickly grab money. Oh, Disney, where did the path go wrong?..
5. Mulan (1998)
'The Ballad of Mulan' is a Chinese ballad written around 568 AD. Disney could not ignore this scripture, just as they once did with the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm and Perrault, in order to expand their sphere of influence to the Celestial Empire. It is all the more unfortunate that in China, the cartoon is rejected due to incorrect reflection of cultural objects. But in other countries, on the contrary, it has gained approval.
Despite not having the longest runtime, 'Mulan' is well-crafted. Already in the first act, the viewer, with just two songs and montage sequences, understands what the heroine is like and how her personality fits into the context of China at that time. In contrast to the not very graceful but still fragile heroine, a maximally repulsive antagonist is written – the leader of the nomadic Xiongnu, Shan Yu – whose opinion is also formed in seconds of screen time. As the plot progresses, the male world is skillfully concentrated around Mulan, creating the necessary realities for the character's arc to advance.
A beautiful balance is also maintained through the juxtaposition of the oppressive reality of wartime and absurd situational moments. A cricket floating in a cup of tea and a mustache drawn on a matchmaker's face combine surprisingly well with, for example, the dramatic shot of a child's toy in hand against the backdrop of a burned village, which, by the way, is itself a citation of Miyazaki's work 'Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind'. The highest form of this balance can be considered the intertwining of the uplifting song 'I'll Make a Man Out of You' with a sometimes awkward and silly montage.
On December 7, possibly the last anime by the brilliant Hayao Miyazaki, 'The Boy and the Heron', will be released in official Russian distribution. In this regard, our editorial team decided to briefly tell why
Open materialThe story of persistent struggle and overcoming does not look repulsive even in the realities of the modern agenda. The story logically builds not only the conflict but also its resolution, without bringing the situation to the absurdity that marked the recent live-action remake. Therefore, 'Mulan' is still at its best, and viewers still quote the dragon Mushu and are delighted by the character of the lively grandmother Fa.
4. Lilo & Stitch (2002)
People create stories to understand and analyze what happens to them in the real world. So sometimes a cartoon about an aggressive alien is actually a statement about how different home and family can be.
'Lilo & Stitch' managed to show the complex relationship between two sisters better than any other Disney studio film in history (yes, that's a dig at you, lousy 'Frozen'). They are filled with everything – rage, boundless love, misunderstanding, and the desire to become better. Therefore, the story of the evil Stitch, who was created that way but was able to change under the influence of a little broken ohana, cannot leave its young viewers indifferent. And adults can easily recognize themselves and feel what the characters go through.
All this happens against the backdrop of watercolor Hawaiian landscapes, truthfully depicting local culture and customs. So 'Lilo & Stitch' definitely deserves its high place in our top list.
3. Hercules (1997)
'Phil, admit it, this is already a feat!'
'Hercules' is the 35th Disney animated film, which, viewer, admit it, is a feat! You ask why? First, 'Hercules' is a continuation of a series of commercially and ideologically successful projects from the studio, made during the 'Renaissance' era, and second, it is another victory for the directorial duo John Musker and Ron Clements, who made the film a gift not only to the viewer but also to themselves.
What wouldn't you do for the chance to make a dream come true? So Musker and Clements, who had long harbored the idea of adapting 'Treasure Planet' and had been refused, made a deal with the studio – 'Hercules' in exchange for the freedom to express their own heartfelt impulses on screen. Thus, the viewer got a project based on ancient Greek myths about Heracles, but far from being a dry retelling in the hands of skilled storytellers.
Feats are far from the essence of the film, which, although it marks the hero's main achievements with popular short videos set to a lively soundtrack, places the theme of love in all its forms at the center of the plot. It (or its absence) is the driving force. And if you analyze 'Hercules' from a psychological perspective, as is fashionable now, then in the image of Hades you can see a personality in need of a brother's love, trying to attract attention through destructive actions, and using the example of Hercules' relationships with his parents (biological and adoptive) and the satyr Philoctetes, you can break down the theme of fathers and children.
But the central themes are revealed through the connection of the main character with the girl Meg, who has lost trust in men, and questions of self-identification that hit the mark. Who at least once, perhaps in their hearts, has not agreed with Meg's thoughts sung in the composition 'I Won't Say (I'm in Love)', or doubted themselves like Hercules, stating: 'I'm not a hero…' This is the charm of the film: to draw social and personal problems and endow a deity with them, bringing it closer to the audience. Season this with dynamic compositions, vibrant colors, and charismatic characters (even the Muses from ancient vases with a twist), and we have a film that is not only intuitively understandable even 26 years later, but also confidently holds a leading position in the list of the studio's best creations.
2. Zootopia (2016)
Second place in our ranking is confidently held by 'Zootopia' – the story of rookie police officer Judy Hopps and con artist Nick Wilde.
Back in 2016, I was skeptical about this project atypical for Walt Disney Animation Studio: anthropomorphic animals in a metropolis – more like Dreamworks cartoons with their signature love of parodies.
The creators managed to find a balance between a plot that develops the world they created and an ironic reflection on US culture. This was partly made possible thanks to the talented directorial duo – Byron Howard (Bolt, Tangled), who learned over 20 years of working at the company to think lyrically and philosophically 'the Disney way'; and Rich Moore (Wreck-It Ralph, The Simpsons Movie) – a revolutionary of animated TV who worked on Matt Groening's projects.
Such polar experience helped turn the project into a grand canvas with a meticulously detailed world in which different storylines develop organically and easily, and humor works for a wide audience (someone should learn from this, Greta…)
The animal utopia was inspired by another legendary Disney project – 'Robin Hood', and became the second studio film where anthropomorphic animals exist in a world of people without humans themselves (excluding, of course, the Mickey Mouse universe films). Thus appeared Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) – a charismatic fox criminal who was supposed to be the main character of the future project.
But this role went to the rabbit Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), partly modeled after Clarice Starling. The creators saw in the slightly naive and ambitious provincial girl greater potential that would easily drive the plot. They didn't miscalculate – it's easy to see yourself in Judy during your student years, having moved from your beloved home to a dorm room in Kupchino…
'Zootopia' literally explodes with star roles: from Idris Elba to Shakira, from Alan Tudyk to Kristen Bell. But my heart is conquered by Bellwether, brilliantly played by Jenny Slate (don't be suspicious!).
The main problem with 'Zootopia' is the lack of outstanding musical arrangement. It exists, and it is very good. The composer was Michael Giacchino, and the main soundtrack, 'Try Everything', performed by Shakira, was written by the amazing Sia. But unfortunately, the work of such talented people did not lead to something grand and memorable, which, I think, greatly separates this project from others created by Walt Disney Animation Studio.
This does not stop us from rewatching it every year and waiting for the second part.
1. The Lion King (1994)
Disney has many great animated films, but for the 90s, the studio's renaissance period, 'The Lion King' was the best. It also remains a crucial work for the millennial generation and for the history of popular cinema.
Why? Perhaps because it is the best retelling of 'Hamlet' in the world: a rebellious tyrant, a reflective heir, even Rosencrantz and Guildenstern found their place here, and later got their own meta-film ('The Lion King 1½' about the same thing but from Timon and Pumbaa's point of view). Perhaps because of the wonderful balance of catchy and serious songs. Perhaps because the fate of Mufasa remains a generational trauma and a reason to see a psychologist even thirty years later.
Or maybe because, despite the epic plot, the colorful savannah landscapes, fascist hyenas, and political metaphors, it is a simple and very touching story about the main thing: sometimes it's time to finally grow up. And this cartoon is great because even the necessity to grow up and start living does not mean forgetting Timon, Pumbaa, and simple joys. Hakuna matata, in short.
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