Disneyhas created some of thebest animated movies of all time, but there are some gems from the studio that have been overlooked.Starting in 1937 withSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Walt Disney and his animation company defied critics in delivering a full-length animated movie that worked.
From there, the studio continued to cement itself as part of Hollywood legend, with periods of decline following Walt Disney’s death, the comeback withthe Disney Renaissance, and the shift to computer-animated movies. Along the way, they created such iconic movies asPinocchio, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin,andThe Lion King.
However, with such a long history, there are obviously some titles that get overlooked compared to the true classics. While not as many fans are familiar with these movies, and while they might not rank as highly on the list of the studio’s best, they still showcase the magic of Disney and deserve to find their audience.
Melody Timeis a display of Disney animation innovation during a time when not as many people were watching these movies, and not many fans return to them. The movie comes from an era in Disney history in which short stories were linked together to create a feature.
Melody Timestitches together a series of shorts fueled by a soundtrack of folk music and popular songs of the era. While this was similarly done in a sloppy way inMake Mine Music,Melody Timeis a much more elegant and impressive collection, including a truly stunning short focused on folk hero Johnny Appleseed.
It is a shame that these Disney package movies have gone out of fashion, with the feature-length films offering more adventurous stories to draw audiences in. However,Melody Timeis a terrific example of how Disney was able to experiment and grow through these shorts.
Disney’s love of classic fantasy stories eventually led them to take on the story of King Arthur inThe Sword in the Stone. The family-friendly adventure follows young Arthur as he is mentored by the wise and compassionate wizard Merlin to become one of the greatest knights in England.
The shape-shifting battle between Merlin and the villainous Madame Mim is one of the most underrated set pieces in Disney history.
The movie was a box office success when it was released, but it has always carried the reputation of being a lesser Disney offering. While the story is not as concise as what came with some of the later classics, its loose narrative, for which it is often criticized, was typical of the time.
However,it remains one of the most enjoyableKing Arthur movies, with some great characters and fun sequences. The shape-shifting battle between Merlin and the villainous Madame Mim is also one of the most underrated set pieces in Disney history.
Dinosaurwas the first movie to have Disney move into the CGI territory and attempt to compete with Pixar films that had seen a big rise in popularity. The adventure follows some lovable dinosaur characters as they make a journey across an unknown land, in search of a new home and avoiding the many dangers around them.
Dinosaurwas initially conceived as a stop-motion animated movie by Paul Verhoeven.
Dinosaurstumbled in trying to use the new technology to tell a story that was perhaps above the younger audience’s heads. With no song and dance numbers and a slower pace,Dinosaurdidn’t feel like a kids' movie, nor something adults would be very interested in. However, it remains a sweeping epic that was dismissed too early.
Even with the CG animation vastly improving since this film was released, it is stunning to look at the detail this Disney movie put into its world. For animation fans, it remains a must-see that continues to be ignored.
Despite the originalThe Rescuersbeing a lesser-known Disney movie, it managed to get a sequel more than a decade later. It sees the return of the two heroic mice from the original film, Bianca and Bernard, who work for a secret animal agency that rescues missing children around the world.
The movie actually features some of the most stunning animations from a Disney movie at this time.
While the first movie was a rather forgettable adventure,The Rescuers DownUnderis a massive surprise in delivering a big, bold, and exciting movie. Sadly, thanks to its status as such a forgotten great,The Rescuers Down Underhas been largely dismissed, with many mistaking it for one of the straight-to-video Disney sequels.
The movie actually features some of the most stunning animations from a Disney project at the time. This is especially true of the flying sequences. It also makes the stakes real, even feeling too intense for some younger viewers.
Some fans might know aspects ofThe Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toadfrom one memorable sequence, but few likely know that it is actually part of a feature-length movie. It is another package movie from Disney, but one of the first ones in which each section is worthwhile, even if one is more famous.
In this case, two classic stories, “The Wind in the Willows” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” were combined and given a bit of Disney magic. However, these package movies were never as successful as Disney had hoped and are typically only remembered for certain segments rather than as a complete project.
However,The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toadfeatures two stories that actually work quite well together, with Bing Crosby and Basil Rathbone’s narration blending them nicely. The fun and sweet animal characters of “The Wind in the Willows” make for a fun starter, while “Sleepy Hollow” delivers a thrilling story still watched as aHalloween cartoon classic.
Despite being a legacy Disney character, first joining the studio in 1961, Winnie-the-Pooh’s first feature-length movie in the 21st century failed to get much attention. The new adventure found Pooh in the Hundred Acre Wood with his old friends, like Piglet and Tigger. The film offered a throwback style, simply telling various charming stories with the characters.
Winnie-the-Pooh was created by author A.A. Milne in 1924.
Despite the movie earning strong reviews,Winnie the Poohmarked the end of an erafor Disney, becoming the final film to date in which the studio used traditional animation. While the transition was already in play,Winnie the Pooh’s tepid box office performance was seen as a changing of preferences for animated movies.
However,Winnie the Poohis a perfect movie to celebrate Disney of yesteryear, with a great blend of beautiful animation, family-friendly fun, and beloved characters. There are sequences that capture a bygone era as well as ones that take chances with some inventive storytelling. It makes for a great showcase for this iconic character.
The Aristocatsis often seen as a lazier and less adventurous version of101 Dalmatians. Indeed, the setup is somewhat similar, as a prized cat and her kittens are kidnapped by their wealthy owner’s jealous butler. They then wind up on the streets where they are aided by a streetwise feline.
One of the lasting elements ofThe Aristocatsis the music, with the jazzy soundtrack differing from the typical Disney musical style.
However, the premise is really just the setup for Disney’s version of aclassic hangout movie. The film is more focused on establishing its own vibe rather than a compelling story. In that regard,it works wonderfully, feeling like a cool and breezy family-friendly ride. It also marks the final complete movie Walt Disney helped shape.
One of the lasting elements ofThe Aristocatsis the music, with the jazzy soundtrack differing from the typical Disney musical style. In fact, “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat” remains one of the catchiest Disney songs of all time.
The Little Mermaidis regarded as the beginning of the Disney Renaissance, butOliver & Companywas the movie previous to that and showed signs of improvement. The movie is a loose adaptation of theclassic Charles Dickens novel,Oliver Twist, following a young cat taught how to survive as a stray in New York City by a streetwise dog.
Indeed,coming out just beforeThe Little Mermaidled toOliver & Companyquickly being forgotten by the public. It is true that it doesn’t capture the same magical quality as that adventure under the sea, but there is a lot of fun in seeing Disney return to a lower-stakes street-level story, likeLady and the Trampor101 Dalmatians.
After there was a sad lack of songs in Disney movies for a while,Oliver & Companyalso delivers some memorable ones. A lot of that is thanks to Billy Joel voicing the smooth-talking dog Dodger.
The Black Cauldronis often remembered as one of thedarkest Disney animated moviesever made. The fantasy adventure follows a group of heroes setting out on a quest to save their kingdom from the dark lord looking to take control. It is Disney’s way of stepping into the sword and sorcery genre.
The Black Cauldronwas the first Disney movie to receive a PG rating.
The Black Cauldron’s failure at the box office and with critics may have been one of the turning points for Disney in bringing in a new era of movies. However, the dark qualities that made it too intense for younger viewers are part of the reason it has developed such a strong following over the years.
Not only was it not popular enough to stay on many people’s radar, but its look and tone make it seem like it is not even a Disney movie at all. That makes it feel like a special and risk-taking project from the legendary studio, and one fans want to see more of.
With Disney bringing its own magical touch to a lot of classic stories, it was only a matter of time before they made their version of aSherlock Holmes movie.The Great Mouse Detectiveis a terrific adventure, following the genius mouse detective Basil of Baker Street as he investigates a sinister plot by the villainous Ratigan.
Similar toOliver & Company, The Great Mouse Detectivesuffered from being a great Disney movie that came too soon. It was also a smaller-scale film that didn’t have the epic feel of some of the classics. However,it is a funny, thrilling, and entertaining Disney movie that should have become a franchise.
Basil is perhaps the most underrated Disney hero, as he uses his intelligence as a superpower, but is also entertainingly arrogant without being off-putting. However, Vincent Price’s Ratigan steals the show as a truly great Disney villain who also gets one of the most enjoyableDisney villain songs of all time.
