I love animated movies. While I love movies in general, animated ones hold a special place in my heart. Everything from ones made for children to the likes of "Fritz the Cat" (look it up) and everything in between. Some I watch for entertainment, some for nostalgia, some for comfort. I will NEVER outgrow them!
I decided to come up with a 4-part series of my personal favorites, dividing animated movies into 4 categories. I could narrow it down even more, but decided to keep it simple. I'm also listing each in alphabetical order
I'll start here with Part 1: Disney
From early childhood and for years following, this was one of my Top 3; it remains in my Top 10. I've always loved cats - my childhood nickname is Kitty - so this was right up my alley. The animation is stunning. Dutchess is so beautiful and refined, but done with warmth. The kittens are truly siblings, alternately fighting and having each other's backs. O'Malley had incredible character growth throughout the film. And the music is swinging!
Bambi was one of the first Disney VHS tapes I got; it was a gift from my father-in-law. The backgrounds and the scenery are so gorgeous that my daughters were surprised that they weren't done by computer. While some of the thematic devices are pretty intense (never mind Bambi's mother...let's discuss those birds in the grass!) but there are enough scenes of tenderness, warmth and humor to balance it all out. Everyone needs a friend like Thumper.
This has got to be one of the funniest, craziest, silliest movies ever made, and it's all the better for it. While the entire cast is top-notch, Eartha Kitt shines as Yzma. There aren't a lot of dark parts in this, but there are a few scenes of sweetness and heart...but it's mostly non-stop laughs. Just don't pull the wrong lever!
Like with the previous movie, Hercules has tons of humor, with James Woods being a particular stand-out as the fast-talking Hades. However, the soundtrack does a lot of the heavy lifting here: from gospel to doo-wop, every song is a banger.
And now for something completely different. Dark, haunting, intense...it's pretty wild even with the traditional Disney softening of the origin story. Thankfully, the gargoyles help to add humor and light. It's easy to love the underdog Quasimodo, and just as easy to fear and despise Judge Claude Frollo. This one holds a special place in my heart, not the least reason being the song "God Help the Outcasts".
I openly admit that this is, was, and quite possibly always will be, my favorite. So many iconic scenes. So many lovable characters. A delightful mix of light and dark, sometimes simultaneously (like the pound scene). I also confess that Lady is one of the reasons I have long hair.
The third of my childhood Top 3. I still remember going to see this in the theatre. I had a Dalmatian coat that I wore, and I had my little stuffed Dalmatian puppy sitting by the door, waiting for me to come home and tell him all about it. Not a slow moment, with a real sense of peril. There is a reason Cruella DeVil is considered one of the most evil Disney villains of all time.
This one will always hold a special place in my heart; it was the first movie where I got to "take" my little brother, just the two of us. Shy, slightly nerdy Bernard and brave, sophisticated, glamorous Miss Bianca make you wish that there was a REAL Rescue Aid Society. Madame Medusa (a "distant cousin" of Cruella's?) is as cold and cruel as they come, and little Penny isn't afraid to do her share & not sit idly by.
I don't mean to leave off the more contemporary stuff! This coming-of-age movie is a blast right from the beginning. Modern sensibilities with an old-fashioned aesthetic, great music, fun sidekicks, a not-so-charming not-so-prince, and a vain and evil villain who defines the word "gaslighting".
For the 100th anniversary of Disney Animation, they went all out on this one. I don't understand why a lot of people didn't care for it; I LOVE it! Tons of Easter Eggs that take more than one viewing to catch all of them. An extremely diverse cast (my daughter loves that one of Asha's best friends needs a crutch). The best music to come out in a while. You don't want to know how many times I've already watched it, and it hasn't even been out for 3 years as of this writing.
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