The Best Disney Animated Movies Ever

From classics like 'Aladdin' & 'Lion King' to new animated films like 'Coco' & 'Moana,' here are the best Disney animated movies ever made.

Khal,

Aubrey Page,

juliarp,

Danielle Elmers,

Mallorie List

Jan 16, 2019

Disney

Image via Disney

While sitting through four hours of Gone with the Wind seems like something you can use to bolster your pseudo-cinephile personality, there are plenty of wonderful films to watch out there that don’t feel like a chore. In fact, it’s safe to say you can get your years worth of warm-hearted nostalgia by watching just about any of the many Disney animated movies.

They may not be up there with The Shawshank Redemption, but the best Disney movies tend to hit the ball out of the cinematic park. Since the release of their first animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarves back in 1937, Disney has been changing the game with animated features that break records and keep the children inside all of us feeling fulfilled—until it’s time to do our taxes again.

Though business is booming with animated works, Disney has also begun remaking classic animated films into live-action movies in recent years. With success from their remakes of The Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast, 2019 alone will see adaptations of Dumbo, Aladdin, and the highly anticipated star-studded remake of The Lion King, because let's face it: the magic of fairytales and original songs transcends the animated genre.

With so many classics under their belt, Disney’s promise to continue growing their expansive collection of instant classics will supply today’s children with plenty of films to obsess over just as they did for us. Although the joy of watching a movie so many times that the VHS tape falls apart is long gone, we can still reminisce on the best Disney animated movies that made them the frontrunner of the genre. From 'Sleeping Beauty' to 'The Emperor's New Groove' to 'Coco,' and everything in between, here are the best Disney animated movies.

A psychedelic drug trip of a Disney film, Alice in Wonderland is one of the more adult of the Disney animated films despite its fantastical premise. Based on Lewis Carroll’s novel, a young girl falls down a rabbit hole into Wonderland, where she encounters a number of insane characters, from the Cheshire Cat to Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum to the Mad Hatter. Alice navigates her way through Wonderland as it gets increasingly Acid-Trip like. Visually, it’s one of the coolest Disney films, as things get trippier and tripper the deeper Alice goes into Wonderland.

The movie also carries some of the darkest undertones of any Disney universe. While we see Alice’s imagination in Wonderland unfold, it goes from being fun and whimsical (chasing the White Rabbit, having a tea party with the Mad Hatter) to completely sinister (being ordered to execution by the Queen of Hearts). That tension, that childhood can be both wonderful and frightening, is what makes Alice in Wonderland a classic. —Kerensa Cadenas — youtube.com

A psychedelic drug trip of a Disney film, *Alice in Wonderland* is one of the more adult of the Disney animated films despite its fantastical premise. Based on Lewis Carroll’s novel, a young girl falls down a rabbit hole into Wonderland, where she encounters a number of insane characters, from the Cheshire Cat to Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum to the Mad Hatter. Alice navigates her way through Wonderland as it gets increasingly Acid-Trip like. Visually, it’s one of the coolest Disney films, as things get trippier and tripper the deeper Alice goes into Wonderland.

The movie also carries some of the darkest undertones of any Disney universe. While we see Alice’s imagination in Wonderland unfold, it goes from being fun and whimsical (chasing the White Rabbit, having a tea party with the Mad Hatter) to completely sinister (being ordered to execution by the Queen of Hearts). That tension, that childhood can be both wonderful and frightening, is what makes *Alice in Wonderland* a classic. —*Kerensa Cadenas*

youtube.com

A psychedelic drug trip of a Disney film, *Alice in Wonderland* is one of the more adult of the Disney animated films despite its fantastical premise. Based on Lewis Carroll’s novel, a young girl falls down a rabbit hole into Wonderland, where she encounters a number of insane characters, from the Cheshire Cat to Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum to the Mad Hatter. Alice navigates her way through Wonderland as it gets increasingly Acid-Trip like. Visually, it’s one of the coolest Disney films, as things get trippier and tripper the deeper Alice goes into Wonderland.

The movie also carries some of the darkest undertones of any Disney universe. While we see Alice’s imagination in Wonderland unfold, it goes from being fun and whimsical (chasing the White Rabbit, having a tea party with the Mad Hatter) to completely sinister (being ordered to execution by the Queen of Hearts). That tension, that childhood can be both wonderful and frightening, is what makes *Alice in Wonderland* a classic. —*Kerensa Cadenas*

Most of the classic Disney movies are tales of an underdog overcoming immense obstacles (and often, prejudice) and doing the right thing on the way to finding love or success or both. Aladdin is such a tale, but it’s the best one Disney’s ever done. This story of a street rat who wins the affection of a princess and defeats the evil sorcerer also vying for her heart (but for bad, selfish reasons) is epic and adventurous, an elixir of romance, action, and magic.

It’s the best Disney movie because it contains the ideal versions of every facet that makes a Disney movie a Disney movie. Aladdin is the perfect protagonist, down and out, but cool, confident, and earnest. The apple of his eye, Jasmine, is alluring—a true Disney bae. The music—”A Whole New World!” “Arabian Nights!”—is ridiculously good. Jafar and Iago (oh what up, Shakespeare, I get this parrot’s name now) are a perfect mix of cartoonish duplicity and legitimate terror. (Don’t remind me of when Jafar turns himself into a snake.) Aladdin also features a peak Robin Williams as Genie, which is something.

Say what you want about Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Little Mermaid—those are all great films. But they just don’t have everything that Aladdin does, and Aladdin just executes the Disney model at the highest level possible. —Andrew Gruttadaro — youtube.com

Most of the classic Disney movies are tales of an underdog overcoming immense obstacles (and often, prejudice) and doing the right thing on the way to finding love or success or both. *Aladdin* is such a tale, but it’s the best one Disney’s ever done. This story of a street rat who wins the affection of a princess and defeats the evil sorcerer also vying for her heart (but for bad, selfish reasons) is epic and adventurous, an elixir of romance, action, and magic.

It’s the best Disney movie because it contains the ideal versions of every facet that makes a Disney movie a Disney movie. Aladdin is the perfect protagonist, down and out, but cool, confident, and earnest. The apple of his eye, Jasmine, is alluring—a true Disney bae. The music—”A Whole New World!” “Arabian Nights!”—is ridiculously good. Jafar and Iago (oh what up, Shakespeare, I get this parrot’s name now) are a perfect mix of cartoonish duplicity and legitimate terror. (Don’t remind me of when Jafar turns himself into a snake.) *Aladdin* also features a peak Robin Williams as Genie, which is something.

Say what you want about *Beauty and the Beast*, *The Lion King*, and *Little Mermaid*—those are all great films. But they just don’t have everything that *Aladdin* does, and *Aladdin* just executes the Disney model at the highest level possible. —*Andrew Gruttadaro*

youtube.com

Most of the classic Disney movies are tales of an underdog overcoming immense obstacles (and often, prejudice) and doing the right thing on the way to finding love or success or both. *Aladdin* is such a tale, but it’s the best one Disney’s ever done. This story of a street rat who wins the affection of a princess and defeats the evil sorcerer also vying for her heart (but for bad, selfish reasons) is epic and adventurous, an elixir of romance, action, and magic.

It’s the best Disney movie because it contains the ideal versions of every facet that makes a Disney movie a Disney movie. Aladdin is the perfect protagonist, down and out, but cool, confident, and earnest. The apple of his eye, Jasmine, is alluring—a true Disney bae. The music—”A Whole New World!” “Arabian Nights!”—is ridiculously good. Jafar and Iago (oh what up, Shakespeare, I get this parrot’s name now) are a perfect mix of cartoonish duplicity and legitimate terror. (Don’t remind me of when Jafar turns himself into a snake.) *Aladdin* also features a peak Robin Williams as Genie, which is something.

Say what you want about *Beauty and the Beast*, *The Lion King*, and *Little Mermaid*—those are all great films. But they just don’t have everything that *Aladdin* does, and *Aladdin* just executes the Disney model at the highest level possible. —*Andrew Gruttadaro*

The only movie about cats I will ever acknowledge. The Aristocats is near and dear to my heart because of the tone it captures. It's a kids movie, but it feels so sophisticated, what with its focus on jazz, class, and the European countryside. It's like Disney saw Withnail and I and decided to make their version of that. A story of a fancy cat and her trio of fancy kittens being lifted out of their elitist environment, The Aristocats shares many traits with other Disney classics—a kidnapping plot, a bevy of memorable characters, incredible music—but the movie just feels a little different, a little more elevated. In this way, the title of the movie is perfect, suggesting an injection of culture into a funny story about cute cats. I don't know about you, but when I saw this movie as a child, I immediately wanted to move to France. You can't say that about every Disney movie. —Andrew Gruttadaro — youtube.com

The only movie about cats I will ever acknowledge. *The Aristocats* is near and dear to my heart because of the tone it captures. It's a kids movie, but it feels so sophisticated, what with its focus on jazz, class, and the European countryside. It's like Disney saw *Withnail and I* and decided to make their version of that. A story of a fancy cat and her trio of fancy kittens being lifted out of their elitist environment, *The Aristocats* shares many traits with other Disney classics—a kidnapping plot, a bevy of memorable characters, incredible music—but the movie just *feels* a little different, a little more elevated. In this way, the title of the movie is perfect, suggesting an injection of culture into a funny story about cute cats. I don't know about you, but when I saw this movie as a child, I immediately wanted to move to France. You can't say that about every Disney movie. —*Andrew Gruttadaro*

youtube.com

The only movie about cats I will ever acknowledge. *The Aristocats* is near and dear to my heart because of the tone it captures. It's a kids movie, but it feels so sophisticated, what with its focus on jazz, class, and the European countryside. It's like Disney saw *Withnail and I* and decided to make their version of that. A story of a fancy cat and her trio of fancy kittens being lifted out of their elitist environment, *The Aristocats* shares many traits with other Disney classics—a kidnapping plot, a bevy of memorable characters, incredible music—but the movie just *feels* a little different, a little more elevated. In this way, the title of the movie is perfect, suggesting an injection of culture into a funny story about cute cats. I don't know about you, but when I saw this movie as a child, I immediately wanted to move to France. You can't say that about every Disney movie. —*Andrew Gruttadaro*

Bambi, the Disney classic about the life of a young deer from birth to adulthood, has sparked a love for cute woodland creatures since its release half a century ago. Bambi is the deer that we all wanted as a pet, until we learned that it’s probably best for them to stay in the forest. The movie is an example of the balance of innocence and knowledge. We all know (and are crushed) when Bambi’s mother dies, but Disney doesn’t allow us to dwell on the grief. Rather, it lets us see a hopeful future for the titular deer. As Bambi grows and the winter thaws, love becomes the focus. Bambi teaches us at every age that you can find love and happiness again. —Danielle Elmers — youtube.com

*Bambi*, the Disney classic about the life of a young deer from birth to adulthood, has sparked a love for cute woodland creatures since its release half a century ago. Bambi is the deer that we all wanted as a pet, until we learned that it’s probably best for them to stay in the forest. The movie is an example of the balance of innocence and knowledge. We all know (and are crushed) when Bambi’s mother dies, but Disney doesn’t allow us to dwell on the grief. Rather, it lets us see a hopeful future for the titular deer. As Bambi grows and the winter thaws, love becomes the focus. *Bambi* teaches us at every age that you can find love and happiness again. —*Danielle Elmers*

youtube.com

*Bambi*, the Disney classic about the life of a young deer from birth to adulthood, has sparked a love for cute woodland creatures since its release half a century ago. Bambi is the deer that we all wanted as a pet, until we learned that it’s probably best for them to stay in the forest. The movie is an example of the balance of innocence and knowledge. We all know (and are crushed) when Bambi’s mother dies, but Disney doesn’t allow us to dwell on the grief. Rather, it lets us see a hopeful future for the titular deer. As Bambi grows and the winter thaws, love becomes the focus. *Bambi* teaches us at every age that you can find love and happiness again. —*Danielle Elmers*

Let’s get one thing straight: the witch at the beginning of this movie is a savage. She shows up all sketchy and unannounced at a fancy-ass castle and asks to sleepover? That’s not how life works, lady. When she’s turned away, she curses not just the prince but also all of his innocent servants (seriously, what is her damage?) until the prince experiences true love’s kiss. Years later, Belle, our heroine, is imprisoned in his castle after a series of unfortunate events, but soon warms up to the grisly Beast and his talking furniture. The characters are remarkably memorable—there’s the heartbreaking frailty of Belle’s father, the suave Lumiere, and the lovable Cogsworth. Belle, meanwhile, has interests beyond men (#feminism) and repeatedly rejects the town’s hunk, Gaston, even though, as one of Disney’s greatest songs tells us, no one is quite swoll like him. Speaking of, the music in this is some of the studio’s best work, helping launch the movie into the top five. Tale as told time, song as old as rhyme… try to get that tune out of your head. Good luck. —Julia Pimentel — youtube.com

Let’s get one thing straight: the witch at the beginning of this movie is a savage. She shows up all sketchy and unannounced at a fancy-ass castle and asks to sleepover? That’s not how life works, lady. When she’s turned away, she curses not just the prince but also all of his innocent servants (seriously, what is her damage?) until the prince experiences true love’s kiss. Years later, Belle, our heroine, is imprisoned in his castle after a series of unfortunate events, but soon warms up to the grisly Beast and his talking furniture. The characters are remarkably memorable—there’s the heartbreaking frailty of Belle’s father, the suave Lumiere, and the lovable Cogsworth. Belle, meanwhile, has interests beyond men (#feminism) and repeatedly rejects the town’s hunk, Gaston, even though, as one of Disney’s greatest songs tells us, no one is quite swoll like him. Speaking of, the music in this is some of the studio’s best work, helping launch the movie into the top five. Tale as told time, song as old as rhyme… try to get that tune out of your head. Good luck. —*Julia Pimentel*

youtube.com

Let’s get one thing straight: the witch at the beginning of this movie is a savage. She shows up all sketchy and unannounced at a fancy-ass castle and asks to sleepover? That’s not how life works, lady. When she’s turned away, she curses not just the prince but also all of his innocent servants (seriously, what is her damage?) until the prince experiences true love’s kiss. Years later, Belle, our heroine, is imprisoned in his castle after a series of unfortunate events, but soon warms up to the grisly Beast and his talking furniture. The characters are remarkably memorable—there’s the heartbreaking frailty of Belle’s father, the suave Lumiere, and the lovable Cogsworth. Belle, meanwhile, has interests beyond men (#feminism) and repeatedly rejects the town’s hunk, Gaston, even though, as one of Disney’s greatest songs tells us, no one is quite swoll like him. Speaking of, the music in this is some of the studio’s best work, helping launch the movie into the top five. Tale as told time, song as old as rhyme… try to get that tune out of your head. Good luck. —*Julia Pimentel*

While Cinderella is one of the first movies to push the “A Prince Charming Exists” agenda that many, many other Disney movies would echo in the future, it’s hard to hold that against it. Based on the classic fairy tale (minus the hot iron slippers), Cinderella is the basis for every teen movie you’ve ever seen. A common but pretty girl gets a fairy godmother, gets a dope makeover plus some glass slippers, and snags Prince Charming. Roadblocks include an evil stepmother and stepsisters who are also vying for the Prince. Yeah, it can be outdated and kinda corny, but it’s hard to not feel a swell of excitement when Cinderella’s rags are turned into her dream gown after all the abuse she’s dealt with. It gives hope that good people will ultimately be rewarded, and that’s a pretty nice lesson to receive. —Kerensa Cadenas — youtube.com

While *Cinderella* is one of the first movies to push the “A Prince Charming Exists” agenda that many, many other Disney movies would echo in the future, it’s hard to hold that against it. Based on the classic fairy tale (minus the hot iron slippers), *Cinderella* is the basis for every teen movie you’ve ever seen. A common but pretty girl gets a fairy godmother, gets a dope makeover plus some glass slippers, and snags Prince Charming. Roadblocks include an evil stepmother and stepsisters who are also vying for the Prince. Yeah, it can be outdated and kinda corny, but it’s hard to not feel a swell of excitement when Cinderella’s rags are turned into her dream gown after all the abuse she’s dealt with. It gives hope that good people will ultimately be rewarded, and that’s a pretty nice lesson to receive. —*Kerensa Cadenas*

youtube.com

While *Cinderella* is one of the first movies to push the “A Prince Charming Exists” agenda that many, many other Disney movies would echo in the future, it’s hard to hold that against it. Based on the classic fairy tale (minus the hot iron slippers), *Cinderella* is the basis for every teen movie you’ve ever seen. A common but pretty girl gets a fairy godmother, gets a dope makeover plus some glass slippers, and snags Prince Charming. Roadblocks include an evil stepmother and stepsisters who are also vying for the Prince. Yeah, it can be outdated and kinda corny, but it’s hard to not feel a swell of excitement when Cinderella’s rags are turned into her dream gown after all the abuse she’s dealt with. It gives hope that good people will ultimately be rewarded, and that’s a pretty nice lesson to receive. —*Kerensa Cadenas*

The 2018 recipient of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, Coco is a true testament to Disney’s ability to make everyone feel warm even after a film ends. Inspired by Día de los Muertos, Coco follows the adventure of a young Mexican boy named Miguel after he crosses over to the Land of the Dead seeking answers to his mysterious family history. Forbidden to play music but convinced that his great great grandfather is infamous musician Ernesto de la Cruz, Miguel goes on a journey to finally learn the truth about his family lineage. Every step of Miguel’s journey is beautifully animated, with lively skeletons and vibrant colors that prove once again just how serious Disney is about running the animation game. The film was praised for being a loving depiction of Mexican culture, as well as for its bilingual representation, and spotlighting the complexities of family and death without taking away from the wholehearted fun everyone should have while watching a Disney movie. It even snagged an Academy Award for Best Original Song. ¡La mente de Disney! —Mallorie List — youtube.com

The 2018 recipient of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, *Coco* is a true testament to Disney’s ability to make everyone feel warm even after a film ends. Inspired by Día de los Muertos, Coco follows the adventure of a young Mexican boy named Miguel after he crosses over to the Land of the Dead seeking answers to his mysterious family history. Forbidden to play music but convinced that his great great grandfather is infamous musician Ernesto de la Cruz, Miguel goes on a journey to finally learn the truth about his family lineage. Every step of Miguel’s journey is beautifully animated, with lively skeletons and vibrant colors that prove once again just how serious Disney is about running the animation game. The film was praised for being a loving depiction of Mexican culture, as well as for its bilingual representation, and spotlighting the complexities of family and death without taking away from the wholehearted fun everyone should have while watching a Disney movie. It even snagged an Academy Award for Best Original Song. ¡La mente de Disney! *—Mallorie List*

youtube.com

The 2018 recipient of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, *Coco* is a true testament to Disney’s ability to make everyone feel warm even after a film ends. Inspired by Día de los Muertos, Coco follows the adventure of a young Mexican boy named Miguel after he crosses over to the Land of the Dead seeking answers to his mysterious family history. Forbidden to play music but convinced that his great great grandfather is infamous musician Ernesto de la Cruz, Miguel goes on a journey to finally learn the truth about his family lineage. Every step of Miguel’s journey is beautifully animated, with lively skeletons and vibrant colors that prove once again just how serious Disney is about running the animation game. The film was praised for being a loving depiction of Mexican culture, as well as for its bilingual representation, and spotlighting the complexities of family and death without taking away from the wholehearted fun everyone should have while watching a Disney movie. It even snagged an Academy Award for Best Original Song. ¡La mente de Disney! *—Mallorie List*

More than any other tear-jerking Disney film (see: Bambi, The Lion King), Dumbo somehow always gets the tear ducts flooding hardest. It's that scene where Dumbo sees his mother again, chained in a circus trailer, their trunks greeting each other and intertwining as she cradles him while he cries. That scene destroys me every time. Dumbo also has one of the strongest (and saddest) outsider narratives in a Disney film: our poor little elephant, originally named Jumbo Jr., is ridiculed for his unusually big ears and is given the nickname "Dumbo," then gets separated from his mother and becomes an outcast—a freak even among circus freaks. Thankfully, he finds one friend in Timothy, a cute little circus mouse, who helps Dumbo realize that his most ridiculed characteristic is what actually makes him unique. There's nothing more encouraging than seeing our tiny hero soar—quite literally—at the end. —Kristen Yoonsoo Kim — youtube.com

More than any other tear-jerking Disney film (see: *Bambi*, *The Lion King*), *Dumbo* somehow always gets the tear ducts flooding hardest. It's that scene where Dumbo sees his mother again, chained in a circus trailer, their trunks greeting each other and intertwining as she cradles him while he cries. That scene destroys me every time. *Dumbo* also has one of the strongest (and saddest) outsider narratives in a Disney film: our poor little elephant, originally named Jumbo Jr., is ridiculed for his unusually big ears and is given the nickname "Dumbo," then gets separated from his mother and becomes an outcast—a freak even among circus freaks. Thankfully, he finds one friend in Timothy, a cute little circus mouse, who helps Dumbo realize that his most ridiculed characteristic is what actually makes him unique. There's nothing more encouraging than seeing our tiny hero soar—quite literally—at the end. —*Kristen Yoonsoo Kim*

youtube.com

More than any other tear-jerking Disney film (see: *Bambi*, *The Lion King*), *Dumbo* somehow always gets the tear ducts flooding hardest. It's that scene where Dumbo sees his mother again, chained in a circus trailer, their trunks greeting each other and intertwining as she cradles him while he cries. That scene destroys me every time. *Dumbo* also has one of the strongest (and saddest) outsider narratives in a Disney film: our poor little elephant, originally named Jumbo Jr., is ridiculed for his unusually big ears and is given the nickname "Dumbo," then gets separated from his mother and becomes an outcast—a freak even among circus freaks. Thankfully, he finds one friend in Timothy, a cute little circus mouse, who helps Dumbo realize that his most ridiculed characteristic is what actually makes him unique. There's nothing more encouraging than seeing our tiny hero soar—quite literally—at the end. —*Kristen Yoonsoo Kim*

Fantasia is the Citizen Kane of Disney movies, in that they’re both so critically relished that you feel forced to put them on an all-time list, but neither are exactly Netflix-and-Chill material. And Fantasia is not a recipe for fun nostalgia either, considering it came out in 1940 and some parts are just flat out scary for children! As if kids don’t hate doing chores enough, Walt Disney thought it’d be a good idea to have a scene in which a massive fleet of out-of-control broomsticks starts a flood and Mickey Mouse almost drowns. Good job, Disney! Now I really want to help sweep up the kitchen! And I’m personally #unbothered but I could see some prudes feeling uncomfortable with the whole topless centaur situation Fantasia has going on. Still, this movie is forever implanted on these lists for its sheer historical value. And also because it’s pretty fun to watch while high. —Lauren Zupkus — youtube.com

*Fantasia* is the *Citizen Kane* of Disney movies, in that they’re both so critically relished that you feel forced to put them on an all-time list, but neither are exactly Netflix-and-Chill material. And *Fantasia* is not a recipe for fun nostalgia either, considering it came out in 1940 and some parts are just flat out scary for children! As if kids don’t hate doing chores enough, Walt Disney thought it’d be a good idea to have a scene in which a massive fleet of out-of-control broomsticks starts a flood and Mickey Mouse almost drowns. Good job, Disney! Now I really want to help sweep up the kitchen! And I’m personally #unbothered but I could see some prudes feeling uncomfortable with the whole topless centaur situation *Fantasia* has going on. Still, this movie is forever implanted on these lists for its sheer historical value. And also because it’s pretty fun to watch while high. —*Lauren Zupkus*

youtube.com

*Fantasia* is the *Citizen Kane* of Disney movies, in that they’re both so critically relished that you feel forced to put them on an all-time list, but neither are exactly Netflix-and-Chill material. And *Fantasia* is not a recipe for fun nostalgia either, considering it came out in 1940 and some parts are just flat out scary for children! As if kids don’t hate doing chores enough, Walt Disney thought it’d be a good idea to have a scene in which a massive fleet of out-of-control broomsticks starts a flood and Mickey Mouse almost drowns. Good job, Disney! Now I really want to help sweep up the kitchen! And I’m personally #unbothered but I could see some prudes feeling uncomfortable with the whole topless centaur situation *Fantasia* has going on. Still, this movie is forever implanted on these lists for its sheer historical value. And also because it’s pretty fun to watch while high. —*Lauren Zupkus*

Bambi gets all the attention for being THE SADDEST, but that’s because everyone’s sleeping on The Fox and the Hound. It’s way more traumatic—there’s a scene with a grandma and the fox and a car that will mess you up for good. As the story goes, an abandoned fox and a puppy become unlikely best friends but as they age, natural instincts kick in (dogs hunt foxes!) and they realize they're inately and fatally at odds. After a perceived betrayal, they turn on each other. Their final showdown is hands down one of the most suspenseful scenes from any movie on this list. The ending isn’t even all that happy. Sometimes, paths just aren't meant to cross and there's nothing to do but accept it. This movie teaches you that valuable lesson with talking dogs and foxes, of all things. Truly wild. —Julia Pimentel — youtube.com

*Bambi* gets all the attention for being THE SADDEST, but that’s because everyone’s sleeping on *The Fox and the Hound*. It’s *way* more traumatic—there’s a scene with a grandma and the fox and a car that will mess you up for good. As the story goes, an abandoned fox and a puppy become unlikely best friends but as they age, natural instincts kick in (dogs hunt foxes!) and they realize they're inately and fatally at odds. After a perceived betrayal, they turn on each other. Their final showdown is hands down one of the most suspenseful scenes from any movie on this list. The ending isn’t even all that happy. Sometimes, paths just aren't meant to cross and there's nothing to do but accept it. This movie teaches you that valuable lesson with talking dogs and foxes, of all things. Truly wild. —*Julia Pimentel*

youtube.com

*Bambi* gets all the attention for being THE SADDEST, but that’s because everyone’s sleeping on *The Fox and the Hound*. It’s *way* more traumatic—there’s a scene with a grandma and the fox and a car that will mess you up for good. As the story goes, an abandoned fox and a puppy become unlikely best friends but as they age, natural instincts kick in (dogs hunt foxes!) and they realize they're inately and fatally at odds. After a perceived betrayal, they turn on each other. Their final showdown is hands down one of the most suspenseful scenes from any movie on this list. The ending isn’t even all that happy. Sometimes, paths just aren't meant to cross and there's nothing to do but accept it. This movie teaches you that valuable lesson with talking dogs and foxes, of all things. Truly wild. —*Julia Pimentel*

While many of the best Disney movies are from the Nineties, A Goofy Movie feels like it's of the Nineties. Goofy's son rocks JNCO jeans, there's a Cheez Whiz-swilling character who vaguely reminds me of Clueless-era Breckin Meyer, and the entire movie is more or less an animated version of the Jonathan Taylor Thomas classic, Man of the House. But even on a more aesthetic tip, this movie starring Goofy—Disney's oft-overlooked mascot—embodies the bold zaniness and borderline incoherence of the decade. That A Goofy Movie came out the same year Pinky and the Brain started its run does not feel like a coincidence. Nothing really makes sense, reality is stretched to an extreme, and unabashed fun is a priority above all else. A Goofy Movie doesn't have the iconic scenes that The Lion King or Jungle Book does, but it might be more entertaining than both. And twenty years later, the zaniness of the movie surprisingly helps it hold up on rewatch. —Andrew Gruttadaro — youtube.com

While many of the best Disney movies are *from* the Nineties, *A Goofy Movie* feels like it's of the Nineties. Goofy's son rocks JNCO jeans, there's a Cheez Whiz-swilling character who vaguely reminds me of *Clueless*-era Breckin Meyer, and the entire movie is more or less an animated version of the Jonathan Taylor Thomas classic, *Man of the House*. But even on a more aesthetic tip, this movie starring Goofy—Disney's oft-overlooked mascot—embodies the bold zaniness and borderline incoherence of the decade. That *A Goofy Movie* came out the same year *Pinky and the Brain* started its run does not feel like a coincidence. Nothing really makes sense, reality is stretched to an extreme, and unabashed fun is a priority above all else. *A Goofy Movie* doesn't have the iconic scenes that *The Lion King* or *Jungle Book* does, but it might be more entertaining than both. And twenty years later, the zaniness of the movie surprisingly helps it hold up on rewatch. —*Andrew Gruttadaro*

youtube.com

While many of the best Disney movies are *from* the Nineties, *A Goofy Movie* feels like it's of the Nineties. Goofy's son rocks JNCO jeans, there's a Cheez Whiz-swilling character who vaguely reminds me of *Clueless*-era Breckin Meyer, and the entire movie is more or less an animated version of the Jonathan Taylor Thomas classic, *Man of the House*. But even on a more aesthetic tip, this movie starring Goofy—Disney's oft-overlooked mascot—embodies the bold zaniness and borderline incoherence of the decade. That *A Goofy Movie* came out the same year *Pinky and the Brain* started its run does not feel like a coincidence. Nothing really makes sense, reality is stretched to an extreme, and unabashed fun is a priority above all else. *A Goofy Movie* doesn't have the iconic scenes that *The Lion King* or *Jungle Book* does, but it might be more entertaining than both. And twenty years later, the zaniness of the movie surprisingly helps it hold up on rewatch. —*Andrew Gruttadaro*

Even as a wee child, I knew Meg was the coolest Disney gal ever. Unlike the more passive "someday my prince will come" types of decades past, the heroine of this Greek mythology adaptation really makes the dude work for it—even if he is the strongest man on earth. Part of why Hercules is so great has less to do with the titular demigod training to be a hero so he can rejoin his parents Zeus and Hera, whom he was separated from as a baby (though that part is cool too). Instead, its iconic status is earned from the wry, sassy Megara, the atypical damsel in distress who Hercules falls for. Meg is hardened to love because of her complicated past (she reluctantly has to carry out Hades' deeds after having sold her soul for a shitty ex lover), but eventually ends up becoming heroine to her hero. Along the way, she gets one of Disney's best musical numbers, "I Won't Say I'm in Love," a denial anthem backed by the Muses, who go full girl group a la The Ronettes. Let's also not forget Hercules* basically invented "What Are Those" in 1997, way before it was a meme. —Kristen Yoonsoo Kim — youtube.com

Even as a wee child, I knew Meg was the coolest Disney gal ever. Unlike the more passive "someday my prince will come" types of decades past, the heroine of this Greek mythology adaptation really makes the dude work for it—even if he is the strongest man on earth. Part of why *Hercules* is so great has less to do with the titular demigod training to be a hero so he can rejoin his parents Zeus and Hera, whom he was separated from as a baby (though that part is cool too). Instead, its iconic status is earned from the wry, sassy Megara, the atypical damsel in distress who Hercules falls for. Meg is hardened to love because of her complicated past (she reluctantly has to carry out Hades' deeds after having sold her soul for a shitty ex lover), but eventually ends up becoming heroine to her hero. Along the way, she gets one of Disney's best musical numbers, "I Won't Say I'm in Love," a denial anthem backed by the Muses, who go full girl group a la The Ronettes. Let's also not forget Hercules* basically invented "What Are Those" in 1997, way before it was a meme. —*Kristen Yoonsoo Kim*

youtube.com

Even as a wee child, I knew Meg was the coolest Disney gal ever. Unlike the more passive "someday my prince will come" types of decades past, the heroine of this Greek mythology adaptation really makes the dude work for it—even if he is the strongest man on earth. Part of why *Hercules* is so great has less to do with the titular demigod training to be a hero so he can rejoin his parents Zeus and Hera, whom he was separated from as a baby (though that part is cool too). Instead, its iconic status is earned from the wry, sassy Megara, the atypical damsel in distress who Hercules falls for. Meg is hardened to love because of her complicated past (she reluctantly has to carry out Hades' deeds after having sold her soul for a shitty ex lover), but eventually ends up becoming heroine to her hero. Along the way, she gets one of Disney's best musical numbers, "I Won't Say I'm in Love," a denial anthem backed by the Muses, who go full girl group a la The Ronettes. Let's also not forget Hercules* basically invented "What Are Those" in 1997, way before it was a meme. —*Kristen Yoonsoo Kim*

A troubling amount of Disney stories start with lost babies who are randomly thrown into non-baby-approved environments. Mowgli, the token lost baby of The Jungle Book, is abandoned in a jungle and raised by wolves. After 10 years of peaceful coexistence, Shere Khan, a man-eating tiger, is threatening to return to the jungle, so the animals try to get Mowgli to the nearest human village, to Mowgli’s initial disappointment but eventual benefit (one word: plumbing). The standout character that he meets on his journey out of the jungle is Baloo the bear, who’s like your hippie stoner uncle who, like, totally hates material possessions. Just the bare necessities, man. (Look out for the obvious masturbation joke during the "Bare Necessities" song, by the way.) It's a classic movie with great characters and set pieces. Case and point: Baloo and Louie the monkey king scatting away to “I Wanna Be Like You.” I dare you to show me a more iconic jam. —Julia Pimentel — youtube.com

A troubling amount of Disney stories start with lost babies who are randomly thrown into non-baby-approved environments. Mowgli, the token lost baby of *The Jungle Book*, is abandoned in a jungle and raised by wolves. After 10 years of peaceful coexistence, Shere Khan, a man-eating tiger, is threatening to return to the jungle, so the animals try to get Mowgli to the nearest human village, to Mowgli’s initial disappointment but eventual benefit (one word: plumbing). The standout character that he meets on his journey out of the jungle is Baloo the bear, who’s like your hippie stoner uncle who, like, totally hates material possessions. Just the bare necessities, man. (Look out for the obvious masturbation joke during the "Bare Necessities" song, by the way.) It's a classic movie with great characters and set pieces. Case and point: Baloo and Louie the monkey king scatting away to “I Wanna Be Like You.” I dare you to show me a more iconic jam. —*Julia Pimentel*

youtube.com

A troubling amount of Disney stories start with lost babies who are randomly thrown into non-baby-approved environments. Mowgli, the token lost baby of *The Jungle Book*, is abandoned in a jungle and raised by wolves. After 10 years of peaceful coexistence, Shere Khan, a man-eating tiger, is threatening to return to the jungle, so the animals try to get Mowgli to the nearest human village, to Mowgli’s initial disappointment but eventual benefit (one word: plumbing). The standout character that he meets on his journey out of the jungle is Baloo the bear, who’s like your hippie stoner uncle who, like, totally hates material possessions. Just the bare necessities, man. (Look out for the obvious masturbation joke during the "Bare Necessities" song, by the way.) It's a classic movie with great characters and set pieces. Case and point: Baloo and Louie the monkey king scatting away to “I Wanna Be Like You.” I dare you to show me a more iconic jam. —*Julia Pimentel*

Let’s just get this out of the way: the Siamese cats in this movie are racist as fuck. Disney is lucky the internet didn't exist in the ‘50s. Still, there are some timeless elements in Lady and the Tramp that deservedly stick with us today. That spaghetti eating sequence is all time, and if you haven’t replicated it with someone, you haven’t found true love.

As a refresher: Lady is a Cocker Spaniel who lives with rich white people, Tramp is a mutt who’s out on the streets, and they become an odd couple. Tramp has the lowdown on life: he knows Lady will be all but forgotten when her owners have a baby, he knows where to get a meal for free.99, and he even knows a guy who can remove Lady's muzzle. He apparently knows how to get laid, too, as Lady learns at the kennel that she’s not his first girlfriend. All in all though, this is a true love story, and if you haven’t watched these two dogs square off with the evil white aunt—aunts are always the villains, huh?—you absolutely must. Unruly dogs are really the best dogs. —Ian Servantes — youtube.com

Let’s just get this out of the way: the Siamese cats in this movie are racist as fuck. Disney is lucky the internet didn't exist in the ‘50s. Still, there are some timeless elements in *Lady and the Tramp* that deservedly stick with us today. That spaghetti eating sequence is all time, and if you haven’t replicated it with someone, you haven’t found true love.

As a refresher: Lady is a Cocker Spaniel who lives with rich white people, Tramp is a mutt who’s out on the streets, and they become an odd couple. Tramp has the lowdown on life: he knows Lady will be all but forgotten when her owners have a baby, he knows where to get a meal for free.99, and he even knows a guy who can remove Lady's muzzle. He apparently knows how to get laid, too, as Lady learns at the kennel that she’s not his first girlfriend. All in all though, this is a true love story, and if you haven’t watched these two dogs square off with the evil white aunt—aunts are always the villains, huh?—you absolutely must. Unruly dogs are really the best dogs. —Ian Servantes

youtube.com

Let’s just get this out of the way: the Siamese cats in this movie are racist as fuck. Disney is lucky the internet didn't exist in the ‘50s. Still, there are some timeless elements in *Lady and the Tramp* that deservedly stick with us today. That spaghetti eating sequence is all time, and if you haven’t replicated it with someone, you haven’t found true love.

As a refresher: Lady is a Cocker Spaniel who lives with rich white people, Tramp is a mutt who’s out on the streets, and they become an odd couple. Tramp has the lowdown on life: he knows Lady will be all but forgotten when her owners have a baby, he knows where to get a meal for free.99, and he even knows a guy who can remove Lady's muzzle. He apparently knows how to get laid, too, as Lady learns at the kennel that she’s not his first girlfriend. All in all though, this is a true love story, and if you haven’t watched these two dogs square off with the evil white aunt—aunts are always the villains, huh?—you absolutely must. Unruly dogs are really the best dogs. —Ian Servantes

youtube.com

*Hamlet* with lions—can I just leave it at that? Okay, fine. If I must continue, *The Lion King* is classic tale of redemption bolstered by fantastic music and a killer voice cast. Yung Simba, just a lil lion cub, is dragged through the cruel spectrum of human experience as he rises from exile after blaming himself for his father’s death. All it takes is some stoner homies with a “take it easy” philosophy, a bae blast from the past, a mandrill shaman, and a dead ass dad cloud, voiced by the gawd himself, James Earl Jones. It’s like his bass was crafted solely to motivate or illuminate the world. The circle of life, dawg.

Our Claudius, a.k.a. the hatin’ ass uncle, is Scar, who set Mufasa and Simba up to die so he could take the throne. Once Simba is all grown up and has his lion babe, he finally confronts homeboy. But because this is a Disney film, Simba gets all virtuous and spares Scar's life once he has the upperhand. His kindness is rewarded by another betrayal, and Simba tosses that scrawny motherfucker off a cliff. He’s not killed by the fall, but by his hyena homies, who beg the question once posited by Wale: “Where the fuck the loyalty at?”

If *The Lion King* didn’t prepare you for life, nothing will. —*Ian Servantes*

Few Disney movies pierce through the soul quite like The Little Mermaid. Show me someone who says she’s never belted out “Part of your World” with a little too much feeling and I’ll show you a liar. The title character, Ariel, is the perfect Disney princess because she’s a super relatable teen: she’s late to everything, she thinks her dad’s mad annoying, and she does stupid shit like comb her hair with a fork to fit in. And while Ursula the sea-witch is super terrifying to the younger demographic, in retrospect she seems like a completely crazy diva that I’d love to party with so long as I could stay on her good side. Sure, some say that it was weak that Ariel literally gave up her voice just to get D from Prince Eric. (Also, Prince Eric, super shady that you were in love with a girl who COULDN'T EVEN HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU.) But in 2006, I gave up Gwen Stefani & Akon tickets to hang out with my high school boyfriend who dumped me a week later. So I GET IT. The Little Mermaid forever! —Lauren Zupkus — youtube.com

Few Disney movies pierce through the soul quite like *The Little Mermaid*. Show me someone who says she’s never belted out “Part of your World” with a little too much feeling and I’ll show you a liar. The title character, Ariel, is the perfect Disney princess because she’s a super relatable teen: she’s late to everything, she thinks her dad’s mad annoying, and she does stupid shit like comb her hair with a fork to fit in. And while Ursula the sea-witch is super terrifying to the younger demographic, in retrospect she seems like a completely crazy diva that I’d love to party with so long as I could stay on her good side. Sure, some say that it was weak that Ariel literally gave up her voice just to get D from Prince Eric. (Also, Prince Eric, super shady that you were in love with a girl who COULDN'T EVEN HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU.) But in 2006, I gave up Gwen Stefani & Akon tickets to hang out with my high school boyfriend who dumped me a week later. So I GET IT. *The Little Mermaid* forever! —*Lauren Zupkus*

youtube.com

Few Disney movies pierce through the soul quite like *The Little Mermaid*. Show me someone who says she’s never belted out “Part of your World” with a little too much feeling and I’ll show you a liar. The title character, Ariel, is the perfect Disney princess because she’s a super relatable teen: she’s late to everything, she thinks her dad’s mad annoying, and she does stupid shit like comb her hair with a fork to fit in. And while Ursula the sea-witch is super terrifying to the younger demographic, in retrospect she seems like a completely crazy diva that I’d love to party with so long as I could stay on her good side. Sure, some say that it was weak that Ariel literally gave up her voice just to get D from Prince Eric. (Also, Prince Eric, super shady that you were in love with a girl who COULDN'T EVEN HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU.) But in 2006, I gave up Gwen Stefani & Akon tickets to hang out with my high school boyfriend who dumped me a week later. So I GET IT. *The Little Mermaid* forever! —*Lauren Zupkus*

While Disney movies tend to go hard in the original music game, Moana truly upped the ante when it was released in 2016. The film tells the story of Moana, the daughter of a Polynesian tribal chief who is chosen by the ocean to return a sacred relic to the island’s worshipped goddess. With the reluctant help from the demi-god who stole the heart in the first place, Maui, Moana is sent on one of Disney’s quintessential tales of heroism to bring prosperity back to her home. While the precise and meticulous animations of everything from Moana’s curly hair to the splashing drops of the ocean are plenty to write home about, the soundtrack and score of Moana are the standout details, a breathtaking combination of heart and musicality. The anointed poster boy of Broadway Lin-Manuel Miranda and Auli’i Cravalho, the voice of Moana and a native Hawaiian, are a match made in Heaven on songs like “How Far I’ll Go” and, more importantly, “Know Who You Are”. The story is a fierce representation of a young woman of color following her destiny and saving the home she loves while putting up with arguably the most annoying man ever— and it’s undeniably captivating. —Mallorie List — youtube.com

While Disney movies tend to go hard in the original music game, *Moana* truly upped the ante when it was released in 2016. The film tells the story of Moana, the daughter of a Polynesian tribal chief who is chosen by the ocean to return a sacred relic to the island’s worshipped goddess. With the reluctant help from the demi-god who stole the heart in the first place, Maui, Moana is sent on one of Disney’s quintessential tales of heroism to bring prosperity back to her home. While the precise and meticulous animations of everything from Moana’s curly hair to the splashing drops of the ocean are plenty to write home about, the soundtrack and score of *Moana* are the standout details, a breathtaking combination of heart and musicality. The anointed poster boy of Broadway Lin-Manuel Miranda and Auli’i Cravalho, the voice of Moana and a native Hawaiian, are a match made in Heaven on songs like “How Far I’ll Go” and, more importantly, “Know Who You Are”. The story is a fierce representation of a young woman of color following her destiny and saving the home she loves while putting up with arguably the most annoying man ever— and it’s undeniably captivating. *—Mallorie List*

youtube.com

While Disney movies tend to go hard in the original music game, *Moana* truly upped the ante when it was released in 2016. The film tells the story of Moana, the daughter of a Polynesian tribal chief who is chosen by the ocean to return a sacred relic to the island’s worshipped goddess. With the reluctant help from the demi-god who stole the heart in the first place, Maui, Moana is sent on one of Disney’s quintessential tales of heroism to bring prosperity back to her home. While the precise and meticulous animations of everything from Moana’s curly hair to the splashing drops of the ocean are plenty to write home about, the soundtrack and score of *Moana* are the standout details, a breathtaking combination of heart and musicality. The anointed poster boy of Broadway Lin-Manuel Miranda and Auli’i Cravalho, the voice of Moana and a native Hawaiian, are a match made in Heaven on songs like “How Far I’ll Go” and, more importantly, “Know Who You Are”. The story is a fierce representation of a young woman of color following her destiny and saving the home she loves while putting up with arguably the most annoying man ever— and it’s undeniably captivating. *—Mallorie List*

Studies show that younger generations are significantly more tolerant and accepting of those in the LGBT community. Honestly, it’s probably because we all watched Mulan when we were younger. When Mulan learns that her elderly father has been called up for mandatory conscription, her inherent courage is ignited—she dresses up as a man and enlists in her father’s place (she couldn't enlist as a woman, because a woman soldier would be a lot worse than a 80-year-old man. Mmhm, sure.) As a thoroughly badass fighter, Mulan subverts traditional gender roles and becomes an inspiration for all girls who don’t want to be a princess waiting around for a prince. Disney has a lot of fun demonstrating just how flimsy the notion of gender really is (if she looks like a male solider, if she fights like a male soldier, then surely…) But then we’re blessed with Li Shang, a fellow soldier who falls in love with Mulan when he still believes she’s a man. He only acts on his love once he knows for sure she’s a lady, but Disney can’t fool us. We already got the message: love is love. —Julia Pimentel — youtube.com

Studies show that younger generations are significantly more tolerant and accepting of those in the LGBT community. Honestly, it’s probably because we all watched *Mulan* when we were younger. When Mulan learns that her elderly father has been called up for mandatory conscription, her inherent courage is ignited—she dresses up as a man and enlists in her father’s place (she couldn't enlist as a woman, because a woman soldier would be a lot worse than a 80-year-old man. Mmhm, sure.) As a thoroughly badass fighter, Mulan subverts traditional gender roles and becomes an inspiration for all girls who don’t want to be a princess waiting around for a prince. Disney has a lot of fun demonstrating just how flimsy the notion of gender really is (if she looks like a male solider, if she fights like a male soldier, then surely…) But then we’re blessed with Li Shang, a fellow soldier who falls in love with Mulan when he still believes she’s a man. He only acts on his love once he knows for sure she’s a lady, but Disney can’t fool us. We already got the message: love is love. —*Julia Pimentel*

youtube.com

Studies show that younger generations are significantly more tolerant and accepting of those in the LGBT community. Honestly, it’s probably because we all watched *Mulan* when we were younger. When Mulan learns that her elderly father has been called up for mandatory conscription, her inherent courage is ignited—she dresses up as a man and enlists in her father’s place (she couldn't enlist as a woman, because a woman soldier would be a lot worse than a 80-year-old man. Mmhm, sure.) As a thoroughly badass fighter, Mulan subverts traditional gender roles and becomes an inspiration for all girls who don’t want to be a princess waiting around for a prince. Disney has a lot of fun demonstrating just how flimsy the notion of gender really is (if she looks like a male solider, if she fights like a male soldier, then surely…) But then we’re blessed with Li Shang, a fellow soldier who falls in love with Mulan when he still believes she’s a man. He only acts on his love once he knows for sure she’s a lady, but Disney can’t fool us. We already got the message: love is love. —*Julia Pimentel*

Based on the classic novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, orphaned kitten Oliver (a young Joey Lawrence) joins a gang of New York City street dogs who try to help their owner out of debt. However, on Oliver’s first day out on the streets with, he finds himself adopted by a young Upper West Side girl named Jenny (Natalie Gregory). Typical Disney action with a New York twist follows, including rescue missions, a stake out, and fiery subway chases.

Oliver & Company is a movie about the power of friendship, and that having a city rhythm and street smarts is all you need to combat the concrete jungle. Even Mr. New York, Billy Joel himself, sings “Why Should I Worry” for the movie. Every New Yorker should watch this movie at least once, if only to see the beautifully animated city, and the near impossible chase scene from the Brooklyn Bridge to Times Square. —Danielle Elmers — youtube.com

Based on the classic novel *Oliver Twist* by Charles Dickens, orphaned kitten Oliver (a young Joey Lawrence) joins a gang of New York City street dogs who try to help their owner out of debt. However, on Oliver’s first day out on the streets with, he finds himself adopted by a young Upper West Side girl named Jenny (Natalie Gregory). Typical Disney action with a New York twist follows, including rescue missions, a stake out, and fiery subway chases.

*Oliver & Company* is a movie about the power of friendship, and that having a city rhythm and street smarts is all you need to combat the concrete jungle. Even Mr. New York, Billy Joel himself, sings “Why Should I Worry” for the movie. Every New Yorker should watch this movie at least once, if only to see the beautifully animated city, and the near impossible chase scene from the Brooklyn Bridge to Times Square. —*Danielle Elmers*

youtube.com

Based on the classic novel *Oliver Twist* by Charles Dickens, orphaned kitten Oliver (a young Joey Lawrence) joins a gang of New York City street dogs who try to help their owner out of debt. However, on Oliver’s first day out on the streets with, he finds himself adopted by a young Upper West Side girl named Jenny (Natalie Gregory). Typical Disney action with a New York twist follows, including rescue missions, a stake out, and fiery subway chases.

*Oliver & Company* is a movie about the power of friendship, and that having a city rhythm and street smarts is all you need to combat the concrete jungle. Even Mr. New York, Billy Joel himself, sings “Why Should I Worry” for the movie. Every New Yorker should watch this movie at least once, if only to see the beautifully animated city, and the near impossible chase scene from the Brooklyn Bridge to Times Square. —*Danielle Elmers*

Okay, I know Disney is all about ~fantasy~ and wishing on stars or WHATEVER, but Roger and Anita’s meet-cute is stupid. Their dogs’ leashes get tangled, so they meet and fall in love and get married and live happily ever after. Yeah, right. As if that’s a real thing that’s ever happened. On the other hand, the whole dog gossip barking chain in this movie is genius and I would throw my phone and laptop into the damn ocean right now if it meant I could choose to be contacted exclusively via howlings in the night. But 101 Dalmatian’s real lesson did stick with me: there is no hope for humanity, because a world where Disney could create a villain as depraved as Cruella De Vil is a world I don’t want to believe in. She wants to kill a litter puppies for a fur coat. That’s... not even a thing. I know the whole point is that teamwork and love saves the day, but it’s downright bizarre, and just thinking about it makes me want to slap Disney with an emotional distress lawsuit so I can invest in the technology for the howling thing. Great movie. —Julia Pimentel — youtube.com

Okay, I know Disney is all about *~fantasy~* and wishing on stars or WHATEVER, but Roger and Anita’s meet-cute is stupid. Their dogs’ leashes get tangled, so they meet and fall in love and get married and live happily ever after. Yeah, right. As if that’s a real thing that’s ever happened. On the other hand, the whole dog gossip barking chain in this movie is genius and I would throw my phone and laptop into the damn ocean right now if it meant I could choose to be contacted exclusively via howlings in the night. But *101 Dalmatian*’s real lesson did stick with me: there is no hope for humanity, because a world where Disney could create a villain as depraved as Cruella De Vil is a world I don’t want to believe in. She wants to kill a litter puppies for a fur coat. That’s... not even a thing. I know the whole point is that teamwork and love saves the day, but it’s downright bizarre, and just thinking about it makes me want to slap Disney with an emotional distress lawsuit so I can invest in the technology for the howling thing. Great movie. —*Julia Pimentel*

youtube.com

Okay, I know Disney is all about *~fantasy~* and wishing on stars or WHATEVER, but Roger and Anita’s meet-cute is stupid. Their dogs’ leashes get tangled, so they meet and fall in love and get married and live happily ever after. Yeah, right. As if that’s a real thing that’s ever happened. On the other hand, the whole dog gossip barking chain in this movie is genius and I would throw my phone and laptop into the damn ocean right now if it meant I could choose to be contacted exclusively via howlings in the night. But *101 Dalmatian*’s real lesson did stick with me: there is no hope for humanity, because a world where Disney could create a villain as depraved as Cruella De Vil is a world I don’t want to believe in. She wants to kill a litter puppies for a fur coat. That’s... not even a thing. I know the whole point is that teamwork and love saves the day, but it’s downright bizarre, and just thinking about it makes me want to slap Disney with an emotional distress lawsuit so I can invest in the technology for the howling thing. Great movie. —*Julia Pimentel*

It's easy to consider any of Disney's animated efforts that were made while Walt still resided in the Mouse House as classics—and Peter Pan is damn gorgeous to look at, gushing with technicolor nonsense. However, the toughest questions from JM Barrie's original story, which handle fun stuff like the weird sexual stresses of puberty and the slow disintegration of the parent/child relationship, are totally missing, making for a movie that's frankly a pretty weakass take on the story. Add in the fact that Peter Pan treats its iconic villain—that's Captain F*cking Hook to you—like a limp garbage person with an anger problem and it's hard to rank the movie too high. Then again, it does have Wendy, easily one of the smartest and most defiantly capable of Disney's female protagonists. And once you consider the effervescent joy of "You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly!" it's easy to find the film's charm. Wanna forget your rent is due for 77 minutes of your day? Have I got a movie for you. —Aubrey Page — youtube.com

It's easy to consider any of Disney's animated efforts that were made while Walt still resided in the Mouse House as classics—and *Peter Pan* is damn gorgeous to look at, gushing with technicolor nonsense. However, the toughest questions from JM Barrie's original story, which handle fun stuff like the weird sexual stresses of puberty and the slow disintegration of the parent/child relationship, are totally missing, making for a movie that's frankly a pretty weakass take on the story. Add in the fact that *Peter Pan* treats its iconic villain—that's Captain F*cking Hook to you—like a limp garbage person with an anger problem and it's hard to rank the movie too high. Then again, it does have Wendy, easily one of the smartest and most defiantly capable of Disney's female protagonists. And once you consider the effervescent joy of "You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly!" it's easy to find the film's charm. Wanna forget your rent is due for 77 minutes of your day? Have I got a movie for you. —*Aubrey Page*

youtube.com

It's easy to consider any of Disney's animated efforts that were made while Walt still resided in the Mouse House as classics—and *Peter Pan* is damn gorgeous to look at, gushing with technicolor nonsense. However, the toughest questions from JM Barrie's original story, which handle fun stuff like the weird sexual stresses of puberty and the slow disintegration of the parent/child relationship, are totally missing, making for a movie that's frankly a pretty weakass take on the story. Add in the fact that *Peter Pan* treats its iconic villain—that's Captain F*cking Hook to you—like a limp garbage person with an anger problem and it's hard to rank the movie too high. Then again, it does have Wendy, easily one of the smartest and most defiantly capable of Disney's female protagonists. And once you consider the effervescent joy of "You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly!" it's easy to find the film's charm. Wanna forget your rent is due for 77 minutes of your day? Have I got a movie for you. —*Aubrey Page*

youtube.com

After the monumental success of *Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs*, Disney needed a home run to avoid the sophomore jinx. Who knew that a lying ass puppet with innocent eyes would’ve stepped up and did the damn thing? Like most Disney films, *Pinocchio* is the sugar-filled remix of a classic book, this one following the ratchet adventures of a marionette who wanted to be a real-live boy. While hilarity ensued, the film stays iconic. Hell, Jiminy Cricket (Pinocchio’s “conscience”) sang “When You Wish Upon A Star,” which won an Oscar (Disney’s first) for Best Song in 1940; that song, along with Mickey Mouse, is synonymous with the Disney brand. And truth be told, while the film is over 40 years old, today’s kids could learn a thing or three about getting what they wish for, especially when they aren’t able to handle adult situations. —*khal*

Yes, Pocahontas is historically inaccurate and even has elements of overt racism, but it still manages to be one of Disney’s more thoughtful movies. For starters, "Colors of the Wind" is a timeless environmental anthem that stresses the importance of preserving nature. (Never mind what the hell a blue corn moon is, because the white guy who wrote that lyric literally made up the term.) As far as Disney princesses go, Pocahontas is definitely on the woke side. Voiced by Native American actress Irene Bedard, Pocahontas speaks out against John Smith and his white settlers’ gun violence. And she’s actually the first Disney princess to ever have two love interests. #GetItGirl. Plus, Grandmother Willow is a criminally underrated kween and like, the only elderly female character portrayed in a Disney movie who isn’t an evil sea witch or an old hag desperate to steal the youth from some innocent girl. So while Pocahontas isn’t THE greatest Disney movie of all time, it’s just around the river bend. —Lauren Zupkus — youtube.com

Yes, *Pocahontas* is historically inaccurate and even has elements of overt racism, but it still manages to be one of Disney’s more thoughtful movies. For starters, "Colors of the Wind" is a timeless environmental anthem that stresses the importance of preserving nature. (Never mind what the hell a blue corn moon is, because the white guy who wrote that lyric literally made up the term.) As far as Disney princesses go, Pocahontas is definitely on the woke side. Voiced by Native American actress Irene Bedard, Pocahontas speaks out against John Smith and his white settlers’ gun violence. And she’s actually the first Disney princess to ever have two love interests. #GetItGirl. Plus, Grandmother Willow is a criminally underrated kween and like, the only elderly female character portrayed in a Disney movie who isn’t an evil sea witch or an old hag desperate to steal the youth from some innocent girl. So while *Pocahontas* isn’t THE greatest Disney movie of all time, it’s just around the river bend. —*Lauren Zupkus*

youtube.com

Yes, *Pocahontas* is historically inaccurate and even has elements of overt racism, but it still manages to be one of Disney’s more thoughtful movies. For starters, "Colors of the Wind" is a timeless environmental anthem that stresses the importance of preserving nature. (Never mind what the hell a blue corn moon is, because the white guy who wrote that lyric literally made up the term.) As far as Disney princesses go, Pocahontas is definitely on the woke side. Voiced by Native American actress Irene Bedard, Pocahontas speaks out against John Smith and his white settlers’ gun violence. And she’s actually the first Disney princess to ever have two love interests. #GetItGirl. Plus, Grandmother Willow is a criminally underrated kween and like, the only elderly female character portrayed in a Disney movie who isn’t an evil sea witch or an old hag desperate to steal the youth from some innocent girl. So while *Pocahontas* isn’t THE greatest Disney movie of all time, it’s just around the river bend. —*Lauren Zupkus*

In The Princess and the Frog, Tiana is imperfectly beautiful. She wakes up with a serious case of bed-head and a less-than dewy glow, but it doesn’t matter because she’s working long hours to save money for her own restaurant, the dream that she wished upon a star for. Voiced by Anika Noni Rose, Tiana is one of most relatable Disney Princesses, mostly because she doesn’t fall right away for Prince Naveen’s (Bruno Campos) swagger, and is a little wary about kissing a frog (aren’t we all?). Now, while she and Prince Naveen do end up falling in love at the end, their slimy journey to undo Dr. Facilier’s curse isn’t all powdered beignets and gumbo, and yet, all the emotions hit.

Set in 1920s New Orleans, a city of jazzy vibes and voodoo magic, the soundtrack embodies the flavor, creating some seriously energetic pieces, from Tiana’s “Almost There” to the swamp witch Madame Odie’s “Dig a Little Deeper.” All told, this movie may just make you drop everything right now and go to NOLA. —Danielle Elmers — youtube.com

In *The Princess and the Frog*, Tiana is imperfectly beautiful. She wakes up with a serious case of bed-head and a less-than dewy glow, but it doesn’t matter because she’s working long hours to save money for her own restaurant, the dream that she wished upon a star for. Voiced by Anika Noni Rose, Tiana is one of most relatable Disney Princesses, mostly because she doesn’t fall right away for Prince Naveen’s (Bruno Campos) swagger, and is a little wary about kissing a frog (aren’t we all?). Now, while she and Prince Naveen do end up falling in love at the end, their slimy journey to undo Dr. Facilier’s curse isn’t all powdered beignets and gumbo, and yet, all the emotions hit.

Set in 1920s New Orleans, a city of jazzy vibes and voodoo magic, the soundtrack embodies the flavor, creating some seriously energetic pieces, from Tiana’s “Almost There” to the swamp witch Madame Odie’s “Dig a Little Deeper.” All told, this movie may just make you drop everything right now and go to NOLA. —*Danielle Elmers*

youtube.com

In *The Princess and the Frog*, Tiana is imperfectly beautiful. She wakes up with a serious case of bed-head and a less-than dewy glow, but it doesn’t matter because she’s working long hours to save money for her own restaurant, the dream that she wished upon a star for. Voiced by Anika Noni Rose, Tiana is one of most relatable Disney Princesses, mostly because she doesn’t fall right away for Prince Naveen’s (Bruno Campos) swagger, and is a little wary about kissing a frog (aren’t we all?). Now, while she and Prince Naveen do end up falling in love at the end, their slimy journey to undo Dr. Facilier’s curse isn’t all powdered beignets and gumbo, and yet, all the emotions hit.

Set in 1920s New Orleans, a city of jazzy vibes and voodoo magic, the soundtrack embodies the flavor, creating some seriously energetic pieces, from Tiana’s “Almost There” to the swamp witch Madame Odie’s “Dig a Little Deeper.” All told, this movie may just make you drop everything right now and go to NOLA. —*Danielle Elmers*

Yes, this movie is to blame for the generations of kids who grew up having sexually confused feelings about a fox, and it's probably solely to blame for the furry-friendly Zootopia this year, also starring a charismatic fox in its lead role. While Robin Hood has garnered somewhat of a cult following and a legion of defensive fans (including yours truly), it was considered an "embarrassment" by Disney back in the day—not only was it made on a significantly lower budget, but it was also the first feature to go into production following Walt Disney's death, without any of his input. It's thus often overlooked, but the scrappy aesthetic has a certain old school charm about it. Most of all, its likability comes from its easy-to-root-for hero, whose life motto—"steal from the rich and give to the poor"—pits him against the selfish and foolish Prince John, who taxes his poor citizens unfairly. Robin Hood finds himself a loyal squad of sidekicks (including Little John and Friar Tuck) and even gets a blossoming love story with a fellow foxy character, Maid Marian. —Kristen Yoonsoo Kim — youtube.com

Yes, this movie is to blame for the generations of kids who grew up having sexually confused feelings about a fox, and it's probably solely to blame for the furry-friendly *Zootopia* this year, also starring a charismatic fox in its lead role. While *Robin Hood* has garnered somewhat of a cult following and a legion of defensive fans (including yours truly), it was considered an "embarrassment" by Disney back in the day—not only was it made on a significantly lower budget, but it was also the first feature to go into production following Walt Disney's death, without any of his input. It's thus often overlooked, but the scrappy aesthetic has a certain old school charm about it. Most of all, its likability comes from its easy-to-root-for hero, whose life motto—"steal from the rich and give to the poor"—pits him against the selfish and foolish Prince John, who taxes his poor citizens unfairly. Robin Hood finds himself a loyal squad of sidekicks (including Little John and Friar Tuck) and even gets a blossoming love story with a fellow foxy character, Maid Marian. —*Kristen Yoonsoo Kim*

youtube.com

Yes, this movie is to blame for the generations of kids who grew up having sexually confused feelings about a fox, and it's probably solely to blame for the furry-friendly *Zootopia* this year, also starring a charismatic fox in its lead role. While *Robin Hood* has garnered somewhat of a cult following and a legion of defensive fans (including yours truly), it was considered an "embarrassment" by Disney back in the day—not only was it made on a significantly lower budget, but it was also the first feature to go into production following Walt Disney's death, without any of his input. It's thus often overlooked, but the scrappy aesthetic has a certain old school charm about it. Most of all, its likability comes from its easy-to-root-for hero, whose life motto—"steal from the rich and give to the poor"—pits him against the selfish and foolish Prince John, who taxes his poor citizens unfairly. Robin Hood finds himself a loyal squad of sidekicks (including Little John and Friar Tuck) and even gets a blossoming love story with a fellow foxy character, Maid Marian. —*Kristen Yoonsoo Kim*

Okay, so let’s go ahead and acknowledge that the plot of Sleeping Beauty is obviously #problematic. A woman is brought back to life by a man who makes out with her while she’s comatose. I meannnnn…

But despite the obvious issues, it’s hard to not be charmed by Sleeping Beauty, where yet again, our heroine Aurora (faux name: Briar Rose) is cursed by Maleficent, an evil fairy, and one of Disney’s scariest villains. Some very cute and very good fairies take Aurora away to protect her from Maleficent, though she falls into an eternal slumber regardless. Until Prince Charming comes along of course. It's a great fairy tale, one that helped set the mold for so many others to come. It also deserves a ton of credit for spawning one of Disney’s most famous songs “Once Upon A Dream,” which Lana Del Rey has even done a goth cover of. —Kerensa Cadenas — youtube.com

Okay, so let’s go ahead and acknowledge that the plot of Sleeping Beauty is obviously #problematic. A woman is brought back to life by a man who makes out with her while she’s comatose. I meannnnn…

But despite the obvious issues, it’s hard to not be charmed by *Sleeping Beauty*, where yet again, our heroine Aurora (faux name: Briar Rose) is cursed by Maleficent, an evil fairy, and one of Disney’s scariest villains. Some very cute and very good fairies take Aurora away to protect her from Maleficent, though she falls into an eternal slumber regardless. Until Prince Charming comes along of course. It's a great fairy tale, one that helped set the mold for so many others to come. It also deserves a ton of credit for spawning one of Disney’s most famous songs “Once Upon A Dream,” which Lana Del Rey has even done a goth cover of. —*Kerensa Cadenas*

youtube.com

Okay, so let’s go ahead and acknowledge that the plot of Sleeping Beauty is obviously #problematic. A woman is brought back to life by a man who makes out with her while she’s comatose. I meannnnn…

But despite the obvious issues, it’s hard to not be charmed by *Sleeping Beauty*, where yet again, our heroine Aurora (faux name: Briar Rose) is cursed by Maleficent, an evil fairy, and one of Disney’s scariest villains. Some very cute and very good fairies take Aurora away to protect her from Maleficent, though she falls into an eternal slumber regardless. Until Prince Charming comes along of course. It's a great fairy tale, one that helped set the mold for so many others to come. It also deserves a ton of credit for spawning one of Disney’s most famous songs “Once Upon A Dream,” which Lana Del Rey has even done a goth cover of. —*Kerensa Cadenas*

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is an undisputed classic. It's amazing to think it was made in 1937 and was the first Disney animated feature film, because Snow White is still a Disney princess permeating the #culture in the form of BuzzFeed quizzes. Plus, the evil queen with her self-affirming mirror? Still iconic. And “Someday My Prince Will Come”? A true anthem for all the single ladies out there who have yet to figure out that all men are trash. But even with those cultural gifts, Snow White just doesn’t hold up as well today as some of the other early Disney films. Exhibit A: That song “ Heigh-Ho.” 2016 would tear that song apart. Exhibit B: The random prince who comes along and kisses Snow White after she’s been dead and laying in a coffin for a year. Sus level: extreme. Also, can we talk about how Sneezy’s character trait is just a literal bodily function? We have Happy, Grumpy, Doc, Bashful, Sleepy, Dopey and… Sneezy? It’s as if the writers had six solid ones and tacked on SNEEZY at the absolute last minute because one of them had a cold. —Lauren Zupkus — youtube.com

*Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs* is an undisputed classic. It's amazing to think it was made in 1937 and was the first Disney animated feature film, because Snow White is still a Disney princess permeating the #culture in the form of BuzzFeed quizzes. Plus, the evil queen with her self-affirming mirror? Still iconic. And “Someday My Prince Will Come”? A true anthem for all the single ladies out there who have yet to figure out that all men are trash. But even with those cultural gifts, *Snow White* just doesn’t hold up as well today as some of the other early Disney films. Exhibit A: That song “ Heigh-Ho.” 2016 would tear that song apart. Exhibit B: The random prince who comes along and kisses Snow White after she’s been dead and laying in a coffin for a year. Sus level: extreme. Also, can we talk about how Sneezy’s character trait is just a literal bodily function? We have Happy, Grumpy, Doc, Bashful, Sleepy, Dopey and… Sneezy? It’s as if the writers had six solid ones and tacked on SNEEZY at the absolute last minute because one of them had a cold. —*Lauren Zupkus*

youtube.com

*Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs* is an undisputed classic. It's amazing to think it was made in 1937 and was the first Disney animated feature film, because Snow White is still a Disney princess permeating the #culture in the form of BuzzFeed quizzes. Plus, the evil queen with her self-affirming mirror? Still iconic. And “Someday My Prince Will Come”? A true anthem for all the single ladies out there who have yet to figure out that all men are trash. But even with those cultural gifts, *Snow White* just doesn’t hold up as well today as some of the other early Disney films. Exhibit A: That song “ Heigh-Ho.” 2016 would tear that song apart. Exhibit B: The random prince who comes along and kisses Snow White after she’s been dead and laying in a coffin for a year. Sus level: extreme. Also, can we talk about how Sneezy’s character trait is just a literal bodily function? We have Happy, Grumpy, Doc, Bashful, Sleepy, Dopey and… Sneezy? It’s as if the writers had six solid ones and tacked on SNEEZY at the absolute last minute because one of them had a cold. —*Lauren Zupkus*

Disney Features

By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you’re agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our

and

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy PolicyandTerms of Serviceapply.

Channels

Stream on

Follow On

Read on

Complex Sites

Work with us

Complex Global

The Best Disney Animated Movies Ever

Alice in Wonderland (1951)

View this video on YouTube

Aladdin (1992)

View this video on YouTube

The Aristocats (1970)

View this video on YouTube

Bambi (1942)

View this video on YouTube

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

View this video on YouTube

Cinderella (1950)

View this video on YouTube

Coco (2017)

View this video on YouTube

Dumbo (1941)

View this video on YouTube

Fantasia (1940)

View this video on YouTube

The Fox and the Hound (1981)

View this video on YouTube

A Goofy Movie (1995)

View this video on YouTube

Hercules (1997)

View this video on YouTube

The Jungle Book (1967)

View this video on YouTube

Lady and the Tramp (1955)

View this video on YouTube

The Lion King (1994)

View this video on YouTube

The Little Mermaid (1989)

View this video on YouTube

Moana (2016)

View this video on YouTube

Mulan (1998)

View this video on YouTube

Oliver & Company (1988)

View this video on YouTube

One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

View this video on YouTube

Peter Pan (1953)

View this video on YouTube

Pinocchio (1940)

View this video on YouTube

Pocahontas (1995)

View this video on YouTube

The Princess and the Frog (2009)

View this video on YouTube

Robin Hood (1973)

View this video on YouTube

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

View this video on YouTube

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

View this video on YouTube

ComplexNewsletter

Latest in Pop Culture