Now then, most of you are probably wondering, "What's a Disney Canon? Something you shoot with?" Well, it's not. The Disney Canon is the list of official Disney animated movies. This means only movies that went to theatres after being produced wholly by Disney studios. And in order to shorten the workload, Package films, films made of multiple shorts meshed together, will be rated another week.
Read the descriptions, because some of the movies were very close to being a thumbs-up but were given a thumbs-down because they were slightly below par. And if I could find it, I included a link to the best songs from the movie!
Another note- I reference the Disney Renaissance multiple times, so it would probably be best if you knew what that was. The Renaissance is from 1989 to 1999, when Disney movies were actually good. This is a real term, I didn’t make it up.
So, without further ado, I introduce you to week one of
See It or Skip It- Disney Canon
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)As the first ever animated movie, you should probably have expected that one. While this movie is wanting for some character and plot development, this wasn't all too out of the ordinary for a movie of its length. And while the prince wasn't really important, the story isn't called "Snow White and the Prince," it's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Sure, I would have loved the prince to be actually part of the story and not just shown for three minutes tops, or perhaps for Snow White to get with one of the Dwarfs, but I can deal with how the story went anyway. So yes, it's a weak story, but it's worth the watch.
Pinocchio (1940)There were many things that decided this for me. One, Jiminy Cricket is a pervert. I mean, the entire time he was flirting and fawning over random women! Plus, it was highly racist. The black people were represented as blobs. It was disgusting. And the donkey scene was terrifying. Plus they cursed during it. If I'm not mistaken, Jiminy calls the boy a "Jackass," after which the boy promptly began turning into a donkey. And none of the songs were any good! None of them! I'm sorry, but I would highly discourage anyone from watching Pinocchio. It's hardly worth it.
Dumbo (1941)Okay, let me start with the positives. Yes, the Baby Mine song was heartbreaking, and I cry each time I watch it. Okay, now to the negatives. Half of the movie was a song about Dumbo being drunk. It moved by much too quickly, and once again: HOW RACIST CAN YOU BE?? How long does it take to draw a face on the back characters? There was very little character development, and while this may sound rude, but I recommend NOT watching Dumbo. Just skip it.
Bambi (1942)Sure, you're al going, "WHAT? BUT BAMBI IS SO ADORIBLE!!" Yeah, well, adoribleness isn't much when there's almost no plot to a story. No character developement at all, either! And I thought Flower was a girl! He has a female's voice, but no! Flower is in fact a dude! And the mom dying? It was only important for a few minutes. It wasn't flowing, it was just a bunch of different things happening. Don't go out of your way to see it.
Cinderella (1950)Cinderella is a classic. Period. You can't NOT watch it. I mean, there's actually dynamic characters for once! You can sympathize with Cinderella, because her family is truly evil. And the prince had an even greater role than Snow White's prince did. We actually got to know this guy's family. And there is indeed a plot! I would surely recommend seeing this!
Alice in Wonderland (1952)There was no plotline. No plotline at all. It was just a bunch of random events and random characters strung together into a story. I mean, I want to be invested in these characters. I want to enjoy the story. But I can’t enjoy the story if there isn’t one! Maybe the Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland will be better. As far as this one goes, though, it’s not worth the watch.
Peter Pan (1953)I enjoyed myself as I watched this. Sure, parts of it didn’t really flow, but the villain was actually evil, yet also had a pathetic side. Captain Hook constantly being followed by the alligator was funny, and I liked the characters. Songs weren’t the main jewel of the movie, but whatever. It was still worth the watch, and I would definitely recommend you see it.
Lady and the Tramp (1955)Sure, this one isn’t one of my favorites, but let’s face it: if you’ve never seen the spaghetti scene of Lady and the Tramp, you are lost in the world of media references. If anything is referenced from Disney, it’s usually the spaghetti scene. So that, along with the We Are Siamese song are more than enough to make this movie worth watching. But, if you must have more, the car crash at the end was a good twist. Whatever way you slice it, this is a cute movie that I recommend you see.
Sleeping Beauty (1959)Aurora was only in it for eighteen minutes, and Prince Philip wasn’t in it for very long either, but hey, at least it had funny fairies and a pure evil villain. Of all the original three Disney princess movies, I’d probably say this was the best. Either that or Cinderella. The point is, Sleeping Beauty was good, despite the fact that every song was just the same lines repeated over and over. So, yeah, it’s worth the watch.
One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)Cruella De Vil is probably one of the most evil villains of ever, and her song is amazing too. The story is super cute to boot. I felt sad for Lucky when he “died,” and when the puppies were cold, hungry and tired I felt their pain. The movie was funny, the plot was awesome, overall totally worth the watch.
The Sword in the Stone (1963)Overall, just plain boring. The ending left me feeling like the story wasn’t actually over and more had to happen, you know? None of the songs stood out to me, and none of the characters were awesome enough to make it into my “Coolest Characters” list. And most of the story was just random events that had nothing to do with each other. The best part was the squirrel romance, but otherwise it wasn’t worth my time.
The Jungle Book (1967)Once more, the story wasn’t a continuous flow of story. Rather, it felt disconnected and the ending felt slapped-on, like they ran out of time and just animated the first thing that came to mind. The girl doesn’t even have a name, for crying out loud! Share Khan was a loser bad guy, and even Kaa kicked his butt. The songs were good, though, especially Trust in Me and The Bear Necesities. And I did like Baloo and Baghera. But overall, it’s not too good.
The Aristocats (1970)Just a really dumb movie. The butler was the worst bad guy I’d ever scene, all of the songs were terrible, the romance thing was suckish, it wasn‘t funny, the kittens annoyed me, nobody had a French accent despite the fact they were living in France… Need I continue? It wasn’t worth the hour and a half I wasted watching it.
Robin Hood (1973)Sure, Prince John was funny with his whole crying for mommy thing, but the Sherriff of Nottingham was an idiot. The songs weren’t all too great, and most of the characters were rather weak. The fight scenes were losery, and usually were won because Little John told the cowardly knights not to fight Robin or else. You would do well to skip it.
The Rescuers (1977)Well, I will admit part of this movie were sad. And I will admit part of this movie was scary. But It never struck me as super amazing. It doesn’t stand out as a true masterpiece, and at times I even forget about it when I think of Disney movies. I gave it a thumbs-down not because it was necessarily bad, but because it wasn’t something I’d go out of my way to see. If you want to, be my guest, but I wouldn’t say it’s worth spending money on.
The Fox and the Hound (1981)This was an adorable story of friendship and how growing up can make our childhood friends no longer close to us. I felt sad for the farmer’s older dog, Chief, and I nearly cried when the old lady was sending Todd away to the forest. While the songs weren’t the highlight of the film, The Fox and The Hound was certainly the best of the post-Walt Disney’s death and pre-Disney Renaissance films. I would definitely recommend seeing it.
The Black Cauldron (1985)This one required a lot of thought, as I really did like it. And while parts of it were really good, like the beginning and the end, the middle was too annoying and sort of ruined the experience. I mean, there weren’t any songs, and a lot of the supporting characters were either completely useless or really messed up. Sure, if you did watch it you might like it, but I wouldn’t advise going out of your way to see it.
The Great Mouse Detective (1986)This one was hard too. I guess it was an eighties thing. In my opinion, Rattigan was an amazing bad guy and had a totally awesome song, and Basil was a pretty cool detective, but a lot of the other characters were annoying and dumb. The story was slightly weak, and the animation was lacking. Like a few of the previous films, you shouldn’t go out of your way to see it, but you might enjoy it if you gave it the time.
Oliver & Company (198 cool The beginning was cute, I’ll give it that. But none of the characters were likable, as they were all robbers, thugs, and snobs. Oliver didn’t even have a name until about halfway through. A lot of the songs sucked. The bad guy, who I’ll admit had the most epic death scene ever, wasn’t at all cool. He was just mean and stingy and wanted to kill people so he could get their money. All in all, I’d skip it.
The Little Mermaid (1989)Okay, so all of the songs were great, and I especially like Kiss the Girl, Poor Unfortunate Souls, Under the Sea, Part of That World, and Les Poissons. Plus the story is awesome. Sure, it would be better if Ariel and Eric were actually in love with each other and not just in love with each other’s faces and voices. Still, I really enjoyed it, and every character is super likeable. You can tell this is the start of the Disney Renaissance, because it is totally worth the watch.
The Rescuers Down Under (1990)Like this first, there just isn’t anything about it that really stands out. Sure, MacLeach was a hilarious villain, but otherwise the story wasn’t all that great. The main kid Cody didn’t even have an Australian accent! But I will say that Bernard attempting to propose the entire time was super adorable. Overall, it was okay, but not really deserving of a thumbs-up.
Beauty and the Beast (1991)Beauty and the Beast is super amazing! The best song ever is Gaston, and the other songs are good too! The story is perfect, and at times it can be heartbreaking. I cry at the end every time I watch it! The characters are all awesome, and the overall look of the film is beautiful. The added song, Human Again, is actually pretty good, and goes perfectly with the rest of the movie. Two words: See it!
Aladdin (1992)Okay, you guys are all probably thinking, “Whoa, I thought Cat couldn’t stand Aladdin! Well, I can’t. But I can tell when a movie is worth seeing. While I don’t like it, I do find the genie funny, and Jafar is super weird. (that’s a good thing) My favorite songs are the reprise of Prince Ali and A Whole New World, and the other songs are catchy, I‘ll admit. So, yeah, obviously you should see it.
The Lion King (1994)The Lion King is awesome. I Just Can’t Wait to Be King, Be Prepared, and every other song is amazing. Mufasa’s death leaves me in tears every time I see it, and the wildebeest stampede that precedes it is amazing. The sets are beautiful, and the animation is beautiful too. The only thing I don’t like is the guy who plays adult Simba. Still, though, The Lion King is totally worth the watch.
Pocahontas (1995)At first my main thoughts were, “Gosh is Meeko ever annoying!” And while he still is, Meeko’s annoyingness is outweighed by everyone else’s awesomeness. Almost every song is killer, especially Colors of the Wind, Mine Mine Mine, and the added song If I Never Knew You. The bad guy Ratcliffe is awesome in his own fruity way, and Pocahontas’s hair is beautiful. So yeah, I totally think you should see it.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)Oh my gosh, is this movie ever awesome! I mean, the entire movie is really mature and not what you’d expect of a G-rated movie. The best songs are Hellfire, Out There, and God Help the Outcasts. The songs, settings, and characters are all beautiful. The sanctuary scene (or the “save the children” scene as Addie would call it) is amazing, and always brings tears to my eyes. Frollo is the most evil villain of all time, and he himself is the main reason the movie is so good. It is definitely worth the watch!
Hercules (1997)I Won’t Say I’m In Love is probably the sweetest song ever, and Hercules and Meg make the cutest couple. Hercules is number one on my “Coolest Characters” list, and Hades is obviously one of my favorite villains. Phil is awesome, as is Pegasus, as well as Zeus. Basically, every character is awesome. The songs are super good, and the story is so beautiful. Hercules is and always will be my favorite movie. I definitely would recommend this movie to everyone.
Mulan (199 cool Mulan is amazing! There are no other words to describe it! A Girl Worth Fighting For, I’ll Make a Man Out of You and Reflection are some of the best songs ever, and the entire movie is beautiful. The songs, the settings, the battles, everything is beautiful. Totally worth the watch.
Tarzan (1999)Tarzan is one of the most romantic movies I’ve ever seen, especially the song Strangers Like Me! The jungle is beautifully animated, and the characters are really likeable. I really like Clayton, the villain, because he’s just super cool! The gorillas look so pretty, just like real gorillas! Plus Phil Collins adds a special feel to the movie with his songs. A movie you should seriously watch!
Dinosaur (2000)Please don’t waste your time with Dinosaur. It’s not horrible, but my gosh is it ever boring! Plus the animators spent so much time making it look real that the voices of the characters just sounded misplaced. It was pretty to look at, but the plot was basically The Land Before Time with a bunch of dinos getting eaten. Don’t waste your time, it’s seriously not worth it.
The Emperor's New Groove (2000)Songs weren’t the highlight of the Emperor‘s New Groove, but rather hilarious dialogues! Every line was funny, and every character was awesome! And then there’s also a plotline, which you don’t usually see in funny movies. And for once the main character isn’t some perfect guy, but rather a jerk who’s in love with himself. Unless you’re Addie, I would totally recommend it!
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)This rating even shocked me. After all, Atlantis has the worst romance ever, the dumbest, most stereotypical characters, and the lamest jokes. Not to mention it was really confusing. But I’ve been thinking about it, and the action scenes were amazing, and if you watch it twice the confusing parts start to make sense. So yeah, strangely enough I’d recommend you watch it.
Lilo & Stitch (2002)Lilo and Stitch is one of the most adorable movies of all time! I cry every time I watch the Aloha O’e song, as well as during the “I’m Lost” scene. It is heartbreaking, and touches on subjects you wouldn’t expect a Disney movie to be about. Lilo and Stitch is one of the sweetest and saddest movies ever, and I would definitely recommend it!
Treasure Planet (2002)Treasure Planet is one of my favorite movies of all time! Don’t listen to what Sara says, it’s amazing! And Im Still Here is officially my favorite song ever! Jim is super hot, and I can really connect with him. (my parents being divorced and all) And while a lot of people don’t like Silver, I really love him! I think he’s super awesome! And BEN may be annoying and unable to shut up, but I like him that way. Al in all, a beautiful movie and totally worth watching!
Brother Bear (2003)At first I thought the beginning and end were really good but the middle sucked, right? Well, now after watching it a few more times, I find the entire thing good! The best part was the end where he was naked. Anyway, though… the movie had a lot of amazing twists and shocking “OMG, no way!” moments. The songs sucked, though. Seriously. But anyway, yeah, I’d recommend watching it.
Home on the Range (2004)This is still the worst movie I’ve ever seen, besides of course Being John Malkovich. I mean, Alameda Slim is the worst bad guy ever. Don’t believe me? Watch this song. Yep, all he ever does is Yodel. That’s it. None of the characters were any good, the story sucked, and Alameda Slim sucks even more. Never watch Home on the Range, it’s not even bad in a funny way. Definitely skip it.
Chicken Little (2005)Hundreds of bad puns plus no actual bad guys plus Fred Willard equals a really dumb movie. Sure, it was sad that Chicken Little’s dad didn’t believe in him and he felt like a loser, but the whole ending with the stupid alien parents and Abby being love struck just sucked. Sorry, but I would recommend skipping it.
Meet the Robinsons (2007)I will admit, the commercials made it look like it would suck. And if you can’t stand insanity, you will probably think it sucks. Though if you’re like me, and you are insane, you’ll probably like it. The future is crazy, but the past is sad. There are some really awesome twists, and the end is beautiful. The end song is awesome too. So if you think you can handle a little craziness, I’d recommend watching it.
Bolt (200 cool Okay, so parts of Bolt were well-done. I’ll admit it, parts were actually good. But overall I thought it was shallow and a rip-off of the Truman Show. Not to mention the manager guy annoyed the crap out of me. “Let’s put a pin in it, there’s the pin,” he’d say, then I say back, “Shut up! *throws brick at TV*” And they really skipped out on some amazing opportunities, like Mittens and Bolt could have had a relationship and Bolt could have died at the end. But no, neither happens! Anyway, I wouldn’t recommend seeing it. But then again... the ending is pretty good, sooo... Yeah, see it, I guess...
The Princess and the Frog (2009)Ah-haha, you have no idea how much I loved this movie. Ray and Naveen were the best characters, because they were just THAT awesome. I loved all of the songs, especially Down in New Orleans, When We're Human, and Ma Belle Evangeline. (Youtube sucks and won't allow videos of them... At least, ones you can actually see...) Anyway, I cried when a certain somebody died, and I fell in love with naveen because he was just that epic. (and he reminds me of Chris... what a surprise) Basically, this movie was 100 times better than I expected, and a definite must-see!
Tangled (2010)Wow, this movie was awesome. Eugene was my favorite, but I can never tell what I'm supposed to call him. Why must he have two different names?! Personally, I prefer Eugene Fitzherbert, but as he said himself, "you would be the first." But by the end he was officially going by Eugene, right? Gah, I don't know. Nevermind. Rapunzel was cute, especially her eyes. And both she and Flynn have AMAZING singing voices. Zachary Levi, why have I never heard your singing voice before? Best songs in the movie: Healing Incantation and I See The Light. Yay! Anyway, the end of the movie was a win. I nearly cried, the only reason I probably didn't is because I was running a 102 fever. Oh, and that thing that got on your nerves, Addie? Read the original Rapunzel story, it makes perfect sense once you do. =D
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I have one major question: What the heck is a bear doing in the jungle? That annoys me so much!! Shut up Baloo. Go die.
I like Bolt though. I'd say see it; just cause its really funny.
Oh and yes, I despise the Emporer's New Groove stare
But don't listen to me...SAVE THE CHILDREN!!
Yeah...that was amazing...