It should come as no surprise to anyone who reads my blog on a regular basis that i am a huge disney fan, in fact this is the third post in a row on disney, i really should find another subject or i may have to rename this blog, however i finished an exam today, and decided to relax by watching one of my favorite disney films 'One Hundred and One Dalmatians'. Disney has the longest history and the largest back catalogue of animated films, and produced the first ever full length animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Disney successfully parlayed into making computer animated movies, and acquired PIXAR in 2007, securing their role as the top animation studio. I decided to compile a list of my favorite Disney films, a list i compiled in my head last night, as i was unable to sleep! So in no particular order, here goes!
1. Tangled: This might seem like an odd choice, but this film really is fantastic, catchy songs, and modern animation make this film a contemporary classic. The film is somewhat of a game changer for disney, and was the first non PIXAR computer animated film to show real beauty, the film manages to successfully blend computer animation with traditional animation to create something truly beautiful, and bears no resemblance to generic Dreamworks computer animated films. A modern reworking of a classic fairytale makes for fabulous viewing, and a modern classic.
2. Meet the Robinsons: Again, might seem like an odd choice, this computer animated film was the first computer animated film released by disney that really made the studio a true competitor for PIXAR. The film has a fun engaging script, an interesting and intelligent plot involving time travel, that could rival Doctor Who, and features some beautiful animation. The film is different from most disney features, in that it appeals more to boys than girls and is not a musical, it also takes place in no particular time frame, and the time travel element means that it could take place in any era, this is a fun animated feature, where actions have direct consequences and the future may not be as rosy as we would like to believe, and which manages to successfully bring disney animated features into the modern era.
3. One Hundred and One Dalmatians: I have often talked about my love for this film, and have seen it a great number of times, the first film to use the xerox process and the start of the modern era. The first film not to be inked by hand, the xerox process gave the film a modern, cartoon look. The backgrounds were painted by hand and then had ink cells put over the top, giving the backgrounds a modern art look, given that the outlines don't quite match up with the watercolors. This is also one of the few films in which the backgrounds are drawn in the same style as the characters, giving the film true coherence, the iconic voice of Rod Taylor as Pongo make this film an entertaining and artistic film.
2. Fantasia 200: The first animated film to be screened in IMAX, this followup to Walt Disney's 1940's anthology has more coherence than the original, and is a half step between hand drawn animation and computer animation, parlaying disney into the new millennium. Well known and iconic recordings make this more entertaining and beautiful than the original, the highlight is the outstanding Rhapsody In Blue, a daringly different piece of animation with real style depicting a construction worker in 1920's Manhattan, and The Carnival of the Animals, a funny piece about a flock of flamingos, and a yo-yo.
1. The Lion King: I know i said that this list was 'in no particular order' but i lied, The Lion King takes the bait as the best animated feature of all time. Fantastic music by Sir Elton John and Tim Rice, and beautiful vistas make this a fun ride. A daringly original story and iconic voice actors help make this film a fantastically fun ride. I guess it also helps that it was released a year after i was born, and thus summons up feelings of nostalgia from anyone who grew up during the ninties.
Any comments? Which Disney films are your favorites?
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