Welcome back to my Walt Disney Animation Studios Ranking!
Without further ado, here are #40-#31!
40. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
What I liked most about this movie is how much it reminded me of one of my favorite Walt Disney World attractions, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, which is a ride that essentially takes you through this movie, scene-by-scene. I love Piglet and Tigger, but I didn’t care much for the segments where Pooh gets stuck in the doorway, or when Rabbit tries to ditch Tigger in the woods. Honestly, I’m partial to the spin-off movies from the early 2000s like The Tigger Movie and Piglet’s Big Movie (which I’m told was the first movie I saw in the theaters).
39. Bambi (1942)
This is more a matter of personal taste, but I’m not big on nature stories, so Bambi does not resonate with me like it may for others. Seeing Bambi, Thumper, and Flower explore the world together as young children is so delightful, but the scenes where the animals hide from the hunter is exactly the kind of nature documentary stuff I don’t enjoy. The concept of “twitterpation” and its explanation have always amused me, but during my last viewing it was almost uncomfortable to see the horniness take over adolescent Bambi, Thumper, and Flower. That, in addition to the jarring voice actor changes and violent confrontation between Bambi and a rival deer, make the second half of the movie unenjoyable to me.
38. Alice in Wonderland (1951)
The story of Alice in Wonderland, while meant to be nonsensical, also seems to be made up of a lot of filler scenes/characters, with a few memorable and iconic scenes/characters. It’s nice to have on in the background, though, and I can see it entertaining young children or being a nostalgic comfort movie.
37. Lady and the Tramp (1955)
I’m not terribly into the “let’s dive into the world of pets” concept, yet I think Lady and the Tramp is pretty cute. Lady as a puppy is absolutely adorable, and I love Jock and Trusty. I’m not sure how much I like the Tramp though, and I wasn’t moved by the whirlwind romance between him and Lady. Also, those cats and their song were just terrible.
36. Brother Bear (2003)
A big standout to me was the animation, especially during the transformation sequences. At the beginning, I really liked the three human brothers and wanted to see more of them (that’s not how the plot goes, though). However, I did find myself getting emotional at the end.
35. Saludos Amigos (1943)
Saludos Amigos is the first in the infamous package film era, and it’s way more fun than you’d ever expect. I loved how the live action sequences showed animators visiting Latin America, showing footage from their travels that directly inspired their animation, all while serving as a smooth segue from one short subject to the next. The movie as a whole felt cohesive, the shorts made me giggle, the music was fun, and I got to see Donald Duck and José Carioca meet, without Panchito Pistoles.
34. The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
The Rescuers Down Under is tonally much more similar to the rest of the Disney canon, especially given its place within the Disney Renaissance, than its predecessor. There were a lot of cute, clever sequences (my favorite was the telegram message). I loved Bernard and Bianca in The Rescuers, so I enjoyed seeing their relationship in the sequel. The main thing I didn’t like was that I didn’t think the whole sequence of Wilbur throwing his back out was funny at all.
33. The Rescuers (1977)
The Rescuers is such a different tone than one expects from a Disney movie. I’m not sure how else I can describe it, but The Rescuers is a quiet movie, in a lovely way. It’s soft and relaxing, and I think Bernard and Bianca are so cute. Overall, it just feels really unique.
32. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
I really liked the characters Quasimodo and Esmerelda. I felt bad though when Quasimodo thought Esmerelda liked him and she was really into Phoebus. The movie was also pretty dark and intense. I love a good musical, so what really makes this movie stand out to me is the music.
31. Fantasia (1940)
Fantasia is a mixed bag for me. The concept and setup is amazing, but some sequences are more interesting than others. I like the Nutcracker Suite, the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and the Dance of the Hours. I don’t care much for the Rite of Spring or the Pastoral Symphony.
Check back here later this week for the next installment of this series!