05 Jun THE HOUSE OF MOUSE PROJECT: Ranking all 59 Walt Disney Animation Studios films

41. The Three Caballeros (1945) – full article

After the surprise success of Saludos Amigos, Walt Disney kept his eye firmly focused on Latin America with another Hispanic-themed package film that concentrated on America’s southern neighbour Mexico. Set around the conceit of Donald Duck receiving three birthday presents from his Saludos Amigos pal José Carioca, The Three Caballeros was the first feature-length animation film to blend live-action actors and animation in a significant way. A spectacular fusion of animation and live-action, the film was ultimately rather groundbreaking for its time. Of all the package films of the 1940s, The Three Caballeros is the one which stands tallest by sheer measure of its artistic freedom and the quality of its genuinely striking surrealist visuals.

40. Brother Bear (2003) – full article

Disney’s first dalliance with a narrative rooted in Native American culture, Brother Bear was a return to the talking animal movies which had kept the studio afloat in the 1960s and 70s. Unfortunately, the film arrived in a cinema landscape that had all but moved on from this style of animation, leaving Brother Bear to feel like little more than a relic of the past. The film it didn’t challenge anything Disney hadn’t already tackled numerous times previously. Even with the interesting ratio change switcheroo technique, nothing here feels particularly groundbreaking or fresh. At its core, Brother Bear is a terribly generic film. If the film had arrived a decade earlier, it may have felt like a breath of fresh air. As it stands, it’s little more than a passive attempt to recapture the past.

39. The Aristocats (1970) – full article

As the last animated project Walt Disney personally approved before his death, there’s a touch of melancholy surrounding The Aristocats. Designed to mirror the success of other animal-centric films like Lady and the Tramp and One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Aristocats offered Disney a glimmer of hope they could continue producing successful animated feature films without their faithful leader. It also set the formula for the decades ahead, with Disney now almost exclusively focusing on animated animal films for the next two decades. A charmingly enjoyable caper, The Aristocats is damaged by its lack of a great villain and the disastrously outdated cultural depiction of a Siamese cat named Shun Gon, who plays the piano using a pair of chopsticks. Yikes.

38. Bolt (2008) – full article

It’s okay to admit you forgot Bolt ever existed. Despite its critical and commercial success at the time, Bolt has strangely vanished from the pop culture zeitgeist over the past 12 years. Bolt stood on the cusp of Disney’s second Renaissance period and it seems most have forgotten how the film essentially laid the foundation for future success stories like Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph, and Frozen. With an array of truly endearing characters and a heartwarming narrative that will touch the hearts of all dog lovers, Bolt is an underrated gem that deserves more attention and kudos than it receives. It’s endlessly fun and terribly sweet, proving Disney was capable of producing an entertaining and engaging computer-animated hit.

37. Winnie the Pooh (2011) – full article

As Disney’s final traditionally animated feature film, Winnie the Pooh ends an era of animation in rather understated fashion. Despite favourable reviews, Winnie the Pooh was ultimately a box office dud, causing Disney to abandon plans for any future films made in the traditional animation style.  While there’s nothing particularly groundbreaking about Winnie the Pooh, it’s always a treat to venture back to the Hundred Acre Wood to revisit the gorgeous cast of characters who have been delighting audiences for over five decades. It’s a breezily enjoyable 63-minute detour from the usual big-budget animated blockbusters that throw all sorts of special effects and lavish musical numbers at you for over 90 minutes. The filmmakers keenly understood the simplicity of Winnie the Pooh’s adventures and sought to recapture the magic that made him such an icon of the Disney studio.

36. The Great Mouse Detective (1986) – full article

It’s unlikely you’ll hear many fans and critics discuss The Great Mouse Detective in the 21st century. As popular as it may have been in 1986, the film has mostly faded away over the last three decades, which is a mighty shame because it’s a terrific little gem, which features one of Disney’s most underrated villains. As Disney’s first traditionally animated film to extensively feature the use of computer animation, The Great Mouse Detective ultimately sparked a revolution. As a moment of genuine artistic progression, the spectacular computer-generated sequence inside Big Ben is unlike anything Disney had crafted before. In an era of several disappointing films, The Great Mouse Detective proved to be a breath of fresh air that evoked the classic sensibilities of Disney’s past, while pushing towards its impending revival.

35. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) – full article

In terms of artistic quality, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is one of the best-animated features of this troubled era, even if it’s somewhat of a stretch to consider this a true feature-length animated film. By stitching together three existing animated shorts with new prologue and epilogue animation, Disney rightly tapped into the burgeoning popularity of one of its most valuable assets. Coupled with the spectacular voiceover work, the character designs of Pooh and his many animal friends are genuinely masterful, creating some of the most endearing characters in Disney history. The wonderfully bizarre animation found in the “Heffalumps and Woozles” dream sequence is iconic for its bold use of surrealist imagery that’s up there with some of the wackiest (and occasionally terrifying) animated work Disney ever created.

34. The Emperor’s New Groove (2000) – full article

There are few animated films in Disney’s history that suffered more production woes than The Emperor’s New Groove. The film’s journey from inception to completion is so chaotic, there’s even a feature-length documentary entirely dedicated to the disastrous process. After falling behind schedule, the film’s original director resigned and the entire project was reworked, despite the fact $30 million had been spent, 25% of the film was already animated, and Sting had already composed eight tracks for the soundtrack. Given its turbulent production process, it’s a miracle The Emperor’s New Groove even exists at all, let alone prove to be so wonderfully entertaining and sharply humorous.

33. Peter Pan (1953) – full article

In the decades that followed its release, Peter Pan has become one of Disney’s most profitable and beloved titles, namely due to Tinker Bell becoming a breakout star of her own, with spin-off movies and a hugely successful line of merchandise. Despite its gorgeous animation and beautiful music, Peter is a fairly unlikeable protagonist who spends most of the film acting like a petulant brat. While Peter Pan is one of Disney’s most cherished properties, it has long suffered from its now uncomfortably outdated depiction of Native Americans, particularly the garish song “What Made the Red Man Red?” where the lyrics imply their “red skin” is a result of their persistent pursuit of women. While these stereotypical characters are also present in J.M. Barrie’s original play, Disney made the decision to continue their use in this adaptation and they deserve to be held accountable for such a baffling artistic choice.

32. Tarzan (1999) – full article

As the Renaissance period drew to a close and Disney grew desperate for another box office smash, the studio turned to an icon of both literature and cinema that had been crying out for an animated adaptation for decades. Walt Disney himself had shown interest in adapting Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan of the Apes way back in 1936. 60-odd years later, it finally happened. While Tarzan couldn’t quite meet the towering benchmark set by several of its predecessors, its animation was the culmination of a decade of advances in computer technology that took animation to places hand-drawn artistry simply couldn’t reach. The inherent issues with Tarzan lie with its narrative, which feels so painfully reminiscent of several other Disney films. It’s a patchwork quilt of Disney’s greatest hits and rarely stands on its own two feet as something unique and original.

31. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) – full article

After the major financial losses of Sleeping Beauty, Walt Disney was genuinely considering shutting down his beloved animation department. Walt knew numerous changes had to be made, namely those which would allow the studio to conserve spending and ensure animated films could turn a profit. The solution arrived through Ub Iwerks, who modified a Xerox photocopier which could transfer animators’ drawings directly onto animations cels, eliminating the need for the expensive ink painting process. As the first film to utilise the Xerox technique, One Hundred and One Dalmatians does not resemble a work of art like many of its predecessors. Regardless of the dip in animation quality, Disney showed its true strength of great storytelling with a film that’s still wonderfully entertaining and entirely adorable, with a deliciously nasty villain to boot.

30. Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) – full article

Standing as only the second animated sequel in Disney’s history, Ralph Breaks the Internet is every bit as narratively enjoyable, visually ambitious, and gorgeously animated as its predecessor, proving Disney could (and should) make exceptional non-Pixar animated sequels. While it may fail to delve too deeply into the dark and damaging nature of the Internet, the film showcased Disney’s ability to poke some good-natured fun at itself, courtesy of a hefty helping of self-deprecation. With eye-popping animation, a terrific voice cast, a touching and entertaining narrative, and a treasure trove of delightful cameos, Ralph Breaks the Internet is everything a sequel should be and then some.

29. Lilo & Stich (2002) – full article

In the wake of several commercial failures such as Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Disney looked to create something quick, cheap, and, thus, potentially highly profitable. To save on the production costs of the Hawaiian-themed alien adventure Lilo & Stich, the animation team used watercolour painted backgrounds, which were far less detailed, thus requiring fewer production hours to produce. Despite being made in such inexpensive fashion, the visuals of Lilo & Stitch are simply gorgeous, with the watercolour technique perfectly capturing the lush beauty of Hawaii. With a narrative featuring a fractured family whose problems are practically ripped from the headlines, Disney proved its ability to present a highly intuitive film that felt extremely pertinent to modern audiences. In an era beset by dull disasters and overly ambitious flops, Lilo & Stitch stands tall as one of the greatest achievements of this difficult era in Disney animation.

28. Pocahontas (1995) – full article

After Beauty and the Beast became the first animated film in history to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, Disney was emboldened to produce a film that could go one step further and win the category. That film was intended to be Pocahontas, a sweeping retelling of the life of an American icon. Practically every animator at the studio wanted to work on the film, while the rest were given the apparent consolation prize of animating a little film about a lion. Pocahontas would ultimately take heavy dramatic license with the truth to create something less historically accurate and more emotionally resonant and socially responsible. While the end result is a twisted piece of revisionist history, the animation of Pocahontas does provide numerous moments of brilliance, particularly the entire “Colors of the Wind” sequence and its beautifully evocative imagery. To see a woman of colour lead a Disney animated film was a landmark moment for cinema, even if the film she found herself in couldn’t quite craft an authentic depiction of her life.

27. Big Hero 6 (2014) – full article

When Disney purchased Marvel Entertainment in 2009, it was almost inevitable one of Marvel’s beloved comic book heroes would appear in animated form. But the studio defied expectation by selecting an obscure late 1990s comic book as its first (and currently only) big-screen animated adaptation. Existing as a stand-alone film without any reference or connection to any other Marvel films or characters, Big Hero 6 centred on a young group of superheroes who used their skills in science and technology to bless themselves with superpowers. From the dazzling character designs to the immensely detailed background animation of San Fransokyo, Big Hero 6 was Disney’s finest visual computer-generated creation to date, with a deeply affecting emotional core that likely left you in a puddle of tears. While it may not technically be a chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Big Hero 6 is one of the greatest Marvel films ever produced.

26. Hercules (1997) – full article

After tackling some heavy topics in box office disappointments Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame with animation that reached for the prospect of high art, Disney seemingly abandoned that concept in the pursuit of something more commercially viable. In the hands of The Little Mermaid and Aladdin directors John Musker and Ron Clements, hopes were high Hercules would put the studio back on the right financial track. With a wickedly wonderful villain, a musical score by Oscar winner Alan Menken, and a screenplay rooted in comedy, all the right elements were there, yet Hercules still underperformed at the box office. While the unique animation style fell on its face and Hercules himself is a rather flat protagonist, Hercules is one of the most outlandishly fun films in the entire Disney canon. The gospel-infused soundtrack is a work of art and Hades is one of the greatest villains Disney ever crafted. I will continue to defend this film until the day I die.

25. Frozen II (2019) – full article

It’s little wonder it took Disney six years to create Frozen II. It must have been quite a daunting task to craft a sequel to one of the most popular films in history. How do you possibly top the highest-grossing animated film of all time and one of the biggest pop culture zeitgeist moments of the 21st century? We all knew they had to. There’s more money to be made from this valuable brand. Thankfully, the end result is rather sensational. Yes, Disney achieved the seemingly impossible. While Frozen II may not quite reach the grand heights of its predecessor, it still stands as an entirely worthy follow-up that offers everything a sequel should. Frozen II expands on what came before, while still delivering everything that made the original such a success, namely stunning animation, plenty of fun, flashy musical numbers, and a handful of tear-inducing moments. Its narrative plays it all a little too safe, but when the storyline is so utterly entertaining, it’s easily permissible.

24. Alice in Wonderland (1951) – full article

Given its evergreen popularity today, it’s curious (and curiouser) to learn Alice in Wonderland was a dismal box office failure in 1951, as it’s easily one of Disney’s most beautifully animated films. For whatever reason, audiences had little interest in such a narratively simplistic children’s film, though later generations would eventually warm to Alice’s bizarre adventures down the rabbit hole. A decidedly psychedelic trip of a film, the sequences within Wonderland are some of the most iconic and dazzling creations Disney’s Nine Old Men ever crafted. It’s a treasure trove of marvellous character designs and locations, made all the more entertaining by the film’s lively score and soundtrack. While it may not have the narrative substance found elsewhere, it’s a supremely fun and wonderfully enjoyable spectacle of dizzying animation and colourful characters that eventually found its long-overdue iconic status.

23. Lady and the Tramp (1955) – full article

By the mid-1950s, Disney lacked a true canine film star to add to its menagerie of beloved creature icons. Nor had it delivered a true animated romance to date. Why not kill two birds with one stone?  Lady and the Tramp specifically followed the path of a traditional romance film, with two dogs of wildly different backgrounds meeting by happenstance and somehow falling in love, despite numerous obstacles in their way. When you dig a little deeper, it’s one of the first examples of a Disney film offering genuine substance to its narrative, with a timely reminder love is love, no matter what form it takes. Sadly, the film is damaged by the culturally outdated depictions found in “The Siamese Cat Song” sequence, which Disney has attempted to distance itself from for decades. Regardless, Lady and the Tramp is a nostalgic masterpiece with one of the most iconic moments in Disney’s entire history.

22. Tangled (2010) – full article

After several missteps with computer animation, Tangled marked a genuine turning point for Disney animation. As Disney’s first computer-animated musical, the film harkened back to the artistic sensibilities of the Disney Renaissance, taking the best aspects of traditionally animated Disney films and delivered them in a completely new way. It was a long-overdue return to the fairy tale romances which had dominated the cinematic landscape in the 90s, all brought to life by the gorgeous music of Alan Menken and gorgeous computer animation. From the evocative background animation to the sublime character designs, every visual element of Tangled is simply stunning. An amalgamation of the old and the new, Tangled broke new ground for a studio genuinely struggling with the dawn of a new style of animation. Without this film, Disney may have simply abandoned the art of computer animation and yielded to their Pixar rivals. Instead, its remarkable critical and commercial success paved the way for the next decade of Disney animation.

Continue the countdown >>