Responsible for enchanting the lives and awakening the imaginations of children (and lets face it adults) the world over for over 7 decades.
Disney have had their ups and downs like any other studio but after joining up with its greatest competitor: Pixar, they truly couldn't be beat. Here are my favourite Disney & Pixar features.
Running Time: 1 Hour 20 mins
Genre: Animation/Adventure/Family
Director: Wolfgang Reitherman
Stars: Phil Harris, George Sanders, Sebastian Cabot
The first film to be completed after Walt's death The Jungle Book has become an audience favourite. The tale of baby Mowgli raised by wolves in the jungle but with the return of a fearsome Tiger Shere Khan, the fun loving Baloo the Bear and the anxious Bagheera the panther decide its safer for Mowgli to leave the Jungle for the nearest man village. A fun story with memorable characters lots of humour and some of Disney's greatest songs; including the great 'Bare Necessities'.
Running Time: 1 Hour 10 mins
Genre: Animation/Drama/Family
Director: James Algar, Samuel Armstrong
Stars: Hardie Albright, Peter Behn, Stan Alexander
With one of Disney's most beloved characters and tragic scenes put to film. This woodland tale of Bambi the baby deer growing up in the peaceful yet dangerous world of the woodland among his friends thumper and flower and destined to become king of the forest. It is surprisingly successful despite having little plot. Colourful, sweet and heart-warming this is a great Disney classic not to be missed.
Running Time: 1 Hour 20 mins
Genre: Animation/Comedy/Family
Director: John Lasseter
Stars: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Wallace Shawn
Pixar's first and largely considered best picture. Toy Story combined the spectacle of the new computer age a great story and a recognisable voice cast including some of Hollywood's best loved actors Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. From the incomparable John Lasseter this story explores many depths; relationships, jealousy and one of the greatest bromances on screen all within a story of toys coming to life (and who as children didn't wonder if their toys moved around when they left the room). Excellent plot and character arcs with amazing animation.
Running Time: 1 Hour 15 mins
Genre: Animation/Fantasy/Family
Director: Clyde Geronimi
Stars: Mary Costa, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton
Not an instant hit with audiences on it's release but with Angelina Jolie's live action Maleficent being released this film is seeing a resurgence in attention and appreciation from old and new Disney fans alike. Personally having seen Maleficent I have to say the original animation holds up, the plot; a baby is cursed by an evil fairy only to be saved by true loves kiss makes significantly more sense. But more importantly the atmosphere that is created in this film is perfect and still has a chilling affect. The style of animation and the colour tone used are visually stunning.
Running Time: 1 Hour 15 mins
Genre: Animation/Fantasy/Family
Director: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson
Stars: Ed Wynn, Richard Haydn, Sterling Holloway
With a significant number of adaptations of Lewis Carols fantasy children's novel Disney's kooky animation is definitely my favourite. The story of a young girl Alice who is monumentally bored with her life she dreams herself into a world that she believes will be more interesting; a world with singing flowers, talking rabbits with pocket watches and caterpillars who smoke.
Wonderland is the perfect word to describe what Disney creates with this adaptation. A host of memorable characters and full of bold colours this is a fantastic animation not given enough attention.
Running Time: 1 Hour 30 mins
Genre: Animation/Drama/Family
Director: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
Stars: Demi Moore, Jason Alexander, Tom Hulce
This is a very under-appreciated Disney classic. The story has a lot of heart, a lot of depth and moral lessons. Another classic novel that Disney has successfully adapted using colour, humour and a child-like innocence. Quasimodo is a hunchback locked away in France's Notre Dame due to his appearance, this film takes a close look at 'not judging a book by it's cover'.
It has a great voice cast and some truly beautiful songs, this is one Disney film audiences should rediscover.
Running Time: 1 Hour 25 mins
Genre: Animation/Fantasy/Family
Director: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
Stars: Angela Lansbury, Jerry Orbach, Paige O'Hara
This is the film credited with showing the importance of the animation film and giving them equal standing with live action. It was the first animated feature nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. One of the last films with a non-recognisable voice cast meaning the cast is not the draw for the audience, which is now the case with modern animations in many cases. The story of Belle a young woman who discovers the beauty underneath a beastly appearance may not be an original story but with the characters and songs created this is a natural classic.
Running Time: 1 Hour 30 mins
Genre: Animation/Adventure/Family
Director: Ron Clements, John Musker
Stars: Robin Williams, Scott Weinger, Linda Larkin
Remembered mostly for the incredible of-the-wall enthusiastic voice work of the late Robin Williams as the hilarious Genie, this is a Disney classic best remembered for its humour and a beautiful love song. Aladdin is a poor urchin living in Agrabah who on the off chance meets and falls in love with a princess (Jasmine) and also gets involved with her fathers evil advisor Jafar. In the magical cave of wonders Aladdin discovers a magical lamp which when rubbed releases the Genie who grants him 3 wishes. A continuation of great form after Beauty and the Beast this is a pure classic of the 90's revived Disney.
Running Time: 1 Hour 25 mins
Genre: Animation/Fantasy/Family
Director: Norman Ferguson, T. Hee
Stars: Dickie Jones, Christian Rub, Mel Blanc
Pinocchio is a childhood favourite of mine, rather like Bambi there is something very innocent about this early Disney classic. Geppetto a lonely toy maker creates a wooden puppet in the style of a little boy. He makes a wish to the blue fairy for his puppet to come to life, in return for being a great guy his wish comes true. However with a catch, Pinocchio is still made of wood, to prove himself he must be brave, honest and true (how hard could that be right?) then he will become a real boy. Another fantastic songbook, great characters and a story loaded with heart, its hard not to love this one.
Running Time: 1 Hour 40 mins
Genre: Animation/Comedy/Family
Director: Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich
Stars: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould
A film full of one liners that are still being repeated to this day, and a long anticipated sequel on the way. This tale of a cowardly fish named Marlin travelling the ocean in search of his kidnapped son Nemo was an instant hit. Thanks in no small part to the outstanding vocal talents of Ellen Degeneres as Marlin's unwelcome travel companion who has the unfortunate yet hilarious ailment of forgetting pretty much everything.
No songs for Pixar but with great scripts like this who needs em', I for one can't wait for Finding Dory released in June 2016.
05 - Frozen (2013)
Running Time: 1 Hour 40 mins
Genre: Animation/Fantasy/Family
Director: Chris Tuck, Jennifer Lee
Stars: Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, Idina Menzel
Disney's newest and possibly most successful feature film it recreates all the best elements of the Disney movie. It has a great story (a take on the Ice Queen) Princess Anna is the younger sister of Elsa who has the magical gift of creating ice and snow but cannot control it. With a great adventure, a love story, a talking snow man and the ultimate morality tale of accepting ones self this is a great great movie. It doesn't hurt that Josh Gad as Olaf is hilarious and Idina Menzel's Oscar winning song Let it Go is annoyingly catchy.
Running Time: 1 Hour 40 mins
Genre: Animation/ Comedy/ Family
Director: Nathan Greno, Byron Howard
Stars: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy
Many had almost given up on Disney until it suddenly found its new groove with this epic tale of Rapunzel. With all the best elements of a Disney classic; a great and recognizable voice cast, hilarious script, memorable songs and lots of heart this was a sure fire hit for the Mouse-house.
What's great about Disney is that on the surface the films are all fun and light-hearted but underneath there is a great depth and lessons in life and morality that we all want to live by. This is no exception.
Running Time: 1 Hour 30 mins
Genre: Animation/Adventure/Family
Director: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman
Stars: Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly
Brave is the Disney company trying to move with the times; creating a Disney princess that feminists can be proud of; a young woman who can look after herself without need of a man, and can make her own choices about who she wants to be. A great step in the right direction for Disney. The most important element of Brave for me is the mother-daughter relationship, it really drew me into the story; which centres on Merida a Scottish princess being forced into a life by her mother the queen which she does not want. She gets the help of a witch to change her fate with horrendous consequences. A lot of depth, a great voice cast and soundtrack.
Running Time: 1 Hour 20 mins
Genre: Animation/Fantasy/Family
Director: William Cottrell, David Hand
Stars: Adriana Caselotti, Lucille La Verne, Pinto Colvig
So high on my list due to an incredibly strong sentimental memory of this being the first film I remember watching, over and over again. Something about this film is timeless, it will always be a favourite of Disney fans not only for its excellent story, characters and songs but also because as Walt Disney's first feature this was a huge leap for the film industry and animation studios. Snow White retains an innocence and somewhat less than perfect style but which defines the film.
I cannot describe how important this film was to my film education, a must see, it is purely Disney at its best.
Running Time: 1 Hour 25 mins
Genre: Animation/ Drama/Family
Director: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
Stars: James Earl Jones, Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons
From an early age I have always loved The Lion King, the music, the animation, the story, the list goes on and on. For me this was the Disney I remember and they were at the pinnacle of their nineties success. The story of a young lion named Simba trying to find himself and running away from his past and responsibility is a story that we can all to some extent relate to (though I don't know how many of us have evil uncles named Scar). The voice cast is incredible and it is the type of movie that you can laugh and cry with at least 5 times throughout. The music by Elton John and Time Rice has never really been topped in my opinion. This is one Disney film if no others that you have to check out. And if you haven't seen it.... really where have you been.
So there you have it my list of the best (in my opinion) Disney/Pixar features, I'm sure there will be many disputes about this list. But the beauty of a Disney film is that no matter which is your favourite you pretty much love all the rest as well. Signing out, a Disney fan for life.
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