Last December I embarked on a rollercoaster of animation, creativity, and music when I decided to end 2018 with some long overdue magic the year seemed to have missed. For each day of December I watched one animated theatrical release from Disney Animation Studios. This added up to 31 movies across 31 days and I wrote down what came to my mind while and after I watched.
Here’s my take on Disney December:
Rating System: 1/10 – Horrible 2/10 – Very Bad 3/10 – Bad
4/10 – Bearable 5/10 – Mediocre 6/10 – Enjoyable 7/10 – Good 8/10 – Very Good 9/10 – Excellent 10/10 – Masterpiece
1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) - The closest thing to an animated masterpiece, if I’ve ever heard of one. “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was an innovator without which the medium would not be what it is today. No wonder Disney won 8 Academy Awards for only one category through “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. Looks stunning and has aged majestically, like fine wine. A historical release. Rating: 9/10
2. Pinocchio (1940) - Imaginative and jam packed with honorable life lessons. However, issues with pacing hold “Pinocchio” back, being the second longest of Disney’s first animated features – after “Fantasia” – it fails to utilize its long runtime correctly at times. Pinocchio may be considered “lower-rung” among the first Disney animated features but with adequate
reason. Enjoyable none the less and has an impressive legacy i.e. “When You Wish upon a Star”. Rating: 6/10
3. Dumbo (1941) - A heart-wrenching but relatable tale. “Dumbo” has colorful and imaginative imagery, the pink elephant sequence gives me nightmares to this day. One can’t help but worry finding out Disney intends to remake the film, but maybe the remake will allow for better characterization and a stronger story. Hopefully Tim Burton does not mess it up. Can’t overlook the racist themes present as well (“Jim” Crow). Rating: 7/10
4. Bambi (1942) - The forest landscapes in ink look beautiful and absolutely stun the eye. Charming and lighthearted, making it suitable for a family viewing but the way “Bambi” presents symbolism regarding many preconceived concepts and tragedy makes it far more than just a cartoon about animals frolicking in the woods. Bambi’s mother’s death is certainly one of cinema’s greatest on-screen tragedies. Along with “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, a must-watch. Rating: 8/10
5. Cinderella (1950) - Lovely would be the best word to describe this immortalized classic. One might call flawed and idealistic certainly in regards to the character of “Cinderella” herself but the sheer charm overwhelms the issues. Has a wonderful aesthetic and color palette. “Lady Tremaine” is an impeccable villain, one whose presence further accentuates the experience. Too much mice though, those scenes tended to drag and stretch out an already paper thin plot. Rating: 7/10
6. Alice in Wonderland (1951) - Hilarious and imaginative. Witty dialogue and thought-provoking yet at times nonsensical prose. But “Alice in Wonderland” does not fail to charm with the – to the fullest extent of the word – wonderful; creative and colorful characters, musical segments and backgrounds. Captures the fantastic essence of Lewis Carroll’s novel quite well. Truly makes one want to get lost in their own personal wonderland. Rating: 8/10
7. Peter Pan (1953) – “Peter Pan” is imaginative but problematic. A simple story that’s childlike and easy to admire, exactly what “J.M. Barry” set out to do. This simplicity works well and in the movie’s favor. Issues exist regarding character development, including for the namesake “Peter Pan” as well as failure to utilize the many characters and elements introduced. How can anyone look past the “Injun” scene yet we mustn’t forget, “Peter Pan” is a product of its time. Rating: 7/10
8. Lady and the Tramp (1955) - The most realistic depiction of a romance Disney has ever put out to this day, oddly enough, portrayed through dogs. A real American tale any family (American or not) can enjoy. A concise ensemble of admirable characters. Nothing extraordinary visually but certainly pretty to look at, especially when watched in high definition. Rating: 8/10
9. Sleeping Beauty (1959) - A simple and enjoyable tale. A simplicity that works in the story’s favor – much like “Peter Pan”. A bit on the nose with its themes however. Yet interesting thematically, and artistically. “Maleficent” is without-a-doubt a charming villain in the likes of “Lady Tremaine” (see “Cinderella”); fun fact, “Eleanor Audley” voiced both “Maleficent” and “Lady Tremaine”. A Disney classic. Rating: 6/10
10. A Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) - A thrilling and enjoyable experience, upon which I sat at the edge of my seat at times. The quality of animation seems to have fallen however the xerographic animation does contributes positively to the film’s overall scratchy aesthetic (somewhat). A turning point for the studio as the death of Walt Disney approached. “A Hundred and One Dalmatians” is a fun and exciting watch. Rating: 7/10
11. The Jungle Book (1967) - Charming and full of personality, a wonderful retelling of Rudyard Kipling’s original tales for a younger audience. Somewhat drags at times but generally enjoyable. A vibrant and ambient setting as the Indian Jungle-scape. Love the dynamic between “Bagheera” and “Baloo” as they squabble over “Mowgli”. The jazzy music bring a certain much-needed energy to the film, especially “King Louie” and the monkey sequence. Rating: 6/10
12. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
- Adorable and charming, probably one of the best anthology films to date (alongside “Fantasia” of course). Again, an adorable and charming ensemble of easily likeable and colorful characters. “The Hundred Acre Wood” and its inhabitants all possess great personality and are all enjoyable to watch. A film all children should see at least once in their childhood and once as an adult. Rating: 7/10
13. The Rescuers (1977) - “The Rescuers” is a messy yet thrilling adventure. The animation is sometimes somewhat scratchy (see “A Hundred and One Dalmatians”) and comes off as low-budget. However it does have some of the prettiest stills, in my humble opinion, ever painted for a Disney movie. This reminds me of the works of the prolific yet tragic Don Bluth who worked on classics such as “An American Tale”. Rating: 5/10
14. The Little Mermaid (1989) - “The Little Mermaid” is an incredibly enjoyable movie with great music. The world under the sea is stunningly creative and visually beautiful. A wonderful story about family and a great family-watch as well. Not a fan of the themes regarding love and beauty presented though. But one must be grateful to “The Little Mermaid” for ushering in an era soon to be recognized as a “Disney Renaissance”. Rating: 8/10
15. Beauty and the Beast (1991) - A masterpiece, period. Arguably the greatest movie Disney has ever produced. “Beauty and the Beast” brings forth gorgeous animation as well as camerawork for an animated movie. A timeless story about love and redemption anyone of any age can thoroughly enjoy and one of the greatest Disney soundtracks to match. Iconic characters and masterful characterization. Incredibly well put together and impeccable dialogue all throughout. No wonder it got nominated for “Best Picture” at the 1991 Academy Awards (back when there were only five contenders). Rating: 10/10
16. Aladdin (1992) - A Great story and unforgettable music. Hilarious, especially with the voices of such prolific comedians as Gilbert Gottfried and especially Robin Williams in the role of “Genie”. Speaking of which, “Genie” is arguably one of the funniest and most memorable Disney characters of all time. “Aladdin” has a large amount of personality and relatability but somewhat messy editing and minor yet consistent contrivances weaken an overall wonderful film. Rating: 8/10
17. Lion King (1994) – “The Lion King” is one of the greatest Disney movies ever made. Beautifully crafted with wonderful imagery of the African savanna, exquisite dialogue and endearing character development. The African themed music truly evokes emotion and sticks (the sunrise scene may be considered one of the most iconic film openings for an entire generation). A movie that really captures the epic nature of an entire continent, Africa. One could argue “The Lion King” is the best adaptation for a Shakespearean play of all time (or Anime rip-off). Rating: 9/10
18. Pocahontas (1995) - Problematic representation of Native Americans and awkward dialogue. Unnecessary and out-of-place humor leads to problems regarding tone. Can one really say “Pocahontas” has a plot? But good music and message regarding coexistence and love. Rating: 5/10
19. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) - Why did Disney even adapt a story as grim as “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” in the first place? Redundant and unnecessary elements added to change what ought not to be changed about Victor Hugo’s French classic. The gargoyles do provide some insightful dialogue but overall contribute negatively. The animation isn’t nearly as stunning as its predecessors. Judge Claude Frollo does have nuance, I’ll give them that. Rating: 5/10
20. Hercules (1997) - Funny, clever and entertaining. A good adaptation of a not-so-family friendly tale to one for all however there are unavoidable issues regarding the plot. Formulaic and safe, “Hercules” is enjoyable as it is but it will not amaze the viewer, it brings nothing new to the playing field that animation hadn’t already seen. And the ever present issue regarding tone is sometimes unbearable. Rating: 6/10
21. Mulan (1998) - A wartime movie that manages to get its pacifist message across without the need for “Saving Private Ryan” style gore. “Mulan”, as a character, has depth and is easy to root for. And this is a surprisingly progressive film about women empowerment released all the way back in 1998 (it’s been over 20 years). A decent soundtrack, most of it at least and Eddie Murphy does a fantastic and hilarious job as “Mushu”. Rating: 7/10
22. Tarzan (1999) - A heart-wrenching and edgy tale about family and a death in one (two actually). A great soundtrack from Phil Collins. Picturesque scenes of the Jungle landscape but does not match artistically to “Bambi”, “The Jungle Book” or “The Lion King”. Needed better character development (what even was Kerchak’s character) and the pacing could’ve been improved. Rating: 6/10
23. Lilo and Stitch (2002) - Hilarious and witty but surprisingly heartfelt as well. Not as intriguing as Disney’s other releases but a charming slice-of- (extraterrestrial)-life film. The most memorable of Disney’s 2000s releases, a decade infamous for the lackluster productions from the studio. But one must applaud the raw emotion of sisterly love Lilo and Stitch foreshadows (“Frozen”). This movie has a lot of Elvis music so that’s something. Rating: 6/10
24. Treasure Planet (2002) - Incredibly contrived plot and a messy story structure. There are some good action scenes and a little funny dialogue but the jokes fall flat most of the time. “James” is an admirable character but the others needed better character development and exploration. Besides the characters, a bit more space exploration would’ve done “Treasure Planet” good and make certain sequences feel less like filler. Despite being somewhat insufferable at times, “Treasure Planet” is still quite an adventure. Rating: 5/10
25. The Princess and the Frog (2009) – “The Princess and the Frog” has a plot that’s a bit stretched thin and with not much substance. One could argue the entire Bayou hunter scene is redundant or even unbearable to a certain extent. However, it does come with great music (especially in regards to jazz) and character development, “Tiana” is an excellent character. “Dr. Facilier” is clearly one of the better villains in this new era of Disney. And, it is wonderful to see some diversity on our animated screens for once. Rating: 6/10
26. Tangled (2010) - An incredibly enjoyable experience. A wonderful story and perfect execution. A fairy tale properly adapted to a full length feature (unlike “Cinderella” and “The Princess and the Frog” which both had paper-like plots). Beautiful and stunning animation. Alan Menken continues to astound us with his soundtrack. The dynamic between “Flynn” and “Repunzel” is humorously charming, it works well and the characters are likeable. Reminiscent of Disney’s 90s Renaissance era (“Tangled” may have even began a neo-renaissance for the studio). Rating: 8/10
27. Wreck-it-Ralph (2012) - Incredibly well put together. “Wreck-it-Ralph” is not afraid to reference the popular culture from which its world was created but wonderfully manages to utilize these references instead of having them just be there for references’ sake. Imaginative and witty, and definitely interesting to look at. A must-watch for gamers and non-gamers alike, though the latter may need to pay a bit more attention. The dialogue, as clever as it is, may be difficult for non-native English speakers to interpret though. Rating: 8/10
28. Frozen (2013) - A great family film and a great experience overall. The animation and visuals (like most of modern Disney) is stunning and Olaf (somehow) miraculously works well as comic relief. The music, written by EGOT legend Robert Lopez and his wife, Kristen is unparalleled. But odd to think the man responsible for “Let it go” also wrote songs for a musical as crude (but critically acclaimed) as “Avenue Q”. “Anna” and “Elsa” are both wonderful characters and the depictions of winter and Scandinavia in this film is beautiful. Rating: 8/10
29. Big Hero 6 (2014) - Very interesting to look at indeed, wonderfully stylized and creative. An interesting ensemble as well however better development would’ve aided “Big Hero Six”. With so many characters and only 90 minutes how can all the characters be fleshed out? A story that tugs on your heart strings but at times drags. Cannot dent this movie has a substantial amount of filler and therefore needed a more well-rounded plot. Certainly forgettable amongst the other post-2010 CGI Disney releases but nevertheless a good watch. Rating: 7/10
30. Zootopia (2016) - Absolutely stunning! An incredible “bunny cop” movie with a great message of triumph in the face of adversity and underlying tones regarding bigotry now seemingly more relevant than ever. The city itself much like the characters has such great personality. “Judy” and “Nick” are easily amiable characters who’re entertaining to watch. The mystery is an enticing one which glues the audience to their seats. The twist ending was a messy one though. Rating: 9/10
31. Moana (2016) - One of the best looking films Disney has produced in a while. Much like “Frozen” but better, the land- & ocean-scape and scenery is breathtaking. The simple story is digestible but has depth. Incredible voice acting by Auli’i Cravalho and other who brought Lin Manuel Miranda’s terrific songs to life though “Moana”. The music is without a doubt one of the best aspects of the film, besides the animation. Rating: 8/10
*Bonus* 32. Fantasia (1940) - Experimental yet beautiful. “Fantasia” is a stunning and at-times psychedelic experience. A masterpiece visually and artistically though not for everyone, one fond of classical music will surely enjoy it but one who does not and is without a great attention span shall not find “Fantasia” nearly as entertaining. And thus more adults will enjoy “Fantasia” than children, odd considering how it was released in a time when animation was strictly a medium catering to children. Rating: 8/10
ZAYAN ALAMGIR
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