Disney, the company so ingrained in so many childhoods that it's easy to think of pieces to write on it, but hard to actually organize and feel happy and not anxious at your choices.
     Of course, in the most 'no duh' moment you may read from me in a while, there are countless amounts of great moments that Disney has given us over the 80 years since they released their first feature film. Because I'm a glutton for punishment, I decided it would be interesting to revisit what some of my favourite all-around moments are from the main Disney animated film canon. Needless to say, it was rough, especially since I made a rule for myself that I would only choose one moment per movie. The onther thing that I did go out of my way to do was attempt remove myself from the 'Disney Renaissance', as growing up with those as they came were tied too close to my childhood. Though there are two films on there that could be considered 'newer' when looking at the rest of the list.
     And one of those newer films actually kicks off our list, so let's get started.

15: The diner with Kuzco. The Kuzco diner. Not Kuzco's diner but the diner Kuzco is in: Emperor's New Groove

     The Emperor's New Groove is a film that seems to get lost in the shuffle quite a bit, being released at an odd time where we were coming out of the 'revival period' of Disney as a whole and a slump they would hit in the mid-00's. That's unfortunate as it is endlessly quotable and hilarious, and my favourite moment in it is a wonderful bit of staging comedy that is mixed with an onslaught of back and forth communication. From the moment Kuzco is disgusted with his food to the exit of said diner, we have a handful of minutes of expertly laid out 'tense comedy'. Once the scene really gets going, it never lets up with the rotating door of Kuzco and Yzma attempting to make that every day decision of just what it is they actually want to eat. Kronk is hilarious as it is in the film (as is usually the go to when speaking of it), but Kuzco's disguise as a woman is also a fantastic piece of design.
     Special shout-out to the guy who watches Kuzco the llama walk back into the kitchen, only to give Pacha a thumbs up.

14: When I Grow Up I Want To Be…: The Aristocats

     One of the usually regarded lesser films from Disney's 70's run, The Aristocats is okay for what it is, but it does house the incredibly catchy 'Everybody Wants To Be A Cat.' There isn't really anything that makes the scene stand out or note-worthy, it's just a moment that I find incredibly fun and one that always make me wish I was at this party. And while the Siamese Cat is the obvious go-to whenever people talk about the song (for good reason), that and some edits to the song made me forget that Duchess does have quite a long moment to herself in the middle (one that starts with 'If you want to turn me on/Play your horn, don't spare the tone' !?). It also doesn't help that it comes right before the final 30 seconds of the song, which hit into overdrive and is what makes this party seem like the place to be.

13: It's Easy To Steal From The Stupid: Robin Hood

     A scene that not only shows us more of our heroes from the get-go, but also introduces the oh-so noble Prince John (and the BS poor Sir Hiss has to put up with), I've always loved the character dynamics showcased here in such a small amount of time.
     Everyone is aware of Robin Hood. Prince John knows and is nervous of the 'bandits', yet is easily enticed to stop and talk to a fortune teller duo in the woods. Hiss warns him about it, but Prince John is such an absent-minded idiot that he doesn't believe in the idea of female bandits. And yet, they make off with not only some of his riches, but his clothes as well.
     It's very straight-forward, but it always makes me laugh. From the design of Robin Hood and Little John's outfits, to Little John flirting with one of the guards before being distracted to steal golden hubcaps, the song and dance they put up for the actual fortune telling, it all makes for a scene that is really simple but sets the tone for how fun-and-free a chunk of the movie is. It also doesn't hurt that we do have one of the most charming Robin Hoods ever in this film.

12: Legitimate Fears of Flying: The Rescuers

     I had two scenes to go decide on, the other being the Organ sequence with the mice and crocodiles, but this was an easier choice to make as I went with what I felt was a pretty good reason; my mom has told me that this scene cracked me up every time when I was a kid.
     Bianca and Bernard have stopped by Orville's for help. Orville, an albatross, is more than happy to help take them to their destination to help little Penny. What follows is an incredibly short but wonderfully executed sequence of comedy. Bernard, already afraid to fly, is also a very superstitious individual, so the fact that the steps leading up to Orville's back end on 13 don't help calm him. Stressed out that bad, it's surprising he didn't have some sort of heart attack with Orville taking off.
     I tend to gravitate a lot, comedy-wise, to moments like these; ones that showcase how you can do effective comedy with simplicity. The dramatic music, the smatter of Orville's feet on the concrete roof, the sudden sharp inhales of him being out of breath merely a few steps in mixed with him getting a foot off the air and then dropping back down, coming to a great end with him literally dropping out of view off the side of the building; it's all very straight-forward and comes together beautifully.
     Speaking of comedy being incredibly effective when it's simple, there's a specific moment here that I somehow forgot about prior to re-watching that perfectly works to showcase this. Before they take off, Orville has Bernard read him a checklist before take-off. The goggles are down, the wings are properly angled, and the tail feathers are down as well. What's the last thing Bernard sees written in big letters at the bottom before Orville makes his way off the edge of building?

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

11: Wind In Your Hair: The Rescuers Down Under

     I swear these two flying sequences being back to back wasn't planned. While the previous entry revolved around the humour of the take-off, the sequel kicks off with a gorgeous sequence of flying once a boy in the Australian Outback rescues a rare golden eagle that has been entrapped. The animation and the colours are breath-taking throughout, but the moment that stands out to me is the two slowly rising through the clouds. It was the first Disney animated film to use CAPS, a program dedicated for digital ink and painting along with compositions, and it turned out beautifully. It's a moment that probably came the closest to capturing the marvel of flight atop an animal for the first time, and it's a shame that the movie didn't do well at all in its release. This sequence alone would have been incredible to see on the big screen.

10: The Who?: The Three Caballeros


     Oh boy, I have a lot to say about The Three Caballeros, and might write about it at some point. To make it a quick sum-up, this used to be my favourite Disney film when I was a kid. As I grew older it… raised some questions, but that's for a different time.
     Usually forgotten by the mass, general-audience populace, along with films like Saludos Amigos and Make Mine Music, The Three Caballeros follows Donald Duck's birthday as he is visited by two of his friends who show him the wonders and beauty of Latin America. Though there are many sequences I do genuinely love in the film, and could've chosen, I decided to go with the title song by the trio once Panchito arrives on the scene.
     I feel a little biased choosing this one out of all the others, mostly for the fact that this is one of my favourite songs in Disney's library. What I really love about the entire scene, is that it is relatively simple while pumping it with imagination. The three are, for the most part, just in a blank room, while everything imaginative comes to them through the words of the song; rainfall, stars and rainbows, the lighting dimming and colours getting brighter, it's all used to great effect while remaining simple.
     There's also quite a good chunk of humour used, obviously at Donald's extent (including one moment where he can't fly properly… apparently Disney birds not being able to fly really hit my funny bone). Even with one head-tilting and very questionable line near the end, the entire sequence is a perfect example of Disney's ability to make great sequences that can be simple, but still imaginative and fun.

09: Horror Takes A Break: Fantasia

     Probably the one sequence on this list I don't have to write much about, so I'm just flat out not going to. Fantasia is a film pieced together with many beautiful sequences, but A Night on Bald Mountain has always been my favourite. The tone is so very different from the rest of the film, yet it doesn't seem out of place or distracting. Spirits and ghouls and skeletons dance around under the watchful eye of Chernabog in the dead of night, yet it never loses any element of 'fun', for lack of a better word. I love the muted colours, and the stark contract of the fire that shows up, and the white of the spirits about. I love the design and haunting, commanding presence of Chernabog, especially as he orchestrates those below him. Along with being a wonderfully made scene, it always reminds me of Halloween.

08: Horror At Home: Lady and the Tramp

     I should start this entry out by saying that I like rats. I think they're cute! Not this one, though. Seriously, this rat is freaking huge! What is it on?
     Anyways, bypassing the obvious choice I could have gone with from the film (though it is an excellent scene itself, I know I don't have to specify which one), the scene involving a rat getting into a scuffle with Tramp inside a baby's room is one of my favourites based purely on its mastery. It's incredibly tense and wonderfully animated. The use of shadows, lighting and muted colours (along with the touch of brightness coming from the rats' eyes), lend towards the suspense that the filmmakers pull from such a real-world moment, and how successfully they embed it with atmosphere.
     A lot of thrills in films involving animated domestic animals, primarily dogs, is usually a moment where they encounter a dog-catcher and the freedom of the animal is in danger. That's understandable to use and build up a tad to make for a suspenseful climax or sequence where we are more-so in a 'real-world' environment. Here, they take the idea of a very real world threat, an outside, wild animal in a newborn's room, and create the tension organically. There's no real suspension of disbelief necessary in the moment, it's just the threat of something possibly happening to said newborn, and it's handled like the climax of any other film.

07: Battle of Wits: The Sword in the Stone

     Another movie that tends to get lost in the shuffle, there are quite a few sequences to really love in Sword in the Stone. And though I could have easily gone with the cute, and heart-breaking, squirrel scene, I feel special mention needs to be given to the battle of wizardry between Merlin and Mim.
     Another case of a scene being relatively simple, the ease and smoothness with which they have the two wizards constantly transition into their next form is magnificent. The entire thing essentially writes itself, allowing it to build momentum and tension at a very natural pace, and the fact that it does come off so naturally is a testament to the work put into it. There's also a moment near the beginning I love; Mim cheats to catch Merlin off guard, after which it takes a few seconds for him to change into something else, since he's struggling to think after Mim surprised him.
     The designs created for the animals that the two transform into are also hilariously great. While they do the obvious touches, such as Merlin's transformations always keeping his mustache and glasses and Mim's having her tuft of purple-ish hair, what I always loved about the variations they go through is that they still feel like the characters through the animation. It's not just a case of putting those touches onto animals to tell them apart. Even if they weren't colour-coded or had those discernable traits, you would easily be able to tell which one is which. Also, the transitions between the transformations are so great, in particular the moment Mim turns from a… cheetah… cat(?) into a snake, just as Merlin the mouse is about to bite her tail.
     The battle, so to call it, runs between four to five minutes, and it's worth taking time just to re-watch, especially since it's one of those scenes I think tends to be completely forgotten about.

06: Life Itself: Bambi

     We all know what there is to talk about when bringing up Bambi. No, unfortunately it's not Thumper.
     Though the death of Bambi's mother does tie into this pick (um, spoiler?), the one specific moment I want to talk about is after the sound effect that wrecked a lot of children and adults around the world. Though the shock of the mother's death is rightly remembered, the minute or so afterwards are just as worth talking about. Bambi's walk through the snow and woods, looking for his mother, is heart-breaking. This is only made more real (and worse) when he runs into his father, the Great Prince, who straight-forwardly tells him; 'Your mother can't be with you anymore.'
     It's a very real, hard life moment in the film. There's no tip-toeing around it. There's no beating around the bush. Bambi's mother is gone, and there's nothing he can do but keep going and move on. The Great Prince's line elevates what just happened to something more; it's not just a moment where we feel awful for the character anymore, it's a moment that, now, resonates to everyone because… that's what life is, unfortunately. Horrible, heart-breaking things will happen in life. There's no getting around it. There's nothing you can do because some things are out of your power to do so. They're simply a part of life. It's going to hurt, some more than others, but there's nothing to do but realize you're still here, and continue moving forward through the pain, because you can't go back.
     What really pushes the scene to higher levels is the all-around softness of the snow. It is absolutely gorgeously animated, but as individuals who have experienced it, we can feel the stark cold it must be in the forest. It's one of the most real and gorgeous moments ever in Disney's history.

05: Faire Game: Alice in Wonderland

     Full disclosure, this was probably the hardest movie to choose a scene from, since Alice in Wonderland is a film pieced together from many great, random sequences.
     It's great just how much comedy Disney could pull from this scene, considering we know that if Alice loses it's off with her head, and we also know that this game will pretty much be rigged against her. The animation all around is fantastic, but I get particular joy out of the flamingos and (adorable) hedgehogs used for the croquet match.
     The scene itself keeps building like some sort of insane comedy routine; the Queen picking her flamingo, the hedgehog trying it's best to keep on track, Alice wrestling her flamingo, all coming to a head with the reappearance of the Cheshire Cat. The entire sequence is a perfect way to showcase why I absolutely adore Disney's animated Alice in Wonderland adaption; they make all the random craziness seem so smooth, natural, and effortless. It is a great piece of physical comedy in an upside-down world.

04: Hell Hath No Fury: Sleeping Beauty

     The wind. The Lightning. The Green Smoke. That Design. The Bird. Eleanor Audley's excellent performance…
     You are a filthy, filthy liar if you say Maleficent isn't incredible, and her introduction is amongst one of the best in all of Disney villain-dom. She comes, feared by all, but calm and collected in demeanor. She is told she isn't wanted, claims she isn't offended, and then curses a newborn to death in the future.
     Maleficent's introduction is just under two minutes long, but we get everything about her character in it. Everything comes together beautifully in such a short time to give her a ridiculously lasting impression, one that hangs above the rest of the film. Maleficent has little to say in this moment in the long run, but it says absolutely everything. She's just so damn awesome.

03: Time's Running Out: The Great Mouse Detective

     Trying to save a child while an absolutely crazed maniac is rabidly coming after you inside one of the greatest built landmarks of the world. I think the finale of The Great Mouse Detective may be my favourite climax from Disney.
     We have Basil, a character who has come around to those around him and to us, being an undeniably lovable individual; we have Olivia, an adorable child that was lovable from the get-go, who also does a great job trying to fend for herself and not scared to talk back to others; and we have Ratigan. Oh boy, do we have Ratigan. Someone who hates the fact that he's a rat, and keeps as gentlemanly as possible, until he fully breaks from rage and reverts to his most animalistic roots, in terrifying ways.
     The location being the Big Ben also adds immensely to it, not just for the obviousness of this being England, but considering the size of the characters, it creates tension and excitement in various ways. The chase through the gears of the clock is inspired, along with the battle ending up on the hands of the clock itself. Add to that the overall atmosphere, with the rain and lightning in the background, it is a breath-taking, nerve-racking ending sequence that deserves to rank up there with some of the best climaxes from Disney, ever.

02: Battle of Egos: The Jungle Book

     It's always surprising to me that there is only one scene in The Jungle Book that features Shere Khan and Kaa together, though it is understandable. There wouldn't be any place higher to go from here.
     Kaa has Mowgli for his own hungry purpose. Shere Khan is on the prowl for the boy, and just so happens to cross Kaa's path for questioning before the snake can have a chance to feast. What this leads to is one of my absolute favourite back-and-forths in any film. I know it by the point verbatim, quoting it along with voices and all. It's such a standout for me that it is a shock that it is simply three to four minutes long.
     Shere Khan knows Kaa is not to be trusted, and approaches in his usual intimidating manner in an attempt to scare the snake into submission before the conversation even begins. I love how, after getting Kaa's attention by yanking his tail, Shere Khan seems to go hide behind a tree for the sole purpose of having a dramatic entrance. Kaa, meanwhile, doesn't seem to miss a beat when it comes to being a BS artist. Shere Khan noticeably intimidates him, but Kaa is a professional and committed to his craft.
     What follows is a sharp exchange of words and wit that never feel forced, instead taking the opposite characteristics of the two and bringing them to head beautifully. It also creates an interesting problem dynamic between the characters. Shere Khan is obviously knowledgeable about Kaa's antics, but he also knows how others perceive him (Shere Khan) and, because of this, has a massive ego. Therefore, is Kaa actually hiding something or is he just genuinely nervous being around the tiger?
     Kaa, meanwhile, has his own reputation. The problem, though, is the fact that, besides Shere Khan, he seems to be the most likely to bring Mowgli real harm in the jungle. Because of this, he may relish getting Shere Khan to go his way after their talk, but if word got out that no one has seen the man-cub at all, and he's disappeared, chances are Khan would revisit Kaa in not such a calm state later.
     The entire scene is, obviously, elevated by the amazing performances of George Sanders and Sterling Holloway, creating a moment that is just as great to listen to without visuals as it is to actually watch. It's great verbal sparring, from two great characters, bestowed by two great actors. It'll always be one of my absolute favourites.

01: Puppy Love: One Hundred and One Dalmatians

     The title for this is misleading, since we're past the 'puppy love' stage here but screw it, I needed some kind of titled that tied in well.
     Like Maleficent, Cruella De Vil has one of the greatest entrances of any Disney villain ever. But that's not what we are going to talk about here. I feel like that would be obvious. What we are going to talk about is a few seconds after Cruella leaves that has always been my go-to favourite Disney moment ever, hands down. It's sweet, cute, adorable, and I'm a gushy romantic, so it all works out.
     After her boss's exit, Anita is playfully harassed by Roger's continuing song about one Ms. De Vil. He pulls her into a song around the living room, before ending his solo performance with a kiss on the cheek to the now giggling Anita, who responds with a simple, perfect line;

"Oh, Roger. You are an idiot."

     Roger and Anita have always been one of my favourite couples ever, and though they aren't the main characters of the film, I stand by saying that they may be one of the best romances in Disney's canon. That single line perfectly sums up so much about not just their relationship, but a good relationship in general. This one moment makes it just as easy to love these two as much as they love each other.