Disney is a major part of a lot of people’s childhoods. Chances are, if you run into anyone in the street, the one thing you’d be able to talk about, in some form, would be Disney. It’s an easy common ground.
     I was going to hold off on this list for a while, since it’s an obvious one to do, but felt like it would be worth checking off the list already and hopefully open up some discussion about what some of your favourites are, along with the possibility of me rearing my head and spouting out what just missed the cut.
    So, here are my ten favourite Disney films. Trust me, this list was so painfully hard to do. Probably one of the hardest I’ve ever had to write and whittle down. Oh, man.

10. Tangled/Zootopia

     I felt like I should place these two together here as they are the most recent films on the list, and don’t quite have the time passed yet to fully mix in with my more nostalgic, childhood choices. That should’ve take away from either, as they quickly made their way into my heart (especially Zootopia, which hasn’t even hit the one-year-old mark).
     is a wonderful addition to Disney’s classic style of princess fairy-tales, like The Princess and the Frog the year before it (which itself is an exquisite, underrated film). Not only is it filled with great music, moments and characters, it is also a beautiful film to look at. It’s hard not to fall for its charm and fall in love with the movie. I think it will continue to age incredibly well over time.
     Zootopia is a lot like another film that will make an appearance later. It not only works as a proper Disney-style film, but also incorporates different genre elements that I love; a tense, buddy-cop mystery. Beyond the lovable and relatable characters that the studio is so great at, the film also builds an incredible world that these individuals live in. There is so much thought, effort, and wonder to this world, that it feels like a character all in and of its own. It easily sucks you into the plot, the characters, and the world that is Zootopia, all while having a great message to it.
     I’ll be re-watching these two a lot over the years to come.

09. The Rescuers/The Rescuers Down Under

    I thought it was fitting to place these two together. The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under are two entertaining watches that may easily be overlooked, and they have a very interesting dynamic between each other in what works to their strength or balances their weaknesses.
    The first film, set in the bayou, is darker and murkier to go along with its location. The sequel, on the other hand, is bright and seems to breath life around every corner, capturing the vast Australian outback. Though the first film may fall short of what you think of in terms of Disney classics, the sequel, which was sadly overlooked during its release, is breathtakingly beautiful. I find Down Under still gets overlook and overshadowed during Disney discussions, sandwiched between The Little Mermaid and The Beauty and the Beast (though behind the scenes marketing issues also didn’t help).
    Both films have pretty effective and fun villains in Madame Medusa and Percival McLeach, being as fun as they are primarily to the performances from Geraldine Page and George C. Scott. Though Madame Medusa has been described as an attempt at a ‘new Cruella de Ville’ and McLeach doesn’t come close to many of the other Disney villains, they are both given their own moments to shine, filled with great character and personality.
    Jim Jordan and John Candy as Orville and Wilbur, respectively, are still a joy, and bring so many laughs for me whenever I watch the films. My mom has told me that the initial take-off sequence with Orville in the first Rescuers was a constant source of amusement for me, and it still stands. The animation of his running, the heavy breathing, and the sudden drop off the building are so well timed and executed that, even though I know it’s coming, I always laugh hard at it.
     One place where the original vastly outshines its sequel is in the, um, how should I describe it? The kidnapped child. Cody of The Rescuers Down Under is a very sweet and kind young boy, but he is generally pretty dry as a fully fleshed out character. He isn’t given a whole lot to do or moments to explore considerable depth. Re-watching the original reminded me of something that I somehow forgot over the years; Penny is freaking amazing. She’s an incredibly sweet and kind child, like Cody, but there is so much more to her that we see from her interactions with Medusa and her cronies. She’s scared and wishes she was at home, but she also doesn’t take any crap. She’s a fighter, tough and arguing her points where necessary, not nervous to fight back and yell at Madame Medusa, even given her scenario. There are also a lot of hilarious moments and lines she has that I seem to forget about often, but Penny holds up as being a great character that, while a victim, is still a strong kid in her own right.
    Of course, what makes The Rescuers and Rescuers Down Under as strong and great as they are, are the performances from Eva Gabor and Bob Newhart. Miss Bianca and Bernard are so lovable and sweet to spend time with, and the characters come off as incredibly genuine and three-dimensional from their performances. They’re amongst some of the best leads that Disney has seen, and two that are unfortunately overlooked in favour of the films and characters that are more likely to pop into your head immediately. The two films are worth watching for the two alone.

08. Sleeping Beauty

    A great entry that perfectly encapsulates the classic fairy-tale that Disney was known for. Though the plot of Sleeping Beauty may be a bit thin, it is host to several characters that are charming, and moments that still hold up in the lexicon of the studio. The real reason to be here, of course, is Maleficent. Brilliant, charismatic, cold yet holds one hell of a grudge; Maleficent is an absolute powerhouse of a villain. Not only do we get her mesmerizing presence, but her design is also very striking. That isn’t only just in her normal form, either, as her dragon transformation is a sight to behold, and so beautifully animated that is makes up for any shortcomings the film may have.
    While I do love the film, and am whisked away in its charms every time, this is one of those cases where being here predominantly for a single character makes perfect sense, and is entirely worth it.

07. Fantasia

    I feel as though Fantasia doesn’t get considered as often as it should when talking about favourites. Understandably, people will generally gravitate towards more narrative focused entries from the Disney canon, and Fantasia doesn’t lend itself to putting on at any given time. But the fact that Fantasia holds up so amazingly well in different ways should never be forgotten.
    The movie is still gorgeous to behold, and the staging and choreography that was put into the segments is wonderful. I have always been a sucker for things set to music, and that doubles when it comes to animation. The film reaches for the most dizzying of highs and imagination, easily pulling you into its magic. Though it doesn’t have the narrative plot that would make you choose others from the studio, I find myself completely immersed every time I watch it. Fantasia is a film I usually find myself putting on to have something in the background while I clean or organize things, only to find myself sitting down a few moments in and watching the entirety of it.
    There’s a lot more I can write, from the wonderful animation, to the great choices in music, to the fantastic stand-out segments, but I’m sure I will simply be covering what so many have done before. Fantasia was a masterful achievement and piece of art when it came out, and still stands up as such.

06. The Jungle Book

    The Jungle Book may be an odd movie to hold as high as it’s place here. It’s more-so a sequence of events held together by a loose thread of story, but it’s filled with so many great characters and moments that it is one I find myself coming back to quite often.
    The acting is phenomenal across the board, with Phil Harris as Baloo, Sterling Holloway as Kaa, Sebastian Cabot as Bagheera, and Louis Prima as King Louie all lending such great personality to their characters. But the one person in particular I’d like to single out is George Sanders as Shere Khan. Sanders always had one of the most recognizable and distinct voices in Hollywood, and his deep, bass voice brings the same level of sophistication and wit to Shere Khan as so many of his previous roles. Khan is the best kind of villain; he isn’t showy or over-the-top in a majority of his appearance, but the reputation he has amongst others and the way he carries himself easily portrays a character that is genuinely terrifying and to be feared. It’s a great, understated performance.
    The Jungle Book is host to a number of wonderful sequences, ones that I don’t need to expand on, but there’s one I’d love to take time to talk about.
    I am obsessed and head-over-heels in love with the scene between Shere Khan and Kaa. Hell, I’ve even done re-enactments of it multiple times, with impressions (there are a handful of people you can ask, they’ve heard it… a lot). The film does a great job at making you feel like these characters know each other well, even if they barely interact, and none of that is more apparent than here. Kaa knows Shere Khan is rightfully as threatening and dangerous as he is, but has no qualms about attempting to mess with him. Shere Khan knows the BS trickery that Kaa usually tends to get up to, and playfully messes back with him. The scene itself is incredibly short, I believe only three and-a-half to four minutes, but the writing and the performances are so great and on-the-ball that it is easily one of the best of the movie, though not quite as often mentioned as those that stand out for obvious reasons. The banter is hilarious, tense, and well worth re-watching the film only if you don’t remember it all too well.

05. Beauty and the Beast

    Is there anything to say about The Beauty and the Beast that its reputation hasn’t already? It’s the first animated film to be nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award, and that is a feat that you can see is well-earned every time you watch the movie. It is breathtaking in its storytelling, its music, its animation, its characters, its set-pieces and design— there is not a wrong note here, at all. The best quality that I can say about Beauty and the Beast is that, whenever I watch it, it comes off as incredibly effortless. It all seems so easy and routine, in the best possible way, which is saying something since, like most animated films, behind-the-scenes it was anything but (including the entire, original opening being scrapped).
    There are individuals out there (mostly guys, because they’re stupid) who will roll their eyes whenever the film is brought up, but there is something for everyone here. It isn’t just simply a love story, it is so much more. As time goes on, we can see more and more just how much, and how rightfully, The Beauty and the Beast has made its mark in history; as an exceptional masterpiece that will forever stand the test of time.

04. Alice in Wonderland

    I really don’t like Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. I don’t put the entirety of the blame on Tim Burton, though. Usually, films have to have some sort of narrative to give them a proper flow, and studio executives and producers may get nervous and scared off when things may mess with that, in fear that the film won’t work as well. The issue here is that, you know, it’s Alice in Wonderland. The point of it is that it isn’t supposed to make any sense, and that’s what the original animated film did so well in its adaptation.
    They weren’t scared to simply have one set-piece follow another, simply connected by the fact that it’s a girl walking between them. But the film also succeeds in doing a great job capturing the spirit of the work as well. Everything is hectic and doesn’t really give you a chance to breath and catch up on what may be happening. Not only that, the characters are all fantastically portrayed, acted and memorable. Though there’s many to chose from, it’d be a crime not to talk about Sterling Holloway’s Cheshire Cat. Holloway, best remembered to many as Winnie the Pooh, Kaa, and the aforementioned cat, had a very unique voice. Yet, whenever he appeared, his characters always felt very much their own, even though he didn’t noticeably change his voice. The Cheshire Cat is no different in his list of roles for Disney. The character is unique, and filled with a certain personality that makes perfectly captures the fact that he’s playful, a little conniving, and, yet, very genuine. Sure, he messes with Alice, but you do feel as though he likes her company, or her in general. She’s unlike anyone else in Wonderland and, being so acquainted with everyone and, arguably, more intelligent than the rest, he seems to welcome the kind of person she is.
    There’s an abundance of imagination and beautiful design in the film, some of my favourite from the studio. It still holds up as some of the most fun you can have with one of their movies, and very easy to sit back and enjoy.

03. Lady and the Tramp

    Yes, the Siamese cats in this film are very problematic, for obvious reasons.
    That out of the way, Lady and the Tramp still holds some of my favourite moments and sequences from Disney itself. The spaghetti-scene, while oft parodied, is still rightfully one of the best in the studio’s history. This is a simple love story as basic and timeless as can be, of two individuals coming together from two different worlds and connecting in so many ways.
    The entire film comes off very simple but with depth, which comes from the fact that the characters are so likable. The movie also holds up tremendously in its animation, as the sequence involving the rat in the baby’s room is one of the best in the Disney canon. There isn’t a whole lot to expand upon when it comes to Lady and the Tramp; it is just a simple, timeless, heartfelt classic that is endlessly touching and sweet.

Now, these last two entries were ridiculously hard to place. They usually stand neck-in-neck and, given the type of day it is, I may choose one over the other as my favourite at that particular moment. But, I went with my gut here in weighing the two, and what would be understandably a difference maker between the two when it comes to being held down and forced to choose.

02. 101 Dalmatians

    To get it out of the way, right off the bat, yes, Cruella de Ville is phenomenal. It’s very easy to see why she is regarded as one of the greatest villains in Disney canon even after all these decades. She’s threatening, yet charming; intelligent, yet falls prey to her anger easily. Wonderfully animated by Marc Davis and performed by Betty Lou Gerson, she stands tall in our memories for so many well-deserved reasons. So, with the most obvious point covered, what else do I love about the film? I have always loved the look and design of it, with the Xerox process used creating a unique feel that stands out from the others. Walt Disney himself was not a fan of the film’s look himself, which is a shame. The colours are also extraordinary and visually fetching.
    Though Cruella de Ville usually walks away with most of the talk when it comes to characters, I do enjoy all we are introduced to here. There’s a lot to talk about, and subjects that I’m sure most would agree with or feel the same towards already, but there’s something in the film that constantly makes me smile watching or thinking about. The relationship between Roger and Anita is one of my favourites from any film or show. The two are a perfect, loving couple; ones who tease and poke fun at each other often. All of it is presented in a very short amount of time, but it’s handled so well that there isn’t ever any doubt why these two are together. I adore the moment of Roger annoying Anita with his song about Cruella (and laugh hard every time I see the cutaway to him upstairs, blowing his trombone at the floor), and the following dance that the two have in the living room. This moment is only one-upped by what happens immediately after; Roger kisses Anita by the wall and, as we pan away, we hear Anita laugh and say; “Oh, Roger, you are an idiot.”
    It’s such a realistic, sweet, touching moment, and the two shouldn’t be overshadowed by what most people remember, rightly, about the film.

01. The Great Mouse Detective

     I’m not really sure if this is much of a surprise or not, at least if you know me. I love mysteries and detective works, especially Sherlock Holmes, and I’m a massive fan of Vincent Price. This is the kind of film that feels like it could have run a massive risk of not working out for Disney, but they were able to fill it with their usual flare for energy, great characters, and wonderful set-pieces. The Great Mouse Detective is never boring, keeping up quite a steady pace that always keeps you on your toes alongside the characters.
    Of course, a big part of why the film works are the two most important characters in it. Yes, I’m a big fan of Dawson, a sweet and kind-hearted individual, and Olivia Flaversham remains, to this day, quite possibly my favourite child character in any Disney film. Olivia is wonderful in this film. She’s headstrong and doesn’t let people necessarily look down on her, yet still retains a very honest and realistic portrayal of a child. But they aren’t the two characters that make the film work as well as it does.
    Basil is absolutely fascinating to watch and consider in this. Up until this point, and really since, Disney had never had a lead character that could so easily be considered a ‘jackass’. What makes the writing in The Great Mouse Detective so great is that they know how to write Basil properly, especially since the way he is presented (very in line with Holmes, himself) can be very difficult to properly straddle the line of. Basil comes off as a jerk sometimes, but not entirely on purpose; he’s more invested in whatever it may be he is doing, and isn’t easily persuaded to listen to anything that may not lend any help or insight into what it is he is currently fixated with. He’s not very socially skilled on a face-to-face basis, in the sense he doesn’t seem to have a filter, but he is good at socializing when the need is there, even coming off as charming. Yet, all of this aside, he does realize when he may have gone too far. There’s a beautiful moment when he first meets Dawson and Olivia; in the middle of feeling sorry for himself for hitting a dead-end, Olivia urges him to help her find her father. Basil, dismissively, says that her mother probably knows where he is, to which Olivia sadly responds that she doesn’t have a mother. There is immediate sorrow and regret on Basil’s face; he knows he went too far in saying things that he should have considered. As a matter of fact, a lot of Basil and Olivia’s interactions are some of the best moments of the film.
    But Basil is an incredibly well-rounded, deep and sweet character. There’s always a feeling that there’s a lot going on within him that we don’t know, but still fully understand. He’s easily excited whenever opportunity presents itself, yet just as easily broken to pieces when it appears he has been outwitted and bested. There are quite a few layers to him that, yes, come from Sherlock Holmes, but it’s transplanted so well into the Disney setting. He’s one of my favourite characters in Disneydom.
    Though, of course, a hero is only as good as their villain; and sweet holy-moly, Vincent Price is an absolute treat in this.

    The man has always been a great actor, and always great to watch, and he does such an amazing job embedding his charm and suaveness into Ratigan that it creates one of the greatest villains in the Disney canon. He’s gleeful, terrifying, charming, likable and hateable, all rolled into a perfect ball. Price had said that this was a dream come true, as he always wanted to be in a Disney film, and he doesn’t waste it one bit. He was a man that you could always tell was having a blast on screen, and it’s no different here. You can feel his energy leap off the screen and picture him ecstatically in the recording booth. I had read that animators went to his recordings and took inspiration by sketching his Shakespearean gestures, and the way Ratigan moves is a beautiful complement to Price’s iconic voice. The banter between Ratigan and Basil is constantly entertaining, the two very easily persuading you that these two have not only history, but a sort of kinship. It is one of the best performances in a Disney animated film, and while there’s a long list of contenders, I feel comfortable saying that.
    The last thing I’ll say about the film is that it’s wonderfully animated and laid out. The set-pieces come quick and are a constant marvel from one to the next. Locations and situations change frequently, but it never feels as though things are rushing; be it from the underground animal burlesque show, to the escape by Basil and Dawson from Ratigan’s trap, to the absolutely brilliant final encounter between the hero and villain, the world of the small animals living amongst this bigger world is so wonderfully thought out and a joy to watch.
    The Great Mouse Detective is well worth going back and re-watching, if you haven’t done so in a long time, or simply getting around to seeing it the first time. It’s an entertaining, lovely ride, and one that deserves to be discussed more in terms of the company that made it.