Founded in 1923 by the Disney brothers, the Disney franchise has brought joy into the lives of millions, and not just children. While Disney movies have gone through a few adjustments, the classic Disney legacy will always live on through people like me.
Maybe I'm immature. I don't care. So, in honour of the greatness that was and is Disney, I have compiled a list of Disney animations that I will force my children to watch when they are young. Obviously, for the sake of brevity, I'll only be doing my favourites (so no screaming at me, I know I'm leaving some out!) In chronological order:
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) - the first full-length Disney animation. I still have my VHS recording of this one! Snow White, the original animal-whisperer, was my idol.
- Bambi (1942) - I still weep like a wimpy little girl watching this one. Thumper will always be the star for me.
- Cinderella (1950) - the first proper princess movie. I used to dream of owning that blue gown and having my own fairy godmother to boss little critters around.
- Alice in Wonderland (1951) - imagination. And madness. Although, from my side, I almost prefer the 1999 TV-film version. Almost.
- Peter Pan (1953) - that crocodile taught me about persistence! And I want to fly, it's not fair. Lastly, fairies exist. Especially loved the Hook (1991) and Finding Neverland (2004) interpretations.
- Lady and the Tramp (1955) - that spaghetti-scene will forever form part of my ideal of romance. Yes, it's cheesy (no pun intended). Yes, I'm not a dog. Yes, I love spaghetti.
- Sleeping Beauty (1959) - I don't think it matters what kind of girl you are; every girl wants a prince to slay a dragon and defeat the wicked witch for her, and then seal the deal with a perfect kiss.
- One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) - total animal-lover film. I begged my mom to get me a dalmatian after watching this. And I was dead-set on changing my dog's name to Pongo.
- The Jungle Book (1967) - for some reason, the opening music to this movie freaked and still freaks me out. But, it is very important for everyone to learn the "bear" necessities (see what I did there?).
- Robin Hood (1973) - the first post-Walt movie; although he died in '66, he had still approved all Disney movies, until this one. Such a fun movie, always got a kick out of watching Prince John being constantly trounced. And, of course, the romance between Robin Hood and Maid Marian.
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) - Tigger was one of my nicknames in high school. Just shows how a movie can still have a profound impact so many years later, even if it's just a reference. I will always associate myself with Tigger.
- The Little Mermaid (1989) - the beginning of what I consider the Disney Golden Decade, from '89-'99. Full of fishy fun; now if only I could meet a mermaid and swop lives with her. I think a tail would look pretty good on me.
- Beauty and the Beast (1991) - very much like real life; appearances are so deceiving. And true love isn't just shared amongst the typical perfect-looking boy and girl. Love transcends all things.
- Aladdin (1992) - the first movie produced in my lifetime. Your run-of-the-mill poor boy meets rich girl and they get together against all odds.
- The Lion King (1994) - no words can describe my extreme emotional attachment to this one. Simba forever.
- Pocahontas (1995) - brings out the hippie in me. It makes me want to live in the wild and become one with the earth so that I can see those colours in the wind.
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) - Esmeralda, one of my favourite heroines. So beautiful and mysterious. I can see the pattern of cliches that have been strung through Disney films (and general ethnocentric view). I recognise that criticism in this one. And yet the magic still remains.
- Hercules (1997) - love the mythological theme. Hades makes for such an excellent villain. But Meg still steals the show in feisty, mortal style.
- Mulan (1998) - absolutely epic. What a demonstration of girl power. Goes against the weak-female character of so many Disneys. I also love the identity aspect of it; the whole finding-yourself thing. Plus, Mushu rocks.
- Tarzan (1999) - marks the end of my Disney Golden Decade. I still cry watching Tarzan's journey of discovery and the balance between "civilization" and wild. Clayton is also one of the greatest villains ever; he shows that often the monster/savage lies within oneself.
- The Emperor's New Groove (2000) - I contemplated whether this should be on the list, but this movie's quirky humour clinched it. This one moved away from the classic Disney style into a different, fast-paced style.
- Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) - also love the legend quality in this one. Milo makes for a lovable hero, taking one for the nerd team.
- Treasure Planet (2002) - the same-old young boy trying to prove himself. Enjoyed the way they adapted the original Treasure Planet story to a space milieu. And Morph is super cute! Way better than a parrot.
- Brother Bear (2003) - both heart-breaking and heart-warming. Packed full of emotion and just makes you want to give your sibling a huge hug. Until they look at you weirdly and tell you to get a life.
- Tangled (2010) - I can't explain how impressed I was by this movie. I mean, wow. The closest this generation will come to a classic Disney. It gives me hope for the future. More of that, if you please!
But this is part of me, this Disney obsession. And I hope it continues. Come on Disney, keep the flame burning. Keep my heart alight.
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