Almost a century ago, a bankrupt pioneer with no more than $40 to his name hopped on a train from Kansas City to Los Angeles with the dream of re-inventing the world of animation. That pioneer’s name was Walt Disney. He created an empire and a brand that would become synonymous with quality and innovation.
In iration of all that Disney Animation Studios has achieved in its nearly ten decades of studious work and expert detail, we’ve collected the very best pictures that helped build our childhoods. With so many features to choose from, we’ve narrowed down our list by excluding everything from the Disney-owned Pixar. Instead, our list will focus solely on the cartoon wonders created by Disney’s own personally established studio.
Before we get into our countdown, it’s important to acknowledge that not every film could be included. While some exclusions are sure to get a scoff out of our readers, that doesn’t mean they don’t hold a place of their own in the history of animated cinema. So without further ado, these are the 25 Best Animated Disney Movies Of All Time.
Honorable Mentions: Big Hero 6 (2014)
25. Zootopia (2016)
We kick things off with one of the newest films in Disney’s history. Only the third animated classic from the studio to cross the Zootopia made waves earlier in the year thanks to its 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes as well as its topical story about xenophobic relations around the world. While the idea of using anthropomorphic animals is something the studio has done since its inception, the film's inclusive message and updated 3D animation is more in tune with the modernized cartoons of today. It offers the perfect blend of the old and the new in a film that is sure to only get better with time.
Relying on a talented cast of voice actors that includes Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Jenny Slate, and many more, the story introduces the headstrong rabbit Judy Hopps and the cunning red fox Nick Wilde in a police procedural that brings the intersecting lives of its characters together through a vast urban utopia. Filled with enough visual metaphors and bad animal puns to keep the audience coming back again, Zootopia is a positive step in a new direction that promises to bring excitement in the years to come.
24. Robin Hood (1973)
The '70s and '80s were a tough time for Walt Disney Animations. Following the death of Disney in 1966, the studio found itself in a creative rut, with one consecutive flop after another threatening to end the magic of animation altogether. Still, at a time where audiences were drifting away from the fantasy of talking animals and princesses, Robin Hood managed to provide a tongue-in-cheek narrative that was fun for kids and adults alike. Inspired by Disney’s initial interest to develop the story of Reynard the Fox into an animated feature, the tale of the deceptive trickster figure was eventually ruled too unsuitable for children, ultimately leading to the decision to blend the tale with that of Nottingham.
Disney is known today for its cost-effective recycling of old animations, and many of Robin Hood’s character designs were borrowed from previous films-- most notable is Little John’s resemblance to Baloo from The Jungle Book. But despite its many troubles, the feature was a charming and colorful illustration of precise anthropomorphization. Everything from the sly fox Robin to Prince John's slithering snake servant was brilliantly envisioned and infused with a sense of community that brings it all together, making this tale an expertly crafted ride to be cherished.
23. Pocahontas (1995)
Following the success of Beauty and the Beast a few years prior, there was an immediate urge from Disney for another Academy Award contender at the following Best Picture races. Appointing story supervisor Tom Sito to do extensive research on colonial America, the studio would hone in on the story of historical accuracy of the real story-- which would see a pre-teen Pocahontas married to John Rolfe, the first cultivator of tobacco in the region-- the company went with a much less complicated plot that could appeal to children.
Despite being criticized for its lack of historical awareness, Pocahontas has remained a timeless classic that’s as relevant today as it was upon its release. One of the more thoughtful films in the Disney canon, it echoes lifelong sentiments about issues of tolerance in the face of cultural and ethnic diversity. It might hold a place in history as one of the more controversial films in animated history, but it overcomes its obstacles through its strong moral philosophies.
22. The Princess and the Frog (2009)
In 2004, following the release of the dismal Home on the Range, Disney called it a day on its traditional The Princess and the Frog.
A huge gamble would pay off for Disney as the traditional fairy tale, based on E.D. Baker’s The Frog Princess, wgave audiences their first look at an African-American princess with Tiana. Set in the heart of New Orleans, the film was jumping with jazz music while showing off the Creole and Cajun cuisines made popular by the Big Easy. In a post-Katrina era, the movie was an endearing message to the city to remain resilient. It was at once charming and clever, refusing to let the style of the studio’s past die. For Disney, it was a return to form that proved sometimes the old ways can still be the most effective.
21. Hercules (1997)
Given the epic scale of Disney’s past films, it was only a matter of time before the company tackled a Greek tragedy. The problem was how to condense so many detailed journeys into a compact story which could entertain children without appearing too violent in nature. Enter directors Ron Clements and John Musker. Fresh off the roaring success of Aladdin, the creative duo were ready to jump aboard their next big adventure. After hearing of Hercules, the two were chomping at the bit to the party, adding their own notes to the story, which included tossing in a Danny DeVito-voiced sidekick and a powerful, overtly cynical villain.
Naive, delightful, and innocent, the Disney version of Hercules is far from the mythological figure taught in schools. While the lighter take on the story is refreshing, it’s the set designs and voice acting that hit the nail on the head. Danny DeVito is golden as the surly satyr Philoctetes while Susan Egan lends her talents as the sarcastic but beautiful Megara; however, it’s James Woods’ fast-talking Hades that truly becomes steals the showe as one of Disney’s wittiest bad guys yet.
20. The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
At the end of the '90s, Disney was tasked with a major decision. Having come off the slightly underwhelming receptions to films like The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Hercules, there was a need for a new kind of animated picture that could set itself apart from the rest and compete with the growing presence of Pixar. From that moment of creative stagnation arose the unlikeliest of buddy features about an Incan emperor who is transformed into a llama and is forced to team up with a peasant to reverse his bad fortunes.
Initially created as The Emperor’s New Groove makes strides in the animation department with its brisk pacing, charismatic characters and whole-hearted moments of laughter. By turning attention away from the hero’s journey toward comic relief, the film showed that cartoons don’t have to be a spectacle to steal the show, making this turn-of-the-century movie one for the ages.
19. Peter Pan (1953)
The boy who wouldn't grow up got his start with Disney as one of the founder’s favorite stories. Always envisioning it as an animated film, Walt Disney wanted to start production on Peter Pan soon after Snow White, but due to a legal struggle to obtain the rights to J.M. Barrie’s play, the project was shelved until further notice. Soon the United States’ involvement in World War II would again send the film into development limbo as the studio suffered from multiple financial setbacks, but in 1947 Disney would finally see itself back in good standing, setting the production back on track.
A lively Technicolor adventure that will go down as the most kid-friendly Disney feature of the 1950s, Peter Pan is most praised now for its iconic characters, a long list which includes the likes of the boy wonder himself, the daunting Captain Hook, and the cutesy, hot-tempered Tinker Bell. As the ultimate metaphor for eternal childhood, it’s easy to see why the man who created such magical places as Disneyland and Disney World would cherish Neverland. Peter Pan will never grow up and the movie transports even the stodgiest of adults back to their childhood.
18. Tarzan (1999)
Since the first anthropomorphic animal made its way into a Disney animated feature, the studio has had a deep focus on the relationship between humanity and nature. From the conservation of wildlife to the magic of the forests, there’s always been a splendor in the hand-drawn depictions of green shrubs or beautifully colored woodland critters. Whether it’s Cinderella singing with chirping birds while doing her chores or Mowgli lounging around with Baloo, there’s a harmony when the two come together. That’s why when Tarzan finally came out it felt like it had been a long time coming.
The first animated version of the Edgar Rice Burroughs’ novel was a spirited return to the wild, capped off with a new technical breakthrough called Deep Canvassing that enhanced the depth of the movie’s background using new computer-based tools. Tarzan roams free through the wild, lush scenery, zipping through the skyline and skating down tree branches at a dizzying pace unseen before in animation. Terrifically cast and beautifully animated, Tarzan is a brilliant presentation of style and heart that takes a classic tale to new romantic depths.
17. Lady and the Tramp (1955)
If you were to search through Walt Disney’s entire filmography, taking note of every movie that was influenced by his perspective and morals, we doubt you’d ever find a movie more suited to the man’s own personal life views than this one. That’s because Lady and the Tramp isn’t just one of the greatest love stories ever put on film, it also happens to be a daring, grandiose adventure shot in widescreen CinemaScope with a fine attention to detail.
Today the film is most notably ed for the often repeated but never duplicated spaghetti-eating sequence, but much like Bambi before it, the film’s focus is much more on the characters than the narrative. Aided by a ing cast of players that includes a gruff Scottish terrier, a noble bloodhound, and two mischievous Siamese cats, it’s a film that goes beyond the world of talking animals and tugs at the heartstrings.
16. Mulan (1998)
Coming in at the tail end of the 1990s, right before Pixar swept the rug-- and the momentum-- out from under the studio, Disney released a coming-of-age tale that set a new precedent for women of color in children’s movies. Based on a Chinese legend set during the Northern Wei dynasty (386 CE- 524CE), Mulan follows its titular character as she progresses through the ranks of the Chinese army disguised as a man in order to save her father from enlisting. Along the way, the tomboyish heroine (voiced by Ming-Na Wen) is aided by her comical dragon guardian Mushu (played by Eddie Murphy).
A highlight of the Disney vault, Mulan rejected notions that the prototypical Disney princess couldn’t be bold, brave, intelligent, and beautiful while also providing a fluidity to traditional gender roles. Backed up by stunning battle sequences and musical numbers that showcased the vocal talents of the singing cast , the film was a splendidly animated depiction of Chinese culture that, though romanticized, remained celebratory of its characters in a way that often goes unnoticed.