Disney has been the king of animation for over 80 years, with beloved classics like Toy Story hitting in 1995. However, it has developed a reputation as the best animated movie studio operating today.

Disney purchased Pixar and together the two continue to put out some of the best animated movies every year. However, both studios have movies that are underappreciated, underrated, and many fans on Reddit believe deserve more attention.

UPDATE: 2022/11/29 16:05 EST BY SHAWN S. LEALOS

Disney Animation Studios had a tough year in 2022. Encanto in 2021, and Pixar hasn’t released a movie in theaters since 2020. As a result, it almost looks like Disney Animation is going through another slump, although there is a chance some of the movies bombing right now might end up being talked about more highly in years to come.

Brother Bear (2003)

Brother Bear hit in an era where Disney Animation was at a low point. It arrived in 2003 between the renaissance of the 1990s but before the rise of the studio again, thanks to movies like Wreck it Ralph and Frozen. The movie was about a young Alaskan boy who hunted and killed a bear, but then the spirits turned him into a bear as punishment.

One Reddit said that Brother Bear deserves a lot more attention. They pointed out the “amazing animation,” “good music,” and the “genuinely clever set up” that led to the brothers facing off. There was a sequel in 2006, but few Disney fans talk about this movie anymore.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

Atlantis: The Last Empire arrived in 2001 as Disney’s 41st animated movie. It was also the first animated science fiction movie for the studio, and it ended up a lackluster release, barely making back its budget and mostly flopping in the United States.

Redditor jebifica said the movie was “always my favorite” and they were not alone. The Redditor went on to say that it might deserve a reevaluation by fans because it is “more mature than a standard Disney film,” while itting that is maybe “why kids don’t connect with it.”

The Princess and the Frog (2009)

The Princess and the Frog retold the classic tale of a prince turned into a frog. However, Disney transplanted the story to 1920s New Orleans and made the woman who kissed the frog turn into a frog herself. This was also the first Disney movie to present the classic Disney Princess as a Black woman.

The movie was a box office success and picked up three Oscar nominations, but it has slipped into obscurity since its release. HorribleGBlob knows it was critically acclaimed but still feels it deserves more discussion today. They called Randy Newman a genius and said, “the songs he wrote for the soundtrack to that movie were some of his best work.”

The Good Dinosaur (2015)

Pixar hit a slump in the early 2000s. Most people complained about the constant sequels for a company known for its originality. However, there were some original movies that left viewers flat, with The Good Dinosaur as one of the least appreciated.

One Redditor said they thought the movie was good, with MysteriousPlatypus responding, “It’s still a great movie- not in their top tier, but by no means is it a bad movie.” The movie, about a young dinosaur who meets a human boy, remains both heartfelt and earnest, two traits Pixar is best known for.

Inside Out (2015)

It seems strange to hear Inside Out perfectly shows the inner battles and conflicts that kids face every day of their lives. It is also bittersweet and shows the sadness of memories lost.

However, some Redditors consider it a highly underrated movie. Block-Busted wrote that “I would even say that ‘Inside Out’ is actually on par with ‘Citizen Kane’ overall.” There were a lot of people who agreed with their sentiment, some believing that the movie should have received a Best Picture nomination on top of the animation award.

Cars 2 (2011)

Out of all the franchises in Pixar history, the one that remains the least praised is Cars. The first movie was a love story to the small towns along Route 66 that were cut off thanks to the interstate system. The third movie is often considered the best of the three, with Lightning McQueen's character progression spotlighted.

However, Cars 2 is typically called one of the worst Pixar movies. Reddit mkebrewers27 disagrees, calling the film an "emotional masterpiece." They also said, "Cars 2 is a complicated spy thriller about lemon cars starting an alternative fuel conspiracy to drive more business into the oil and gas car industry," believing it is better than the beloved Wall-E.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

Disney released The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1996, a few years after the company's revival with The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. By the time the movie came out, the Disney Animated revival had ended, and fans rarely discuss it among the company's best.

According to TheBauhausCure, this is a mistake. "In my opinion, it has some of the best art, some of the best music, and some of the most complex, daring themes of ANY Disney movie," they wrote. They also said this is the movie he will "show to my kids one day before 'Little Mermaid'."

Brave (2012)

In 2012, Pixar made its first Disney princess movie with Brave. Because this is Pixar, the company turned the entire genre on its head. There was no prince that needed to save Princess Merida and the story was more about a girl and her mother saving themselves.

While many fans consider Brave to be lesser Pixar, Selezenka disagreed on Reddit. They claim that Brave was one of Pixar's most underrated movies, writing, "Brave is a wonderful, moving story and a lovely piece of world-painting."

Treasure Planet (2002)

When looking at Disney animated movies, one that almost no one talks about is the 2002 release Treasure Planet. Based on Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel, Treasure Island, the story was transplanted to outer space, and it ended up as a box office flop.

There was forgotten Disney animated movie. They called it their favorite overall Disney movie, writing that they loved "the concept behind it, the artwork and animation, the beautiful settings and vivid detail." They also called Jim Hawkins "one of the better protagonists to come out of the Disney think-tank."

Monsters University (2013)

When looking at the best Pixar movies of all time, Monsters, Inc is a perennial favorite. However, while people fell in love with that movie, the Monsters University showed how Mike and Sully met in college and became friends.

The movie sits on SeymourStabfellow's list of better Pixar movies, one they call underrated. They wrote, "not only are the characters and humor great, but it probably has one of the most mature themes in a Pixar movie."