Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) review (Disney+ (Premier Access))

As far as the various eras of Walt Disney Animation Studios are concerned, many would agree that 2008’s Bolt marked the start of what is widely referred to as the ‘Disney Revival’, when the studio finally managed to overcome the rough stretch that it endured in the early 2000s and produce some of its most critically acclaimed films in recent years. Because of this, Disney fans have been treated to a bunch of modern animated masterpieces such as Frozen, Zootopia, and The Princess and the Frog just to name a few. And while it could be argued that the studio is still in this period of its history given the strongly consistent track record that it’s maintained since the late 2000s, it could also be argued that a new era for the studio began in 2018 when Frozen co-director Jennifer Lee became the studio’s new Chief Creative Officer. Lee’s gone on record stating that one of her main goals for the studio moving forward is that they take greater initiative when it comes to crafting stories and characters that reflect our increasingly diverse world and you can certainly see that with the studio’s latest endeavor, Raya and the Last Dragon. Directed by the duo of Don Hall (Winnie the Pooh (2011), Big Hero 6) and Carlos López Estrada (director of the critically acclaimed live-action dramedy Blindspotting), Raya and the Last Dragon is entirely based around Southeast Asian culture and notably features the studio’s first Southeast Asian princess. And as we’ve come to expect from Disney at this point, it all comes together wonderfully in a beautifully animated and emotionally poignant film.

Long ago, the people of the mystical land of Kumandra lived in harmony with the magical dragons who shared a home with them. Unfortunately, they soon found themselves invaded by sinister creatures known as the Druun that turn their victims into stone, and while the dragons were able to successfully thwart these spirits, the people of Kumandra became so divided by their greedy aspirations that they split into five tribes: Fang, Heart, Tail, Spine, and Talon. Many years later, the Heart tribe’s leader, Chief Benja (voiced by Daniel Dae Kim), attempts to reunite the warring factions but this only results in the destruction of the powerful orb that the dragons created to protect Kumandra from the Druun, thus resulting in their resurrection. With tensions between the five tribes fiercer than they’ve ever been before, Benja’s daughter Raya (voiced by Kelly Marie Tran) embarks on a journey across the land to find the last of Kumandra’s dragons, Sisu (voiced by Awkwafina). Together, they and the various allies that they meet along the way embark on a quest to hunt down the broken pieces of the orb so that Sisu can use it to stop the Druun once and for all. However, they also find themselves having to deal with various threats such as Namaari (voiced by Gemma Chan), the princess of the Fang tribe whose duplicitous actions towards Raya were the primary catalyst behind their current predicament.

Raya and the Last Dragon has been getting a lot of attention for its action sequences, and sure enough, they’ll are brilliantly done, so much so that some of them apparently had to be toned down so that the film could maintain a Disney-friendly rating. But, of course, at the end of the day, this film is another phenomenal showcase of Disney’s amazing animation staff, especially seeing how they were all forced to work remotely on this one for… well, obvious reasons. Following in the footsteps of other regional-based Disney films such as Frozen (Norway) and Moana (South Pacific/Polynesia), the filmmakers use this film’s Southeast Asian setting and culture to their fullest effect, thus creating an utterly beautiful and effortlessly fascinating world to explore in Kumandra. But this clear-cut respect for Southeast Asian culture also carries over nicely to the film’s main plot which, on the surface, may seem like a traditional action-adventure story but is ultimately one that is steeped in some incredibly timely themes of unity. After all, the whole plot revolves around the quest to rebuild a land that’s been thoroughly divided, and while long-time readers of this site know that I usually don’t like to bring politics into my reviews… well, let’s just say that these past few years have made this story a particularly relevant one.  

In the early stages of the film’s production, Raya was to be voiced by Cassie Steele of Degrassi: The Next Generation fame. However, a few months before the film’s release, it was announced that the role was recast due to the desire to make Raya a more light-hearted protagonist rather than the ‘stoic loner’ that she was originally developed as. Luckily, they found just the right person for the job in Kelly Marie Tran, who brings all the same great qualities that she brought to the role of Rose Tico in the Star Wars sequel trilogy (sorry, racist trolls, but it’s true…) for Raya as well, from her spunky attitude to the strong emotional beats that define her character. Raya’s then joined by one of the most entertaining groups of Disney sidekicks in recent memory, all led by Awkwafina as the utterly hilarious Sisu, whose endearing optimism contrasts perfectly with Raya’s more world-weary mentality which, given the context of the plot, is completely justified. Other memorable allies include Boun (Izaac Wang), a smooth-talking entrepreneurial 10-year-old from Tail, and Little Noi (Thalia Tran), a mischievous con-baby from Talon who’s always joined by a trio of monkey creatures known as Ongi. The film also gives Raya an excellent rival in the form of Gemma Chan’s Namaari who, despite what the marketing may have implied, isn’t just a traditional ‘antagonist’. Instead, it’d be more appropriate to refer to her as Raya’s foil since many of her actions, as threatening as they often are, are done with the intent of protecting her people which, at the end of the day, was a much better route to take with this character since making her more of a straight-forward villain wouldn’t have gelled well with the film’s themes.  

Well, folks, in a completely unexpected turn of events, Walt Disney Animation has delivered an animated masterpiece… actually, it’s not that much of a surprise because that’s just what they do. Still, Raya and the Last Dragon is yet another top-tier outing from them as it delivers a highly entertaining action-adventure story that’s fully bolstered by some incredibly timely themes that directly stem from the Southeast Asian culture that’s well-represented here. Ultimately, though, I’d argue that the greatest aspect about this film is the prospect of what all its successes will mean for its lead actress, Kelly Marie Tran. At this point, I’m sure that most of you are aware of the utterly horrible crap that she ended up going through following the release of The Last Jedi when many of that film’s hostile critics took out their hatred for it on her specifically. Even more than three years after the film’s release, this still stands as one of the most tragic examples of the dark side of fandom that, if you ask me, has only gotten worse these past few years. But now, thanks to this film, Kelly Marie Tran can lay claim to the honor of being Disney’s latest badass princess, and to be perfectly frank, I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this accomplishment than her. And so, in conclusion, this is an undeniable must-see whether you’re able to see it in theaters or, if a certain pandemic is keeping you from going out and watching it that way, by viewing it via Disney+, where it became the service’s second film after the live-action remake of Mulan to be turned into a ‘Premier Access’ release.

Rating: 5/5!

Frozen II (2019) review

Calling Disney Animation’s 2013 release Frozen one of the most successful projects that they’ve ever made would easily be one of the biggest understatements of all-time. Upon its release, this loose adaptation of author Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Snow Queen became the studio’s first animated film to gross over $1 billion worldwide (not counting subsidiary Pixar’s Toy Story 3, which did the same thing in 2010). It won two Oscars for Best Original Song and Best Animated Feature and has widely been regarded as one of Disney Animation’s modern masterpieces. And while there have undoubtedly been a select number of folks out there who were likely driven mad by the truly extensive mark that the film left on pop culture, there’s no denying that Frozen was very much one of those films that was fully deserving of becoming the full-on cultural phenomenon that it still is today. Whether it was thanks to its lovable cast of characters or its undeniably catchy soundtrack, Frozen quickly blossomed into one of Disney’s biggest animated franchises that would later spawn a few animated shorts to build up hype for the film’s heavily anticipated feature-length follow-up. And now, the story of the Royal Sisters of Arendelle officially continues with Disney Animation’s 58^th official animated feature, Frozen II. Luckily, for fans of the franchise, this sequel brings back almost all the key players from the first film, including songwriters Robert and Kristen-Anderson Lopez, the core quartet of leads Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, and Josh Gad, and directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee. And because of this, Frozen II is a fantastic sequel to its equally fantastic predecessor as it flawlessly retains everything that made the original Frozen a beloved Disney classic.

 

For the past three years, the Kingdom of Arendelle has thrived under Queen Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel), especially after she was able to rekindle her relationship with her younger sister, Princess Anna (voiced by Kristen Bell). However, on one faithful night, Elsa becomes entranced by a mysterious voice calling out to her from afar, and when she finally interacts with it, the kingdom is suddenly ravaged by mysterious elemental forces. Elsa and Anna soon learn from the wise troll Grand Pabbie (voiced by Ciaran Hinds) that this recent turn of events is due to Elsa unintentionally awakening the four elemental spirits of Earth, Fire, Water, and Air. And as he informs them, the only way to set things right is to travel to the Enchanted Forest that their parents, King Agnarr (voiced by Alfred Molina, replacing Maurice LaMarche from the first film) and Queen Iduna (voiced by Evan Rachel Wood, replacing director Jennifer Lee from the first film) told them about when they were younger. For years, this Enchanted Forest has been consumed by an impenetrable wall of mist that has trapped all those inside it after an unexpected fight occurred between the native Northuldra tribe and a group of Arendellian forces. Thus, Elsa, Anna, sentient snowman Olaf (voiced by Josh Gad), and Anna’s ice harvester boyfriend Kristoff (voiced by Jonathan Groff) embark on a journey to appease the elemental spirits, specifically by uncovering the cause of this long-standing conflict. Along the way, Anna and Elsa even begin to discover the secrets behind the magical ice powers that the latter has possessed her whole life.

Frozen II certainly fits the bill when it comes to being a ‘bigger sequel’ in every sense of the phrase. The adventure that Anna and Elsa go on in this film is far grander in scale than the one from the first film, and while it does continue to maintain the usual light-hearted atmosphere of a Disney animated film, it is a little darker in tone compared to its predecessor. In other words, Frozen II does what any good sequel should do by naturally expanding its universe while also showing a genuine sense of maturity from a storytelling perspective. At the same time, though, it never loses sight of any of the things that made its predecessor so iconic, especially the strong and loving relationship between its lead sister duo. The animation is superb as always and the new songs by Robert and Kirsten-Anderson Lopez arguably stand toe to toe with the first film’s truly unforgettable soundtrack. Highlights of the sequel’s soundtrack include but are not limited to Elsa’s big solo ‘Into the Unknown’, Anna’s downright devastating solo ‘The Next Right Thing’, which stems from what is quite possibly the most emotional moment in the whole film, and Kristoff’s 80’s power ballad (yes, I know what I just said…) ‘Lost in the Woods’. Now, if there was any sort of shortcoming with this film, it’s that, because of how its story is structured to focus primarily on Anna and Elsa above everything else, Frozen II doesn’t really spend a lot of time with the new characters that it introduces. As such, certain subplots like the feud between the Northuldra tribe and the Arendelle soldiers who got trapped in the Enchanted Forest sometimes tend to get overlooked. And yet, I don’t even remotely consider that to be a bad thing in this instance since this series has always done a wonderful job of exploring the theme of how love truly does conquer all through the phenomenal heroines who headline it.

On that note, one of the coolest things about Frozen II is how it manages to shake things up a bit when it comes to the overall roles that Anna and Elsa play in this story. While the original Frozen was sure to give them equal amounts of quality character development, it was fundamentally told from Anna’s perspective since it was all about her taking the initiative to set things right and rekindle her relationship with Elsa. By comparison, Frozen II focuses more on Elsa as she works to appease the four elemental spirits while also learning the truth about why she’s the one who possesses magical ice powers. Nevertheless, the unbreakable bond between these two sisters continues to be the most important aspect of this franchise, and as always, it’s primarily thanks to the phenomenal work by Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel in their respective roles. Bell continues to be effortlessly charming and spunky as Anna while Menzel once again imbues Elsa with all her grace and power. Fellow returnees Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad are also excellent once again as Kristoff and Olaf, respectively, with Groff getting to explore a wonderful new side to the loyal Ice Harvester via the numerous attempts he makes at trying to propose to Anna and Gad, as to be expected, continuing to get many of the film’s best humorous moments. After that is when the previously mentioned dilemma of the film not giving its new characters a lot to do comes into play, but for what it's worth, everyone else in the cast does a solid job with what they have. This includes Sterling K. Brown as Lt. Mattias, a friendly Arendelle soldier who was amongst those trapped in the Enchanted Forest, and Evan Rachel Wood as Anna and Elsa’s mother Iduna who, despite only appearing mostly in flashbacks, does get her backstory explored in some very fascinating ways that help add to the film’s strong emotional poignancy.

While I may not have as much of a history with it compared to the likes of The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin, the first Frozen truly is one of my favorite Disney animated films of all-time; in fact, it’s amongst my Top 5, even, when it comes to Disney’s long line of animated classics. Granted, you might think otherwise if you look back at my original review of it from 2013 where I only gave it a 4/5, but it goes without saying that that old review is the very definition of ‘dated’. Simply put, Frozen became one of those films that I became more and more attached to as time went by, and as I noted in the intro, I’m personally glad that it became the worldwide phenomenon that it did no matter how much some people got utterly sick of it after a while. And as for Frozen II, I’m happy to report that it’s another fine addition to this beloved franchise. Just like its predecessor, Frozen II is a perfect mix of gorgeous animation, unforgettable songs, and a powerful emotional core. It expands upon the world of Frozen in ways that feel appropriate for the story that directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee (the latter of whom was just recently named Disney Animation’s new Chief Creative Officer) are telling. And while it does follow the route that most sequels go by being a far bigger adventure than its predecessor, the strength and beauty that stems from the bond of the perpetually endearing sisterly duo of Anna and Elsa is still very much the driving force of this franchise. Because of all this, it goes without saying that Frozen II is yet another rousing success for Walt Disney Animation that is sure to delight the fans who made this franchise a pop-cultural landmark.

Rating: 5/5!

Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) review

In 2012, Walt Disney Animation released their 52^nd animated feature, Wreck-it Ralph. This tribute to both classic and modern video games centered on the titular Wreck-it Ralph, the main antagonist of a classic arcade game in a world where arcade characters can travel to other games and interact with each other via the power strip that their cabinets are plugged into. Having grown tired of being stuck in the role of ‘the bad guy’ for 30 years, Ralph embarked on a journey throughout other video games in the hopes of having his own ‘hero moment’. Upon its release, the film was a solid success with both critics and audiences, grossing over $471 million worldwide and serving as another contributor to Disney Animation’s recent revival when it came to the quality of their films. But perhaps the most notable thing that the film managed to accomplish was earning a genuine rarity when it comes to the studio’s filmography, a sequel. Oh sure, many of the classic Disney animated films have gotten sequels over the years, but they primarily came via the now-defunct direct-to-video division Disneytoon Studios and, to be perfectly blunt, usually weren’t of the same quality. Prior to this year, only two Disney animated films had officially gotten sequels that were given proper theatrical releases; The Rescuers (The Rescuers Down Under) and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Winnie the Pooh). Plus, those two films came out several years after their predecessors, which makes this year’s Ralph Breaks the Internet (AKA Wreck-it Ralph 2) even more of a unique phenomenon given that it comes out just 6 years after the original and was made by the same development team. But fear not, folks, as this film manages to maintain the same heart and snappy writing of the original Wreck-it-Ralph even with a major shift in its setting from the ever-changing world of the classic video arcade to the equally ever-changing digital world that is the internet.

6 years since their previous adventure, things have been going quite well for Wreck-it Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly), the main antagonist of the classic game Fix-it Felix Jr., and his best friend Vanellope von Schweetz (voiced by Sarah Silverman), the main protagonist of the popular racing game Sugar Rush, at their home, Litwak’s Family Fun Center and Arcade. However, when Vanellope begins to feel that her game is starting to get a little predictable, Ralph’s efforts to fix that unintentionally end up resulting in the machine’s steering wheel to break. And to make matters worse, because Sugar Rush’s developers went out of business years ago, the arcade’s owner Mr. Litwak (voiced by Ed O’Neill) has no choice but to unplug the game, rendering Vanellope and the rest of its residents without a home. Not wanting his best friend to lose her game forever, Ralph comes up with the idea to travel to the internet via the arcade’s newly installed wi-fi router to find a new steering wheel on eBay. But while Ralph and Vanellope successfully enter the world of the internet and find the wheel on eBay, they soon find themselves dealing with another issue when they find that they don’t have the money to buy it. Thus, they decide to respond to a clickbait ad that promises that they can earn money by playing video games and are told to collect a valuable car from the popular racing game Slaughter Race. While their efforts to take the car are ultimately unsuccessful, Vanellope’s racing skills end up attracting the attention of its owner Shank (voiced by Gal Gadot) and the two begin to form a friendship that gives Vanellope a new perspective on life to the point where she considers staying there instead of returning to the arcade. This, of course, ends up being an issue for Ralph, who embarks on his own quest to collect the money that they need by becoming a viral star on the video site BuzzzTube with the aid of its chief algorithm Yesss (voiced by Taraji P. Henson).

Like the first film, Ralph Breaks the Internet presents a story concept that admittedly runs the risk of dating itself given its subject matter. In the first film, that came courtesy of its various references to classic video games that would most likely fly over the heads of younger audiences (e.g. a scene where a character inputs the iconic ‘Konami Code’). And in the case of the sequel, it’s through its internet setting. Because the internet is always changing, trends that are relevant now could end up becoming stale in the future, and this film does have a few references to current internet culture that will probably elicit some groans from certain crowds during future viewings. But just like the first film, Ralph Breaks the Internet manages to work around this thanks to its strong story. For starters, it does treat its internet concept in a serious manner, showcasing both the good and the bad of the global network (e.g. the first rule of the internet, ‘don’t read the comments’). This is then tied excellently into the main plot of Ralph and Vanellope both dealing with forms of insecurity, which then highlights the concept of how friendships change over time once Vanellope begins to express interest in staying in Slaughter Race. As for the animation, this sequel maintains the same great aspect from the first film in terms of bringing the internet world to life in a highly creative manner just like its predecessor did with the arcade world. In this instance, it portrays internet users as Mii-like figures in a bustling metropolis that’s home to all the essential websites, and it’s clear that the writers/animators did their homework when it comes to accurately portraying what these websites are usually like, whether they’re real ones or ones that are satirizing the real ones.

The original quartet of the first film return to reprise their roles and are all great once again. As Ralph, John C. Reilly continues to be incredibly hilarious as the well-meaning but not always bright video game ‘antagonist’. The same goes for Sarah Silverman as the ever-endearing Vanellope, and while Ralph Breaks the Internet is more of a Vanellope story this time around, the film still gives the two of them balanced roles in the story. But as for Fix-it Felix (voiced by Jack McBrayer) and Sgt. Calhoun (voiced by Jane Lynch), fans of the original will be disappointed to hear that they don’t factor into this film as much as they did last time. They do not join Ralph and Vanellope on their journey into the internet and thus, only appear in the beginning and end. At the very least, the two get a decent little subplot in which they find themselves in a tricky situation when they agree to take care of the Sugar Rush racers after their game is unplugged. And while he’s playing a different character this time, Disney Animation’s newest lucky charm Alan Tudyk (whose run with Disney started with the original Wreck-it Ralph, where he played the main antagonist King Candy/Turbo) is yet another standout as the all-knowing search-bar expert KnowsMore. As for the new additions to the cast, the most prominent is Gal Gadot as Slaughter Race racer Shank, a role that allows Gadot to pay homage to her role as Gisele in the Fast and Furious franchise while also giving her some of the emotional gravitas that she excelled with in Wonder Woman. Taraji P. Henson also manages to get some highly memorable moments in as the trend-savvy video sharing site algorithm Yesss.  

But of course, the most talked about aspect of this film is the sequence where Vanellope (who was revealed to be the ‘princess’ protagonist of Sugar Rush in the previous film) meets with all the Disney princesses. Every major member of Disney’s current Princess line (along with Anna and Elsa from Frozen and Moana from her titular 2016 film) makes an appearance in this sequence voiced by their current actresses (save for Snow White, who’s voiced by screenwriter Pamela Ribon). Now for some, this may seem like nothing more than the most blatant example of corporate pandering that Disney has ever put in one of their films. Heck, the sequence in question sees Vanellope travel to the popular Disney fan site Oh My Disney where there are even more cameos from the likes of Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story, Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy, and Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh… and yes, that’s just to name a few. Thankfully, though, this sequence is handled wonderfully, as it allows all these actresses to play off their characters’ common criticisms (and some of the admittedly dated aspects of their respective films/stories) while never betraying anything that made them so beloved in the first place. Plus, without spoiling anything, the scene seen in the marketing where Vanellope visits their ‘backstage area’ isn’t the only one that they appear in. And really, tell me that I’m not the only one who’s been genuinely curious at the idea of seeing all these princesses together in a feature film that’s not one of the Princess franchise’s direct-to-video projects. Because if this film proves anything, it’s that these ladies can indeed headline their own proper Disney film.

When this film’s premise was first revealed and then shown off in its first trailer, I’m sure that there were quite a few people out there who were fearful about Disney entering the same territory of another animated film, last year’s infamous release The Emoji Movie. After all, we’re talking about two films that are heavily based around the internet and feature several pop cultural references and instances of product placement. And in the case of this film, it would feature probably the most Disney-centric moment to ever be seen in a Disney film through the cameo appearances of its most famous female protagonists. Ultimately, though, without beating the dead horse that is the continued bashing of The Emoji Movie, Disney never stoops to ‘that low’ with Ralph Breaks the Internet. Co-directors Rich Moore and Phil Johnston and their writing team do an excellent job of maintaining an emphasis on the story rather than its setting, providing its characters with a unique spin on the concept of insecurity in a gorgeously animated and clever interpretation of the world wide web. In other words, this is not a film that relies solely on its pop cultural references or its Disney cameos; it’s just a well-written sequel that does manage to boast the same amount of heart as the original… possibly more, even. Yes, as is the case with any sequel that’s on par with the original, it’s currently up for debate online whether this is ‘better’ than the original Wreck-it Ralph. And while I personally can’t add to that argument just yet given that I’ve only seen this once, I can safely say that Ralph Breaks the Internet is another wonderful addition to Disney Animation’s current feature film hot streak.

Rating: 5/5!

Coco (2017) review + Olaf's Frozen Adventure (2017) review

The time has come once again, folks, for the newest effort from the legendary animation studio, Pixar. Pixar, of course, needs no introduction. Since 1995, they’ve given us an endless array of animated masterpieces that have helped to make them pioneering forces in the art of computer animation, from the early classics like the Toy Story films and The Incredibles (which is finally getting a sequel next year) to recent gems like Up and Inside Out. And now, they’re back again with their second 2017 outing (after Cars 3 was released earlier this summer) in the form of Coco. With Coco, Pixar takes us on a fantastical journey inspired by the most famous Mexican holiday, Día de Muertos AKA the Day of the Dead, where families come together to honor their fallen loved ones. In the director’s chair for this one is Lee Unkrich, who’s been a mainstay at Pixar ever since they started producing their own feature films. Initially, he was an editor for films like Toy Story and A Bug’s Life before he started to work as a co-director on projects like Monsters Inc. and Finding Nemo. Then, in 2010, he finally got promoted to the role of lead director for the third installment of the Toy Story franchise, and to call Toy Story 3 a success would be a massive understatement. It grossed over $1 billion worldwide and was only the third animated film ever to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and while it didn’t end up winning that award, it did win the Oscar that year for Best Animated Feature. And as for his latest outing, Unkrich proceeds to give us yet another gorgeously animated and heartfelt Pixar adventure that treats its subject matter with the full respect that it deserves.

In a peaceful little Mexican village, a young boy named Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) finds himself in a troubling situation over one of his family’s longtime traditions. While he yearns to become a musician like his idol, the late Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt), his family has regularly enforced a ban on music ever since Miguel’s great-great-grandfather left the family to embark on a musical career. Miguel’s passion for music is only fueled further, however, when an old family photo implicates that his great-great-grandfather was, in fact, Ernesto de la Cruz. Thus, on Día de Muertos, Miguel sneaks into the local mausoleum dedicated to de la Cruz and proceeds to take his guitar in the hopes of performing in a local talent contest. In the process, though, he ends up being transported to the Land of the Dead, where the deceased reside until they return to the land of the living every year on this day to visit their living relatives. While there, Miguel is reunited with all of his ancestors who must now try and get him back home before sunrise; otherwise, he would become a skeleton and be stuck in the Land of the Dead forever. But when his ancestors demand that he give up his dreams of becoming a musician as a condition of the return process, Miguel decides to try and find his great-great-grandfather so that he can return home without having to give up on his dream. And so, Miguel teams up with a charismatic con man named Hector (Gael Garcia Bernal), who allegedly knows de la Cruz, to find him in the hopes of proving to his family that this is who he’s meant to be.

Prior to this film’s release, it did attract some skepticism early on from those who were fearful of how Pixar would handle a story that was based on such an important aspect of Mexican culture, especially after an incident in 2015 in which Disney tried to trademark the phrase ‘Día de Los Muertos’. And, of course, there was a lot of tumultuous uproar made by those who accused the film of being a rip-off of the 2014 animated film The Book of Life, even though its director, Jorge R. Gutierrez, clearly denied this multiple times. Well, fear not, folks, as Pixar does treat this staple of Mexican tradition with the respect that it deserves. While Coco does focus a lot on Miguel trying to follow his dreams of becoming a musician, its plot is ultimately steeped in the one thing that the Day of the Dead celebrations are all about, and that is the importance of family. During his journey, there are several instances in which Miguel tries to distance himself from his family when they discourage him from being a musician. At the same time, though, Miguel also begins to realize how much his family truly means to him when he starts to learn the truth behind the events that caused them to carry out their ban on music in the first place. This paves the way for a great plot twist in the third act that further strengthens the emotional poignancy of the story. Yes, just like all the great Pixar films, this film is sure to hit you with the feels at certain points, especially near the end (don’t worry, no spoilers…). 

As for the animation… well, it’s Pixar, what do you expect? It’s bright, crisp, and colorful, and just like the plot itself, it utilizes its Mexican roots to their full effect, effectively giving us a great visual world to explore in its version of the ‘Land of the Dead’. The great animation also ties in well to another key element of this film, its music. Yes, Coco is quite arguably the first major musical that Pixar has ever done, and the music, written in part by Frozen songwriters Robert and Kristen-Anderson Lopez and backed by the usual great score by Michael Giacchino, is excellent. And of course, like any great Pixar film, it boasts an excellent cast of characters. They’re so solid, in fact, that because the story is so well-handled, even the characters that initially come off as being rather stern become more sympathetic once we get to know them better. This includes the likes of Miguel’s great-great-grandmother Imelda (Alanna Ulbach), who was the first to initiate their family’s music ban after her musician husband left her all those years ago, and Miguel’s grandmother Elena (Renee Victor), who continues to enforce it to this day. But, of course, it’s ultimately the lead duo of Miguel and Hector who are the true emotional core of the story. As the film’s likable young protagonist, newcomer Anthony Gonzalez shines in what will surely be a breakout role for him, while Gael Garcia Bernal gets to work with a great redemption arc that slowly but surely begins to reveal more of the charismatic Hector’s background.

I’ve talked before about the internet’s extremely severe attitude towards Pixar in recent years that has mainly come as a result of some of the strictest expectations that have ever been seen from the film fan community. This has especially been the case ever since 2011’s Cars 2 ended up being the first project of theirs to attract primarily negative reviews. And thus, nowadays, I find that the current internet mentality towards Pixar films is that if a film of theirs isn’t a straight-up masterpiece effort of storytelling, then it is effectively deemed as a ‘failure’. This has been a fate that has sadly affected perfectly decent films like Monsters University, The Good Dinosaur, and Brave, just to name a few. Thankfully, though, that has not been the case with Pixar’s latest outing, as Coco is being regarded by many as one of the studio’s best films yet. And quite frankly, it’s easy to see why, as the film is a heartfelt tribute to arguably the most famous holiday in Mexican culture. Not only does it handle the concept of death and the afterlife in a smart manner, but it also ties it all together perfectly with a poignant story that’s focused on the most important element of Día de Muertos, family. Add in a great cast of layered characters and a toe-tapping soundtrack of songs and you have what is easily one of the best animated films of the year, if not the best. Simply put, Pixar has done it again!  

Rating: 5/5!

OLAF’S FROZEN ADVENTURE – SHORT REVIEW

Now as many of you know, in lieu of the traditional Pixar short that plays before every new Pixar film, Coco was paired with a 21-minute featurette from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Olaf’s Frozen Adventure. This is the first time since 1990 (when The Prince and the Pauper ran in front of The Rescuers Down Under) that a short film of this length has been shown in front of a Disney film. And in this instance, it comes in the form of the continuing adventures of sisters Anna and Elsa and all of their friends from Disney’s 2013 global phenomenon, Frozen. In this new short, the lovable snowman Olaf (Josh Gad) embarks on a quest to find a new holiday tradition for Princess Anna (Kristen Bell) and Queen Elsa (Idina Menzel) when the latter realizes that, because of all the time that she’s spent secluded from society, she and Anna don’t really have a family tradition of their own. As for the short itself… well, if you’re one of those people who are 100% sick to death of ‘Frozen mania’ at this point, then clearly this isn’t going to do anything for you just like when Frozen Fever ran in front of the live-action remake of Cinderella back in 2015. For the record, I still think that Frozen Fever got way too much flak from the internet, but that’s another story at the moment because… damn! This new short is clearly turning out to be far more controversial compared to its immediate predecessor just because it was paired with Coco instead of airing on TV as was originally intended. It’s been so controversial, in fact, that Mexican theaters straight-up pulled it in favor of just showing Coco. And to be perfectly frank, it isn’t doing much better here in the states…

But for those who still love the original film and its endearing cast of characters, then I’m pleased to say that this new short will provide you with even more great moments with them that will hopefully hold you over until the release of the impending sequel in 2019. Now, granted, that doesn’t mean that I think that this is as good as the original film. I do agree with a common argument that’s being brought up in that it sort of rushes through its track list of songs (which, for the record, weren’t done by Robert and Kristen-Anderson Lopez this time around). Still, the characters are just as lovable as ever and while the songs in this short probably won’t become as popular as the ones from the original film, the final song ‘When We’re Together’ is an undeniably sweet melody. Plus, I won’t lie… the ending is so damn heartwarming in terms of its ultimate resolution, and it serves as yet another perfect representation of the heartfelt narratives that have made up this entire franchise. In short, those who are absolutely dreading the thought of having to sit through this new entry in the Frozen franchise shouldn’t fret too much about it, because from what I’ve heard, this is only going to be running in front of Coco for a limited time. So if you’re this upset about it, just wait a while before you go to see Coco… it’s that easy. But in all seriousness, Olaf’s Frozen Adventure isn’t even remotely as bad as the internet is currently putting it out to be. I mean, really, is it ‘that’ hard to just sit through a 21-minute short film?

Rating: 4/5

UPDATE: It has just been recently announced that Olaf's Frozen Adventure will be pulled from theaters starting on December 8th, presumably in the wake of all of the backlash that it has received from audiences ever since it debuted in front of Coco. And yet, I still don't think that it's as bad as the internet says it is. I mean, seriously, I've seen several online articles recently that have accused the short of being 'offensive' to Pixar fans and for harming the reputation of Coco by overshadowing it. Well, I'm a Pixar fan... and yet I can safely say that I wasn't the least bit 'offended' by this short. Heck, if you ask me, this whole backlash towards an innocent holiday short is far more harmful to Coco's reputation than the short itself. Why? Because THAT, folks, is how Pixar's latest masterpiece is being overshadowed; not directly by the short that precedes it, but because people are truly making a mountain out of a molehill. Once again, I must ask; is it really THAT hard to sit through a 21-minute short that precedes an animated film that's just under two hours?

Moana (2016) review

Well, as I’ve mentioned quite a few times in the past few years, Walt Disney Animation Studios is currently in the middle of a major ‘Revival’ period. Following a rather rough start to the 2000’s that was marred by multiple underperforming films, some of which were no doubt affected by interference from studio execs, the studio began to get back on its feet once Pixar’s Ed Catmull and John Lasseter were brought in as its new President and Chief Creative Officer, respectively, in 2006. Since then, the studio has seen plenty of critical and commercial hits, including two billion-dollar-grossing films in the form of 2013’s Frozen and this year’s Zootopia. But Zootopia isn’t the only Walt Disney Animation release of the year as now we have the studio’s 56^th animated feature upon us, Moana. It certainly has the pedigree behind it. For one thing, it’s directed by the duo of John Musker and Ron Clements. These two are easily one of the most famous directing duos in the studio’s history. After making their directorial debut as one-half of the directing team behind 1986’s The Great Mouse Detective, they then went on to become the creative force behind not one, not two, but three films of the ‘Disney Renaissance’ era; 1989’s The Little Mermaid, 1992’s Aladdin, and 1997’s Hercules. A few years later, they directed the studio’s highly underrated 2002 effort, Treasure Planet. In 2009, they made their first contribution to the studio’s revival with The Princess and the Frog. And with their latest film, their first computer-animated feature, they once again bring us another highly entertaining animated adventure that features plenty of the great things that one would expect from a Disney Animated film, especially from the ones that these two have worked on.

In the region of Polynesia, a young teenaged girl named Moana Waialiki (Auli’i Cravalho) lives with her folks, Chief Tui (Temuera Morrison) and his wife Sina (Nicole Scherzinger), on Motunui Island. But while her father spends most of his time grooming her into becoming the next chieftain of their village, Moana instead wishes to explore the world beyond the open seas, something that her father forbids her and the other villagers from doing following an incident that he ended up in many years earlier. However, one day, Moana finds that the village’s resources are starting to dwindle. Namely, the coconuts in the area have begun to spoil and the fish have disappeared from their usual shores. Moana then learns from her grandmother Tala (Rachel House) that the island is being affected by a curse that was caused by the stealing of a mythical stone that is known as the ‘heart’ of the island goddess, Te Fiti. This leads Moana into setting out on a journey to return the ‘heart’ to its rightful place, the lost island that Te Fiti had created a millennium ago. Along the way, she ‘recruits’ the assistance of the legendary shape-shifting demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson), who just so happens to be the one who stole the ‘heart’ in the first place. And so, the two set off on a journey to help Maui regain his fish-hook (which allows him to shapeshift) and return the ‘Heart’ to restore balance to the world and save Moana’s village, all while dealing with various monsters along the way.

Moana is Clements and Musker’s first computer-animated film after all their previous films were traditionally-animated. But with that said, the animation in this film is just as beautiful as the animation that came from their previous films, especially when it comes to sequences that are set on the ocean. I can’t really explain why but there’s just something about water that allows it to translate well into animation, as evident from this and other films like Pixar’s Finding Nemo films. There are even a few instances where some shots have somewhat of a traditionally animated feel to them. And, for the record, no I’m not just talking about the sentient ‘Mini Maui’ tattoo that Maui interacts with constantly. Some frames of animation did feel like they had a real nice ‘painterly’ quality to them, sort of like what Tangled did back in 2010. As for the story, it’s a fun oceanic adventure with a solid emotional core, while also giving us some fun ocean-based action sequences. In fact, one scene involving a group of small coconut-like creatures known as Kakamora may even remind some people of a certain action film that got released last year. But through it all, one can really get a great sense of Polynesian culture. Disney usually does a good job when it comes to portraying other cultures. I mean, okay, admittedly not all the time (e.g. some of the controversial ‘stereotypes’ of early Disney films) but still, the films of theirs that are set within a specific location usually do a decent enough job of reflecting the culture of their locales (e.g. Saludos Amigos/The Three Caballeros, Lilo and Stitch) and this film is easily one of Disney’s best in terms of respectfully representing the culture of its setting. Plus, as with any great Disney musical, the songs that are featured in this film are terrific. What is the best way to describe how they’re great? Simple; they were co-written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. No further explanation necessary.

A lot of buzz has been going around in regards to the film’s title character, particularly because she is a ‘Disney Princess’ without a love interest. But if you recall my ‘Ranking the Disney Princesses’ post a few weeks ago, you’ll know that ‘romance’ is not something that I usually focus on when it comes to Disney’s princess characters. Instead, I will say that Moana is a charming, adventurous young protagonist with a great personal drive and is ultimately someone who I’d argue is more than just a ‘Disney Princess’. And newcomer Auli’i Cravalho does a fantastic job in the role, especially when it comes to working off Dwayne Johnson. Speaking of which, what else can be said about ‘The Rock’ that hasn’t been said before? He’s one of the most charismatic actors in the business and even though Maui does start off as a rather selfish and egotistical character who’s just out for his own personal gain, he does grow to become more selfless as time goes on. And of course, Johnson’s charisma is on full display here. In short, Moana and Maui are an excellent lead duo. And of course, like any great Disney film, there are quite a few noteworthy side characters here and there, including a dumb rooster named Heihei who happens to be voiced by Disney Animation’s ‘John Ratzenberger’, Alan Tudyk, and a giant crab named Tamatoa (Jemaine Clement) who is shown to be a major treasure-hoarder and is the main focal point of an entertaining musical number, ‘Shiny’. Though with that said, this is a case of a Disney film where the focus is more on the main characters, which is great in this case given how well-developed the protagonists are.

Thanks to their newest effort, Moana, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ current hot streak stays strong. In fact, I think it’s safe to say that this won’t be the end of it. Under the direction of the duo responsible for some of the most iconic Disney films in recent memory, John Musker and Ron Clements, Moana very much feels like a classic Disney animated film. The animation is terrific, especially considering that this was the first time that Musker and Clements have forayed into computer animation. Through it all, they even managed to implement some traditional animation into the film. The songs, brought to us in part by the one and only Lin-Manuel Miranda, are excellent. And the main characters Moana and Maui, excellently voiced by Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, respectively, are an excellent lead duo. Put all of this together, along with a solid representation of Polynesian culture, and you have a fun ocean-based animated film with a strong emotional core. And thus, Disney Animation is 2 for 2 this year when it comes to their feature films. However, I’m not going to make any major comparisons between this and Zootopia because they are two very different films. It does, however, showcase the strong variety of Disney Animation’s current output that is, without a doubt, one of the many factors behind the studio’s recent ‘Revival’. Because both are great in their own way; Zootopia as a timely (and I mean really timely) moral message and Moana as a great cultural experience. 

Rating: 4.5/5

DISNEY MONTH: Ranking All 55 Disney Animated Features (pre-'Moana')

Hello and welcome to the final installment of Disney Month here on Rhode Island Movie Corner, a month dedicated to honoring the prestigious filmography of Walt Disney Animation Studios. Over the course of the past few weeks, I’ve ranked all the current members of the Disney Princess line, listed my Top 5 Favorite Disney Protagonists and Sidekicks, and listed my Top 10 favorites from Disney’s wide array of classic tunes. This was all done in honor of the impending release of Disney Animation’s 56^th film, Moana. It comes out today so to cap things off before my inevitable review of the film, I’ll be concluding Disney Month with the biggest list of them all. That’s right; today I’ll be ranking all 55 of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ animated features that were released prior to Moana, from 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarves to this year’s Zootopia. Obviously, it was quite a hard process to do a list like this given the fact that I have 55 (!) films to work with here. But, I think that I managed to successfully assemble my own personal list. But of course, with that said, this will very much be one of those cases where you’re guaranteed to not find two lists of this topic that are 100% the same. So, be sure to sound off in the comments below with your own Top 10 favorite Disney Animated films (and even your Top 5 least favorites if you want). Finally, I just want to lay out a quick disclaimer; obviously, this will be a very, very long list. So, with that in mind, I promise that I’ll try to be as quick and concise with this as possible; in other words, I’m not going to go into too much detail about these films given that I’ve already done so in the past. For my full thoughts on these films, just check out my ‘Disney Retrospective’ series via the links provided below. But for now, it’s time to start the countdown!

Disney Retrospective - 90's

Disney Retrospective - The 2000's to Present

Disney Retrospective - The 60's and 70's

Disney Retrospective - The 80's

Disney Retrospective - The 30's and 40's

Disney Retrospective - The 50's

55. CHICKEN LITTLE

While I may have liked this as a kid, nowadays I view it as the worst Disney animated film to date. And it’s not because the humor is hit-or-miss or because the animation isn’t very good, but because it has a severe mean streak, effectively making this the only Disney animated film that I can’t, in good faith, recommend to kids.

54. HOME ON THE RANGE

Unlike Chicken Little, kids will probably enjoy this fine because of its bright and colorful animation and the wacky tone. However, adults won’t get much out of this and it’s sad to know that this was intentionally made that way considering that Disney Animation has always been known to respect both kids and adults.

53. THE BLACK CAULDRON

This one did have quite the potential, being easily one of the studio’s darkest outings story-wise. But, ultimately, a lot of it ends up falling flat, from the underdeveloped (and possibly truncated) story to the bland characters.

52. THE ARISTOCATS

While the film as a whole is harmless, there’s barely any plot to speak of. It’s a generally aimless affair.

51. POCAHONTAS

Despite the solid animation and a decent array of songs, the main characters are bland and the film is rather dull, effectively making it the weakest of the ‘Disney Renaissance’ films. On the bright side, this is the last Disney animated film on this list that I gave a less-than-stellar rating to. So, in short, out of 55 films, I only dislike about 1/10^th of them. Obviously, I know that film is subjective and that some of you might dislike some of the next films on this list but still, that’s a pretty great track record for a studio that’s been around for nearly eight decades.

50. DINOSAUR

While the computer animation is quite impressive for the time, the story is pretty basic. Still, I won’t lie when I say that this gives me a pleasant sense of nostalgia.

49. BROTHER BEAR

Ultimately this film’s biggest downfall is the severe tonal change that occurs after the main character is turned into a bear. Still, the great first half and the solid character arc that the main character goes through at least keeps it from being one of the absolute worst.

48. SALUDOS AMIGOS

At just 42 minutes long, this feels more like a bonus feature on a DVD. Still, the content in it is quite good and it does its job at representing the beauty of Latin America in such a short span of time.

47. THE RESCUERS

The main characters are very likable and the film has an enjoyably over the top villain. However, the film as a whole is rather slow and the bayou setting actually results in some dreary-looking animation.

46. FANTASIA 2000

The animated segments of this Fantasia sequel are rather hit-or-miss and the celebrity cameos don’t really work that well. Still, the strongest segments (e.g. ‘Rhapsody in Blue’) do stand out.

45. OLIVER AND COMPANY

Sure, it’s probably one of the simplest Disney animated films in terms of story, especially considering the two Disney animated films that it’s sandwiched between in terms of release dates, but it’s still quite enjoyable as is its unforgettable main song, ‘Why Should I Worry?’

44. THE THREE CABALLEROS

While it does have more to it than its cultural brother, Saludos Amigos, its non-stop nature may prove to be tiring for some.

43. THE SWORD IN THE STONE

Some might not like the educational-heavy pace that this film adopts but it’s still a pretty enjoyable take on the legend of King Arthur.

42. MAKE MINE MUSIC

What could be described as Fantasia but set to contemporary music, Make Mine Music makes up for some of its shorter segments with some memorable stories, including ‘Casey at the Bat’ and ‘The Whale Who Wanted to Sing at the Met’.

41. THE FOX AND THE HOUND

This tale of ‘best friends turned enemies’ wins you over with the cute friendship that emerges between the title characters and then ends up being quite engaging in terms of how they end up becoming foes.

40. ROBIN HOOD

While it’s certainly a very simple story, Robin Hood is still an enjoyable romp with funny villains, likable leads, and some zany action.

39. LADY AND THE TRAMP

While fairly simple in terms of story, Lady and the Tramp still shines thanks to the nice romance that forms between its title characters. And who can forget ‘Bella Notte’?

38. MEET THE ROBINSONS

It may still be a product of the ‘pre-Lasseter’ era but because this was the first one that John Lasseter was involved with, Meet the Robinsons is an enjoyable sci-fi adventure that honors Walt Disney’s vision of the future while also showing signs of the studio’s forthcoming revitalization.

37. DUMBO

While Dumbo is certainly one of the simpler Disney films in terms of its story, it’s also full of charm and heart. And who can forget that infamous ‘Pink Elephants on Parade’ sequence?

36. SLEEPING BEAUTY

While its main romantic duo is rather underwritten, this film still stands as a Disney classic thanks to its beautiful animation, memorable side characters, and unforgettable main villain.

35. WINNIE THE POOH (2011)

A welcome return for these beloved characters that maintains many of the same great elements of its 1977 predecessor. Really, the only thing holding it back is that it’s a bit short with only two major storylines.

34. ONE HUNDRED AND ONE DALMATIANS

I like the second half more than I do the first half but there’s no denying that Cruella de Vil is a classic Disney villainess.

33. BOLT

Often regarded as the film that kick-started Disney’s current Renaissance (or ‘Revival’ as it’s more commonly referred to), Bolt is an enjoyable road trip story with likable main characters and a fun ‘fish out of water’ premise.

32. HERCULES

The flashy Vegas-esque art style may throw some people off but it still has some fun songs (as well as a great inspirational one), a likable main character, and a hilarious villain in the form of James Woods’ Hades.

31. THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE

Often regarded as an unofficial ‘Renaissance’ era Disney film, this fun spin on the story of Sherlock Holmes features a great ‘hero-villain’ pairing in the form of Basil and his archenemy Ratigan.

30. HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME

Easily one of Disney’s darkest films to date, and that’s even after the changes that were made to tone down the already dark content of its source material. And while the film itself is a bit uneven in regards to trying to maintain that tone while also being a family film, this is still a very enjoyable entry in the Disney canon, particularly thanks to its main villain, Judge Claude Frollo.

29. TARZAN

The animation is cool, the main characters are likable, and I’m not afraid to admit that I like the soundtrack done by Phil Collins.

28. ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE

A pretty underrated entry in the Disney canon. It may be a bit uneven and the villains may be rather weak but the main character is likable and the side characters are memorable. Pair that with some great comic-book style animation and you have a fun Disney animated film that tried to be something different.

27. ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Featuring arguably some of the studio’s greatest animation, Alice in Wonderland is just as zany as its source material.

26. MELODY TIME

Like Make Mine Music, this is basically just a series of animated shorts set to contemporary music. However, it ultimately ends up being superior to its ‘spiritual predecessor’ due to the fact that while there aren’t as many segments in it, they’re longer and much more memorable as a result.

25. THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD AND MR. TOAD

An excellent pairing of animated short films, ‘The Wind in the Willows’ is zany and full of fun characters while ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ builds up to the dark and atmospheric conclusion with the infamous Headless Horseman.

24. FUN AND FANCY FREE

Easily my personal favorite of Disney’s line of ‘package films’, Fun and Fancy Free features two highly memorable short films, particularly the Disney version of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ starring Mickey, Donald, and Goofy. But if you want the best version of that story, check out the version on Netflix narrated by Ludwig von Drake instead of the in-film version narrated by Edgar Bergen.

23. THE RESCUERS DOWN UNDER

The oft-forgotten entry of the ‘Disney Renaissance’, this film takes the positives of its 1977 predecessor but improves upon the animation and pacing to become a superior sequel.

22. MULAN

With a great title character, fun side characters, and some excellent songs, Mulan is quite a powerhouse and arguably the most underrated entry of the ‘Disney Renaissance’.

21. LILO AND STITCH

Combining a fun ‘fish out of water’ story with an emotional ‘broken family’ story, it’s easy to see why Lilo and Stitch was probably the most successful Disney film of the ‘post-Renaissance, pre-Lasseter’ era.

20. THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG

After half a decade, Disney returned to traditional animation with this vibrant and colorful New Orleans fairy tale complete with fun and jazzy music and a highly memorable villain.

19. TANGLED

Some might find the title change from Rapunzel to Tangled to be rather silly but it ultimately does reflect the overall story much better. A great lead duo, some nice songs, and an entertainingly show-y villain help make Tangled a modern-day Disney classic.

18. BIG HERO 6

The first Disney animated film to utilize the company’s then-newest acquisition, Marvel Comics, Big Hero 6 is basically the animated equivalent of a MCU film. It’s entertaining, has great visuals, and heart.

17. TREASURE PLANET

Easily the most underrated Disney animated film to date, Treasure Planet is an exciting and unique take on the classic story of Treasure Island that solidly blends science-fiction with its original action-adventure premise.

16. BAMBI

Very much more than just ‘that film with the emotionally-scarring death of a parent’, Bambi may be a simple coming of age story but it’s handled perfectly.

15. FANTASIA

The marriage of classical music and classic Disney animation is perfect. Simple as that.

14. THE JUNGLE BOOK

Contrary to what channels like ‘Screen Junkies’ and ‘CinemaSins’ have recently claimed, this film is a classic. Great characters, toe-tapping songs (not just ‘Bare Necessities’), and some overall nice jungle animation result in a fun adventure.

13. THE LITTLE MERMAID

The title character may prove to be a bit polarizing depending on who you ask but this film still stands as the film that helped revive Disney Animation by kicking off one of its most iconic eras.

12. WRECK-IT RALPH

As a gamer, this directly appealed to me with its wide array of video game references. And while some of these references may end up going over the heads of younger audiences, the film will win them over with its great message of ‘being yourself’ and its colorful and creative animation.

11. ZOOTOPIA

The latest Disney animated flick is great enough as a fun and beautifully-animated buddy cop adventure. But then it goes the extra mile by having its story be based around timely themes and messages through its combating of racism and prejudice.

10. PETER PAN

Sure, nowadays this film gets a lot of flak for its occasional stereotyping but the villains are fantastic, the main characters are likable, and the film very much succeeds in regards to capturing the imagination of young and old.

9. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS

The original Disney animated classic and still very much one of the all-time best. It may be much simpler in terms of story and characters than subsequent Disney films but of course, if it wasn’t for this film, we wouldn’t have those other ones.

8. CINDERELLA

I will always argue that the title character is not as passive as some claim and that this film is a classic thanks to great animation, a superb villain, and some great songs.

7. THE MANY ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH

Winnie the Pooh is pretty much the definition of childhood and although this is basically just three animated shorts, the lovable characters and innocence of it all very much make this a classic.

6. THE EMPEROR’S NEW GROOVE

Quite possibly the funniest Disney film to date, mostly thanks to its main villainess Yzma and her lackey Kronk.

5. FROZEN

Yep… this got all the way up to #5 on my list. I know that it’s become popular on the internet to hate on this film for being the big hit that it was but you know what? Because of its great characters, catchy songs, and the strength/heart of its story of two sisters, that success was very much earned.

4. ALADDIN

Aside from Robin Williams’ iconic turn as the Genie, Aladdin has it all; action, adventure, romance, great music, etc.

3. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

It’s easy to see why this was the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture. From the great romance between its lead duo to the entertaining villain to the classic array of songs, Beauty and the Beast is a masterpiece.

2. PINOCCHIO

A charming, but sometimes dark, masterpiece with great lessons for kids. I’d argue that this was Walt Disney’s masterpiece.

1. THE LION KING

Through it all, though, it is Disney Animation’s 1994 masterpiece that lands the number one spot on my list. This film has it all; great animation, an epic scale, an emotional story, terrific music (both in terms of the songs by Elton John and the score by Hans Zimmer), and classic characters.

And those are my rankings of Disney Animation’s 55 animated features prior to this week’s Moana. Thanks for joining me on this month-long celebration of Disney and be sure to stay tuned because my review for Moana will surely be coming in the next few days.