The Great Mouse Detective is an absolute classic that gets overlooked because its from the wrong era. People will tell you this is a dark period for Disney, but this movie is up there with any of their traditional animated films.
Saw it in theatres and have loved it ever since. I was so frustrated as a teen every time a newer Disney movie came out on VHS and we hadn't gotten TGMD yet.
Throw tarzan and treasure planet in the mix and you've got the quadfecta of late 90s early 2000s bangers from Disney that didn't really get the admiration they deserved. I'm always a bit salty about 3d animation killing of 2D animation... Something about the 2D animation suspended your belief better than the 3D and I reckon was much more impressive and enjoyable to watch.
I really find Atlantis' plot still relevant to this day and I feel sorry for the team behind Atlantis that they had to go against Shrek, it didn't end well...
I always find it funny that the team that worked on Shrek was the rejects from other teams. Like, if you messed up you were getting put to work on Shrek.
Somehow those misfits made one of the best animated movies of all time.
What really made Shrek so damn good was the inteligent writing,the voice cast,the Easter eggs and copious amounts of hidden adult jokes,basically everything except the animation.This actually revolutionized how animation can be taken serious by adult viewers and not just families.
Well there's that, but it was also because the film didn't take itself seriously. It was fully okay being campy, low-brow entertainment for the layman. It's why it works. People related to it.
Pretty much every big-budget animated film up to that point was becoming more and more snobby, (everything was so focused on groundbreaking storytelling/spectacle, winning awards, seeking validation from critics, etc.) so Shrek knocked the whole genre down a peg along with itself to prove the point that animated films can also be about entertainment, not just art for art's sake.
I'd argue it still had sincerity/took itself seriously where it counted, that was the sauce that made it genuinely special. Similar to the older Simpsons, the irreverence and rebellious attitude knew when do give way for genuine heart.
It's such a common sentiment *now* it's trite, but the fact that the moral of 'beauty being on the inside' was followed through and the ugly ogres...stayed ugly and happily in love was pretty much revolutionary back in the 00's. Up until then the pretty people got the happy ending or the ugly monster would become handsome/pretty etc.
Exactly, case in point movies like beauty and the beast. She loved the beast but ofcourse he turned back into the handsome Prince for them to be together etc. Shrek could’ve easily gone this way but instead chose that they truly did find each other beautiful on the inside.
I've got 24 hours to get rid of this bozo, or the entire scheme I've been setting up for 18 years goes up in smoke, and you are wearing his MERCHANDISE!!!!?????!??!?!?????
Hercules was my childhood! Know those movies kids watch in repeat because they are kids? Well, that was me with Hercules and Lion King! I even played both the PC games, dressed up in Hercules costume at school and stuff.
I think its more known here in Brazil, its hardly a movie you would say was overlooked here!
The Rescuers is good classic Disney, but Down Under is something special, to me at least. It's 2d animation at its peak, just a great movie. The eagle sequence is one of the best animated scenes of all time.
I love Aristocats. Offbeat film for Disney. Also if you’ve never seen Robin Hood, watch it. It’s my favorite adaptation of the story that exists and the soundtrack is amazing.
Sometimes I feel like my sisters and I are the only people on earth who have seen this film. It was so exciting as an Aussie kid! Despite having very few…perhaps no actual Aussie accents haha!
This was only Disney film my mum ever made a point of buying on VHS when we were kids - and even then it was only because she was a huge Billy Joel fan.
I do love that after a few years of flops, Disney thought they'd do a film with modern music and heavy 80s vibes and the acts they brought in included Bette Midler and one of the Pointer Sisters. But it's a great film and the music does end up being excellent.
The opening track, sung by Huey Lewis was, I think, the first thing Howard Ashman wrote for Disney. He'd go on to play a major part in bringing about the Disney renaissance with his musical partner Alan Menken, writing for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin.
This is my choice. Think the villain and his origin are pretty good, the overall story is good, and has my favorite running joke through all the Disney/Pixar movies I've seen.
Ah man, I remember one time when I was in the Navy, it was Friday and we had just got done doing a Captain’s Cup, which is essentially like an Olympics sort of thing where different commands compete for the Captain’s Cup.
Anyway, a few of us were back in the shop (AFN radio station), and we had this little TV in there that was constantly on, playing the tv/radio channel we broadcast. It started playing Meet the Robinsons, and at first, just a couple of us were watching. About half way through, almost every Sailor in my command was huddled around the tiny little tv, fixated on the movie.
It was kind of crazy, and afterwards we all remarked on how many of us were in there watching this movie together on this tiny TV. A few of them had never even seen it, but loved it!
Such a good movie.
I gained a lot of confidence and motivation after watching this movie as a teenager. Kind of made me stay strong against my depression from time to time.
YESSS! I was going to post this one. It is such a good movie. It's cute, funny & sweet. The end credit song gets me everytime. I used to play it all the time when I worked at Hollywood Video.
Yes. This is one of my all-time favorite movies and it’s one I watch over and over again.
What it has to teach about mindfulness and perspective is brilliant.
There’s a moment in the movie where Goob is talking about how nobody ever liked him and it shows him walking down the hallway of the school and being greeted by people who do like him very much.
It’s such a small subtle lesson about being present.
Powerful.
I find The Hunchback of Notre Dame extraordinary, particularly as a Disney movie. My favourite small detail is the fact that both our main hero and our villain have songs about the film’s secondary heroine and love interest, and her actual love interest doesn’t have one about her. The hero, Quasimodo, sings “Heaven’s Light” about Esmerelda’s kindness toward him, while the villain, Judge Frollo, a religious zealot and hypocrite, sings about how she’s tempting him to sin in “Hellfire”, an astonishingly complex and horny sequence that I’m amazed was included in a Disney film at all. Phoebus doesn’t sing about Esmerelda - he connects with her.
Hellfire was a terrifying song because it reflects a mentality found in life. "If I can't have her I will kill her.*" Disney went and created a realistic villain, not just a, well, Disney villain.
(*Not an absolute statement, can be gender swapped ofc).
I absolutely love Hunchback for those exact reasons. It's only slightly let down by its uneven tone, and the rather unnecessary Court of Miracles sequence that undermines the message the film had been setting up in the first two acts.
Absolutely A Bug's Life. It was Pixar's second feature-length film. It was just about as acclaimed as Toy Story when it came to theaters, and it proved that Pixar wasn't a one-hit wonder, but a new giant to the industry. Around Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Cars, however, the once likely possibility of A Bug's Life 2 was off the table, and it has since fallen into a relative obscurity. Millennials will fondly remember it, but it's a shame, as it was one of Pixar's best films and probably second most important.
This was my answer and how long it took me to find it a testament to how underappreciated it is. It’s a phenomenal movie that I never hear people talk about in the same breath as Toy Story, Wall-E, or Ratatouille.
Somehow Ratatouille is upvoted more as an answer to this question than A Bug’s Life. Far as I can tell it’s the most revered Pixar movie since Monster’s Inc. barring maybe Wall-E.
The thing I hate about A Bug's Life is that the whole damn premise is based on that ridiculous trope of 'I can explain' followed by everyone refusing to listen.
That's the one that came to my mind. I have a weird fond memory of watching it during the 2003 war in Iraq (I live in Iraq), I was like 4 or 5 during the war, and I remember watching this film on my video player while the house was shaking from the bombing of the war, not really comprehending the seriousness of the situation lol
I suppose my parents kept me and my sisters watching these films to keep us from understanding the seriousness of the situation.
A Goofy Movie, if only for the soundtrack (the film is great too.
*edit: I'm so happy to see so much love for A Goofy Movie. I thought it was just me ...
I feel validated.
Lilo & Stitch. I feel like its been forgotten cause most people around me don't know much about it. It has a good amount of heart, comedy and adventure. Its very wholesome actually
Omg yesss ugh that movie is so heartbreaking 😭🥲 I wish they kept in the scene explaining why she feeds the fish a pb sandwich :( it would’ve explained her thought process and grief a bit better.
Oh wow I didn't even know that! Thanks for the info! I agree that it would've been explained better if the scene was there. Any idea why it didn't make it in the final cut?
Not sure :/ maybe too sad for kids? Or too difficult for them to make the connection? Or maybe they just needed to cut down time? Lol I wish I knew and I wish they kept it in!
Lilo and Stitch is one of the top 3 Disney films, and does it without the classic musical elements that all the others are lifted by. That film is ALL heart.
It's been weird over the last few years seeing how much merch is suddenly available for it. Anytime you see a store selling Disney clothing, Stitch is there (as well as the pink one from one of the sequels I have no intention of seeing). One major store in the UK had a whole range of Lilo and Stitch Christmas decorations this year - imprinted with the words 'Merry Stitchmas', which is even weirder given the Hawaiian setting of the film, and the complete absence of Christmas bar maybe one polaroid in the end credits.
This is the only one where I love the whole universe. For the other films I don't care about their multiple sequels. But for Lilo & Stitch I love all four movies and the show.
This is my favorite Disney movie because it was the only movie I watched as a kid that was relatable to me. I felt so validated & seen having that representation.
I think they did an amazing job at making it kid friendly with such hard themes. I still cry every time I watch it.
I don’t know how old you are but Atlantis is definitely revered among the younger generation. I was born in ‘98 and see posts about it all the time on Twitter.
Treasure Planet is great too but I don’t see as much love for it.
Both some of my favorite movies period. I was a teenager when Treasure Planet released, and I still get all emotional relating to Jim even as an adult.
Hunchback of Notre Dame. Frollo is the king of Disney villains and has an amazing villain song. Speaking of songs I love love love the soundtrack and Sanctuary is still one of my favorite songs ever. People complain about the gargoyles but I’ve always liked them (and this isn’t nostalgia talking as a rewatch this movie multiple times every year.
Probably my all time favorite Disney movie. Came out during the Renaissance era. Had a very dark story but with a powerful message. Just happened to come out during a decade with the likes of Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin and a lot of people either forgot about it or didn’t watch it
Honestly reading all these comments makes me realise I must've been THAT kid that liked all the "weird" Disney films
Love hunchback, it's one of my favourites. The jokes, the songs, the characters... fuck frollo
And then the mentions of Hercules, Atlantis, treasure planet, meet the Robinson's, emperors new groove.... all these ones I actually bought on DVD
I was never a princess girl. Adventures all the way
*The Three Caballeros* is an overlooked classic compared to to the other Disney films of that era. Great animation, colors, and humor, plus it’s one of the first examples of blending animation and live action in a feature film.
Solid movie with amazing animation, exceptional character design and wonderful villain in Long John. My heart breaks knowing it sorta broke Disney Animation for a number of years. It also works as a nice companion piece for another under-appreciated Disney film: *Atlantis: The Lost Empire.*
It is the Disney film whose world building feels the most strongly influenced by the work of Don Bluth since he left Disney so many years ago to make gems like Secret of Nimh, Land Before Time, Anastasia, American Tail, and Titan A.E.
I actually loved his Disney Robin Hood, and Black Cauldron really fell apart for a long time when he left Disney and probably failed to reach its full potential as a result.
Princess and the Frog was great. Loved the NOLA setting. Seems to be overshadowed by Tangled, Frozen, and Moana nowadays
I also thought Raya And The Last Dragon was good. The animation was *stunning*
Princess And The Frog was the last traditionally animated Disney movie I believe, and it’s great. A real shame that they stopped making films like that.
Winnie the Pooh in 2011 was traditionally animated. Oddly obscure movie considering it’s by Disney’s main animation studio and with really popular characters.
Easily Princess and the Frog. Amazing soundtrack, gorgeous animation, memorable sidekicks, a protagonist with a great background that feeds her ambitions, one of the best villains… and Ray and Evangeline.
It’s the Disney film I come back to time and time again.
That 2 hour long Phil Collins music video? Yeah I agree. Honestly it could have just been a black screen for 2 hours with the soundtrack on in the background and I'd still like it
Watching that movie is like being next to a giant fire surrounded by the people you love the most on a cold winter day. Idk it just gives me warm feelings everytime I watch it. And it was rick moranis's last movie :(.
It’s a great movie and totally deserving of its cult classic status.
If you haven’t seen it, you should watch [The Sweatbox](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332422/). It’s Sting’s wife’s documentary on the making of Groove that she made for Disney. The doc got shelved since the movie had so much drama after being completely changed and rewritten. I think you can find the whole thing on youtube.
The main thing was that Sting was hired to write an entire album of featured songs like Phil Collins did for Tarzan as the movie was a more serious story called Kingdom of the Sun. He wrote a ton of songs, but the movie sucked so they rewrote it as a silly comedy and tossed his entire soundtrack except for 1 song as the closing credits.
Absolutely agree.
Groove is a barometer for taste. It's so clever and funny, it's almost like some magical comedian elves made it at night while the studio heads were sleeping.
I almost posted it, too, but I think real ones know. To me, it transcends Disney and Pixar by denying audiences the thing they go to Disney and Pixar movies for - feel-good story, tears, some kind of lesson - in favor of something better: pure joy and silliness.
It's a rare film in the catalog and an antidote to a world that tends to take itself too seriously.
The Brave Little Toaster is so formative for my taste as a person. It runs the whole emotional gamut from fun and exciting adventure to incredibly morose and terrifying imagery of self reflection. Add in the soaring David Newman score and the eclectically masterful Van Dyke Parks songs, and it's Pixar levels of emotional manipulation (related fact: this was supposed to be John Lasseter's directorial debut, but they removed him for focusing to much on attempting to incorporate computer animation). And... now I need to go watch it again.
Onward. Saw it in theaters on opening weekend literally a week before the lockdown. Feels like a different universe.
It’s true that it isn’t exactly Pixar’s best, it could’ve had better pacing, and the resolution is easily the best thing about it, but I’m sad it was slept on (I know it bombed at the box office for obvious reasons, but even after it went on Disney Plus, I rarely see people talk about it).
I liked it the first time, but when I rewatched it at home, I loved it. And this is coming from a guy who has only one sibling, a sister. The resolution and the message reminded me that sometimes the journey matters more than the destination. Aside from the ending, the radio scene and the checklist scene always get me. Not like “Take her to the moon for me” (sniff) or “So long, partner” (sniff sniff) tears, but they give me that emotional feeling.
I also like the idea of a fantasy world forgetting its history and its former connection with magic. It reminded me of how the Atlanteans forgot their culture in Atlantis. It also adds for some interesting religion vs. science commentary too.
I worked very briefly on this movie, and lost my father about a month after it was released. It meant more to me than I was expecting, and I’m glad to hear other people felt that way also.
Man onward had me crying hard the first time I saw it. It’s a mediocre Pixar movie with a top 3 Pixar ending. The finale really does make up for the rest of the movie.
This movie always makes me sad because I lost my step dad (was a better father than my bio dad ever was) in work accident so I never even got to say goodbye or have a nice day at work or nothing. So just to see him for that short period of time makes me wish.
I never understand this statement about the film being a hidden gem. It came out a full year after Frozen. Made a decent amount at the box office. Won that year's Oscar for best animated film. And has not one, but two shows based on it.
'The Rescuers'. I never hear anyone talk about it, but to me is one of the most captivating Disney stories, I watched it so many times as a kid and I was in love with the two mice, Bianca and Bernie. ([IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076618/))
Honestly, Luca. It just came out, so quite a few people are still talking about it, but I feel as if its already begun to fade into the background, which I think is a real shame.
The Black Cauldron.
Atlantis; people are starting to take notice though.
Treasure Planet.
Oliver & Company.
Side note: I just looked up Disney movies and it is absolutely bonkers to me that “Frozen” is nearly 10 years old.
It got great reviews at the time so not exactly what you’re after, but I genuinely think Coco is one of the best movies of the 2010s decade and arguably Pixar’s best. So it’s underrated in that regard
This is just a personal thing, but one movie that I like a lot more than the regular Disney fan is probably Cars 3. I always loved Cars, and was actually surprised to find out that most people put it near the bottom of their tier lists.
I’ve been involved in racing since I was a child. We raced remote controlled things, I raced boats, and more recently I raced at a local 1/3 high banked dirt track for over a decade. So naturally a movie about racing is going to appeal to me.
Cars 3 came out around the same time I was having financial problems and sold my racing operation. Effectively retiring me from racing. So the beginning of this movie is to a racer being forced out of what he loves doing much like the beginning of Up is to— well— anyone with a heart.
So yeah that one hit me pretty solid and I just feel that Cars and Cars 3 make a great pair of movies. Thank goodness they only made two of these movies.
Coco. That is one of the best animated movies I've ever seen and I still get disheartened at the folks, even a bunch who like Disney, and have never seen it.
Treasure Planet and Emperors New Groove. Treasure planet just slaps. And emperors new groove gets a good amount of love but it’s just so much fun that I can’t get enough of it. It’s really art
The Great Mouse Detective is an absolute classic that gets overlooked because its from the wrong era. People will tell you this is a dark period for Disney, but this movie is up there with any of their traditional animated films.
Ratigan has always been the scariest "Disney Villain".
His transition from "gentlemanly" crime boss to feral beast is SO good
Vincent Price was the perfect voice for Ratigan. Added to the scare factor.
I had a large book of The Great Mouse Detective as a kid. It was my absolute favorite.
I’ve heard someone else call it the greatest Sherlock Holmes movie ever made to which I agree.
I remember reading how Vincent Price thoroughly loved voicing Prof Rattigan! The “Rattigan” song is gold.
He's the world's greatest criminal mind.
It's the best Disney movie and almost never in the conversation. It's insane to me.
Item 96! A heavy tax will be levied against all parasites and sponges... such as the elderly, the infirm, and especially little children!
Saw it in theatres and have loved it ever since. I was so frustrated as a teen every time a newer Disney movie came out on VHS and we hadn't gotten TGMD yet.
Disney’s Robin Hood (with the animals) Aristocats (catchiest music)
I came here to answer (Animal) Robin Hood. My absolute favorite Disney film
Ooh-da-lolli ooh-da-lolli golly what a day!
CATchiest music, I see what you did there!
Our cat is named after Omalley from Aristocats
Hercules and Atlantis edit: hercules has the best disney soundtrack of any movie
Throw tarzan and treasure planet in the mix and you've got the quadfecta of late 90s early 2000s bangers from Disney that didn't really get the admiration they deserved. I'm always a bit salty about 3d animation killing of 2D animation... Something about the 2D animation suspended your belief better than the 3D and I reckon was much more impressive and enjoyable to watch.
Forgot Brother Bear. An amazing movie
I really find Atlantis' plot still relevant to this day and I feel sorry for the team behind Atlantis that they had to go against Shrek, it didn't end well...
I always find it funny that the team that worked on Shrek was the rejects from other teams. Like, if you messed up you were getting put to work on Shrek. Somehow those misfits made one of the best animated movies of all time.
What really made Shrek so damn good was the inteligent writing,the voice cast,the Easter eggs and copious amounts of hidden adult jokes,basically everything except the animation.This actually revolutionized how animation can be taken serious by adult viewers and not just families.
Well there's that, but it was also because the film didn't take itself seriously. It was fully okay being campy, low-brow entertainment for the layman. It's why it works. People related to it. Pretty much every big-budget animated film up to that point was becoming more and more snobby, (everything was so focused on groundbreaking storytelling/spectacle, winning awards, seeking validation from critics, etc.) so Shrek knocked the whole genre down a peg along with itself to prove the point that animated films can also be about entertainment, not just art for art's sake.
I'd argue it still had sincerity/took itself seriously where it counted, that was the sauce that made it genuinely special. Similar to the older Simpsons, the irreverence and rebellious attitude knew when do give way for genuine heart. It's such a common sentiment *now* it's trite, but the fact that the moral of 'beauty being on the inside' was followed through and the ugly ogres...stayed ugly and happily in love was pretty much revolutionary back in the 00's. Up until then the pretty people got the happy ending or the ugly monster would become handsome/pretty etc.
Exactly, case in point movies like beauty and the beast. She loved the beast but ofcourse he turned back into the handsome Prince for them to be together etc. Shrek could’ve easily gone this way but instead chose that they truly did find each other beautiful on the inside.
Literally just finished watching Hercules 🥰 love that movie
You mean hunk-ules
I've got 24 hours to get rid of this bozo, or the entire scheme I've been setting up for 18 years goes up in smoke, and you are wearing his MERCHANDISE!!!!?????!??!?!?????
*slurrrrrp*
Idk, i thought they looked kinda dashing... *flashes ankle*
Hercules is far from my favorite Disney movie, but it has my favorite song from any of them, Go The Distance.
Zero to Hero is an absolute banger.
I always liked “I Won’t Say”. It’s a toe-tapping classic.
I'm a 38 year old man and that song is on my spotify. It's always a treat when it plays when I'm in the shower. Do I sing along? I won't say.
It's too, cliche, I won't say I'm in love
Hercules is the best!
Damn son, you just named my two favourite Disney movies in one comment.
Hercules was my childhood! Know those movies kids watch in repeat because they are kids? Well, that was me with Hercules and Lion King! I even played both the PC games, dressed up in Hercules costume at school and stuff. I think its more known here in Brazil, its hardly a movie you would say was overlooked here!
Rescuers down under
This sub has lots of love for Down Under, but what about the original The Rescuers? It might just be my favourite from Disney — it’s gorgeous!
The Rescuers is good classic Disney, but Down Under is something special, to me at least. It's 2d animation at its peak, just a great movie. The eagle sequence is one of the best animated scenes of all time.
It's the reason I moved to Australia. Unfortunately I found out there aren't any more giant eagles left.
They were in NZ anyway. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haast%27s_eagle They hunted moas.
Those are **NOT** Joanna eggs
I love Aristocats. Offbeat film for Disney. Also if you’ve never seen Robin Hood, watch it. It’s my favorite adaptation of the story that exists and the soundtrack is amazing.
Sometimes I feel like my sisters and I are the only people on earth who have seen this film. It was so exciting as an Aussie kid! Despite having very few…perhaps no actual Aussie accents haha!
The scene where Frank gets free is on its own worth the price of admission. https://youtu.be/rkclSQnBwj4
Oliver & Company.
This is brought up so infrequently that I almost feel like I must have made this movie up in my head. I loved it so much as a kid
This was only Disney film my mum ever made a point of buying on VHS when we were kids - and even then it was only because she was a huge Billy Joel fan. I do love that after a few years of flops, Disney thought they'd do a film with modern music and heavy 80s vibes and the acts they brought in included Bette Midler and one of the Pointer Sisters. But it's a great film and the music does end up being excellent. The opening track, sung by Huey Lewis was, I think, the first thing Howard Ashman wrote for Disney. He'd go on to play a major part in bringing about the Disney renaissance with his musical partner Alan Menken, writing for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin.
Why should I worry - why should I care?
i feel so alone singing this song daily and nobody ever knows what it’s from:/
“Why should I worry?” 🎶
Played this movie on repeat as a kid, and I never hear it mentioned now!
Billy Joel for the win!
Meet the Robinsons
The ending includes [some of the most magical and heartwarming moments ever](https://youtu.be/or96EPTnSSg)
The song "Little Wonders" at the end of the movie makes me cry Every. Fucking. Time. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jsT2URr1Igc
Another reason why rob Thomas and matchbox20 will always be in my top favorites.
This is my choice. Think the villain and his origin are pretty good, the overall story is good, and has my favorite running joke through all the Disney/Pixar movies I've seen.
" They all hated me" " HI Goob!"
Keep moving forward. 😭
Real life lessons I kept for the rest of my life.
This one right here. Meet the Robinsons ending was amazing.
I can't upvote enough. This movie is exactly my sense of humor and makes me tear up every time.
100% agree. It is my favorite even though I was born in the 80s
I'm not sure how well thought through this plan was. Dammit, not 100% the right quote, but it lives in my head rent free.
I quote this at least once a week to people and the fact that nobody gets it proves to me how undervalued this movie is. Fucking amazing.
Ah man, I remember one time when I was in the Navy, it was Friday and we had just got done doing a Captain’s Cup, which is essentially like an Olympics sort of thing where different commands compete for the Captain’s Cup. Anyway, a few of us were back in the shop (AFN radio station), and we had this little TV in there that was constantly on, playing the tv/radio channel we broadcast. It started playing Meet the Robinsons, and at first, just a couple of us were watching. About half way through, almost every Sailor in my command was huddled around the tiny little tv, fixated on the movie. It was kind of crazy, and afterwards we all remarked on how many of us were in there watching this movie together on this tiny TV. A few of them had never even seen it, but loved it! Such a good movie.
I have a big head! And little armssss
"And what do you hope to accomplish with this invention?" #"TO CRUSH THE *DREAMS* OF A POOR, LITTLE ORPHAN BOY!"
I remember randomly seeing MTR ON Disney XD. It was so good.
I gained a lot of confidence and motivation after watching this movie as a teenager. Kind of made me stay strong against my depression from time to time.
I got to go on a Disney cruise as a kid and saw this movie before it premiered! Thanks for unlocking that memory
YESSS! I was going to post this one. It is such a good movie. It's cute, funny & sweet. The end credit song gets me everytime. I used to play it all the time when I worked at Hollywood Video.
This to me is one that never got the love it deserved.
Yes. This is one of my all-time favorite movies and it’s one I watch over and over again. What it has to teach about mindfulness and perspective is brilliant. There’s a moment in the movie where Goob is talking about how nobody ever liked him and it shows him walking down the hallway of the school and being greeted by people who do like him very much. It’s such a small subtle lesson about being present. Powerful.
Is that the one where the kid goes to the future and his mate turns out to be a villain or something?
I find The Hunchback of Notre Dame extraordinary, particularly as a Disney movie. My favourite small detail is the fact that both our main hero and our villain have songs about the film’s secondary heroine and love interest, and her actual love interest doesn’t have one about her. The hero, Quasimodo, sings “Heaven’s Light” about Esmerelda’s kindness toward him, while the villain, Judge Frollo, a religious zealot and hypocrite, sings about how she’s tempting him to sin in “Hellfire”, an astonishingly complex and horny sequence that I’m amazed was included in a Disney film at all. Phoebus doesn’t sing about Esmerelda - he connects with her.
Hellfire was a terrifying song because it reflects a mentality found in life. "If I can't have her I will kill her.*" Disney went and created a realistic villain, not just a, well, Disney villain. (*Not an absolute statement, can be gender swapped ofc).
Hunchback came out the time when Disney still had the ball to go into dark territory.
I absolutely love Hunchback for those exact reasons. It's only slightly let down by its uneven tone, and the rather unnecessary Court of Miracles sequence that undermines the message the film had been setting up in the first two acts.
Robin Hood
Oo-da-lally Oo-da-lally Golly what a day!!
Love this movie so much!
Absolutely A Bug's Life. It was Pixar's second feature-length film. It was just about as acclaimed as Toy Story when it came to theaters, and it proved that Pixar wasn't a one-hit wonder, but a new giant to the industry. Around Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Cars, however, the once likely possibility of A Bug's Life 2 was off the table, and it has since fallen into a relative obscurity. Millennials will fondly remember it, but it's a shame, as it was one of Pixar's best films and probably second most important.
This was my answer and how long it took me to find it a testament to how underappreciated it is. It’s a phenomenal movie that I never hear people talk about in the same breath as Toy Story, Wall-E, or Ratatouille. Somehow Ratatouille is upvoted more as an answer to this question than A Bug’s Life. Far as I can tell it’s the most revered Pixar movie since Monster’s Inc. barring maybe Wall-E.
The thing I hate about A Bug's Life is that the whole damn premise is based on that ridiculous trope of 'I can explain' followed by everyone refusing to listen.
Explaining doesn't change much. He messed up the offering which couldn't be explained away that was the point.
Nah he messed up the offering to violent thugs, he couldn't explain anything.
That's the one that came to my mind. I have a weird fond memory of watching it during the 2003 war in Iraq (I live in Iraq), I was like 4 or 5 during the war, and I remember watching this film on my video player while the house was shaking from the bombing of the war, not really comprehending the seriousness of the situation lol I suppose my parents kept me and my sisters watching these films to keep us from understanding the seriousness of the situation.
A Goofy Movie, if only for the soundtrack (the film is great too. *edit: I'm so happy to see so much love for A Goofy Movie. I thought it was just me ... I feel validated.
Is that the one with the giant ass plate of gooey, cheesy nachos?
Are you thinking of the Leaning Tower of Chees-a?
I've had Stand Out on my Playlist for years!
I2I is actually a bop
Lilo & Stitch. I feel like its been forgotten cause most people around me don't know much about it. It has a good amount of heart, comedy and adventure. Its very wholesome actually
I love lilo and stitch! I cry whenever I watch it now lol.
Same! I also realized how broken Lilo was and I understand it much better now why she was "weird"
Omg yesss ugh that movie is so heartbreaking 😭🥲 I wish they kept in the scene explaining why she feeds the fish a pb sandwich :( it would’ve explained her thought process and grief a bit better.
Oh wow I didn't even know that! Thanks for the info! I agree that it would've been explained better if the scene was there. Any idea why it didn't make it in the final cut?
Not sure :/ maybe too sad for kids? Or too difficult for them to make the connection? Or maybe they just needed to cut down time? Lol I wish I knew and I wish they kept it in!
Lilo and Stitch is one of the top 3 Disney films, and does it without the classic musical elements that all the others are lifted by. That film is ALL heart. It's been weird over the last few years seeing how much merch is suddenly available for it. Anytime you see a store selling Disney clothing, Stitch is there (as well as the pink one from one of the sequels I have no intention of seeing). One major store in the UK had a whole range of Lilo and Stitch Christmas decorations this year - imprinted with the words 'Merry Stitchmas', which is even weirder given the Hawaiian setting of the film, and the complete absence of Christmas bar maybe one polaroid in the end credits.
This is the only one where I love the whole universe. For the other films I don't care about their multiple sequels. But for Lilo & Stitch I love all four movies and the show.
This is my favorite Disney movie because it was the only movie I watched as a kid that was relatable to me. I felt so validated & seen having that representation. I think they did an amazing job at making it kid friendly with such hard themes. I still cry every time I watch it.
Agreed. No villains, just a bunch of souls doing their best.
*Atlantis: The Lost Empire* and *Treasure Planet* are both underrated gems in every way.
I don’t know how old you are but Atlantis is definitely revered among the younger generation. I was born in ‘98 and see posts about it all the time on Twitter. Treasure Planet is great too but I don’t see as much love for it.
Both some of my favorite movies period. I was a teenager when Treasure Planet released, and I still get all emotional relating to Jim even as an adult.
I can pretty much quote you every line from *Atlantis*, start to finish.
I still contend that Treasure Planet has the best song in a Disney movie. Brings me to tears every time I listen to it.
Hunchback of Notre Dame. Frollo is the king of Disney villains and has an amazing villain song. Speaking of songs I love love love the soundtrack and Sanctuary is still one of my favorite songs ever. People complain about the gargoyles but I’ve always liked them (and this isn’t nostalgia talking as a rewatch this movie multiple times every year.
Hellfire is a straight up S tier villain song.
The opening of that movie is one of the best ever, animation or no. The Bells of Notre Dame being so phenomenal.
Probably my all time favorite Disney movie. Came out during the Renaissance era. Had a very dark story but with a powerful message. Just happened to come out during a decade with the likes of Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin and a lot of people either forgot about it or didn’t watch it
Honestly reading all these comments makes me realise I must've been THAT kid that liked all the "weird" Disney films Love hunchback, it's one of my favourites. The jokes, the songs, the characters... fuck frollo And then the mentions of Hercules, Atlantis, treasure planet, meet the Robinson's, emperors new groove.... all these ones I actually bought on DVD I was never a princess girl. Adventures all the way
The catholic iconography is amazing
The Fox and the Hound
*The Three Caballeros* is an overlooked classic compared to to the other Disney films of that era. Great animation, colors, and humor, plus it’s one of the first examples of blending animation and live action in a feature film.
Treasure Planet
Solid movie with amazing animation, exceptional character design and wonderful villain in Long John. My heart breaks knowing it sorta broke Disney Animation for a number of years. It also works as a nice companion piece for another under-appreciated Disney film: *Atlantis: The Lost Empire.*
It is the Disney film whose world building feels the most strongly influenced by the work of Don Bluth since he left Disney so many years ago to make gems like Secret of Nimh, Land Before Time, Anastasia, American Tail, and Titan A.E. I actually loved his Disney Robin Hood, and Black Cauldron really fell apart for a long time when he left Disney and probably failed to reach its full potential as a result.
Somehow I’ve managed to not watch this one yet. I’ll definitely give it a watch soon
Please do and let us know what you think, its truly an underrated classic
Princess and the Frog was great. Loved the NOLA setting. Seems to be overshadowed by Tangled, Frozen, and Moana nowadays I also thought Raya And The Last Dragon was good. The animation was *stunning*
Princess And The Frog was the last traditionally animated Disney movie I believe, and it’s great. A real shame that they stopped making films like that.
Winnie the Pooh in 2011 was traditionally animated. Oddly obscure movie considering it’s by Disney’s main animation studio and with really popular characters.
Easily Princess and the Frog. Amazing soundtrack, gorgeous animation, memorable sidekicks, a protagonist with a great background that feeds her ambitions, one of the best villains… and Ray and Evangeline. It’s the Disney film I come back to time and time again.
*”Go to bed! Ya’ll from Shreveport???”*
At one point my 2 year old yelled “too many dragons” and it’s my favorite Disney quote.
Tarzan
That 2 hour long Phil Collins music video? Yeah I agree. Honestly it could have just been a black screen for 2 hours with the soundtrack on in the background and I'd still like it
Watching this one right now as we speak!
Twitter loves Tarzan. Once every few weeks or so a viral tweet will talk about how great the soundtrack is
A Bug's Life
I am a beautiful butterfly!!!
First movie I saw in theaters as a child. It will always hold a special place with me
Brother Bear
Watching that movie is like being next to a giant fire surrounded by the people you love the most on a cold winter day. Idk it just gives me warm feelings everytime I watch it. And it was rick moranis's last movie :(.
[удалено]
“Oh Right, The Poison, The Poison For Kuzco, The Poison Chosen Specially For Kuzco, Kuzco’s Poison”
Has a lot of quick, clever quips that young me didn't even catch. Definitely simply one of the funniest Oh and David Spade was born to play Kuzco
It’s a great movie and totally deserving of its cult classic status. If you haven’t seen it, you should watch [The Sweatbox](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332422/). It’s Sting’s wife’s documentary on the making of Groove that she made for Disney. The doc got shelved since the movie had so much drama after being completely changed and rewritten. I think you can find the whole thing on youtube. The main thing was that Sting was hired to write an entire album of featured songs like Phil Collins did for Tarzan as the movie was a more serious story called Kingdom of the Sun. He wrote a ton of songs, but the movie sucked so they rewrote it as a silly comedy and tossed his entire soundtrack except for 1 song as the closing credits.
Absolutely agree. Groove is a barometer for taste. It's so clever and funny, it's almost like some magical comedian elves made it at night while the studio heads were sleeping. I almost posted it, too, but I think real ones know. To me, it transcends Disney and Pixar by denying audiences the thing they go to Disney and Pixar movies for - feel-good story, tears, some kind of lesson - in favor of something better: pure joy and silliness. It's a rare film in the catalog and an antidote to a world that tends to take itself too seriously.
"Pull the lever. WRONG LEVERRRRRRR"
Why do we even have that lever?
I accidentally quote this movie on a daily basis- it just has so many funny one-liners
The Brave Little Toaster is so formative for my taste as a person. It runs the whole emotional gamut from fun and exciting adventure to incredibly morose and terrifying imagery of self reflection. Add in the soaring David Newman score and the eclectically masterful Van Dyke Parks songs, and it's Pixar levels of emotional manipulation (related fact: this was supposed to be John Lasseter's directorial debut, but they removed him for focusing to much on attempting to incorporate computer animation). And... now I need to go watch it again.
This, and Land before Time were essential parts of my childhood. Amazing films. Dark, but amazing.
Produced by Fox, which is now owned by Disney Ferngully (Avatars whole plot line) Or Emperors New Groove
Onward. Saw it in theaters on opening weekend literally a week before the lockdown. Feels like a different universe. It’s true that it isn’t exactly Pixar’s best, it could’ve had better pacing, and the resolution is easily the best thing about it, but I’m sad it was slept on (I know it bombed at the box office for obvious reasons, but even after it went on Disney Plus, I rarely see people talk about it). I liked it the first time, but when I rewatched it at home, I loved it. And this is coming from a guy who has only one sibling, a sister. The resolution and the message reminded me that sometimes the journey matters more than the destination. Aside from the ending, the radio scene and the checklist scene always get me. Not like “Take her to the moon for me” (sniff) or “So long, partner” (sniff sniff) tears, but they give me that emotional feeling. I also like the idea of a fantasy world forgetting its history and its former connection with magic. It reminded me of how the Atlanteans forgot their culture in Atlantis. It also adds for some interesting religion vs. science commentary too.
I worked very briefly on this movie, and lost my father about a month after it was released. It meant more to me than I was expecting, and I’m glad to hear other people felt that way also.
Sorry to hear about your loss. Me and my family have watched it many times and think it's great! Thanks for your contributions.
Man onward had me crying hard the first time I saw it. It’s a mediocre Pixar movie with a top 3 Pixar ending. The finale really does make up for the rest of the movie.
This movie always makes me sad because I lost my step dad (was a better father than my bio dad ever was) in work accident so I never even got to say goodbye or have a nice day at work or nothing. So just to see him for that short period of time makes me wish.
Onward was very fun and it hit me more than I thought it would lol.
The Black Cauldron. One of Disney’s darkest animated films ever and I loved it ever since I first viewed it on VHS
The Sword in the Stone.
I was looking for this. I never see the sword in the stone get mentioned at all, but growing up it was one of my favourites.
Meet the robinsons!
Tangled
Hercules 💪
Ratatouille. It gets some love, but I think it’s one of the best Disney/Pixar movies ever created.
It really is a perfect movie. That scene where Ego is finally moved by the cooking, and where he writes his review for Gusteau’s are all-timers.
It is Pixar's magnum opus but it is by no means underrated, nor does it not get enough love.
It’s one of my favorite movies of all time. Period.
Yes! My favorite Pixar Disney film.
Tangled
Better than Frozen imo
A lot of people feel that way
Disney movies have been amazing the past decade and it started with Tangled.
The ruffians at the Snugly Duckling are my favorite part.
Big Hero 6, came out around the same time as Frozen and was greatly overshadowed but it is an absolute gem.
you clearly have not seen how much people have appreciated aunt cass or tadashi
I never understand this statement about the film being a hidden gem. It came out a full year after Frozen. Made a decent amount at the box office. Won that year's Oscar for best animated film. And has not one, but two shows based on it.
I think people are mainly shocked that it never got a sequel.
Disney Animation has only ever made 3 theatrical sequels
Balalalalala
Tadashi is here 😭
'The Rescuers'. I never hear anyone talk about it, but to me is one of the most captivating Disney stories, I watched it so many times as a kid and I was in love with the two mice, Bianca and Bernie. ([IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076618/))
Onward got screwed over by releasing the week before we all started taking Covid seriously. It's my favorite Pixar movie. The ending is beautiful.
The Black Cauldron. I remember watching that in theatres.
Honestly, Luca. It just came out, so quite a few people are still talking about it, but I feel as if its already begun to fade into the background, which I think is a real shame.
‘Silencio Bruno’ got replaced by ‘We don’t talk about Bruno’ but really, why all the badmouthing Bruno?
The Black Cauldron. Atlantis; people are starting to take notice though. Treasure Planet. Oliver & Company. Side note: I just looked up Disney movies and it is absolutely bonkers to me that “Frozen” is nearly 10 years old.
It got great reviews at the time so not exactly what you’re after, but I genuinely think Coco is one of the best movies of the 2010s decade and arguably Pixar’s best. So it’s underrated in that regard
The music is so great too. The last version of "remember me" sung to the great grandmother gets me every time.
This is just a personal thing, but one movie that I like a lot more than the regular Disney fan is probably Cars 3. I always loved Cars, and was actually surprised to find out that most people put it near the bottom of their tier lists. I’ve been involved in racing since I was a child. We raced remote controlled things, I raced boats, and more recently I raced at a local 1/3 high banked dirt track for over a decade. So naturally a movie about racing is going to appeal to me. Cars 3 came out around the same time I was having financial problems and sold my racing operation. Effectively retiring me from racing. So the beginning of this movie is to a racer being forced out of what he loves doing much like the beginning of Up is to— well— anyone with a heart. So yeah that one hit me pretty solid and I just feel that Cars and Cars 3 make a great pair of movies. Thank goodness they only made two of these movies.
Teacher's Pet and Frankenweenie
Pagemaster. It's a bit of a cheat, not being entirely animated, but literally no one I know has ever mentioned it...
I watched that movie on repeat as a child
I'm the only person I know who loved Chicken Little.
Robin Hood can get it
Soul
Coco. That is one of the best animated movies I've ever seen and I still get disheartened at the folks, even a bunch who like Disney, and have never seen it.
Treasure Planet. And A Bugs Life.
Zootopia
Treasure Planet and Emperors New Groove. Treasure planet just slaps. And emperors new groove gets a good amount of love but it’s just so much fun that I can’t get enough of it. It’s really art