Ranking All Disney Renaissance Films

The 70s and 80s saw Disney with some animated features like The Aristocats became future classics, but these were few and far between. The studio had yet to turn to original stories to make its mark. However, all of that changed at the end of the millennium. In the late 1980s, Disney began producing films that were gorgeously animated and had distinct audiovisual identities to go with their incredible storytelling.

These films left an indelible impression on their audience, often becoming the definitive versions of the tales they adapted. This period, spanning 1989 to 1999, is called the Disney Renaissance.

10

Pocahontas

Pocahontas was a rare misfire in a period of overall creative and artistic excellence. Much like the rest of Disney’s Renaissance output, the film is gorgeously animated, but it may be too dark and violent for younger viewers and too historically problematic for older ones.

That said, it is still entertaining to watch if its historical inaccuracies are ignored. There are moments where the colours pop right off the screen, particularly in the musical segments. The amount of memes it has inspired, such as Kocoum running out of cover, shows how the film managed to resonate with its audience despite its issues.

9

The Rescuers Down Under

The Rescuers Down Under is the forgotten middle child of the Disney Renaissance, particularly as it was a sequel to a largely unknown 70s film. What it lacks in staying power, it makes up for in innovation. As the second Disney Renaissance film, it represented a massive shift in how animated movies were produced, being the first 2D film to be created entirely digitally.

Its Australian setting is also welcome, as the outback is explored through the lens of wonder and adventure. The film has a short running time, clocking in at only 77 minutes, so if you haven’t seen it before, it won’t take long to complete the Disney Renaissance puzzle with this one.

8

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame

If you’re picking a Disney Renaissance film to watch as an adult and don’t care much for family-friendly shenanigans, the Hunchback of Notre Dame should be at the top of your list. It’s dark and scary, verging on being downright shocking at times, but it’s also a daring condemnation of authoritarianism.

Though there are fantastical elements, and one psychedelic sequence where Tony Jay exercises his vocal chops in Hellfire, the story told here is rather grounded. Quasimodo, a deformed bell-ringer, is caught up in a conflict between the corrupt Judge Frollo and the Roma population of Paris, complicating the protagonist’s desire to gain acceptance.

7

Hercules

Hercules was seen by critics as one of the weaker entries into the Disney Renaissance canon, due to its reliance on pop culture callbacks and contemporary humour in an ancient Greek setting. But clearly, the film caught on with audiences, as it continues to be discussed decades after its premiere.

The starry-eyed titular protagonist plays second fiddle in popularity to the gleefully villainous Hades and the cynical mentor Philoctetes, voiced by Danny DeVito. Hercules’ boy-to-man storytelling is nothing new, but its fusion of contemporary humour with classical mythology is refreshing.

6

Tarzan

Tarzan represents the end of an era: it was the last Disney Renaissance film ever produced, and it came out at the turn of the millennium. Disney said goodbye to the 90s style with a film that was both visually intriguing and sonically resonant. Phil Collins provided the soundtrack, providing the perfect audio accompaniment to this Disney adaptation of Edgar Rice Burrough’s story.

There are many beautiful bonds on display in Tarzan: between humans and animals and between foster parents and their children. Tarzan is adopted by the apes after his own parents are killed, and his mother, Kala, proves to be an affectionate mentor for him. This is a story of self-discovery with one of the prettiest settings in an animated movie.

5

Mulan

Mulan was a fine accomplishment by Disney, telling a coming-of-age story about a character archetype the studio hadn’t yet tackled: the woman warrior. Defying gender stereotypes and military regulations, Mulan joins the army in order to spare her elderly father from entering another grisly conflict.

Though its premise is serious, Mulan has many moments of side-splitting comedy. Most of these come courtesy of the cowardly Mushu, a small red dragon who accompanies Mulan under her ancestors’ orders. Mushu is, in essence, the Donkey from Shrek before there was a Donkey from Shrek, and Eddie Murphy excels at voicing him.

4

The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid was the film that kickstarted Disney’s Renaissance: it was beautifully animated, had catchy songs, and easily identifiable characters. Its standout was Ursula, who would set the template for all Disney villains to come. Without Ursula, there would be no Scar, no Jafar, and no Hades.

Many of Disney’s storytelling conventions in the Renaissance were also set in stone with this film: the ‘I Want’ song, the coming-of-age conceit, and the introduction of a new Disney princess. The film ended Disney’s creative drought and opened the floodgates to a golden age.

3

Beauty And The Beast

Beauty and the Beast forsook the action protagonist for a brainier archetype: its main character, Belle, is bookish and genteel, and her adventure lies not in scaling fantastical landscapes but in teaching a beast how to be human again. The story is based on a French fairy tale, and though its messages of kindness are subtle, they are effective.

The film is far from being morally grandstanding, though: its deuteragonist – the titular Beast – is flawed but given a chance at redemption. It takes time, but he is able to earn his happy ending thanks to Belle’s guiding hand.

2

Aladdin

Though there are many adaptations of One Thousand and One Nights, Aladdin is the most recognizable one. It isn’t surprising that the film achieved that: it has a catchy soundtrack and was a staple on every 90s kid’s VHS. Its simple story is rendered compelling by its grandiose setting.

Aladdin wasn’t just a film but the impetus for a cross-media revolution. It inspired a high-quality and highly successful video game adaptation, starting a trend for Disney tie-in games. For another, it signaled the dawn of the celebrity voice actor. After Robin Williams’ larger-than-life performance in this film, every studio wanted recognizable faces in the recording booth.

1

The Lion King

The Lion King was, for the longest time, Disney’s greatest triumph at the box office, on VHS, and in terms of sheer artistic achievement. It brought Shakespearean storytelling to a digestible format, transplanting the themes of Hamlet to an exotic savannah setting. It dictated perceptions of the animals portrayed therein for decades, which was bad news for hyenas.

Though it featured animal protagonists, the Lion King told a very humanistic story. Its themes of loss, jealousy, running from responsibility, and ultimately redeeming oneself were a core component of its young audience’s childhoods. The remake grossed over a billion dollars for a reason: everyone wanted to relive those memories.