The Prince of Egypt (1998)

The Prince of Egypt (1998)

[8] Dreamworks Animation's maiden voyage is a stunning achievement of sight and sound. Impressionistic background paintings blend with sexy, angular character designs, all set to a brilliant soundtrack by composer Hans Zimmer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz. It kills me that…
The Lion King (1994)

The Lion King (1994)

[8] The Disney Animation Studios took Shakespeare's Hamlet and transplanted it to the African savanna with an all-animal cast. Buoyed by a hit soundtrack, lush visuals, memorable characters, and a daring blend of intense drama and whacky humor, the film…
How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

[8] In this Dreamworks animated fantasy from writer/directors Chris Sanders and Dean DuBlois (the team behind Lilo & Stitch), Jay Baruchel voices a pre-pubescent Viking named Hiccup who lives in an oceanside village where everyone is a dragonslayer. But after…
The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)

The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)

[8] It may be one of the most atypical Disney animated film, but I thoroughly enjoy The Emperor's New Groove. It's by far the funniest Disney flick I've ever seen, reminding me more of a Warner Brothers Looney Tune than…
Titan A.E. (2000)

Titan A.E. (2000)

[5] Titan A.E. is an awkward mix of 2D and 3D animation from director Don Bluth (Secret of NIMH, Anastasia). It's not as attractive as Bluth's other films, and it also suffers from a weak script. There are kernels of…
The Rescuers Down Under (1990)

The Rescuers Down Under (1990)

[5] Disney's first animated theatrical sequel is a technical and stylistic achievement featuring beautiful character and effects animation, rich background paintings, and thrilling music from the ever-underrated Bruce Broughton. The movie is best at the beginning, during a spectacular sequence…
Inside Out (2015)

Inside Out (2015)

[5] Pixar usually moves me with some genuine human emotion, but Inside Out is a little more sentimental and pandering than many of their other films. The big cry moment is a cheap, low blow, is what I mean to…
The Reluctant Dragon (1941)

The Reluctant Dragon (1941)

[7] The Reluctant Dragon is an odd but interesting hybrid of anthology feature and behind-the-scenes documentary. It's about a man whose wife convinces him to take a children's storybook titled The Reluctant Dragon to Walt Disney so that he can…
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad (1949)

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad (1949)

[4] This short feature presentation from Disney Animation is really two short stories slammed together. Up first, we have "The Wind in the Willows," narrated by Basil Rathbone. It's a fast-paced story about three stuffy critters -- a badger, a…
Song of the South (1946)

Song of the South (1946)

[4] For its racist stereotypes and sugar-coated depiction of plantation life in the post-Civil War South, Disney has locked away Song of the South from the public since its last re-release in 1986. I don't think the film is any…