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underrated Disney animated films

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Boss Doggie

all my loli wolf companions are so moe
ymmv on what films you'd argue are underrated, but for me I chalk it up on films that aren't talked about a lot, are flawed yet as a whole make for a really great film, and has moments that you feel are overlooked due to many things

Treasure_Planet_poster.jpg
Bolt_ver2.jpg


out of my head, these two I feel deserve those

Former because it was released roughly around the time where the renaissance had already petered out, so people aren't really feeling it. Add the fact that it has so much computer-generated stuff (and apparently people are so iffy on that, despite their favorite movies having those *shrug*), and a rather semi-annoying main character, I can easily see why people overlooked it. But honestly it's a rare of a gem. Maybe because I really like the missing father figure quest and redemption that this really hit me well, that I feel like there really was no need for a villain here since Long John Silver fills it well.

Latter because it was released during the string of "crappy Disney CGI films" (though personally I think Meet the Robinsons, which preceded this film, was pretty good). Some people like to bring up the whole production backstory of it, but personally I judge the film as it is and it is really a heartwarming one. It's villain-less, character-driven movie with really great storytelling keys like foreshadowing and setting implements. I think my only real gripe is the rather abrupt third act misunderstanding but I can overlook it because it is a really great, emotional film.
 

pashmilla

Banned
Atlantis!

As a kid I would have said The Black Cauldron but I went back to it a few years ago and woow... that movie is bad.
 

Jawmuncher

Member
Treasure Planet and Atlantis are two of my all time favorites. I sad that doing more "action/adventure" animated flicks didn't work out for them. Since I'd love to see more of that from animation in general.
 

Ratrat

Member
Treasure Planet is the best Disney film imo. Great setting, three dimensional characters and fun story.


Bolt is that awful one with Miley Cyrus right?
 

Zalman

Member
The Emperor's New Groove.
This. Such a great movie. Probably the last one I truly loved until the post-2010 resurgence. I've been to Disney lands around the world and I'm always sad to see this movie getting little to no representation anywhere.
 
The original cars gets far too much hate from people on here its a genuienly good movie with a lot of heart.

Cars 2 is awful though
 

Plinko

Wildcard berths that can't beat teams without a winning record should have homefield advantage
Bolt is really underrated, and I rarely hear people talk about Robin Hood even though it is fantastic.
 
The Emperor's New Groove.
First thing to come to mind. Hilarious movie.

It did get a TV show and an awful direct-to-DVD sequel, but it's still so rarely mentioned.

Edit: Also! Winnie the Pooh (the 2011 movie). I was shocked at how much I ended up loving it.
 
I loved The Black Cauldron as a book. When I finally got to see the movie recently, I hated it.

Oliver & Co held up better. Also, Billy Joel.
 

SteveMeister

Hang out with Steve.
Bolt is that awful one with Miley Cyrus right?

I'm not sure in what universe Bolt is "awful", but yes, Miley Cyrus plays the voice of Bolt's owner in the movie. But the movie's not about her. It's a clever, funny movie with some heart & it avoids the pitfalls of cash-grab animated movies (over-reliance on pop culture references, physical comedy and scatological humor). It's well-animated and has good voice acting, too.

And yeah, it sucks that they took Chris Sanders' idea away from him and changed it around, but the end product is worthy of the Disney name, and certainly qualifies as an underrated movie.
 

Jarmel

Banned
A Goofy Movie easily. Great songs and emotional moments. It's overlooked a lot despite being a fantastic movie.
 

jph139

Member
The early 2000s in general is sort of forgotten. Fantasia 2000, Emperor's New Groove, Atlantis, Treasure Planet, Brother Bear. All of them have their issues but they were interesting and creative and pretty decent movies, all told.

Lilo & Stitch was the only one to really break out of the post-Renaissance doldrums. At least until Tangled.

Oh, and Winnie the Pooh (2011) is a good fucking movie. Really, legitimately funny but forgotten even among "forgotten Disney movies."
 
I remember Rescuers Down Under being excellent. I also had fond memories of The Black Cauldron but when I went back to rewatch it, it wasn't as good as I had remembered.
 

jett

D-Member
Really liked Bolt but I haven't seen it in nearly a decade.

Could Robin Hood be considered underrated? At least it's my favorite from the cheap-ass xerox era. Definitely one of my childhood faves.

26a1d159-7193-49fa-b915-4773910354ad.gif
 

Ratrat

Member
I'm not sure in what universe Bolt is "awful", but yes, Miley Cyrus plays the voice of Bolt's owner in the movie. But the movie's not about her. It's a clever, funny movie with some heart & it avoids the pitfalls of cash-grab animated movies (over-reliance on pop culture references, physical comedy and scatological humor). It's well-animated and has good voice acting, too.

And yeah, it sucks that they took Chris Sanders' idea away from him and changed it around, but the end product is worthy of the Disney name, and certainly qualifies as an underrated movie.
Fair enough. I dont remember much other than it reminded me of the 101 Dalmations sequel.
 

Boss Doggie

all my loli wolf companions are so moe
You know, I actually forgot about Brother Bear's existence. Actually I think never have watched it.

What was it about?

Fair enough. I dont remember much other than it reminded me of the 101 Dalmations sequel.

the 101 Dalmatians Sequel (Patch's Big Adventure) is good too
 

Carn82

Member
The Emperor's New Groove.

This!

I think it is one of the most funny animated movies that Disney has done. Even more interesting is that it had a pretty troubled development and basically got 'rebooted' and rewritten late during production. Maybe that pressure made them take a bit more liberties here and there.
 

Pein

Banned
Lilo and stitch, It's a top 5 disney movie.

Oh and hunchback never gets talked about, even if though has some of the best art and music in all of disney. How it was nominated for a razzie is the biggest load ever.
 

Ratrat

Member
You know, I actually forgot about Brother Bear's existence. Actually I think never have watched it.

What was it about?



the 101 Dalmatians Sequel (Patch's Big Adventure) is good too
Guy kills and turns into bear or something. It was really boring.

The 101 sequel was good! It started my love of Corgis.
 

jph139

Member
You know, I actually forgot about Brother Bear's existence. Actually I think never have watched it.

What was it about?

A guy kills a bear out of anger and is cursed to live as a bear. He somewhat-unwillingly up helping a lost bear cub travel to a salmon run and reunite with his mother.
Twist - his mother is dead, it was the bear that the guy killed at the start.

All the while his brother thinks he was killed by the bear rather than becoming one and is hunting Bear Dude out of revenge.

I like it, gorgeous art and interesting themes. Mostly forgettable though.
 

zeemumu

Member
A Goofy Movie.

It's never talked about, but stars one of Disney most iconic characters.

It's a friggin masterpiece!

Really? I've never heard anyone ever speak ill of A Goofy Movie. The sequel, maybe, but every time it comes up in conversation everyone's like "STAND OUT! ABOVE THE CROWD! EVEN IF I GOTTA SHOUT OUT LOUD!!!!!!!!"

Emperor's New Groove, Atlantis, and Treasure Planet are probably the biggest ones.
 

Boss Doggie

all my loli wolf companions are so moe
Treasure_Planet_poster.jpg


Still my favorite Disney film to this day. It's a shame the TV show never happened.

What would the TV series be though? Leaving home to go on an adventure with Long John?

Guy kills and turns into bear or something. It was really boring.

I'm actually surprised people weren't "critical" about it for portrayal of inuits and other alaskan tribes unlike say Pocahontas or Mulan, I reckon it was fine doing that?

Really? I've never heard anyone ever speak ill of A Goofy Movie. The sequel, maybe, but every time it comes up in conversation everyone's like "STAND OUT! ABOVE THE CROWD! EVEN IF I GOTTA SHOUT OUT LOUD!!!!!!!!"

Emperor's New Groove, Atlantis, and Treasure Planet are probably the biggest ones.

It's more of no one talks about a Goofy movie but when someone brings it up suddenly people talk about it

A guy kills a bear out of anger and is cursed to live as a bear. He somewhat-unwillingly up helping a lost bear cub travel to a salmon run and reunite with his mother.
Twist - his mother is dead, it was the bear that the guy killed at the start.

All the while his brother thinks he was killed by the bear rather than becoming one and is hunting Bear Dude out of revenge.

I like it, gorgeous art and interesting themes. Mostly forgettable though.

Huh, now I realized I was thinking of the sequel.
 

zeemumu

Member
What would the TV series be though? Leaving home to go on an adventure with Long John?


I'm actually surprised people weren't "critical" about it for portrayal of inuits and other alaskan tribes unlike say Pocahontas or Mulan, I reckon it was fine doing that?

For some reason, a lot of these films had sequels that were essentially glorified TV pilots. If you go back and Watch Atlantis: Milo's Return, it's painfully obvious through both the drastically drop in animation quality and the fact that it's an anthology where 5% of the film takes place in Atlantis.
 

Magnus

Member
Pocahontas, Herc, and Hunchback. They're never listed with the second golden age quartet (Mermaid, Aladdin, B&B, Lion King) even though the whole group make up an amazing series of films imo.

People just seem to love those four and Mulan. Lol
 
Basil The Great Mouse Detective
The GOAT.
Oh, and Winnie the Pooh (2011) is a good fucking movie. Really, legitimately funny but forgotten even among "forgotten Disney movies."

While I did crack up at Piglet's attempt to rescue them from a hole, overall it's kind of forgettable compared to Winnie the Pooh's older films. Was bettter than the Tigger Movie though, which looking at wikipedia, had no idea that that was the first of a trilogy of theatrical releases... so those probably.
 

Beefsquid

Neo Member
As far as Disney princesses go, The Princess and the Frog is massively underrated.
I initially skipped out due to the feedback I heard at the time. Watching it recently; I have no idea why I gave it a pass. The music is fantastic!
 

Boss Doggie

all my loli wolf companions are so moe
For some reason, a lot of these films had sequels that were essentially glorified TV pilots. If you go back and Watch Atlantis: Milo's Return, it's painfully obvious through both the drastically drop in animation quality and the fact that it's an anthology where 5% of the film takes place in Atlantis.

Milo's Return is a tv pilot though, salvaged as a movie sequel.
 

UCBooties

Member
Treasure Planet - It's so damn good, and it needs to be a Kingdom Hearts world. It would be so awesome, but Disney pretends the movie doesn't exist.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire - In the same visual era as Treasure Planet. It's Disney's Stargate, the parallels to the SG movie are pretty hilarious, but the movie has a wonderful cast and some awesome visuals. Another strong contender for a Kingdom Hearts world if we lived in a better universe than this.

Emperor's New Groove - I think this has to be hands-down the funniest Disney movie. It's just wonderful. John Goodman is amazing in everything and Kronk steals every scene he's in. If you've never seen it, go check it out!
 
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