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underrated Disney animated films
- Thread starter Boss Doggie
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superdeluxe
Member
LILO and stitch
Emperors new groove
Emperors new groove
EvilRedEye
Member
I feel like Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros are the two main hidden gems in the off-peak Disney stuff. I really enjoyed both of them, certainly the best of the package movies.
The 2D films from the 2000s have probably ended up being slightly underrated by association with some awful 3D ones. I don't think they're great except for Lilo and Stitch but the deterioration in quality isn't as significant as you'd expect.
The 2D films from the 2000s have probably ended up being slightly underrated by association with some awful 3D ones. I don't think they're great except for Lilo and Stitch but the deterioration in quality isn't as significant as you'd expect.
nkarafo
Member
This.
It might be the funniest animated movie i have ever seen, excluding a couple of Looney Tunes shorts. It also has very few songs (only the intro and the end iirc) which is great since i hate musicals.
I adore it. But it's become such a cult hit that I find it hard to call it underrated. It's genuinely beloved nowadays, as this thread proves.
Is a better answer in that sense. Also: Meet The Robinsons is pretty cool.
Indeed they were. The characterization in that movie is top notch. Way beyond pretty much every other Disney film.
Zoloft Sonic
Member
No doubt cost prohibitive considering the returns it would yield, re-inking everything would be more expensive than the 3D process some of their renaissance movies went through. They could use CAPS I guess, but do they even still have the original animation somewhere?
The worst thing though is that Disney themselves are ashamed of how they look apparently, turning in these monstrosities when remastering them for Blu-ray:
Just leave 'em the way they are, this is a disgrace.
Holy fuck. The line quality and natural grain are completely destroyed, it looks like the whole movie was run through a shitty emulator.
Boss Doggie
all my loli wolf companions are so moe
Yeah, why do people have against the grainy look? If anything it just adds to the movie's quality. Now they look like washed out watercolor splash. I haven't bought any classics-era Disney in BR so I guess I avoided something.
Zoloft Sonic
Member
It may be because modern audiences, kids especially, are used to seeing digital coloration in animation, which began in the mid 90's and produces the kind of pristine, noise-free images we expect nowadays.
These cels though, were photographed on film so grain and noise are inherent to the image. I can see some kids or consumers thinking it looked 'wrong' or 'old' or their disc was damaged or something.
Or maybe that's what the producers are just worried people will think? We can't know the reason, but it's a pretty drastic and deliberate change in any case.
Crimson_Echidna
Banned
I got a soft spot for Meet the Robinsons. It was the movie that actually got me watching Disney movies again.
Princess and the Frog is also really good IMHO but ended up getting overshadowed by Tangled and especially Frozen.
Tangled did get a lot of presence and positive buzz but what ended up happening is Frozen came out like 2 years later and completely eclipsed it. I definitely wouldn't call it underrated though. It's getting a cartoon series afterall.
Princess and the Frog is also really good IMHO but ended up getting overshadowed by Tangled and especially Frozen.
Tangled did get a lot of presence and positive buzz but what ended up happening is Frozen came out like 2 years later and completely eclipsed it. I definitely wouldn't call it underrated though. It's getting a cartoon series afterall.
Aaron Strife
Banned
The Rescuers Down Under
Had the misfortune of coming out right inbetween The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. It never stood a chance.
Had the misfortune of coming out right inbetween The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. It never stood a chance.
The Black Cauldron is so disappointing because you can see the greatness that is just out of reach. I do hope that one day we get a cut closer to what it should be, as it is the climax makes zero sense, but unfortunately no superior cut will ever make Gurgi bearable. Plus Eilonwy is on of the best Disney princesses despite being in such a rough film.
And I do hope Disney goes through with their interest in giving this property another go.
And I do hope Disney goes through with their interest in giving this property another go.
madstarr12
Member
Definitely Black Cauldron, Sword in the Stone, Robin Hood.
Brave Little Toaster, although it's not really Disney, it kinda is. That creepy Clown though.
Pooh's Grand Adventure, received negative reviews, but I loved that movie. Dont understand what made it a bad movie according to critics. Very creepy for a children's movie though. Dat Skullasaurus!
Brave Little Toaster, although it's not really Disney, it kinda is. That creepy Clown though.
Pooh's Grand Adventure, received negative reviews, but I loved that movie. Dont understand what made it a bad movie according to critics. Very creepy for a children's movie though. Dat Skullasaurus!
Familienoberhauptvogel
Banned
I actually thought Treasure Planet was utterly mediocre. It just pales compared to titan ae
Earthbound64
Banned
At least in my eyes. I see hardly any merchandise or exposure for FATH. Been to Disney World a dozen times and I can't find a single merchandise for my all time favorite Disney animation
These.
Also, apparently I really need to watch The Black Cauldron.
I loved the Black Cauldron as a child and was devastated to find out it was mostly hated. The characters (aside from Gurgi) are all great and the Horned King was terrifying. I am also fond of Atlantis - though that one seems to get a lot more love these days. The art in that movie was beautiful.
elshoelace
Member
Agreed, watched that movie all the time growing up.
I feel Stitch is big in US as well. There's a crazy amount of Stitch merchandise at Hot Topic & Spencers which is weird since Stitch merchandise was kind of non-existent a few years ago. I don't know what caused this.
The Princess and the Frog is a good pick. Seems like no one talks about it or even airs it on TV. At least the princess was present in the Disney on Ice show last year, so it's not really forgotten.
The Emperor's New Groove is another one. I also enjoyed the TV show it got.
I felt like Lilo and Stitch was incredibly loved when it came out, but then quickly forgotten because Pixar started hitting their stride around this time and 2d became old news.
Emperor's New Groove is also the funniest thing Disney has ever made, but again came out at the wrong time like L&S
Emperor's New Groove is also the funniest thing Disney has ever made, but again came out at the wrong time like L&S
I think Pocahontas is a near perfect movie.
Amazing protagonist,immaculate art,mesmerizing Soundtrack, complete story,devious villain and the ending is powerful.
I honestly,truly think its the best movie Disney has ever made.Too bad its usage of historical names offended so many people,despite having a beautiful heartfelt message at its core.
Amazing protagonist,immaculate art,mesmerizing Soundtrack, complete story,devious villain and the ending is powerful.
I honestly,truly think its the best movie Disney has ever made.Too bad its usage of historical names offended so many people,despite having a beautiful heartfelt message at its core.
KimonoNoNo
Member
Yep Emperor's New Groove is hysterical and takes the crown for least Disney like Disney movie.
lvl99 Pixel
Member
you're not kidding, rather, its more like an encoding filter that simplifies shapes, and yeah it looks cheap.
Also, Vincent Price is baller as fuk
Boss Doggie
all my loli wolf companions are so moe
I'd argue Mulan is up there. At the very least, she is considered a "Disney Princess" and not a "B-lister" Disney princess.
Count Dookkake
Member
Fancyarcher
Member
Atlantis - Yes the characters aren't great, but the animation is stunning (love Mignola's art), and I genuinely find the story very interesting.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Greatest Mouse Detective
Robin Hood (1973) - Recycled animation, and xerox period, I think it has a decent amount of heart, and good humor. Considering the sudden recent studio Robin Hood craze, maybe Disney can make it into a live-action film complete with animals, if only. Ha ha!
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Greatest Mouse Detective
Robin Hood (1973) - Recycled animation, and xerox period, I think it has a decent amount of heart, and good humor. Considering the sudden recent studio Robin Hood craze, maybe Disney can make it into a live-action film complete with animals, if only. Ha ha!
Discotheque
Banned
got lost in the shuffle in the early 00s since Pixar and 3D animated movies were becoming much more popular.
it incorporates Native American culture into it which is pretty cool and is one of the more emotional disney stories.
Trigonometrize.
Member
Seconding Emperor's New Groove. That movie is fantastic.
Even though it's probably doesn't really qualify as underrated, "Lilo and Stitch" absolutely does not the credit it deserves of being top three Disney. The movie is seriously masterful. Go watch the first 20 minutes of the movie and you completely get everything about the characters without a single moment of it feeling ham-handed.
Lilo especially. Girl is an eccentric brat, and it's written so smartly. The way she gives Nani a giant lick to make her let her go, the way she nonchalantly tops off her nonsense with "Pudge controls the weather." The way she totally misinterprets Nani's "discipline" gesture over Cobra's shoulder and keeps on going with it, the audience not really sure whether or not she knows what she's doing. All so wonderful and re-watching it recently was a revelatory moment.
The movie ends and you instantly want more of the ohana.
Atlantis is horrible and anyone listing it should feel bad.
Brother Bear is by far the darkest of all of Disney movies which I think plays into why it's kind of destined to be forgotten. Everyone in the movie is deeply upset at different points.
Even though it's probably doesn't really qualify as underrated, "Lilo and Stitch" absolutely does not the credit it deserves of being top three Disney. The movie is seriously masterful. Go watch the first 20 minutes of the movie and you completely get everything about the characters without a single moment of it feeling ham-handed.
Lilo especially. Girl is an eccentric brat, and it's written so smartly. The way she gives Nani a giant lick to make her let her go, the way she nonchalantly tops off her nonsense with "Pudge controls the weather." The way she totally misinterprets Nani's "discipline" gesture over Cobra's shoulder and keeps on going with it, the audience not really sure whether or not she knows what she's doing. All so wonderful and re-watching it recently was a revelatory moment.
The movie ends and you instantly want more of the ohana.
Atlantis is horrible and anyone listing it should feel bad.
got lost in the shuffle in the early 00s since Pixar and 3D animated movies were becoming much more popular.
it incorporates Native American culture into it which is pretty cool and is one of the more emotional disney stories.
Brother Bear is by far the darkest of all of Disney movies which I think plays into why it's kind of destined to be forgotten. Everyone in the movie is deeply upset at different points.
Brother is dead, brothers are thought to be dead, man killed mother of his "little brother," brother on journey to get ironic, empty vengeance, "we are the real monsters" moment
Trigonometrize.
Member
There are a lot of cool movies and studios that were born out of agitation with post-Walt, pre-renaissance Disney. I'm really curious on how the industry would've transformed had the Disney void been there longer than it was.
GKSilKamina
Member
A Goofy Movie. I watched it all the time as a kid and always liked it, but it wasn't until rewatching it as an adult that I loved it.
Honorable mention to The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I still get surprised by how dark and intense that movie can get. Too bad the gargoyles damn near ruin the whole thing.
Honorable mention to The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I still get surprised by how dark and intense that movie can get. Too bad the gargoyles damn near ruin the whole thing.
Karsticles
Member
The Sword in the Stone is my favorite - I like that there's no romantic angle, and it's not really "kiddy" either. It's a nice film about exploring youth and possibility.
Yabberwocky
Member
Treasure Planet, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, and The Emporer's New Grove are my big underrated three, though at least the last one got a sequel and a TV series. TENG is snappy, quotable brilliance. Atlantis in charming and filled with gorgeous character design and character animation. Treasure Planet is flawed, but genuinely sincere, absolutely beautiful and touching. Also, Captain Amelia and Doppler! (After getting head over heels obsessed and finding myself in complete perpetual awe of Black Sails in the last few months, a Treasure Planet rewatch would now be super fucking weird. Like, much, much weirder than before. Oh, Captain Flint, what awfully big tentacles you have! Rereading Treasure Island is surreal enough.)
I'm not sure if Lilo and Stitch is underrated or not, but it's superb. Writing, message, animation - all wonderful.
I definitely respect Hunchback a lot more now that I'm older, too, plus dat music. It's really the only Disney film that I've had a complete change of heart on over the years.
I'm not sure if Lilo and Stitch is underrated or not, but it's superb. Writing, message, animation - all wonderful.
I definitely respect Hunchback a lot more now that I'm older, too, plus dat music. It's really the only Disney film that I've had a complete change of heart on over the years.
bitbydeath
Gold Member
Before Sliders and Stargate made interdimensional doorways popular there was another
It's almost criminal how such a classic has become so forgotten.
It's almost criminal how such a classic has become so forgotten.
Trigonometrize.
Member
I don't know what it is, but so many Disney movies from '60 to '90 I have a clear image of what happens in the first 30 minutes or so, but everything after that is completely wiped from my brain. Sword in the Stone, Aristocats, Black Cauldron, Oliver and Company... all of their resolutions were apparently not compelling enough or inoffensive or something, but... yeah.
People mentioning Mulan and Lilo & Stitch must be living in an alternate world because no one would consider those films underrated considering the amount of love they get from Disney themselves.
Just because they don't get mentioned in the same breath as their biggest films such as Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King doesn't make them underrated. They may not be S-tier in the eyes of Disney and fans, but they're certainly near the top if you ask the majority of people.
Just because they don't get mentioned in the same breath as their biggest films such as Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King doesn't make them underrated. They may not be S-tier in the eyes of Disney and fans, but they're certainly near the top if you ask the majority of people.
Littlefang
Member
This movie is also one of my favourites basically because 101 Dalmatians is my all time favourite Disney movie and Patch is my favourite character. So naturally I adored it as well. I also considered it a vast improvement over 102 Dalmatians since it was back to being animated.
At least in my eyes. I see hardly any merchandise or exposure for FATH. Been to Disney World a dozen times and I can't find a single merchandise for my all time favorite Disney animation
I feel your pain. Certain movies or characters just don't get like any merch. I think FATH has had some good merch released in Europe but it's pretty rare to get your hands on it outside of Europe. Most of the FATH merch I've seen has tags from the Disney Store in London or from Disneyland Paris.
crackhead_bob
Member
Sword in the Stone was weird. I remember the voice actor for Arthur changing abruptly throughout the course of the film. It was like he was going through puberty or something.
Monochromaticx
Member
The Emperor's New Groove
Tangled
Tangled
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