Disney films don’t always get the recognition they deserve, with many amazing animated films being painfully underrated by even the company’s most die-hard fans. The best-known films from Disney’s golden age are well-known titles, with films like The Lion King, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid needing little introduction in the minds of most. But occasionally Disney releases a brilliant film that isn’t much appreciated in its day, being relatively unheard of compared to its more famous catalog.
It’s rare that Disney princesses are forgotten, with many of the company’s most underrated animated films revolving around different subjects. Some of these films simply failed to attract audiences for superficial reasons like this, while others fell victim to bad timing, were released in inopportune windows, or suffered from bad publicity. Whatever the case, these Disney films deserve a second chance from the masses who easily dismissed them in favor of more familiar, comfortable titles.
10
A goofy movie
A heartfelt story of the bond between father and son
Despite starring in one of Disney’s main trios as its deuteragonist, A goofy movie remains a hidden gem in Disney’s star-studded portfolio of the ’90s. The plot revolves around Goofy and his teenage son, Max, taking place three years after the events of the series. Idiot Troop. While Goofy plans a father-son fishing trip to bond with his hormonal, angsty son, Max secretly plans to sabotage the trip to go to a concert by his favorite musical artist, Powerline, to impress the girl of his dreams, his father. . the friendly school crush, Roxanne.
A goofy movie was criticized quite harshly when it was released, but a second look at the film revealed an incredibly tender and well-executed exploration of the easily frayed, but not easily broken, bond between a single father and his son. In between the superficial laughs, there are some truly touching moments between Goofy and his son, especially when Max’s deception comes to light. This helps this An extremely goofy film, The film’s sequel is one of Disney’s best direct-to-video sequels.
9
Treasure Planet
An incredibly unique reimagining of a classic
Like many Disney films, Treasure Planet is an adaptation of a classic novel, none other than the famous pirate story Treasure Island. But the film updates the familiar story of Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver with a unique, jaw-dropping setting that mixes science fiction with the trappings of 17th-century sailors. A troubled teenager, Jim Hawkins embarks on an expedition with a secret map pointing to the horde of a legendary pirate lord, only to catch a break when his new mentor and father figure, the cyborg John Silver, turns out to be the leader of a mutiny. .
In addition to the incredible character designs, brilliant voice acting, and touching coming-of-age narrative, the visuals of Treasure Planet are literally out of this world, combining intricate traditional 2D animation with 3D models. Somehow, the film’s unique setting proves to be too much for some viewers, but those who can appreciate it for what it is recognize it as one of Disney’s strongest animated films. Unfortunately, the film was sabotaged by Disney when it was released at the same time as Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
8
Oliver and company
A gritty animal film that deserves more love
In keeping with Disney’s tradition of adapting literary classics with a unique twist or setting, Oliver and company is actually a loose adaptation of the famous novel by Charles Dickens Oliver Twistretold with talking dogs and cats. The last unsold kitten from an abandoned litter, Oliver is a ragtag who falls into the company of a pack of stray dogs living on the streets of New York City. After Oliver is suddenly adopted by the daughter of a wealthy family, he must fight to unite his two worlds and save his old friends from the machinations of a cunning loan shark.
Considering the litany of animal-themed Disney films made in the ’80s and ’90s, it’s no wonder that Oliver and company gets lost in the confusion. That’s a shame, considering the film’s strengths, including its eclectic and memorable cast of characters, underrated songs, and energetic animation. Even if it’s not the most innovative thing in the world, Oliver and company should receive more respect and admiration in the wider Disney gallery.
7
The rescue teams below
An underrated sequel
The saviors is already an underappreciated Disney classic, telling the story of a pair of mice from the Rescue Aid Society, an international organization dedicated to tracking down kidnap victims, who save a little girl’s life. The rescue teams below is even more overlooked, taking on a similar premise to Australia’s Outback. Rescue duo Bianca and Bernard return, this time joining forces with a dashing bouncing mouse named Jake to help rescue another child capable of talking to animals from a dangerous poacher in his native Australia.
The rescue teams below is a rare improvement in animation over its predecessor, impressing with its scenes of flying on the back of the affable albatross Wilbur or through the skies of Australia behind Marahute, the golden eagle. The plot is sometimes surprisingly dark, a welcome refrain from Disney’s typically sanitized stories that don’t trust their audiences with scarier sequences. Full of action, suspense and charming characters, The rescue teams below should be better known as Eva Gabor’s final film role, at least.
6
Atlantis: The Lost Empire
It deserves its own dedicated Disney theme park
Atlantis: The Lost Empire is not only an underrated Disney film, but a painful missed opportunity for the media giant that could have been so much more. Milo Thatch is a disgraced linguist and archaeologist obsessed with finding the lost city of Atlantis. His wish comes true when an eccentric billionaire and friend of his late grandfather sets him on a dangerous expedition to the famous city, only for a mercenary mutiny to sour the world-changing discovery. Milo has to work together with love interest Princess Kida to save Atlantis by discovering its ancient past.
From its elaborate dieselpunk take on the early 20th century to the hilarious expedition crew, each with their own unique quirks and mannerisms, there’s a lot to appreciate in this wonderful action-adventure film. Atlantis: The Lost Empire It’s a huge missed opportunity for Disney, which could have easily spent years exploring its expansive pulp mystery world. Yet somehow, Atlantis: The Lost Empire suffers critically, with the lovely voice of Michael J. Fox and Mike Mignola of hell boy the thrilling art direction of Fame somehow being missed by dissatisfied viewers.
5
Meet the Robinsons
A 3D flop that Disney misadvertised
While most of Disney’s most underrated films are traditional animations, some of their earlier forays into 3D animation also often fall by the wayside. The most glaringly forgotten of these is easily Meet the Robinsons, an inspiring story of perseverance and optimism with some clever jokes up its sleeve. Lewis is an orphaned boy genius who struggles to be chosen for adoption, with his many far-fetched inventions often backfiring. His world turns upside down when he meets Wilbur, a young man who travels through time and pulls him to thwart an evil bowler hat-wearing villain.
Meet the Robinsons suffered from bad publicity, right down to the title, which placed too much emphasis on Wilbur’s crazy future family. Although the family is by far the weakest part of the film, there are many other aspects to appreciate, such as the clever jokes, the incredibly funny villain, and the heartfelt message of looking to the future for a better tomorrow. Meet the Robinsons it also features some creative time travel twists that are difficult to predict, at least for child viewers.
4
Robin Hood
A beautiful retelling of a classic story
Almost every Disney film based on iconic fairy tales or medieval stories has become one of the company’s crown jewels, with the sole exception of Robin Hood. Adapting the classic tales of the outlaw Robin Hood into a cozy animated film, Robin Hood takes place in a Middle Ages England populated by anthropomorphic animals. The cunning fox thief Robin Hood must evade capture from the greedy Prince John while winning the hand of the enchanting Maid Marion.
Disney’s intricate 70s animation is hard to beat, with soaring fight scenes and playful slapstick humor all nailed brilliantly. It’s important to note that Robin Hood and Maid Marion’s romance is quietly one of the strongest of any Disney film, forming a tender emotional core of Robin Hood’s adventures. With warm voice acting, an instantly recognizable art style, and a clever twist on the typical formula of Robin Hood and its associated characters, it’s a shame that the film has fallen into relative obscurity over the years.
3
The Fox and the Hound
A tender adventure of camaraderie
It’s easy to discard The Fox and the Hound like a standard squeaky-clean animal film from Disney’s back catalog of animation, but closer inspection reveals a moving and painfully forgotten story. The film follows the unlikely friendship of a fox named Tod and a hound named Cooper. As the two grow older, they soon realize they will be enemies in the wild, with Cooper trained to hunt foxes like Tod.
Tod and Cooper’s tragic friends-to-foes dynamic is deftly navigated by the vocal talents of Mickey Rooney and Kurt Russell, respectively, who few realize actually star in the film. While the setting and characters may seem routine for Disney on a superficial level, The Fox and the Hound was unfairly rejected because of the many dog-themed films Disney has released since then. The original is still one of the best, however, with an important message of societal expectations that manages to reach young viewers without being too heavy.
2
Tarzan
One of Disney’s least defended adaptations
Another adaptation of a famous public domain character, Tarzan represents the kind of risks that Disney was willing to take in the early 2000s and that are rarely seen in the company’s modern vision. The story follows Tarzan’s life from adolescence to adulthood, being the orphan survivor of a shipwreck in Africa before being found and raised by a troop of apes. When other humans arrive in his corner of the world, Tarzan is torn between his dual nature as a man raised by gorillas, coming into conflict with the devious hunter Clayton.
Tarzan does a trick similar to Treasure Planet, using innovative technology to model the dizzying “vine surfing” scenes that make for a breathtaking walk through the jungle. Phil Collins’ phenomenal soundtrack works much better there than on other Disney outcasts Brother Bearand Tarzan and Jane’s romance is one of Disney’s most underrated. The film is also notable for having one of the darkest deaths of a Disney villain, making it a memorable package that is worth more than the sum of its parts.
1
The Great Mouse Detective
A thrilling mystery that few know the answers to
Rounding out Disney’s underappreciated animal films of the ’70s and ’80s, The Great Mouse Detective is the definition of a hidden gem in Disney’s filmography. Based on the children’s book series Basil of Baker Street, The film follows the cases of the titular rodent investigator, Basil, who is tasked with helping a rebellious young rat rescue his father from the clutches of the evil Professor Ratigan. Clearly drawing inspiration from the stories of Sherlock Holmes, the great mouse detective it’s a melting pot of influences that come together into a satisfying melting pot.
The Great Mouse Detective shows a shockingly high emotional range for an animated family film starring adorable cartoon mice, moving from childlike wonder to abject terror at the drop of a Sherlock Holmes-style hat. Each character’s often adorable facial expressions make the thrilling investigation even more fun in search of hidden clues in London’s unique steampunk setting. The Great Mouse Detective may have the greatest gulf between quality and recognition of any Disney film.