Mitch posed an interesting question to Lilly and me a few weeks ago. He asked how we would rank the films from the last 15 years of Walt Disney Animation Studios (our rankings are listed below). I thought it would be a fun (and hopefully not too depressing) discussion to analyze the ups and downs of films over the last few years from the studio as well as talking about what we know of future films the studio currently has in production.
Our Rankings of Walt Disney Animation Studios Films from 2009-2023
Lilly’s Ranking
Big Hero 6
Encanto
Moana
Winnie the Pooh
The Princess and the Frog
Wreck-It Ralph
Tangled
Frozen
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Raya and the Last Dragon
Frozen II
Zootopia
Strange World
Wish
Mitch’s Ranking
Tangled
Zootopia
Big Hero 6
Encanto
Raya and the Last Dragon
The Princess and the Frog
Winnie the Pooh
Moana
Frozen
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Wreck-It Ralph
Frozen II
Strange World
Wish
Stanford’s Ranking
Tangled
Zootopia/Moana (tie)
Frozen
Big Hero 6
Encanto
Frozen II
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Raya and the Last Dragon
Wreck-It Ralph
Winnie the Pooh
The Princess and the Frog
Strange World
Wish
Thanks for Tuning In!
Subscribe to the Movies Past and Present podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. I hope that watching some great movies will bring you peace and comfort this week. Thanks for listening, be safe out there, and dedicate yourself to the truth.
Welcome to the 78th episode of the Movies Past and Present podcast. And Merry Christmas Eve to you and yours!
TCM Big Screen Classics Series for 2022
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) has announced the lineup of films for their 2022 Big Screen Classics series. This is a great opportunity to see classic movies in an actual theater along with some great context from a TCM host (typically TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz).
Poltergeist (Warner Bros., 1982; 40th anniversary screening) — September 25, 26 and 28
In the Heat of the Night (MGM/Park Circus, 1967; 45th anniversary screening) — October 16 and 19
To Kill a Mockingbird (Universal, 1972; 60th anniversary screening) — November 13 and 16
It’s a Wonderful Life (Paramount, 1946; 75th anniversary screening) — December 18 and 21
TCM Classic Film Festival 2022
The TCM Classic Film Festival is back again for 2022! The festival will take place April 21-24, 2022 in Hollywood, California. Select passes are still available online. For more information, visit tcm.com/festival.
A Tribute to Walt Disney Animation Studios
Walt Disney Animation Studios recently released their 60th animated motion picture, Encanto. The film has been playing exclusively in theaters and will make its debut on the Disney+ streaming service today (December 24). Make sure to check it out!
A complete list of Disney Animation’s 60 films in chronological order is here.
To commemorate this wonderful milestone, here’s my ranking of all 60 films (solely based on personal taste and preference, not necessarily respecting the overall quality or historical significance of the film).
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
The Jungle Book (1967)
Cinderella (1950)
Peter Pan (1953)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Aladdin (1992)
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
101 Dalmatians (1961)
The Rescuers (1977)
Tangled (2010)
Lady and the Tramp (1955)
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Dumbo (1941)
Bambi (1942)
Mulan (1998)
Zootopia (2016)
Big Hero 6 (2014)
Frozen (2013)
Fantasia (1940)
Tarzan (1999)
The Lion King (1994)
Pinocchio (1940)
The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
Frozen 2 (2019)
Moana (2016)
Encanto (2021)
Robin Hood (1973)
The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)
Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)
Saludos Amigos (1943)
Hercules (1997)
Fantasia 2000 (2000)
Pocahontas (1995)
Oliver and Company (1988)
Bolt (2008)
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
Treasure Planet (2002)
The Aristocats (1970)
Winnie the Pooh (2011)
Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Meet the Robinsons (2007)
Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
The Sword in the Stone (1963)
Make Mine Music (1946)
Melody Time (1948)
Fun and Fancy Free (1947)
The Three Caballeros (1945)
Lilo and Stitch (2002)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
The Fox and the Hound (1981)
Brother Bear (2003)
Chicken Little (2005)
Home on the Range (2004)
Dinosaur (2000)
The Black Cauldron (1985)
Thanks for Tuning In!
Subscribe to the Movies Past and Present podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher. I hope that watching some great movies will bring you peace and comfort this week. Thanks for listening, be safe out there, and dedicate yourself to the truth.
As mentioned in my March 15, 2021 podcast, I’ve started a new “Movie of the Week” feature. I’ll be recommending a favorite movie with the hopes that it will be a film that you’ll enjoy, too. I’d love to chat online about each week’s film on my Instagram and Twitter feeds if you’re so inclined.
First up are actually two films, both from my all-time favorite movie studio, Walt Disney Animation Studios. I selected both the first feature length film from Disney Animation, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), as well as their 59th animated feature length and most recent film, Raya and the Last Dragon (2021).
Snow White is available on the Disney+ streaming service. Raya is currently playing in theaters and is available on Disney+ Premier Access (additional fee required).
Where did Elsa get her powers from? And what were Anna and Elsa’s parents really doing when their ship went down? These pivotal questions lie at the heart of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ supremely entertaining and beautiful sequel Frozen 2.
The film basically picks up where the first film (and the myriad of Frozen-themed short films) left off. Princess Anna (again voiced by Kristen Bell) and her big sister Queen Elsa (again voiced by the dreamy Idina Menzel) are best buddies once more and are peacefully ruling the kingdom of Arendelle. Anna is still with her boyfriend Kristoff (again voiced by Jonathan Groff) and they continue to be accompanied by Kristoff’s reindeer Sven and Elsa’s magical creation Olaf the snowman (again voiced by Josh Gad).
We’re treated to a flashback when Anna and Elsa are little girls and where we learn more about their parents, King Agnarr (voiced by Alfred Molina) and Queen Iduna (voiced by Evan Rachel Wood). Their parents tell the girls a story about an Enchanted Forest and other places outside of Arendelle when some important events took place that directly affected their family.
Back in present day, Elsa keeps hearing voices. She is troubled to know if she should try to figure out what they are saying to her or if she should just ignore them. Elsa decides to heed the mysterious call and sets the film’s adventure into motion. With all of the gang in tow, Elsa ventures off “into the unknown” (which is also a name of one of the many terrific new songs from the film) to try to find out what these voices are attempting to tell her.
When they find the Enchanted Forest, they meet the indigenous Northuldra people who have a long history with the Arendellians and who have a tradition of caring for the environment (and maybe have a little magic to throw into the mix, too). And while the people have been going on with their lives, there is (literally) a cloud hanging over them and a major mystery that needs to be solved. Can Anna and Elsa solve the puzzle? And do the Northuldra hold any answers to the big burning questions? One thing is for sure, our heroines Anna and Elsa are both up to the task.
I found this film utterly delightful. The trademark high quality animation done by the masters at Walt Disney Animation Studios is again absolutely stunning and is such a pleasure to watch. Co-directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck are back along with most of the creative team from the first film and they’ve infused this film with love, craft, and care. The new songs written by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, the same writing team as the first Frozen film and the Broadway musical, are again catchy and wonderful and help propel the story forward.
Ultimately, Frozen 2 serves as a terrific complement to its predecessor. Questions are answered, rights are wronged (including giving Jonathan Groff a full song to sing–and it’s a doozy), and the story all comes together in a very satisfactory way (at least for this viewer). Sisterly love once more reigns supreme along with the encouragement to all to be brave, loving, and to go into our own unknowns, whatever and wherever they may be.
Frozen 2 is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association for “action/peril and some thematic elements.”
Anna (and I have no idea what the rest of the poster says other than probably the Japanese translation of “Frozen 2”)Elsa (or whatever her name is in Japanese)Sven and KristofOlafBruni
Frozen 2 opens in theaters on November 22 (same day as in Japan).
Some serious marketing started today for Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 58th animated motion picture Frozen 2. A new poster along with a new “special look” video have been plastered all over social media.
And this “special look” video includes some of the new song “Into the Unknown” written by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez and sung by the voice of Elsa herself, Idina Menzel.
