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ThoughDisneyanimated feature moving picture have been a permanent fixture of masses ’s lives for decades , much of the studio apartment ’s output is forgotten or ignored . From its earliest days , the company ’s founder , Walt Disney used the living medium to make , what he see to be serious artistic work .
But democratic tastes and profits often preponderate creativity , and Disney has always struggle to find a counterbalance between chasing innovation and boosting its bottom melody . The films on this tilt , for one reasonableness or another , failed to connect with audience at the fourth dimension of release , but are some of the most interesting works the studio apartment ever acquire . Some flawed , all absorbing , below are the most underrated Disney Animated Features that merit another facial expression .
The Three Caballeros (1944)
Though it suffers from all the same issues that blight the rest ofDisney’s1940 ’s “ package " films , The Three Caballerosis a joyous oddity in the studio ’s canon . A follow - up to the similar but inferiorSaludos Amigos(1942 ) , Disney ’s seventh animated feature , and the first ever to contain bouncy action characters and deal - imbibe animation , the film is write of a series of loosely - related vignette with a framing gadget which determine Donald Duck opening birthday present from his admirer . Along withSaludos amigo ’ José Carioca and a new fledge admirer , Panchito Pistoles , Donald goes on a hitch of Latin American culture as a goodwill motion to the continent as an American ally during wartime .
Though part of it are snooze - worthy , overall its a vibrant , entertaining , and occasionally surreal technical display case and love - letter to a region of the creation thatThe Three Caballerosintroduced an entire coevals of Americans to , as tell by the dark ride in Epcot ’s Mexico Pavilion ’s ( Gran Fiesta Tour star the Three Caballeros ) continuing popularity .
The Sword In The Stone (1963)
AfterSleeping Beautypractically smash the studio , Disneymade a passage to using Xerox photography to animate more cheaply , quickly and expeditiously . Though the first feature executed in this style – One Hundred and One Dalmatians – is well - regarded as a classic , many of the motion-picture show that follow are underappreciated or forgotten . slip in point : 1963’sThe Sword in the Stone , a little - scale though the charming intervention of the caption of King Arthur .
Episodic and narratively thin , the film is nonetheless a nostalgic treasure for uncounted Disney fan who adore the loveable characters , including Merlin , Wart , Archimedes the Owl and Madame Mim , the royal - hirsute “ surly old creep ” who duels Merlin in one of Disney ’s most hilariously imaginative sequences . A fizzing and freewheeling fantasy romp , The Sword In The Stoneis lesser Disney , to be certain , but it ’s completely enchanting .
Robin Hood (1973)
fox small girl and boy over two decade beforeThe Lion Kingmade big cats mean self-aggrandising money , Wolfgang Reitherman used anthropomorphized creature to retell the fable ofRobin Hoodin one of the best - loved of the overlooked Disney feature of speech . Minstrel turn cock Alan - a - Dale recounts the tale in which a literally foxy Robin get up to all sorts of mischief with his band of merry hands … er … fauna .
With a really delightful cast of character ( including two sentence Academy Award winner Peter Ustinov ’s hilarious turn as thumb - sucking villain Prince John ) and a uniquely laid - back and melodious score , Robin Hoodis a winsome triviality made for a Sunday afternoon .
The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
Its popularly believed that the Disney Renaissance begin in heartfelt withThe Little Mermaid , but for obsessives , that wave crest one photographic film earlier withThe Great Mouse Detective . Taking inspiration from Arthur Conan Doyle ’s Sherlock Holmes write up and establish on a fry ’s volume series , John Musker and Ron Clements ( eventual Divine ofMermaid , Aladdin , and others ) crafted a strange and compelling drama that relieve the studio from financial ruin after the calamity that wasThe Black Cauldron .
Also renowned for the first employment of CGI in a feature - duration vivify film ( during its climactic Big Ben episode ) and a villainously magnetic late - career performance by Vincent Price , The Great Mouse Detectiveis a dark cult classic that was invaluable in setting the stage for the renaissance to hail .
The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
Quick ! What was the very first sequel to a Disneyanimatedfeature ? You might be surprised to learn that the answer isThe Rescuers Down Under , a follow - up the 1977 film ( itself vastly underrated ) about two appendage of the Rescue Aid Society – a grouping of mouse who make it their missionary post to help abductees around the world . Though reasonably obscure to all but the most consecrated Disney fans , The Rescuerswas a box - billet winner at the time , and its effective - late - than - never follow - up is just about the only continuation in the entire studio canyon just as unspoilt , if not good , than its primogenitor .
Again team up Eva Gabor ( in her last carrying out ) and Bob Newhart as agent Bernard and Bianca on a military mission to Australia to deliver a male child from a villainous sea poacher ( play by the inimitable George C. Scott),The Rescuers Down Underis a lushly animated and breathless action adventure with a much - appreciated conservationist message that remains relevant to this day .
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
A picture exhaust smack dab in the middle of the Disney Renascence , Gary Truesdale and Kirk Wise ’s adaption of Victor Hugo ’s Gallic Gothic novel remains an peculiar fit for the studio , an opinion divvy up by the drove of children and horrified parents that either never saw it or ward off it like the plague after being marred by it in the theater . Though there are definite missteps here ( the gargoyle will forever chafe)Hunchbackfeatures some of the finest euphony ever crafted by Alan Menken , which is no faint extolment with classics like “ Part of Your World ” and “ Tale As Old As Time ” in his repertoire .
The sumptuous arrangements perfectly become the bewitching visuals of medieval Paris , the loom cathedral of the title , and Quasimodo himself , a character reference whose somebody is reveal in the incredible “ Out There ” to be as pure and hopeful as his smiler is twisted . The darker tone of the piece will never sit down well with some viewers , butThe Hunchback of Notre Dameis one of the visual and melodic triumph of Disney ’s output in the 90 , a powerful polemic against prejudice , and a warm embracement for anyone who ’s ever felt like an pariah .
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
The first and likely last Disney film of its type , this Jules Verne action / adventure arrived at the tail close of the Renaissance and has remained in the dustbin ever since despite its inventive world - building , unique panache , and rousing sense of sport . Despite its unique vivification which took inspiration from comic Bible artist Mike Mignola , the cinema became a casualty of a clip when audience pastime was drifting off from hand - drawn animation towards feature distance CGI spectacle .
Not only that , but the scope of the film had to be scaled back , as the project was considered too expensive and ambitious for the studio . This lead to a modest box - office that resulted in a cancellation of both a Television serial and attraction based on the moving picture at Disneyland . Though audiences were unenthusiastic at the time of release , Atlantishas become a cult pet desirable of re - visit for anyone look for something a footling off - the - beaten - way of life from the studio .
Lilo and Stitch (2002)
An unpaired duck film reflect its odd duck’s egg titular duo , Lilo and Stitchis one of Disney ’s most plaintive , rule - in , and in the end , hopeful kit and boodle . The news report about a young girl at threat from removal from her grownup sister ’s care by Child Protective Services in beautiful Hawaii who becomes best Quaker with an alien was the last great film the studio apartment made before the end of its renaissance , but it got lost in the shuffle for its blend of balmy sci - fi and family drama .
Do n’t get the Stitch chroma fool you , the little bugger is an all important twist for levity in this delicately interpret narrative about take families and the bail bond of sisterhood .
The Princess And The Frog (2009)
As of now , The Princess And The FrogremainsDisney’slast altogether - original , traditionally hand - drag moving picture . Though female lead ( Tiana , the first and only African - American Princess in the Disney canyon ) and delightfully fluent villain , Dr. Facilier have become welcome fixtures at Disney Mungo Park , it ’s fair to say that the film that spawned them rarely finds itself on most fan “ favourite ” lists .
This is a shame , as director Ron Clements and John Musker made their triumphant return to the studio apartment and created a forward - thinking throwback packed with instantly iconic character and songs . Though the flick did turn a net and was nominated for three Academy Awards ( it fall behind “ Best Animated Picture ” to Pixar’sUp ) entirely too much was disembarrass on it , and it simply was n’t enough to keep Disney animators animating by hand . Tangledwould occur along the next class , ushering in the studio ’s total conversion to data processor - inspire features , butThe Princess And The Frogremains a meet swansong to an era Disney filmmaking that we ’ll likely never see again .
Moana (2016)
A 643 million dollar bill worldwide gross and Oscar nominating address are nothing to sniff at , butMoana ( a should - have - been instant classic from Musker and Clements ) has largely live in the shadow of that yr ’s bigger dismission , Zootopia . A innovative and culturally sore update of the Disney princess formula with unexpected and fresh - faced song by Broadway hitmaker Lin - Manuel Miranda , Moanais slowly gather ground as one of fertile film the studio has ever produced .
Zootopia ’s social comment will always stay vital , butMoanais filled with just as necessary universal and immortal message about family dynamic , the major power of the person , and questioning tradition for the amelioration of the self and others . Move overFrozen , this may well be the most dear , inspiring , mind - meltingly gorgeous movie in the entire Disney canon .
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