Here are 8 forgotten Disney animated classics in dire need of your love, as we celebrate 100 years of Disney.
As we enter the 100th year of Disney’s existence, it’s tempting to look back on the legendary studio’s vast back catalogue and celebrate their biggest and brightest moments. There have certainly been plenty of them and, quite frankly, this would be the perfect opportunity to champion those huge animated features that helped make The Walt Disney Company the force that it is today.
Yet, as tempting as it is to laude the big guns, what’s infinitely more interesting are all those weird and wonderful Disney moments in between. These are the movies that never quite made it. The ones that flopped, failed, and have long since been forgotten.
So, as the celebrations begin in earnest for the legendary studio’s 100th birthday, here are 8 forgotten Disney animated classics in dire need of your love.
Strange Word (2022)
While it seems strange to consider a film forgotten when it’s only just been released, it felt like Strange World had slipped from audience’s consciousness before it’d even hit cinemas.
Landing with an almighty thud at the box office, only time will tell how history will judge Strange World, however, I think it’s fair to say the film is wholly undeserving of its epic flop status. Offering a solidly fun adventure with fantastic sci-fi visuals while marking a representation milestone for Disney, there is a very good chance Strange World will eventually find its audience.
The Rescuers (1977)
After decades as side characters, playing second fiddle to dogs, cats, elephants, princesses, and everything in between, it was finally time for the mice to be the heroes.
Certainly much darker than anything Disney had offered before, The Rescuers was quite a departure for the studio and, in many ways, marked a transition from old to new. As the last outing for much of Disney’s old talent, as well as many outdated animation techniques, this was the end of an era as the studio began looking to the future.
Coming at a time when Disney were noticeably losing their way after decades of dominance, The Rescuers may not have had the long-lasting impact of its fondly remembered predecessors, yet it undoubtedly deserves to be considered a pivotal moment in Disney history.
The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
For a film so gloriously enjoyable as The Emperor’s New Groove, it’s absolutely heart-breaking that it is looked upon as a fairly sizable disappointment.
Released in 2000 and at the very tail end of Disney’s 90s renaissance, The Emperor’s New Groove suffers from simply not being the instant masterpiece so many of its forerunners were, finding itself lumped in with the studio’s early-millennium slump and harshly discarded.
Which feels entirely unfair and undersells what is one of Disney’s true hidden gems. While it’s certainly not as ambitious as many Disney instalments that came before it, The Emperor’s New Groove’s breakneck pace, wildly entertaining characters, and whip-smart humor offer an absolute tone of fun.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
And talking of Disney’s millennial awkwardness, Atlantis: The Lost Empire sits uncomfortably within a decade that saw the studio’s animated output hit rough waters, yet has managed to right the ship and stand the test of time.
Like many entries on this list, Atlantis was a considerable box office bomb, however, there’s something about the film that transcends this financial disappointment to mark itself out as one of the era’s more notable efforts.
Mixing dazzling animation and a kinetic comic book style, Atlantis is among the most visually distinctive entries in the Disney canon, and combined with a rousingly pulpy sci-fi energy and some genuinely jaw-dropping action, this is a film that simply demands to be rediscovered.
The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
Deep into the 80s and deep in financial trouble, Disney had found themselves in a pretty bad place, as management changes and creative turmoil very nearly ended the studio’s animated output for good.
Things looked bleak and Disney desperately needed a win, but while a rodent Sherlock doesn’t exactly scream box office gold, The Great Mouse Detective’s modest success was just about enough to keep the studio’s lights on.
As for the film itself? Well, it’s pretty damn decent, and considering the low ebb Disney were at, you have to consider it a win. So, while it was swiftly overshadowed by the successes that came a few years later, The Great Mouse Detective proved itself a necessary stepping stone to those heady 90s glory days.
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Although it may feel harsh to consider The Princess and the Frog’s solid success forgotten, there’s definitely something about the film that seems to have become lost in the swamp of time.
Released in cinemas just a week before Avatar, the impact of The Princess and the Frog was severely stunted by James Cameron’s big blue behemoth, something only compounded by the dawning of Disney’s 2010s renaissance that would swiftly overshadow it, however, the film remains a real hidden gem of the studio’s modern day output.
With its distinctly classic feel, throwback animation style, and infectious New Orleans energy – not to mention its boundary pushing protagonist – The Princess and the Frog is simply one of the finest Disney animations of the past 20 years, and deserves to be considered alongside the greats it so classily emulates.
Treasure Planet (2002)
From Atlantis to Strange World, Disney have never really had the best of luck with action adventures, and Treasure Planet is another prime example of the studio missing the mark with the genre.
Going down in history as one of the biggest box office bombs of all time, it’s safe to say audiences did not embrace Treasure Planet, however, the film is nowhere near as bad as its flop status suggests.
Combining traditional and digital animation techniques, Treasure Planet is a stunning visual experience, which, combined with its dazzling action and keen sense of adventure, makes for one hell of a ride and a true buried Disney treasure.
The Black Cauldron (1985)
Infamously considered one of Disney’s biggest financial flops – The Black Cauldron is a beautiful mess of a film.
To its credit, The Black Cauldron is a film of many firsts – the first Disney animated feature not to include a single song; the first to receive a PG rating; the first to not conclude with ‘The End’; and the first to have no opening credits. Yet, despite these trailblazing credentials, it was considered a huge disappointment.
Offering a classic 80s high-fantasy adventure, The Black Cauldron is far darker and far more adult than anything Disney had ever produced before (or since, really), marking a thoroughly unique chapter in the studio’s animated history, one that fully deserves to be rewatched and re-evaluated.
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