wildclover04
New member
I know topics like these pop up from time to time, but i would really like to show my personal favs and worst.
Best
5. The Iron Giant - During the 90s, Warner Bros. churned aout some very mediocre animated films whether they are disney ripoffs (thumbelina, quest for camelot), or just plain sugary (Troll in Central Park), but director Brad Bird took a chance and made a film that couldve easily been made into liveaction. This film took risks at avoiding the cliches in the decade (talking animals, songs, magic, etc) and had 3 dimensional characters, good animation, and a talented voice cast. Too bad it bombed at the B.O., it really destroyed WBs chances at redemption. Oh well, at least its gaining popularity nowadays.
4. Spirited Away - What can i say? Hayao Miyazaki is a pure genius. This film is so good, it even has its own section on Sparknotes
! The animation is fun to look at, the characters are well-developed and the story is original. Now dont get me wrong, i like all of Miyazakis films (except for maybe Howls moving castle) but this is the first one i watched and it is still my fav out of his resume.
3. Toy Story - I admire the fact that it is the first cgi film in history, but i consider this to be Pixars best film (sorry Up *hugs*). Even though its dated, the cgi still holds up to this day. Great story, house-hold characters and funny oneliners ("YOU ARE A CHILDS..PLAYTHING!!!" "...You are a sad strange little man, and you have my pity."). Overall great pixar movie, but its not the best animated feature.
2. The Nightmare Before Christmas/Aladdin - i decided to put these together because these were my most favorite movies to watch growing up. Today, i can quote each of these movies in my sleep. In NBC, the stop-motion is breathtaking, the story is like a mix btw Grinch and Rudolph, and i consider this to be Danny Elfman's best score yet. As for Aladdin, i just love the comedic tone it had. Alan Menkens songs are nothing short of amazing. My favs are 'One Jump Ahead', 'Prince Ali' and 'Friend Like Me'. Plus the animation is nice and fluid.
1. The Thief and the Cobbler - I am refering to Richard Williams' unfinished version, the film he put every ounce of his heart and soul into. But for it to be taken away by ignorant executives is just painful. The animation is absolutely breathtaking, the characters are unique and subtle, the use of Rimsky Korasakovs' 'Sheherazade' is quite fitting. Its like Fantasia meets Yellow Submarine meets Citizen Kane. It didnt deserve the fate it suffered, but this diamond in the rough is worth checking out.
Worst
5. Chicken Little - Its one thing for disney to abandon a dying artform for cgi, but its another to shamelessly ripoff other cgi film cliches like pop-culture references. The voice acting is cringe-worthy, the animation is sub-par, the story is uninspired, and the ending was insulting at best. I apologize for those who like this movie but, this is one in the disney canon i can easily do without.
4. Thumbelina - I will admit, Rock-a-Doodle, Troll in Central Park, and Pebble and the Penguin are guilty pleasures at best. Are they bad? yes, but at least theres entertainment value somewhere. However, i consider this one to be Don Bluth's worst out of everything hes done. The main character is so annoying and so desperate for help, she makes Bella Swanson seem more believable. The songs by Barry Manilow are painful to listen through. The mexican frogs were blatantly stereotypical and the story made no sense at all. It didnt even feel like a don bluth movie, its as if hes trying to replicate the style of silly symphonies from the 30s. But he fails hard man.
3. Every Direct-to-video Disney sequel ever made - except for maybe Aladdin 3 and Lion King 2, its pretty self-explanatory.
2. The Magic Voyage - say, do you remember those days in grade school when you learned how Christopher Columbus discovered the earth being round, hanging out with a talking worm, and saving a fairy from a swarm of evil bees? You dont? well, GOOD!
1. The Miramax Cut of The Thief and The Cobbler - Where do i begin? Making the title characters talk and not shutting up, rearranging scenes, adding crappy songs, adding animation that looks like the equivilant of He-man, and pretty much tearing out the heart that Richard Williams put into this project. This did not deserve to happen. This did not need to happen. But it did. And now, Mr. Williams doesnt want to talk about it anymore. so i guess the idea of fully restoring the film has sailed the boat.
Best
5. The Iron Giant - During the 90s, Warner Bros. churned aout some very mediocre animated films whether they are disney ripoffs (thumbelina, quest for camelot), or just plain sugary (Troll in Central Park), but director Brad Bird took a chance and made a film that couldve easily been made into liveaction. This film took risks at avoiding the cliches in the decade (talking animals, songs, magic, etc) and had 3 dimensional characters, good animation, and a talented voice cast. Too bad it bombed at the B.O., it really destroyed WBs chances at redemption. Oh well, at least its gaining popularity nowadays.
4. Spirited Away - What can i say? Hayao Miyazaki is a pure genius. This film is so good, it even has its own section on Sparknotes
! The animation is fun to look at, the characters are well-developed and the story is original. Now dont get me wrong, i like all of Miyazakis films (except for maybe Howls moving castle) but this is the first one i watched and it is still my fav out of his resume.3. Toy Story - I admire the fact that it is the first cgi film in history, but i consider this to be Pixars best film (sorry Up *hugs*). Even though its dated, the cgi still holds up to this day. Great story, house-hold characters and funny oneliners ("YOU ARE A CHILDS..PLAYTHING!!!" "...You are a sad strange little man, and you have my pity."). Overall great pixar movie, but its not the best animated feature.
2. The Nightmare Before Christmas/Aladdin - i decided to put these together because these were my most favorite movies to watch growing up. Today, i can quote each of these movies in my sleep. In NBC, the stop-motion is breathtaking, the story is like a mix btw Grinch and Rudolph, and i consider this to be Danny Elfman's best score yet. As for Aladdin, i just love the comedic tone it had. Alan Menkens songs are nothing short of amazing. My favs are 'One Jump Ahead', 'Prince Ali' and 'Friend Like Me'. Plus the animation is nice and fluid.
1. The Thief and the Cobbler - I am refering to Richard Williams' unfinished version, the film he put every ounce of his heart and soul into. But for it to be taken away by ignorant executives is just painful. The animation is absolutely breathtaking, the characters are unique and subtle, the use of Rimsky Korasakovs' 'Sheherazade' is quite fitting. Its like Fantasia meets Yellow Submarine meets Citizen Kane. It didnt deserve the fate it suffered, but this diamond in the rough is worth checking out.
Worst
5. Chicken Little - Its one thing for disney to abandon a dying artform for cgi, but its another to shamelessly ripoff other cgi film cliches like pop-culture references. The voice acting is cringe-worthy, the animation is sub-par, the story is uninspired, and the ending was insulting at best. I apologize for those who like this movie but, this is one in the disney canon i can easily do without.
4. Thumbelina - I will admit, Rock-a-Doodle, Troll in Central Park, and Pebble and the Penguin are guilty pleasures at best. Are they bad? yes, but at least theres entertainment value somewhere. However, i consider this one to be Don Bluth's worst out of everything hes done. The main character is so annoying and so desperate for help, she makes Bella Swanson seem more believable. The songs by Barry Manilow are painful to listen through. The mexican frogs were blatantly stereotypical and the story made no sense at all. It didnt even feel like a don bluth movie, its as if hes trying to replicate the style of silly symphonies from the 30s. But he fails hard man.
3. Every Direct-to-video Disney sequel ever made - except for maybe Aladdin 3 and Lion King 2, its pretty self-explanatory.
2. The Magic Voyage - say, do you remember those days in grade school when you learned how Christopher Columbus discovered the earth being round, hanging out with a talking worm, and saving a fairy from a swarm of evil bees? You dont? well, GOOD!
1. The Miramax Cut of The Thief and The Cobbler - Where do i begin? Making the title characters talk and not shutting up, rearranging scenes, adding crappy songs, adding animation that looks like the equivilant of He-man, and pretty much tearing out the heart that Richard Williams put into this project. This did not deserve to happen. This did not need to happen. But it did. And now, Mr. Williams doesnt want to talk about it anymore. so i guess the idea of fully restoring the film has sailed the boat.