02.06
This Friday, the first hand-drawn animated Disney movie in years, The Princess and the Frog, comes out. With some of the more recent Disney movies lacking in the certain magic that Disney used to reign supreme in supplying back in the day, this is an event the staff at Animation Revelation can not wait for. Especially not myself, a huge fan of Disney’s movies. Only about a year ago did I decide to rewatch a majority of the studio’s animated films, along with some of their live-action movies. With only days until Princess and the Frog‘s release, I felt the need to spread the good word of Disney out. I’ll try to get the second half of this out tomorrow, where I go over the 5 movies of John Musker and Ron Clements, who wrote and directed Princess, and look over 5 killer movies that most have forgotten or just never gave a second look. But I’m starting this off by listing 5 all-time classics that are great to watch whenever and the ten songs from Disney soundtracks that would make the best soundtrack ever.
5 Movies You Need to Watch Again:
Fantasia (1940):
As you can tell, animation is a major interest of not just this writer, but everyone on the staff. Since we were younger, the idea that people could tell stories by making drawings move on screen has enticed me and everyone else here for as long as we can remember. Music is another passion of mine. Time and time again music has been able to prove itself as a way to define an emotion or thought going on in your mind like nothing else can. Disney’s movies have a tendency to both illuminate people of all ages with moving drawings and reward us with breathtaking music, which is why Fantasia stands out among the other movies as a great example of both music and animation appreciation.
In a series of amazingly animated shorts set to classical music done by a live symphony, Fantasia so wonderfully blends art, human emotion, and creative wonder into 2 hours of animated perfection. Many remember the classic Mickey Mouse short “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”, in which Mickey brings over a swarm of living brooms to life to do his dirty work, but don’t forget other masterpieces such as “The Rite of Spring”, playing the music to a massive portrayal of the earth’s creation, the wondrous “Dance of the Hours”, which allowed alligators and hippos dance together to opera, and the grandiose “Night on Bald Mountain”, introducing the world to the majestic Chernabog, a chilling combination of evil, epic, and power that will never be forgotten.
Walt’s plan was to make a series out of Fantasia, and while he never got to continue in the style while still being alive and part of the studio, a second installment, Fantasia 2000, was released in 1999 to respective results, and some shards of a third collection of musical compilations still exist to this day. No matter what though, the movie’s impact and legacy will help it stand out as one of Walt’s finest.
Bambi (1942):
Recently my best friend in the universe got to watch Bambi for the first time, partly through his girlfriend’s prodding, partly through my prodding, and partly because he wanted to. Needless to say, he was impressed. I’ve yet to see a complete downer on the little dear’s coming-of-age tale, which considering how much of a downer the film is itself is surprising.
Even as a child I knew this movie was special, even compared to the Disney library. It’s similar to the previous movie in the canon, Dumbo, in a way; both are brisk, about an hour long, and both feature a young creature going through his earliest experiences. What separates the two is that while Dumbo was a relatively cheaper last-minute effort made to make sure the studio could make money after Pinocchio and Fantasia did less than expected, and had little of Walt’s personal involvement attached to it, Bambi was planned to become a feature film for as long as Snow White was, and it took the studio years to get every little detail, to the point where Walt would invite actual, tamed woodland creatures into the studio for his animators to match for realism. Dumbo turned into an exceptional movie, as well, but it’s pretty apparent which movie turned into the bigger effort.
What most people remember about the story of the Prince of the Forest’s tale of discovery and growing up is the death scene, a moment which traumatizes audiences to this very day. Still a very poignant scene that shows the cruelty of man and tragedy of losing a parent, the rest of the movie is full of unforgettable scenes such as this. Remember when Bambi was named? Or how about when he met the lovable skunk, Flower, for the first time? Thumper the rabbit explaining how he got his name? Or the touching ending, which spoiling to those who haven’t seen it in years, or until recently, like my best friend, miraculously haven’t seen it at all, would be a major disservice?
Still on top as the King of the Forest, even without a musical number in sight.
Alice in Wonderland (1951):
All in the golden afternoon. The story of Lewis Carroll and his most famous work of all is an interesting one worth reading at some point in your life, but for the sake of time and tact let’s just focus on the Disney-made animated movie we got out of it.
Set dab in Victorian-age England, little Alice finds a white rabbit hopping along while sitting with her sister under a tree and goes through a mystic adventure few can forget. While following the little guy she enters a rabbit hole that lets her into the world of Wonderland, where a plethora of different events occur. Mainly focusing on the original Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and drawing some ideas from the revered sequel Through the Looking Glass, Alice has become something of a cult hit after being a “heartless” disappoint during it’s intentional release, partly due to Jefferson Airplane’s intoxicating “White Rabbit” and the trippy sequences that fit in with the psychedelic era, and rightfully so.
The absurdities, the parallels, the physical impossibilities, the cleverness of the script and songwriting, the fluid, pre-computerized multi-character animation, and the overall sense of whimsy… there’s just so much to give this cute little movie credit for, and being one of the classics from the 50’s ensures that it will continue to be discussed about for years to come.
Beauty and the Beast (1991):
Here is the first, and unless Up makes it through a stroke of luck, only animated movie to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Even if it lost to an admittingly better movie, there’s little denying that Beauty and the Beast is a high-quality movie. Taking the Disney studio’s timeless Princess formula to creative and emotional heights previously unthought-of, Beauty helped cement the mentality that The Little Mermaid suggested in which cartoons, Disney’s, at least, are able to be enjoyed by more than just children again.
The tale is as old as time: when the village oddball Maurice heads off to a science fair and gets lost on his way in the woods. He is taken to the castle of a prince who has been transformed into a beast after refusing an old beggar woman’s request to buy a rose off of her. Already a cruel man even before the transformation, the idea that if he doesn’t find true love before a magic rose he is left behind withers away, the prince will remain a beast forever, and his loyal staff will remain moving pieces of furniture, turns the Beast into an even more cynical, biting character and locks Maurice in as his prisoner. When his brilliant daughter Belle comes looking for him and enters the castle, she trades her freedom for his, making the beast her prisoner.
During this time the Beast realizes that Belle is the perfect woman, an intelligent, freegoing, lovely little lady full of spunk, while Belle acknowledges the love and honesty in the Beast. Along with an incredible soundtrack, uncompromising villain in the local hunk Gaston, and scenes of true love apparent on screen, Beauty and the Beast became an instant masterpiece. One sequence that particularly stands out is Belle and the Beast’s computer-animated ballroom dance, an instant callback to the love story this really is. Angela Lansbury’s Mrs. Potts sings a melody that captures exactly what we the audience and the two are feeling: that theirs is a love so real we can nearly feel it ourselves.
The Lion King (1994):
Ladies and gentlemen, my personal favorite. Everyone has one, and this is mine. The first movie I distinctly remember seeing in theaters(hell, my first memory period is seeing this movie in theaters, I presume for my second of three times). The tape I played the most out of as a kid. The movie I had to have everything out of as a child. And even today, it’s still a favorite. If we’re not counting other sections of the studio(sorry, Simba, The Nightmare Before Christmas has become a new-found favorite in recent years) or Disney-made live-action(Pollyanna has become a shocking favorite as of late) into the equation, I can say that this is still my favorite Disney movie.
Sorry, we all have our moments of elitism, and we all have things that defined an era we grew up in. As a young child from the 90’s, if nothing else, The Lion King was far and away our defining movie. But don’t fool yourself into thinking that it’s only kids fare. People of all ages, including those in my own family, went to see The Lion King when it came out, and stuck with it for a plethora of reasons.
The story, drawing major influences from the Shakespeare play Hamlet, is one. Born as the son of the King of the Jungle Mufasa, Simba is born into greatness and is accepted by most of the animal kingdom, barring his bitter uncle Scar. Cowardly and deceitful, Scar has plans for his stronger brother and his little nephew, and partway through the movie changes the course of things. He lets Mufasa fall to his death and is able to convince Simba that it’s his fault. The little cub runs away for years and takes refuge in the kindness of the carefree meerkat and warthog duo of Timon and Pumbaa, and shortly after is told by his oldest friend Nala that Pride Rock, the land which he was planned to rule over, is still alive and well.
The rest, as they say, is legend. On top of the powerful story involving the importance of family and believing in one’s self, and balances off human-like drama and charming comic relief well. The sidekicks Timon and Pumbaa never overstay their welcome and unlike a few notable exceptions contribute to the story.
And lest we forget the music. Tim Rice, hot off of Aladdin, wrote the catchy lyrics that are still stuck in the heads of the millions who saw the movie when it first came out, which are complimented perfectly with popular music royalty Elton John’s music. Mixing African beats with Broadway-ready compositions, Lion King’s soundtrack already was expected to have a rich feeling to it. Who could expect the brilliance in songs like “Circle of Life”, “Hakuna Matata”, and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”, all of which were nominated for the Best Song Oscar. Of course the latter, a love song with lyrics that don’t hinge at cheesy at any point, won, but that’s not to say that the other two songs or the rest of the tracks are weaker at all. My personal favorite is “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King”, in which Simba and Nala play around with loyal guard bird Zazu until he relents as Simba reveals how badly he wants power.
There’s a lot I find about the movie that still attracts me to this day. I love seeing Scar’s rapid descent into madness, how the opportunity and risks of power makes him crack until the destructive finale. I love Simba’s character arc, as he grows from playful cub to king of the jungle, and see him try to repress the trauma he went through at a young age. And I obviously love the music, and the Shakespearean references. Like my mother who introduced me to the unstructured brilliance of Pulp Fiction and my uncle who showed me the merry world of Marvel Comics, I hope to greet my children and younger relatives poor Simba’s epic adventure, and hope that they can find as much to like about when they get older it as I can today.
Disney’s 10 Greatest Songs:
10: “I‘ll Make a Man Out of You” (Mulan)
Let’s get down to business: Donny Osmond makes himself sound like a badass as Li Shang orders his troop to prep up for the Huns. Typical inspirational training-themed music plays during a typical training sequence. Besides Donny, what saves it from becoming a forgotten “Eye of the Tiger” wannabe is the sheer epicness of the track. Who doesn’t want to shout out “Be a man” while doing work, which this song has the chorus do. On top of good lyrics and tight animation, we get a memorable scene from a strong Disney movie.
9: “I Wonder“/“Once Upon a Dream” (Sleeping Beauty)
“Once Upon a Dream” is the obvious meat of the package, but “I Wonder” is a nice enough introduction that allows itself an honorable mention. A short, notable chance for Mary Costa to prove her vocal chops as Briar Rose ponders if anyone is there for her, but of course, “Once Upon a Dream” is the more remembered track of the two. Aurora takes the chance to free herself and sing a little diddy about a love she knows she feels for someone she doesn’t know. And let’s not forget when the Prince Phillip chimes in and adds his virtuoso vocal abilities in. The best part of the song and sequence by far though must be when the chorus sings for the two, while they dance along the lake. Artistic majestry at it’s finest is the only way to describe Sleeping Beauty, and this sequence nails it, as well as a love so true.
8: “Someday My Prince Will Come” (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)
The original Disneyfied love song from the original Disney movie. This relatively short operatic number is where songs of hope such as Beauty and the Beast‘s “Something There”, The Lion King’s “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”, and yes, “Once Upon a Dream” come from. Snow White was the first of quite a few beloved Disney Princesses, who all follow similar traits of her character, especially her incredible voice.
7: “Baby Mine” (Dumbo)
If ever a song can earn credit for breaking hearts, Mrs. Jumbo’s lullaby to her sweet Dumbo takes it. Earlier in the movie Jumbo is taken away from her big-eared son after defending him from taunts by visiting children in a rather violent way. When Dumbo comes to visit her behind bars, she gets the chance to carry her baby by the nose while a loving lullaby plays across shots of other circus animals enjoying the company of their young. On top of the sweetness of the lyrics, the love in the female chorus, and the emotional imagery, Disney gives us another tear jerking sequence for generations to share.
6: “Circle of Life” (The Lion King)
A sequence so poignant that the studio made no hesitations toward using the whole thing as a trailer. What made sure that this made the list besides the iconic score that instantly draws you in is the powerful opening that has already proven to be as, if not even more, memorable as a majority of earlier Disney classics. Kicking off the sunrise, the African beats draw over millions of creatures in the animal kingdom, including humans, over to see the birth of the new prince. With or without the opening the music would be incredible, but together they lead an incredible opening to an exceptional animated feature.
The Lion King is a movie where I could have chosen three or four other songs and would have been satisfied, but ultimately deciding on the opening track being the best example of the movie’s and company’s quality of soundtrack, a decision I was glad to make.
5: “You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly!” (Peter Pan)
Who didn’t want to fly as a kid? Peter Pan, in any given form, may have been a key factor in the eternal dream, and Disney’s 1953 interpretation of the classic storybook-turned-play-turned-childhood favorite added a jingle that will forever keep the notion in the heads of both children and the kids in us. There isn’t much to the repeating lyrics, but try saying “Think of a wonderful thought, any merry little thought” to a random person, and see how much you can remember of the song and of a group of kids flying throughout London.
4: “Under the Sea” (The Little Mermaid)
Added partly for the writer’s memories of an ex-girlfriend who loved the number and the movie it came from, and partly from his own love-affair with the track as a child, “Under the Sea“ was the first Oscar-winning Disney song in a long time, another key factor signaling in the new era of animation excellence. Jamaican beats are played with Sebastian the crab’s defending for sea life, which comes a chorus that will never leave your head. Dancing and accompanying virtuoso sea creatures, lively animation, and a rare appearance of a playful crabby guardian added visual memories to what’s already a top-notch pop song.
3: “A Whole New World” (Aladdin)
As you can tell, the studio was undergoing a renaissance of sorts during the early 90’s, and the duet that Aladdin and Jasmine shared on their iconic magic carpet ride is the shining example of the magic the new blood could present to you with animation. This being the first song Alan Menken had to write music for in a Disney movie with Tim Rice’s lyrics, the track already held significance to it before Aladdin came out. Fortunately Rice hit it perfect on the first try, making Aladdin and Jasmine’s ride seem romantic while not overdoing sap, and Menken‘s accompanying score adds to the magic evening the two share together. Aladdin’s vocal performance by Brad Kane adds to the character’s honesty- one listen and it’s apparent that he wants to show the princess everything- while Lea Salonga sounds equally as honest and enchanting as Jasmine.
And of course, the ride’s animation only adds to the mood. To call this one sequence in a film shockingly full of inconsistencies one of the most remarkably animated scenes in history would be a mighty bold claim(especially when it has to compare with #9), but the crew really put their all into the number.
2: “When You Wish Upon a Star” (Pinocchio)
Disney’s first Best Song Academy Award winner, and still a song that rings true to many today, enough to have it‘s melody used as the studio‘s opening music for all of it‘s recent films. A simple song with sweet lyrics that still stand in the mind to all who here the opening bits of music time and time again. I shouldn’t have to write about this track, it should be that much of a part of your psyche.
1: “Heaven’s Light”/”Hellfire” (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)
Plain and simple, everything excellent about Disney’s music combined into a powerful duel track, “Hellfire” has become a bit of a rediscovered classic among Disney fans as of late, but people also forget the brilliance of “Heaven’s Light”. Quasimodo’s brief interlude towards the big picture is a sincere apology to his creator for his deformities, while also doubling as a love letter to the gypsy Esmeralda who showed him warmth and kindness earlier on in the movie. While the movie doesn’t end as we’d expect, this is still an honest, loving number that isn’t forgettable.
“Hellfire”, on the other hand, truly defines the word epic in it’s sequence. Lead by the chants of the priest walking among the cathedral at night, the archdeacon Frollo reveals to the world his struggles towards keeping both his Catholic virtues and the lust for the gypsy Esmeralda together in his sick head. After a dance of fire comes out from the oven is when the song truly begins to shine. Keeping the relevant chants (Frollo: “It’s not my fault” Priests: “Mea culpa(Through my fault)” Frollo: “I’m not to blame“ Priests: “Mea culpa”), Frollo keeps a debate going on between falling for a girl so “evil” is right, jumping to a conclusion that would not only shape Esmeralda’s fate but set the course for the rest of the movie’s events. The plotting is perfectly complimented by the theatrical score accompanying it, down to Tony Jay’s powerful final verse in the track.
Both songs heavily contrast for each other- “Heaven’s Light” is a hopeful tune of acceptance towards those who are different, while “Hellfire” is an operatic tune setting the notion that, at the end of the day, the different are freaks- but focus on similar subjects; particularly towards an unnatural lust for the character of Esmeralda and, more importantly, have the two characters ask for forgiveness from a higher power, a touchy subject you wouldn’t expect to see in a movie from a typically child-friendly studio such as Disney. The only thing more amazing than the fact that despite the themes in “Hellfire”, Hunchback still got an acceptable G rating is that while the other songs on the list have become undeniable parts of our culture, “Heaven’s Light” and “Hellfire” are fairly unknown to most people. Nothing, besides perhaps a truly killer song from Princess and the Frog, can change that these are among the highlights of the Disney song library, though, which is why this reviewer ranks both “Heaven‘s Light“ and “Hellfire“ as the Greatest Disney Song of All Time.
Honorable Mention: “Trashin’ the Camp” (Tarzan)
Mentioned just to share this video with the world.
Look out for part 2, as I continue to dish out the memories.
Originally posted on Tuesday, December 8, 2009.