Best opening sequence from a Disney animated picture?

[Trumpet Joe]

Kind of a curveball for you all, but mine is Alice In Wonderland. I'm just amazed at the primitive yet incredibly simplistic illustrations of the characters in the credit sequence. Then, "In A World Of My Own" occurs, which is an incredible Disney song, even for that era. To me, AIW embodies everything that a Disney film should have in an opening sequence.

[Major Fatal Moebius]

True, Trumpet Joe. I watched Alice not too long ago and those cute, little storybook like drawings in the credit sequence are indeed wonderful. Good choice!

[Disney's Divinity]

Well, of course, there's The Little Mermaid (there's not much I don't like about it), but my other favorites are probably Hercules and Tarzan. Possibly even Mulan.

I can't say that any of the openings of the older films stands out for me. Besides the whole "credits intro," they usually had the standard book sitting in the background. Nothing to make you ecstatic about.

[candydog]

My favourite opening scene is probably the prologue of Beauty and the Beast. From those opening notes you know that you're going to see a real animated masterpiece!! And using stained glass windows to tell the story of how the prince became a beast was ingenius!!!

Others that definitely deserve a mention though:

Hunchback: I just love it when the cathedral appears over the clouds and we hear the big dramatic "Ah ah ah!"

Little Mermaid: Love it when the mermaids are swimming to the concert.

[BelleGirl]

Well, of course, there's The Little Mermaid (there's not much I don't like about it), but my other favorites are probably Hercules and Tarzan. Possibly even Mulan.

Oh yes, I lke the opening of Mulan too. With the Chinese watercolor painting merging into the great wall of China. And with appropriate music set to it.

[Kossage]

The way Bambi opens is very nice. The multiplane camera move through the woods is a great way of slowly getting the audience into Bambi's world, and the beautiful main theme with its humming choir and soft instrumentalization is a great touch to create an almost ethereal feel, which makes the whole thing quite lyrical in a good way.

The Lion King has a stunning opening with great views of the African landscape and various creatures, and the opening song with its African touch matches the animation in the perfect way possible. It brings the audience into the film's world in such a vivid way, and this scene still sends shivers down my spine whenever I watch it.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame has a magnificent opening as well, and it's among Disney's darkest. The way the cathedral is seen and how the epic Latin choir kicks in with dramatic orchestration brings kind of a Gothic feel to the film, and the story gets a good start by truly dragging the audience into the film's world.

There are other great openings in Disney's animated films, of course, but I've really enjoyed these three particular openings because of their perfect mix of background art, character animation and the music and how they really manage to lure you into the films' worlds.

[calvin101]

I don't think anything can match 'The Lion King' - it's not just the music and the animation, it's the fact that it holds people's attention with no speech at all. It's easy enough to open with a song that tells a story a la 'Hunchback...' because you're already reeling the viewer into the story; 'The Lion King' simply has absolutely gorgeous animation and a song that, whilst crucial to the plot later on, means little on the first viewing.

I cannot praise it enough.

[Dottie]

My personal favorite will always be BatB.

But, I gotta say that Snow White might have the best one. It's so classic and, hey, it's the start of everything.

[jediliz]

Actual "Animation" - Pocahontas


Pixar - "Toy Story 2"

[pap64]

I would have to give nods to the 101 Dalmatians opening. Unexpected I know but I just saw the movie and I LOVED how creative yet random it is. I love the music that plays during it and its perhaps the best opening credits I have ever seen for an animated movie.

The opening to "Beauty and the Beast" was excellent as well.

[Princess Rosie]

I love almost all of them, but if I had to choose...

3 of my Favourites are:

Beauty & The Beast
The Lion King
The Little Mermaid

Honourable mentions:

Bambi
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Snow White
Pinnochio

[Major Fatal Moebius]

I don't believe I've given my answer yet, even though I've replied to the thread.

Well, my favorite disney opening is easily Jungle Book's. I just love the ominous theme music that kicks off this little animation wonder.

[Jeffel]

Obviously it's The Lion King (obviously!) but I also have much love for Pinocchio.

[akhenaten]

even tho i love pocahontas...i think the opening is not as strong..the storm can never match little mermaid's storm sequence..the opening works well from steady as the beating drum onwards.