Which Disney film has the best opening?

[slave2moonlight]

Like how is the opening trying to copy The Lion King? I think those two openings are entirely different.

Hmm, I just rewatched the opening, and you're right. All this time, I remembered it totally differently for some reason (only seen it once or twice, though I do own it). For some reason, I only remembered that song from the beginning, not any dialogue, and I always remembered the title coming after the ceremony in the beginning. Don't know why. But, I still don't like the beginning very much because the song is too boisterous and modern to me for the visuals and for a "getting to know the characters" opening.

[Toky]

offcouse Hunchback,Lion king, Tarzan are great(in case of the Lion King and Tarzan, especially converted to the stage, were they were almost the best part of the show), because they're so grand and dramatic,
but i do prefer the storybooks because they're so small and they creep more deeply under you're skin(if i can say it that way ).
The disney movies from the renaissance period blow you away and leave you breathless, but the earlier movies create a more mysterious environment. they make you curious about whats coming next and how the story is going to evolve. the rescuers for example has a brilliant opening. All you see is a little innocent girl in this horrifying(creepy swamp, alligators, rotten boat), yet wondrous(remember bambi in it, and the stars in the sky,resembling hope) environment and makes you wonder what does it mean, who is she and howcome is she so sad.
They are more subtle and relie on their ability to play on the human mind

[Lazario]

Of course, thank you G; I forgot that song! I think it would have to tie with 101 Dalmatians to crack my top 5. (It's a real shame they never released a soundtrack to the original Rescuers, because there's a score piece there I'm psycho about as well, I think it plays on the DVD at the start of... Chapter 4, when they get to Medusa's pawn shop / then again when they're lowering Penny into the well)

^ If you're going to include those other two Walt book openings, I think Cinderella's is the best one. I am dead serious.

It has more dramatic music, a lovely peaceful romantic song, then dramatic/romantic music with more peaceful score, showing what looks like one of the happiest times there could ever be, then tragedy, rain, death by candlight, the cruelty of the stepmother, and sad violins in a warn-down garden (the rain stopped but the droplets left) all leading to how Cinderella stays happy despite the terror.

More dramatic music? ...Maybe. But, Snow White's was epic and consuming. And Sleeping Beauty's little overture was so much more striking. (The only disrespect to Cinderella I mean here in the least is just in the song "Cinderella" at the very start which I think is weak.) I love the shot of Cinderella crying on the bed, the closeup on the evil Stepmother, and that painted sort of map from the castle to the chateau (?). But it's very lowkey and somehow, not exactly as memorable. At least not to me. I could see an easy argument for Cinderella's opening being superior to Sleeping Beauty's in so far as the procession of people in the kingdom to the castle (though I find it compelling everytime just how strange and dread-inducing it is- and that's very unique for a "happy" sequence). Now that you've mentioned the rain droplets (thanks), I'm flashing on Make Mine Music (the "Without You" sequence). I still think the other two are superior.

- Robin Hood: This is a very underrated opening. It is simple, especially when compared to the other openings, but I like how charming and humorous it is. Plus, as a kid it helped me learn the names of the species of animals featured in the movie (seriously, I had never seen a badger or a fox until this movie came along as a kid, because Puerto Rico doesn't have them).

I was thinking of that one as well. It was very close, but I didn't want anyone's eyes to bug out. I agree with you that introducing the characters this way was great (didn't they do this in The Aristocats as well- and I think it started in Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree). The music gives it that extra push. One of the most insanely catchy and addictive tunes in cinema history, tailor-made for whistling.

[pap64]

- Robin Hood: This is a very underrated opening. It is simple, especially when compared to the other openings, but I like how charming and humorous it is. Plus, as a kid it helped me learn the names of the species of animals featured in the movie (seriously, I had never seen a badger or a fox until this movie came along as a kid, because Puerto Rico doesn't have them).

I was thinking of that one as well. It was very close, but I didn't want anyone's eyes to bug out. I agree with you that introducing the characters this way was great (didn't they do this in The Aristocats as well- and I think it started in Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree). The music gives it that extra push. One of the most insanely catchy and addictive tunes in cinema history, tailor-made for whistling.

If I am not mistaken, the Aristocats didn't introduce the characters, but instead showed un-finished animation of several scenes. I may be mistaken, but I do know it showed scenes.

Oh yes, I completely forgot about 101 Dalmatians. That opening was great, and kind of underrated from what it seems. It's so different from the Disney normal it's awesome. And the music fits it so, so well!

[Goliath]

I actually searched this board for a similar thread and I didn't found nothing.

Don't feel bad, the search option is not always reliable. Sorry if I came off like a jerk --you'll get used to it.

[toonaspie]

If I am not mistaken, the Aristocats didn't introduce the characters, but instead showed un-finished animation of several scenes. I may be mistaken, but I do know it showed scenes.

Oh yes, I completely forgot about 101 Dalmatians. That opening was great, and kind of underrated from what it seems. It's so different from the Disney normal it's awesome. And the music fits it so, so well!

Actually The Aristocats and Robin Hood opening are exactly the same. They're just clips of various animation in the actual film done to an opening song. Only I find Robin Hood's approach much more appealling.

I dunno how I would list my favorite openings but here I go...

The Lion King...is my ultimate favorite, because it's done almost so realistically and life like.

Then there's also(no real order)...
Bambi
Tarzan
101 Dalmations
Lady and the Tramp
Pinocchio
The Jungle Book
The Rescuers
The Fox and the Hound (love how it starts out quiet and dark and then gets dramatic)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Beauty and the Beast
Pocahontas (though the storm scene seems kinda redundant and drags the opening) but I like the transition shot from the ship to the New World
Dumbo (not a fan of the film but the opening fits)

That's all I can think of

[Disney Duster]

More dramatic music? ...Maybe. But, Snow White's was epic and consuming. And Sleeping Beauty's little overture was so much more striking. (The only disrespect to Cinderella I mean here in the least is just in the song "Cinderella" at the very start which I think is weak.) I love the shot of Cinderella crying on the bed, the closeup on the evil Stepmother, and that painted sort of map from the castle to the chateau (?). But it's very lowkey and somehow, not exactly as memorable. At least not to me. I could see an easy argument for Cinderella's opening being superior to Sleeping Beauty's in so far as the procession of people in the kingdom to the castle (though I find it compelling everytime just how strange and dread-inducing it is- and that's very unique for a "happy" sequence). Now that you've mentioned the rain droplets (thanks), I'm flashing on Make Mine Music (the "Without You" sequence). I still think the other two are superior.

I need to see Make Mine Music, but anyway...well, okay, I was thinking of the very beginning of Cinderella, it's dramatic, and then it goes into a quaintness. Like, I suppose it is lowkey, but I feel it is so quaint and so nice and charming, coupled with the imagery you just love it. And it's also romantic at the same time. It just feels so good to me.

With Snow White and Sleeping Beauty's opening credits imagery, I think Cinderella wins that one at least. I mean, at least Cinderella had pictures, it made me feel I was entering a world. "The kingdom of romance" as the song said. I also think the book opening is the best, because Cinderella's had not only music that was more dramatic than the other two, but it was in the dark until curtains mysteriously opened to shed light on it (and I always imagine birds must have opened them as happens so many times in the film). Sleeping Beauty's book actually actually gets a little stuck while it is opening...though I don't think that counts to hold against it because it wasn't intended.

And yes, I like that the storybook kind of has a "map" of the kingdom showing the path from the castle to chateau.

I guess I find Snow White's and Sleeping Beauty's a bit boring...but okay, Sleeping Beauty's is more excitingthan Snow White's, it's even almost scary. But I guess it feels cold (something that could be said of the whole film) while Cinderella's feels the warmest to me.

Cinderella's opening is one of my most favorite parts, a reason why I'm in love with it, so I had to include it here.

[Lazario]

I was thinking of the very beginning of Cinderella, it's dramatic, and then it goes into a quaintness. Like, I suppose it is lowkey, but I feel it is so quaint and so nice and charming

Felt a bit like a farm. For obvious reasons, I should imagine. So I guess, Cinderella's home being half a farm, that's why they kept it lowkey. Not much they could do to make a farm look fantastic and/or ominous. I think the scenes with flash in the story are the ones in the film that really shine. The dress-making, the dress-destroying, the Fairy Godmother, the ride to the palace/castle, the ball, the escape, and perhaps just the closeups of Gus and Jacques getting the key and then Cinderella coming downstairs to try on the slipper (with the rest of the ending). And those are enough to make the movie special, those moments themselves are so legendary and beautiful in different ways. Maybe in some ways, it's easily a more special movie than Snow White (the more romantic look to the animation, so many shots of the architecture making it look so large that the characters almost disappear within it, a ton of clever pieces inside the sequences). So, that would make up for Snow White having a better beginning (wouldn't you say? ).

With Snow White and Sleeping Beauty's opening credits imagery, I think Cinderella wins that one at least.

You may be right. I'm going to watch both tomorrow and get back to you with my observations.

I also think the book opening is the best, because Cinderella's had not only music that was more dramatic than the other two, but it was in the dark until curtains mysteriously opened to shed light on it (and I always imagine birds must have opened them as happens so many times in the film).

Very good point. More does happen. Though the music positions it as very lowkey. It's slow because they want "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" to be the statement you remember. It's a much bigger number than "I'm Wishing" or the assorted songs from "Sleeping Beauty." So they spend longer to work up to their big villain moments. Whereas, Cinderella keeps you waiting for a considerable time longer until we really meet the Stepmother. And that voice, etc. Another moment I forgot to mention above.

Sleeping Beauty's book actually actually gets a little stuck while it is opening

And yes, I like that the storybook kind of has a "map" of the kingdom showing the path from the castle to chateau.

My favorite image of the scene.

I guess I find Snow White's and Sleeping Beauty's a bit boring

Nothing wrong with that.

Sleeping Beauty's is more exciting than Snow White's, it's even almost scary. But I guess it feels cold (something that could be said of the whole film) while Cinderella's feels the warmest to me.

Alice in Wonderland has my favorite warm beginning. But I think Peter Pan did as well- great (if not best) first song (out of the bunch of those big chorus-sung first songs from "Make Mine Music" all the way to Lady and the Tramp).

But we go with themes, I think. Your theme is romance. Mine is idyllic fantasy countryside.

[Disney Duster]

I will wait for you to watch them again if you must, I am just going on memory I should probably watch them too, but I just want to respond to these before I forget:

Since you said it felt like a farm, I think we are talking about different things. I mean the very, very beginning of Cinderella, the opening credits, I felt like I was entering a kingdom. But the book does help, too. I mean, it shows a whole map of the kingdom as we said. Farm? Grrr. jk

I know you don't like my use of the word but one other feeling the music during the book opening gives me is...magical. Yep. But in a more literal sense, though both senses.

As for the parts of the film that aren't flashy, well, I don't know if you feel the the kind of...peaceful and...homey, warm feeling to those parts. I really like when Cinderella's by herself taking care of the house, somehow.

And I think Snow White is still an excellent rival for Cinderella, don't you worry! And actually, if we counted the queen going to the mirror in the opening I would say that's either second best, and certainly more exciting or...well...it's just hard for me to figure out what constitues as "an opening". I don't consider the actual talking to the mirror part of the opening. But that mirror part is certainly not boring. And I can at least say Sleeping Beauty's procession to the castle is interesting and yes, all those people in dark, striking costumes being all creepy does something, too.

Though the music positions it as very lowkey. It's slow because they want "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" to be the statement you remember. It's a much bigger number than "I'm Wishing" or the assorted songs from "Sleeping Beauty." So they spend longer to work up to their big villain moments. Whereas, Cinderella keeps you waiting for a considerable time longer until we really meet the Stepmother. And that voice, etc. Another moment I forgot to mention above.

I didn't get this completely. You say Snow White and Sleeping Beauty spend a longer time before the villain moments...but you also used the word longer when referring to Cinderella's.

I was completely wrong on Sleeping Beauty's book cover getting stuck. What happens is it...shakes. It's hard to explain.

I like Peter Pan's and Alice in Wonderland's a lot.

But we go with themes, I think. Your theme is romance. Mine is idyllic fantasy countryside.

I would say Cinderella's is idyllic fantays countryside as well! The map, the map!

[Santana]

1. The Lion King
2. The Little Mermaid
3. Beauty and the Beast

[stitchje1981]

[quote="DisneyFan09"]
Here is my top three list.

1. The Hunchback of Notre Dame - a extremly powerful and epic opening, with a great opening song, some great Latin chants, a effective narrator (Clopin) and a emotional backstory. Not to mention the great animation and snow effects.

2. The Lion King. Back in 1994 I didn't thought that any opening could surpass this one, but the African chant really gave me chills when I heard it for the first time. The opening is beautiful, emotional and epic.

3. Tarzan. A dynamic, effective, fast-paced and emotional opening.
quote]

I totally agree with you DisneyFan09 !!!

But I also like:

4. Hercules: funny, historic and it's awesome the way they change from the vase to a great drawn view

5. Beauty And The Beast. The dramtic music that sticks in your head in the beginning, the great mirror drawings, the tragic story, a real enchantment made, the deep story voice, the beast that rips his painting in pieces and out of curiousity you can't see him very well and then in the end " for who could ever learn to love..... A BEAST"

[King Louis 2010]

My top five openings in no order

1/ The Fox And The Hound [so different from the norm, really atmospheric and, for a while, quiet]
2/ The Lion King
3/ The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
4/ Sleeping Beauty
5/ Robin Hood

[Wonderlicious]

Beauty and the Beast is excellent, taking the storybook/pictures come to life idea and restaging it with stained glass, along with a gorgeous score and mysterious opening narration. Plus, I love the opening zoom towards the castle. It recalls the first shot of the Queen's castle in Snow White, but it feels more lush and magical (it really helps since I think that the Beauty and the Beast castle is my favourite of the Disney castles).

I'm also a sucker for the more traditional storybook opening as well, be they traditional illustrated images that eventually dissolve into animation, such as with The Sword in the Stone or Sleeping Beauty, or pieces where certain objects or characters come to life as soon as the page opens, such as with Robin Hood or Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree. I really like Pinocchio's, where the image on the first page in the storybook is practically an image directly from the film, we zoom in, and then the camera pans down to Gepetto's village. It's almost as though we've actually entered a three dimensional illustration itself. The fact that it's fully animated makes it stand out in its own way as well. I think that the least effective of the openings is Snow White; it's basically just used as a glorified title card.

[DisneyAnimation88]

I would agree with those who say "Hunchback of Notre Dame" has the best opening. I loved the music and the dark atmosphere of the scene but I also liked it because it introduced Frollo in a way that established him as one of the most evil, ruthless and memorable villains Disney has ever created in the space of just five minutes.

[sunhuntin]

i love the hunchback opening. no matter how many times i watch it, i get chills down my spine, specially at clopin's vocals at the end ["the bells of notre daaaaaaaaaaaame"]

[IagoZazu]

Well, my favorites are pretty typical. The Lion King is my overall favorite by far because of the sheer majesty of it. The sun rising, all of those animals coming to Pride Rock, and Rafiki raising Simba to the sky, it's simply amazing. Beauty and the Beast has a beautiful introduction of the castle and stained glass, and of course, The Hunchback of Norte Dame does a great job starting the movie with intense drama with its opening song.

101 Dalmatians has my favorite opening credits. It's fast, fun, and it has a lot of spots!

[Scarred4life]

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
This opening is stunning. The vocals, the animation, and I love the puppets at the very beginning.

The Lion King
Although on the whole this movie is pretty weak, I have a soft spot for the opening. But then Simba talks and ruins everything

Mulan
I don't really like the Hun attack, but I love how the calligraphy fades into the movie. But I do think the Hun attack gets the story going very quickly.

Beauty and the Beast
Such a new way of introducing a story, and the animation is wonderful.

Oliver and Company
I love this scene. The song is great, and much like Mulan, it gets the plot going pretty quickly.

I'll think of more later.

[Atlantica]

I think this is actually a very tricky subject to tackle, as Disney opens its films differently almost every time.

The older films almost all imediatley start with credits, and then go onto their 'opening'. Or at least what I would regard as such. The last films almost all start straight away, and get rid of credits all together, save for the film title card.

With that in mind, to keep it fair; I'm going to ignore the credits, and focus on the start of the story, as that, to me, is the 'start' of the movie. I do adore the credits, and they do set the tone, but I want to focus on the start of the story itself

1. The Little Mermaid : The peaceful seagulls passing overhead, the bustle of the ship, the tales of the mythical undersea world ... and then the smooth transition to the world below, with the magnificant swelling of the music to the beautiful shot of the palace. The music, the colours, the mood, the animation all combine to make this opening to the film fantastic and iconic.

2. Sleeping Beauty : To me, this is the ultimate. It's a classic storybook opening, trouncing all others. The gentle music leading up to the magnificant story book, with its stunning animation contained within. The narrator and the music are perfect, then leading the book to come to life with the celebration of the birth of the Princess. The music and style of the opening make this epic in itself.

3. The Hunchback of Notre Dame : Only two words can describe this opening - dramatic / epic ! The sweeping animation, the dramatic music, and the sheer emotion of what happens within the first few minutes. It sets the tone for the wole film beautifully.

4. Peter Pan : "All this has happened before, and all this will happen again ..." A just plain magical opening, and a wonderful way to reveal the film's main characters. Its gentle, but a lovely way to start up Walt's msot magical film.

5. Enchanted : I know some people wouldnt agree, but I adore this opening. It's classic Disney, but with a twist, as the book is a pop up. I suppose its more of a direct take on Sleeping Beauty (I believe it uses the same font?) but what makes this so magical for me is the fact that the music swells, and instead of fading to black and going into a story book, it zooms up to the Disney castle, pushing through the window, and low, the book is resting in a table inside one of the castle's many rooms. To me, that was just perfect.

I'm sure if I viewed all of the films now, I may change my mind, but as it stands, these are my favourite openings

[Disney's Divinity]

To be honest, I was never particularly crazy about any of the "book-set" openings. I know that, in ways, it helps to give the films a "classic" feel, but I always felt it distracts from the actual story/characters. If I had to pick one that succeeds the most, it would most likely be Snow White's. I just like how they use text-only to set-up the film, and it reappears later after "I'm Wishing/One Song" and again after the Queen's death. In SB, Pinocchio and Cinderella, they are show in the introduction, but are then forgotten about until the end (I realize that, in SB, the book reappears after Maleficent's curse, but after the movie transitions to the cottage in the glen, it's never seen again). Still, I've always loved the color as Cinderella opens onto the Tremaine chateau in the present, with the rain, and the purples and blues. Betty Lou Gerson does an amazing job narrating (who would've expected it?) and I've never felt "Cinderella" was a weak song.

The Sword in the Stone ~ I've always enjoyed the opening to this film. Although, in a way, the intro is a little out-of-sync with the rest of the movie. It's so serious (and well-done at that), that it would lend itself better to a dramatic adaptation of the entire Arthur tale, where SitS goes on to be mostly about the early years of education and mostly in comedic terms. But I still love the intro. (and the movie).

Hunchback ~ I agree that it's a very strong opening, but I'm not sure if I would agree that it's the "best." It's definitely one of the best, though. The music is extremely powerful, and the lighting effects are amazing. This is the scene I remember most from seeing the film in theater--I remember the snow, the lightning, and the statues that stare down on Frollo being very...compelling? (trying to think of different ways to say "powerful" ). I also loved the ending line, "Who is the monster and who is the man?"

The Little Mermaid ~ Of course I was going to mention this one. To be honest, I've always felt the opening with Eric and sailors was one of the more boring parts of the film (I actually think I would prefer the extended version of "Fathoms Below" found on the Platinum, but I wonder if it would introduce Ursula too early? Still, the length shows "Fathoms Below" to be a better song than the short version does, and I appreciate it's extension in the musical), but it really picks up on the underwater side of it. I love the scenery and the mood that it gives, with the whales, the sea anemones, jelly fish, etc. And then the first appearance of a mermaid (a part that I enjoy, but annoys me at the same time; because the animation/effects make them look almost too flat, and their arms move awkwardly in the first shots), and then the urgency towards the golden palace. It's all very powerful. And I love the variation of "Part of That World" they have alongside it--it's just a very classic melody.

Tired of writing. I'll just say that I think some of the best openings are probably Bambi, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. Not much to say without reiterating what others have already said.

And, yes, the openings to Dalmatians and Robin Hood are very clever.

[Prince Edward]

The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Sleeping Beauty
Beauty and the Beast
Aladdin
The Little Mermaid
Hercules
Mulan