I've made lots of these lists, but I've never really explained why my top 10 were my top 10 before. Aside from my top 4 they seems to shift around a lot too, so I guess I'll give it a go. I'll also throw in some theatrical posters since they're fun to look at!
10. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
This makes my top 10 because IMO it is one of the most sophisticated and brilliant DAC's that have ever been made, but it's Achilles heel are the gargoyles. Unfortunately they cheapen and dumb down this very mature film in a way that comes off as confusing and annoying. If the gargoyles had been cut from the film, it would easily rank in my top 5. Gargoyles aside, the music and the characters are well developed, and it's a beautiful story that breaks the mold of traditional Disney films. What film prior to it or since it has the hero not gotten the girl?
9. The Princess and the Frog
The more I see this film the more I come to love it. It isn't perfect, but I love the overall design of the film. As you'll probably find through most of my top 10, style and overall look of the film really appeals to me. Another aspect that I seem to enjoy with this film in particular is that the original tale has been transplanted into the Americas in a way that's both effective and believable. It has it's downfalls, but the development between Tiana and Naveen is some of the best that I've seen between two characters that fall in love in a DAC.
8. Lilo & Stitch
This film has a strange way of touching the heart, in that it's the type of film you wouldn't expect to. Stitch's journey as a hero is nearly epic, but is run parallel with the story of Lilo's life in a stunningly simple manner. Much like Hunchback, I find this film to be one of the most mature films to come out of the studio. It deals with heavy subject manner such as the death of parents, the separation of families, and searching for a niche in a world that has no place for you. In many ways the film reminds me of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein. All of that is balanced with a quirky modern twist and sense of humor that speaks to todays market in a very natural way.
7. Lady and the Tramp
One of the greatest love stories of all time IMO. It is also one of the most beautiful films to come out of the studio by far. There are not many things that I can say about the film that hasn't already been said in praising it, but I've always appreciated how well the Disney artists seemed to capture the victorian style in the houses and other background works.
6. Beauty and the Beast
Once again, I don't think I need to explain much about why this film made my top 10, but I cannot imagine why this film wouldn't make everyone's list if not their top 20 in the least. It's a fantastic film, and if this weren't my personal top 10 I'd possibly vote it as the best film to ever come from the studio period.
5. Bambi
Despite its recent release on blu-ray, I think people either forget or are surprised by how much this film is truly a masterpiece among the cannon. I find that when I bring up the subject that this film is one of the company's first 5 films most people are shocked because they assume it was made much later due to how detailed and sophisticated the film looks. The films is just loaded with surprises from it's stunningly simple water-color inspired backgrounds to it's beautiful score to it's story which touches the heart of every person to see it. This film is a true testament to the talent Walt had in his studio.
4. Pocahontas
I know, I'm sure there's more than a few of you who may be thinking why the hell would anyone rank this film so high... well I guess it just comes down to personal preference. Many people downright hate this film due to it's historical inaccuracy, but once you get past the fact that very little in the film is actually true it's a wonderful fable based in the settling of the Americas. The 10th Anniversary Edition with "If I Never Knew You" re-edited into the film only makes the film stronger by firmly establishing Pocahontas and John Smith's relationship as love and not just the somewhat confusing friend-like relationship that seemed to be portrayed in the original theatrical version. Beyond the story, I love the artistic style of the film.
This film also made a deep impression in my life because it really opened my eyes to indian culture. It inspired me to look more into these lost cultures of the original inhabitants of the Americas, and has also played a role in the way I look at other cultures. The film kinda rocked my world and the way I view it back when I was 9.
3. The Little Mermaid
This film also sorta earns it's place due to personal favoritism. By no means do I think it's a perfect film, but I find it's personality, music, and story make it an endearing film that no body can really "hate". It was my first film in a movie theater, I went to the same College as Jodi Benson and Sierra Boggess, and I just learned that I am now a Teacher's Assistant at the high school Jodi Benson attended as well (weird isn't it?). Needless to say, I have many personal ties to TLM. Its the one film that has always been there since I can remember that has defined what it is to be a Disney movie and what makes a good film, because it was my first. Just for that reason alone, it earns a top spot on my top 10!
2. Fantasia
Fantasia is, IMO, the culmination of fine art. It provided an experience where art, cinema, and some of the greatest music ever created were able to blend together and create something legendary. It is a representation of human culture at some of it's finest. Need I say more?
1. Sleeping Beauty
Many people call Mary Poppins Walt Disney's masterpiece, but I feel that Sleeping Beauty is the animation studio's (of Walt's era) masterpiece due greatly by Walt himself. Being one of the company's most expensive films, the end product is a complete work of art frame-by-frame. It is my strict belief that Sleeping Beauty is the most detailed and complete world ever created in any animated film to date. The film does get a bad reputation for some poor story development between Aurora and Phillip, but it seems impossible not to get swallowed up into the film as a whole due to its artistic style. Maleficent is by far one of the scariest and most recognizable villains to be created by the studio and the action scenes are expertly animated in terms of pace and believability. It is not a perfect film, but I don't think anyone can deny it is a great film.