The different eras in feature animation

[TheValentineBros]

Okay, here's mine, hope y'all enjoy!

The Groundbreaking Era
1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) - Easily on the top 5 on the best animated Disney films.
2. Pinocchio (1940) - Not as good as Snow White, but I still consider this a classic.
3. Fantasia (1940) - One of my favorite movies of all time, and by far Disney's best film!

The Era After the Failures of 'Pinocchio' and 'Fantasia'
4. Dumbo (1941) - A loveable, groundbreaking film when it comes to storytelling.
5. Bambi (1942) - Just like Dumbo, it's loveable.

World War II-Era (Package I Era)
6. Saludos Amigos (1943) - Kinda enjoyable, even if it's too short.
7. The Three Caballeros (1944) - Goddamnit, I love this movie, you gotta love the Aracuan bird.

Post-World War II-Era (Package II Era)
8. Make Mine Music (1946) - Not as bad as I thought it was when I first saw it.
9. Fun and Fancy Free (1947) - Not bad, but not the best package film.
10. Melody Time (1948) - Just like F&FF, not bad, but not the best.
11. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949) - A fun ride for people to enjoy.

Walt's Back For More Era
12. Cinderella (1950) - Even though it has filler, this is still a great movie.
13. Alice in Wonderland (1951) - At least it's 100% better than the shitty Tim Burton version.
14. Peter Pan (1953) - A nice adventure for kids, teens, and adults.
15. Lady and the Tramp (1955) - A sweet film, but not easily the best.
16. Sleeping Beauty (1959) - Though riddled with flaws, it is a beautiful looking movie.

At Walt's End Era
17. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) - Dog lovers and non-dog lovers would enjoy this, like I do.
18. The Sword in the Stone (1963) - Not good, but still entertaining.
19. The Jungle Book (1967) - A cute romp for everybody, including me.

The Depressed Era
20. The Aristocats (1970) - Yeah, I didn't like that movie.
21. Robin Hood (1973) - Better than Aristocats.
22. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) - A cute, and of course, innocent film, since I love the Pooh films. (And no, not the stupid Pooh's Adventures videos on YouTube.
23. The Rescuers (1977) - Pretty good, not the best, still whimsical.

The Depressed Era II: Bluth's Revenge on Disney
24. The Fox and the Hound (1981) - Despite its flaws, it's a great, and friendly film.
25. The Black Cauldron (1985) - Pretty much a guilty pleasure in my book.
26. The great Mouse Detective (1986) - Funny, magical, and adventurous, it never disappointed me.
27. Oliver and Company (1988) - Extremely flawed, but not bad considering it went its way to the Renaissance, along with Roger Rabbit.

The Renaissance Era I: Bluth Got Served
28. The Little Mermaid (1989) - I love it to death. Great chemistry with characters, memorable songs, it's hard to hate it.
29. The Rescuers Down Under (1990) - Way better than the first Rescuers.
30. Beauty and the Beast (1991) - Not perfect, but still an outstanding movie.
31. Aladdin (1992) - Easily the most hysterical Disney movie of all time!
32. The Lion King (1994) - Overrated as hell! Some songs are not memorable, and the plot is kinda generic, but that doesn't mean it sucked altogether. it is still a pretty decent film.

The Renaissance Era II: Kinda Dark Age, Sorta?
33. Pocahontas (1995) - Flawed and not as memorable, but that does not mean that it's bad. It is a decent film.
34. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) - An unappreciated, underrated, and wonderful animated Disney classic.
35. Hercules (1997) - Liked it as a kid, kinda got bored with that movie later in my years.

The Renaissance Era III: Back to the Works
36. Mulan (1998) - A great film, but not memorable, but still fun at its own right.
37. Tarzan (1999) - A nice way to end the renaissance, since it is good film, even if it is flawed.

Yet Another Depressed Era
38. Fantasia 2000 (1999) - I don't think it was close to being as good as the first Fantasia.
39. Dinosaur (2000) - Guilty pleasure, with beautiful animation, and groundbreaking story.
40. The Emperor's New Groove (2000) - Another hysterical animated classic from Disney.
41. Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) - Very weak, but not as bad.
42. Lilo & Stitch (2002) - Flawed, yes, but a wonderful film.
43. Treasure Planet (2002) - I don't think it was that bad.

The Worst-to-Mediocre Era of Disney Yet!
44. Brother Bear (2003) - This movie is NOT good at all.
45. Home on the Range (2004) - AVOID. THIS. MOVIE.
46. Chicken Little (2005) - AVOID. THIS. MOVIE. AS. WELL.
47. Meet the Robinsons (2007) - Arguably better than Home on the Range and Chicken Little combined, but still not good.

The Modern Era
48. Bolt (2008) - Yet another hysterical animated Disney movie.
49. The Princess and the Frog (2009) - Loved it to death, by far the second best animated Disney film in the 2000s.
50. Tangled (2010) - Memorable, cute, and very innocent.
51. Winnie the Pooh (2011) - I enjoyed it. But makes me wonder why it was outgrossed by The Smurfs and Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Seriously, America, get your shit together.
52. Wreck-it Ralph (2012) - A way fun film. Even if you don't like video games.
53. Frozen (2013)*
54. Big Hero 6 (2014)*

(*)=Upcoming films.

[disneyphilip]

My turn:

The Early Years:
1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
2. Pinocchio
3. Fantasia
4. Dumbo
5. Bambi

The War Years:
6. Saludos Amigos
7. The Three Caballeros
8. Make Mine Music
9. Fun and Fancy Free
10. Melody Time
11. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

The Silver Age:
12. Cinderella
13. Alice in Wonderland
14. Peter Pan
15. Lady and the Tramp
16. Sleeping Beauty
17. 101 Dalmatians
18. The Sword in the Stone
19. The Jungle Book

The First Dark Age:
20. The Aristocats
21. Robin Hood
22. The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh
23. The Rescuers
24. The Fox and the Hound
25. The Black Cauldron
26. The Great Mouse Detective
27. Oliver and Company

The Renaissance:
28. The Little Mermaid
29. The Rescuers Down Under
30. Beauty and the Beast
31. Aladdin
32. The Lion King
33. Pocahontas
34. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
35. Hercules
36. Mulan
37. Tarzan

The Second Dark Age:
38. Fantasia 2000
39. Dinosaur
40. The Emperor's New Groove
41. Atlantis: The Lost Empire
42. Lilo and Stitch
43. Treasure Planet
44. Brother Bear
45. Home on the Range
46. Chicken Little

The Redemption Period:
47. Meet The Robinsons
48. Bolt
49. The Princess and The Frog
50. Tangled
51. Winnie The Pooh
52. Wreck It Ralph
53. Frozen

[zackisthewalrus]

Birth/Childhood:
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Pinocchio
Fantasia
Dumbo
Bambi

Puberty:
Saludos Amigos
The Three Caballeros
Make Mine Music
Fun and Fancy Free
Melody Time
The Adventures and Ichabod & Mr. Toad

Handsome & Successful:
Cinderella
Alice in Wonderland
Peter Pan
Lady and the Tramp
Sleeping Beauty
101 Dalmatians
The Sword in the Stone
The Jungle Book

Falling Off the Deep End:
The Aristocats
Robin Hood
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
The Rescuers
The Fox and the Hound
The Black Cauldron
The Great Mouse Detective
Oliver & Company

Rehab:
The Little Mermaid
The Rescuers Down Under
Beauty and the Beast
Aladdin
The Lion King
Pocahontas
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Hercules
Mulan
Tarzan
Fantasia 2000

Relapse:
Dinosaur
The Emperor's New Groove
Atlantis: The Lost Empire
Lilo & Stitch
Treasure Planet
Brother Bear

Death:
Home on the Range
Chicken Little

Resurrection:
Meet the Robinsons
Bolt

Alive & Kicking:
The Princess and the Frog
Tangled
Winnie the Pooh
Wreck-It Ralph
Frozen

[thelittleursula]

Disney Wars- Walt Strikes Back
12. Cinderella
13. Alice in Wonderland
14. Peter Pan
15. Lady and the Tramp
16. Sleeping Beauty

How about a title that somehow includes "Cold War", since these films came out during that period? Maybe "Cold War Disney"?

No because Disney made a huge gamble with Cinderella and he strikes back per say and makes a comeback. And how awesome would it be to picture Walt with a Light-saber ?

[Angeldude98]

Birth/Childhood:
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Pinocchio
Fantasia
Dumbo
Bambi

Puberty:
Saludos Amigos
The Three Caballeros
Make Mine Music
Fun and Fancy Free
Melody Time
The Adventures and Ichabod & Mr. Toad

Handsome & Successful:
Cinderella
Alice in Wonderland
Peter Pan
Lady and the Tramp
Sleeping Beauty
101 Dalmatians
The Sword in the Stone
The Jungle Book

Falling Off the Deep End:
The Aristocats
Robin Hood
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
The Rescuers
The Fox and the Hound
The Black Cauldron
The Great Mouse Detective
Oliver & Company

Rehab:
The Little Mermaid
The Rescuers Down Under
Beauty and the Beast
Aladdin
The Lion King
Pocahontas
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Hercules
Mulan
Tarzan
Fantasia 2000

Relapse:
Dinosaur
The Emperor's New Groove
Atlantis: The Lost Empire
Lilo & Stitch
Treasure Planet
Brother Bear

Death:
Home on the Range
Chicken Little

Resurrection:
Meet the Robinsons
Bolt

Alive & Kicking:
The Princess and the Frog
Tangled
Winnie the Pooh
Wreck-It Ralph
Frozen

Hahaha!!! That's funny! I especially loved Rehab and Relapse!!!

[Angeldude98]

Angeldude, I'm 100% on board with your list with one exception - I'd move the Aristocats to be the first movie of the "Dark Age" period.

Well, the reason I left the Aristocats where it is, is because it was the last film approved and the last film with any type of involvement by Walt Disney himself before his death. So it's fitting that the next era starts with the next film after that. However, everyone has their own interpretation and it's fun to see everyone's opinion.

You know SWillie, after thinking about it you are right. I stand corrected.

[Angeldude98]

I think that with the entry of "Frozen" into the cannon, we can definitely say that studio is in a new era or "Rebirth" similiar to the Reinassance era. They've learned from the mistakes of the past and are on the right track. Now they just need to combine all the elements together without leaving anything behind!

[2Disney4Ever]

If you ask me, the "Dark Age" of Disney is really everything starting with Chicken Little up to now, with Princess and the Frog being an example of Disney briefly getting good again. Yes that's right: I'm one of those people who believes that Disney really went downhill when CGI started taking over, and that regardless of popular opinion on their latest films that they still haven't gotten any better. Why do you think I sound so negative on anything regarding today's Disney?

[Disneyphile]

Why do you think I sound so negative on anything regarding today's Disney?

I'm gonna take a stab and say, not enough fiber in your diet.

[moviefan12]

If you ask me, the "Dark Age" of Disney is really everything starting with Chicken Little up to now, with Princess and the Frog being an example of Disney briefly getting good again. Yes that's right: I'm one of those people who believes that Disney really went downhill when CGI started taking over, and that regardless of popular opinion on their latest films that they still haven't gotten any better. Why do you think I sound so negative on anything regarding today's Disney?

I'm sorry but I disagree, Disney has done some fantastic CGI films such as Bolt, Meet The Robinsons, Tangled (my second favorite Disney movie of all time) and Frozen. Disney shouldn't be held to one form of animation and yes, they are doing it because it's popular and in demand but that doesn't mean, they haven't used it well.

[2Disney4Ever]

If you ask me, the "Dark Age" of Disney is really everything starting with Chicken Little up to now, with Princess and the Frog being an example of Disney briefly getting good again. Yes that's right: I'm one of those people who believes that Disney really went downhill when CGI started taking over, and that regardless of popular opinion on their latest films that they still haven't gotten any better. Why do you think I sound so negative on anything regarding today's Disney?

I'm sorry but I disagree, Disney has done some fantastic CGI films such as Bolt, Meet The Robinsons, Tangled (my second favorite Disney movie of all time) and Frozen. Disney shouldn't be held to one form of animation and yes, they are doing it because it's popular and in demand but that doesn't mean, they haven't used it well.

Disney is supposed to be a hand-drawn studio in my eyes. They only started giving up on it when they started believing that "people only care about CGI" (which I always knew was an absolute lie because I hated this change of direction from the very beginning), so the fact that these CG movies exist at all is a complete accident. When the new management started happening and I was hearing about Princess and the Frog bringing 2D animation back, I was hoping for the studio to correct this terrible error, but they continue to believe that they're obligated to do CGI now and that 2D animation is not their responsibility to maintain, and that has only been making the studio even worse.

And I'm sorry, but no one can convince me that Disney's CG movies are good, because from my perspective they're corrupting them from the inside and turning them away from where they need to be.

[disneyprincess11]

Disney is supposed to be a hand-drawn studio in my eyes. They only started giving up on it when they started believing that "people only care about CGI" (which I always knew was an absolute lie because I hated this change of direction from the very beginning), so the fact that these CG movies exist at all is a complete accident. When the new management started happening and I was hearing about Princess and the Frog bringing 2D animation back, I was hoping for the studio to correct this terrible error, but they continue to believe that they're obligated to do CGI now and that 2D animation is not their responsibility to maintain, and that has only been making the studio even worse.

And I'm sorry, but no one can convince me that Disney's CG movies are good, because from my perspective they're corrupting them from the inside and turning them away from where they need to be.

Oh gosh, not another one.

Sincerely sorry for that, but 2Disney: No matter what the animation is, they are still Disney classics. The stories, characters, and EVERYTHING of FROZEN/TANGLED/WIR (which has an actual reason to be CGI) would have been the same, regardless if they were 2D. Even if they are 3D, they are really no different from the classics (even if they are still "hip and cool") And 2Disney, with all respect, I think you're being bias with "CGI Disney movies are terrible". You should try to sit down, clear your mind, and just try to enjoy these movies for what they are, not what they could have been. Again, if they were 2D, they would have been the same.

And why just Disney? Of Disney needs to do 2D, shouldn't Dreamworks, BlueSky, Pixar, Illuminations be 2D as well?

[2Disney4Ever]

Disney is supposed to be a hand-drawn studio in my eyes. They only started giving up on it when they started believing that "people only care about CGI" (which I always knew was an absolute lie because I hated this change of direction from the very beginning), so the fact that these CG movies exist at all is a complete accident. When the new management started happening and I was hearing about Princess and the Frog bringing 2D animation back, I was hoping for the studio to correct this terrible error, but they continue to believe that they're obligated to do CGI now and that 2D animation is not their responsibility to maintain, and that has only been making the studio even worse.

And I'm sorry, but no one can convince me that Disney's CG movies are good, because from my perspective they're corrupting them from the inside and turning them away from where they need to be.

Oh gosh, not another one.

Sincerely sorry for that, but 2Disney: No matter what the animation is, they are still Disney classics. The stories, characters, and EVERYTHING of FROZEN/TANGLED/WIR (which has an actual reason to be CGI) would have been the same, regardless if they were 2D. Even if they are 3D, they are really no different from the classics (even if they are still "hip and cool") And 2Disney, with all respect, I think you're being bias with "CGI Disney movies are terrible". You should try to sit down, clear your mind, and just try to enjoy these movies for what they are, not what they could have been. Again, if they were 2D, they would have been the same.

And why just Disney? Of Disney needs to do 2D, shouldn't Dreamworks, BlueSky, Pixar, Illuminations be 2D as well?

At least things made sense when Pixar was a CG studio and Disney wasn't. And yes, I actually do think that other CG studios are to blame for this as well, particularly DreamWorks and all the ones outside of Pixar. In fact, I like to think that if DreamWorks hadn't existed at all, 2D animation would not be in this mess. What did their existence as a studio bring to the table? It introduced direct competition with Pixar (like the whole "Antz vs A Bugs' Life" thing), leading for others to follow, and ultimately their influence found it's way to Disney. It doesn't surprise me that people thought Chicken Little, Disney's first CG film of their "Dark Age" as I look at it, was an obvious attempt at copying DreamWorks. And another reason DreamWorks wanted to establish itself as a studio? To compete with Disney, of course. I wonder if they even knew that they were going to mess up Disney's very way of animation as well.

I don't think I will ever call those Disney movies "classics" because to be a true Disney movie to me, it must be 2D, because that's what real Disney animation is. Those movies are just a perversion of what the real Disney classics were. It isn't about if the story or characters would have been exactly the same. If they were 2D, they would be proper Disney movies. And I'm not looking at them for their stories because I'm thinking outside the box and seeing the bigger picture: that these movies are threatening the future of hand-drawn films, which is much bigger concern to me than how much work they may have put into any given CG film. When people are only looking at these movies for "story and characters" and praising their greatness for that, it prevents them from recognizing the real issue here. But of course that depends on how much they even care about the value of other art forms.

And yeah, I can see how Wreck-It Ralph arguably has a reason for being CGI, but that's why I think it's existence as a Disney film is so meaningless. Should have been done by Pixar instead if it had to be CGI.

[thedisneyspirit]

If you ask me, the "Dark Age" of Disney is really everything starting with Chicken Little up to now, with Princess and the Frog being an example of Disney briefly getting good again. Yes that's right: I'm one of those people who believes that Disney really went downhill when CGI started taking over, and that regardless of popular opinion on their latest films that they still haven't gotten any better. Why do you think I sound so negative on anything regarding today's Disney?

I'm sorry but I disagree, Disney has done some fantastic CGI films such as Bolt, Meet The Robinsons, Tangled (my second favorite Disney movie of all time) and Frozen. Disney shouldn't be held to one form of animation and yes, they are doing it because it's popular and in demand but that doesn't mean, they haven't used it well.

You left Wreck It Ralph out on purpose.

[moviefan12]

It's funny but I was just thinking the same thing as Disneyprincess11 and this is just my view but to me animation like music is a medium in which one can convey a story and to me, the stories and characters are the most important aspect of the film be it hand-drawn or CGI. Disney has now proven they can excel at. That's not to say that Disney hasn't made bad CGI films such as the aforementioned Chicken Little but they've also made bad hand-drawn films such as Home on The Range. And it wasn't the animation that made these bad movies but rather the stories and characters and likewise, the same is true of good animated films, be it hand drawn or CGI. People like films like Tangled, Ralph and Frozen so much for the characters that inhabit these worlds and for the wonderful stories that are being told. Disneyspirit, that was not the case at all and while it's one of my favorites, I rectified that by mentioning it in this post.

[Mickeyfan1990]

My eras:

Golden Age:
-Snow White and The 7 Dwarves to The Jungle Book

Dark Age:
-Aristocats to The Rescuers

Renaissance Era:
-The Fox and The Hound to Brother Bear

Second Dark Age:
-Home On The Range to Chicken Little

Resurrection:
-Meet The Robinsons-The Princess and The Frog

New Age:
-Tangled to Wreck-It Ralph

New Renaissance:
-Frozen to present

[2Disney4Ever]

It's funny but I was just thinking the same thing as Disneyprincess11 and this is just my view but to me animation like music is a medium in which one can convey a story and to me, the stories and characters are the most important aspect of the film be it hand-drawn or CGI. Disney has now proven they can excel at. That's not to say that Disney hasn't made bad CGI films such as the aforementioned Chicken Little but they've also made bad hand-drawn films such as Home on The Range. And it wasn't the animation that made these bad movies but rather the stories and characters and likewise, the same is true of good animated films, be it hand drawn or CGI. People like films like Tangled, Ralph and Frozen so much for the characters that inhabit these worlds and for the wonderful stories that are being told. Disneyspirit, that was not the case at all and while it's one of my favorites, I rectified that by mentioning it in this post.

As I've already stated before, what makes CG animation so bad is when it threatens the existence of other art forms like hand-drawn and there's no balance between the two whatsoever. To say that animated movies were bad for being 2D was wrong. I always knew that. But for me to say that CG movies are bad isn't so wrong in my book, because I recognize that there is a legitimate threat that they cause to 2D animation. It's not like 2D movies ever did anything to whatever CG movies existed at the time. It's the CG movies that don't play fair.

[disneyprincess11]

As I've already stated before, what makes CG animation so bad is when it threatens the existence of other art forms like hand-drawn and there's no balance between the two whatsoever. To say that animated movies were bad for being 2D was wrong. I always knew that. But for me to say that CG movies are bad isn't so wrong in my book, because I recognize that there is a legitimate threat that they cause to 2D animation. It's not like 2D movies ever did anything to whatever CG movies existed at the time. It's the CG movies that don't play fair.

2D movies once was the medium and in the way of other art forms like stop-motion. Let's switch it and if there was CGI in the 1930s and 2D is now the medium, people would be just like you on the subject.

And yeah, I can see how Wreck-It Ralph arguably has a reason for being CGI, but that's why I think it's existence as a Disney film is so meaningless. Should have been done by Pixar instead if it had to be CGI.

So, just because WDAS is DYING to do a CGI movie, they immediately have to give it to Pixar?

(And to the movie's defense: WIR has a HUGE Pixar feeling to it. Even my sis thought it was Pixar)

[2Disney4Ever]

As I've already stated before, what makes CG animation so bad is when it threatens the existence of other art forms like hand-drawn and there's no balance between the two whatsoever. To say that animated movies were bad for being 2D was wrong. I always knew that. But for me to say that CG movies are bad isn't so wrong in my book, because I recognize that there is a legitimate threat that they cause to 2D animation. It's not like 2D movies ever did anything to whatever CG movies existed at the time. It's the CG movies that don't play fair.

2D movies once was the medium and in the way of other art forms like stop-motion. Let's switch it and if there was CGI in the 1930s and 2D is now the medium, people would be just like you on the subject.

2D animation was never in the way of stop-motion or CGI movies in the 90's. They both existed alongside it, as evidenced by Nightmare Before Christmas and Toy Story. But 2D movies are mostly non-existent today while even stop-motion movies can still be seen (though I'm sure CGI gets in the way of those movies now as well).

And yeah, I can see how Wreck-It Ralph arguably has a reason for being CGI, but that's why I think it's existence as a Disney film is so meaningless. Should have been done by Pixar instead if it had to be CGI.

So, just because WDAS is DYING to do a CGI movie, they immediately have to give it to Pixar?

(And to the movie's defense: WIR has a HUGE Pixar feeling to it. Even my sis thought it was Pixar)

The fact that they're dying to do any CGI movie is completely misguided when they're supposed to be a hand-drawn studio. Pixar is supposed to be the one that does the CGI movies for them. Otherwise what do you have? Two animation studios under the Disney name doing the exact same thing with no distinction whatsoever? So stupid. We're not supposed to look at Disney animation and think that it's Pixar. Disney is 2D animation and Pixar is CGI. That's the way it's meant to be.

[Big Disney Fan]

So, just because WDAS is DYING to do a CGI movie, they immediately have to give it to Pixar?

(And to the movie's defense: WIR has a HUGE Pixar feeling to it. Even my sis thought it was Pixar)

Whereas Brave, which is a Pixar movie, feels just the opposite!