DVDizzy Forum

A prologue is a very important element in a film. It can either draw the audience into the plot or keep them away. In an animated feature, it lies heavily on the animation, the music, etc. And useless to say, it gives us the first impression of the film.
I know it's kind of complex to answer such a question, because unlike today's features, older Disney films opened in a calmer way, or sometimes with a book opening, but still try to answer nontheless

In my opinion, "Beauty and the Beast" has the best prologue. The opening shot of the castle between the trees is strikingly beautiful and the whole stained-glass idea is brilliant. Gives a really artistic feel to the film.

Another one that starts beautifully is "The Little Mermaid". I love how they drew the seagulls flying in the sky and then Eric's ship bursts out of the fog with the sailors singing.

"The Lion King" is also a good example of a superb opening. The african views are realistic and breathtaking, easily drawing the viewer's attention. Classic.

I think that although a great movie, "Aladdin" starts very weak. Yes, it approaches the story in a very comic way but I find the whole scene of the narrator riding on a camel in the desert quite simply unimpressive. But of-course, it's still an amazing piece of work.

Beauty and the Beast has the best opening. The Lion King is very nice too.

While BATB has a fantastic prologue, I'd go with "The Circle of Life" from The Lion King. Why? It looks beautiful, it sounds beautiful, it feels beautiful, all without dialogue. It's pure emotion coming from the animation & music.

Beauty and the Beast, Winnie the Pooh, and Davy Crockett

for me, the most beautiful and impressive openings are:

-The Lion King:
wow!! the kilimanjaro, those views and perspectives from ants to zebras, from above the birds, Zazu's flight trhough pridelands while Circle of life plays. Absolutely Beautiful... thought TLK 1.5 ruined some moments hahaha

-The Hunchback of Notre Damme:
I was thrilled when I watched this for the first time, very mature, dark and wonderful, with the Bells of NotreDame (my favorite from the movie) and the choir, Quasimodo's mother runing and the beautiful NotreDame cathedral sculptures.

-Tarzan:
Another thrilling prologue, the most amazing Disney water animation, and Phill's song very catching, and we go from the gorila family to the human family in the same situations, very powerful and sad, all in just a few minutes.

Everybody knows what I'll vote for, do I even have to say?


Anyway I will, I vote for The Journey sequence in The Rescuers. The music is amazing, and the drawings really make a great introduction.

I say Aladdin, Tarzan and The Rescuers all have great prologues.
They all give a great example of the opening.
Also Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King.

But most Disney movies start with a great prologue.

The Hunchack prologue is the most powerful, Beauty and the Beast the most beautiful, and The Rescuers the most poignant.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh has a really good one, too-the introduction of Christopher Robin, and then all his friends...

In no perticular order:

- Circle of Life sequence, The Lion King
- Stained glass window prologue, Beauty and the Beast
- Fathoms Below sequence, The Little Mermaid
- Arabian Nights sequence, Aladdin
- Buzz videogame sequence, Toy Story 2
- Monster in the closet training stimulation, Monsters, Inc.
- Nemo's mother dies, Finding Nemo
- Jumba and Stitch on trial/Stitch escapes to Earth, Lilo & Stitch
- He Lives in You, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride
- Timon and Pumbaa rewind the movie, The Lion King 1.5
- Bells of Notre Dame, The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- Intro Christopher Robin & Friends, Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- The Gospel Truth, Hercules
- Young Jim reading about Captian Flint, Treasure Planet
- Two Worlds, Tarzan

I really liked both versions of the Atlantis prologue. They both prepare you for the action and adventure of the movie and when the crystal takes Kida's mother and the views of Atlantis are great! The vikings were cool and shows an early version of what Milo and the crew were set out to do. It also shows the Shepeard's journal and causes the audience to wonder what it is and be amazed when it falls in Milo's lap.

But Beauty and the Beast definitely has the best proloque for a Fairy Tale.

Did anyone read about the original prologue and ending for Mulan (the one with the puppetter and the Huns)? That would've been awesome!!!!

rodis wrote:A prologue is a very important element in a film. It can either draw the audience into the plot or keep them away.

Well, it is true. Studio execs often say that the first and last 10 minutes of a film/script are the most important.

Beauty and the Beast: Many have chosen this, and for good reason. It is one of the most simple, yet visually striking opening sequences to ever grace the screen (animated or otherwise). The 'stained glass' motif is simple and obvious, yet looks beautiful.

Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: I (strangely) wouldn't have thought of this until I saw mention of it in Prince Adam's post, but it is one of the more interestign intros - a live action pan across a child's bedroom. It brings a sense of warmth and intimacy to the film from the very beginning.

The Lion King obviuously has one of the most powerful openings, and most recognized, in animated film history. Keeping with the opening/closing theory I mentioned, the motif is used twice (with a twist), and I think this is indicative of the fact that the sequence is such a powerfully emotional and visually striking sequence.

and finally Atlantis: The Lost Empire. Talk about a action opening! Some amazing epic-style animation, only eclipsed by the rest of the film.

Interesting question or poll.
My ultimate favorite Disney openings:

-Circle of Life in The Lion King. I believe it's outstanding.
-Beauty and the Beast.
-Tarzan (very emotional and intense)
-The Hunchback of Notre Dame: the opening part is amazing. Specially the chase of the gipsy woman. Too much.

Many people I see have voted for the Beauty and the Beast one, and for good reason. I always liked how they handled the prince's transformation into a beast so well with the stained glass thing.

Anyway, anyone here likes the Main Titles scene in "The Little Mermaid"? I just think everything there looks so detailed and real and then when the castle is discovered it's just too beautiful One of the most unique ideas in a Disney film.

BTW, forgot to mention "Pocahontas". Always liked the idea with the picture and the "Virginia Company" opening. Very stylized But I have a feeling I'm the only one liking it since everybody's so rejective of this movie (Disney included).

rodis wrote:BTW, forgot to mention "Pocahontas". Always liked the idea with the picture and the "Virginia Company" opening. Very stylized But I have a feeling I'm the only one liking it since everybody's so rejective of this movie (Disney included).

Pocahontas is a personal favorite of mine, and it is a special film for me. Disney considers Hercules and Hunchback the stepchildrens of the Golden Age... but they still don't pay much attention to Pocahontas.

Beauty and the Beast (could it be anymore beautiful?) and Tarzan (gotta love Phil's music).

The Lion King-Because it tells this story is going to be epic

Beauty and the Beast-Because it sucks us in and doesn't let go

Toy Story2-Simply because it's the most fun.

definetely toy story 2 and The lion king . very obvious . I also really dug the Nightmare before christmas and Ice Age....OOPs! not disney , oh well. but that little squirrel/rat thing is so funny with that nut!

The Lion King is clearly the best. Fantastic music, gorgeous visuals, cute cuddly animals, it has it all. I still get goosebumps when the subwoofer kicks out the enormous *thump* and the title appears.

Second, I'd say Hunchback. There's a *ton* of stuff happening, yet it shows it all, and makes it clear to us. We know instantly about the heroes and villains.

Frankly, I don't understand the love for BatB as a film, but even less so for the opening. There's *nothing* special or unique there. It's basically the same old "Narrator reads a Once Upon a Time story", except instead of a book with pages turning, we get some stills that are supposed to look like stained glass.

The opening just always leave me with questions, not wonder. Where are his mother and father? Why are beautiful enchantresses running around the countryside putting curses on 10 year old children because they're keeping strangers out of their castle, doing exactly what their parents told them to do! "Don't let anyone in the house while we're gone, son."

Beauty and the beast has a very nice prologue I love the stain glass windows, the only problem with this prologue is that we see the beast. I'd prefer it if he was completely hidden in the shadows during the prologue.

My alltime favorite is Bambi, the long multiplane pan with that wonderfull choir music.. truly beautiful.

The Jungle Book has a nice prologue too, in fact the part of the movie I like the best is the prologue with Bageeras voice over.