DVDizzy Forum

I'm not talking about what your favourite scene is of all time, but of what you feel is the most perfectly animated scene in a Disney film.

For example, I love and worship the 'Part Of Your World' scene in the grotto. But, I am under no illusions that it is the greatest animated piece of a Disney film. Ariel can sometimes go off model, things disappear in the scene and come back again etc etc … but of course, I still love it. Then that got me thinking, what is the most perfect (or as near as can be) animated scene in the Disney canon ?

I think for me personally it's the 'Once Upon A Dream' dance sequence from Sleeping Beauty. The bodies of Aurora and Phillip move as if they were real people; their fluidity is astounding considering it is hand drawn. The way her fabric spins out on her dress; it appears to have real movement and weight to it, the same with her hair. And to top it all off is the long shot of them dancing by the water, and you can see the full scope of the background artists vision.

That, to me, is the greatest animated scene of all time. I thought this topic could be a fun one to have on the forum, so … fire away!

Animated wise? Hmm I really like the use of color in Colors of the Wind...Let It Go is a fantastic scene on its own, among the "best disney moments" next to A Whole New World or Beauty and the Beast...

The "Growing old" scene from UP, so touching

I personally think "Part of Your World" is one of their greatest animated scenes. While Ariel is off-model throughout the movie, she stays the same throughout that whole scene. I know when it comes to animation, people love to put the modern films on 2nd peg, but they have great scenes, too. I believe "Beauty and the Beast," "Circle of Life," "Almost There," and "Let It Go" also fall in that category.

As far as the number 1? Hard to say. Dumbo, Bambi, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, Fantasia, and Cinderella all have moments that would apply. I also think One Hundred and One Dalmatians is gorgeously animated. I'd probably say the finale of SB would be my personal pick. When Maleficent ascends her tower and starts throwing lightning bolts all the way through to Phillip kissing Aurora--everything is topnotch. My other pick would probably be the Gallop of the Stags scene in Bambi, especially the ending when Bambi, his mother, and the Great Prince become silhouettes of light.

I've kind of overlooked Fantasia, but I haven't viewed that in a long time. I'm sure "Night On Bald Mountain" would probably be considered the best by a lot of people.

Depends on how you define "animated" really, in order to say what is truly the best. If we're speaking strictly from a technical aspect and how flawless and well drawn/animated a scene is, then yes I would agree that Once Upon A Dream is indeed impeccable along with Colors of the Wind (stunning to watch), the Firebird Suite in Fantasia 2000, the Evil Queen's transformation scene in Snow White, Maleficent's battle with Phillip following his escape, the underwater sequences in Pinocchio as well as the climax with Monstro, Night on Bald Mountain - mainly Walt's era as it is done entirely by hand much before computers, making it all the more impressive; true works of art.

However, if we're defining the greatest animated scene based on the ability to emotionally connect to characters in scenes when they aren't even living or breathing yet feel so much more than just moving drawings because they are given life and believability by the animators, then that to me is what truly defines the greatest animated scenes. Glen Keane is the master of this! He literally gives his character's souls and captures it all on paper, they always have such expressive, emotive eyes (Beast & Tarzan especially!) and he can give so much feeling in such little animation, it's truly remarkable and his gift, it's pure magic to watch. Greatest scenes for me are Pocahontas and John Smith meeting for the first time, Savages Part II and Pocahontas saving John Smith's life (with "execution - Colors of the Wind / If I Never Knew You" score) and farewell (the score building as she runs to the cliff side is amazing, always gives me goosebumps; the musical score paired with the animation of her engulfed by the wind through to the sails of John Smith's ship), Tarzan meeting another human for the first time and having a physical connection with Jane when they touch hands, Kala teaching Tarzan that he is no different and that they're all the same (2 hands, 1 heart) followed by You'll Be In My Heart lullaby, Ariel's grotto and yearning to be a part of another world, Beast's death and resurrection.

Other great scenes include The Lion King opening sequence, Dumbo Baby Mine, Marahute and Cody flying, The Hunchback of Notre Dame Hell Fire (very powerful animation along with fantastic music), Widow Tweed letting go of Todd - although not visually the best animated sequence of all time, it's still incredibly well done for a simple scene (the music and animation never fails to make me weep ), The Rescuers also has scenes like that too.

"Baby Mine" from Dumbo. Simply perfect.

"A Night on Bald Mountain" and "Ave Maria" from Fantasia. The best examples of what perfect means, at least to me.

Snow White and the Dwarfs play and sing and dance to A Silly Song.

Divinity, you're absolutely right about Part of Your World. There are questionable shots throughout the rest of the movie, but since that entire scene was done by Glen Keane, it's about as near perfect as it gets. I'd put that and Beast's transformation at the top of my list. Sleeping Beauty is of course amazingly well done on a technical level, but doesn't have a whole lot of emotion in the animation itself.

I could change my mind a million times, as there are so many moments worthy of that title. Objetively though, I'd have to say you could close your eyes and put your finger on any scene in Sleeping Beauty and bare witness to just how perfect and sophisticated the art of animation can get.

My personal favorite is "Hellfire" from "The Hunchback of Notre Dame".

SWillie! wrote:Divinity, you're absolutely right about Part of Your World. There are questionable shots throughout the rest of the movie, but since that entire scene was done by Glen Keane, it's about as near perfect as it gets. I'd put that and Beast's transformation at the top of my list. Sleeping Beauty is of course amazingly well done on a technical level, but doesn't have a whole lot of emotion in the animation itself.

I thought about Beast's transformation after I posted early. Definitely up there with the other modern animated scenes I listed.

I agree that SB as a whole is missing emotion, but I blame that on the story/protagonists. The animation raises the movie as much as it possibly could. The same with "PoYW"--it would still be gorgeous even if the story/characters had been a mess. I don't know, I thought the thread was asking about animated scenes on a technical level, divorced from emotional impact scenes have.

Disney's Divinity wrote:

SWillie! wrote:Divinity, you're absolutely right about Part of Your World. There are questionable shots throughout the rest of the movie, but since that entire scene was done by Glen Keane, it's about as near perfect as it gets. I'd put that and Beast's transformation at the top of my list. Sleeping Beauty is of course amazingly well done on a technical level, but doesn't have a whole lot of emotion in the animation itself.

I thought about Beast's transformation after I posted early. Definitely up there with the other modern animated scenes I listed.

I agree that SB as a whole is missing emotion, but I blame that on the story/protagonists. The animation raises the movie as much as it possibly could. The same with "PoYW"--it would still be gorgeous even if the story/characters had been a mess. I don't know, I thought the thread was asking about animated scenes on a technical level, divorced from emotional impact scenes have.

"PoYW" and the "Transformation" from Beauty and the Beast are still amazing scenes even by 90's animation standards, it's even better than CG animation.

Either the "Night on Bald Mountain"/"Ave Maria" combination, or "Circle of Life". Oh, but "Once Upon a Dream" is right up there, as well.

Ever since I was a child the dying/transformation scene in Beauty and the Beast has fascinated me and may be my favourite animated scene of any film.
The pencil (?) section of colours of the wind (I don't know why. I love the whole song and animation of this film as a whole but I always look forward to this 8 second bit of the film.

There are so many great bits of Disney animation it's hard to choose. The dancing fire in Hunchback, Sleeping Beauty - making the dress, Triton destroying Ariel's grotto, 'Never had a friend like me'.

And of course the beginning of Up - a whole life relationship in under five minutes - done so beautifully, with so much emotion.

MeerkatKombat wrote:Ever since I was a child the dying/transformation scene in Beauty and the Beast has fascinated me and may be my favourite animated scene of any film.
The pencil (?) section of colours of the wind (I don't know why. I love the whole song and animation of this film as a whole but I always look forward to this 8 second bit of the film.

There are so many great bits of Disney animation it's hard to choose. The dancing fire in Hunchback, Sleeping Beauty - making the dress, Triton destroying Ariel's grotto, 'Never had a friend like me'.

And of course the beginning of Up - a whole life relationship in under five minutes - done so beautifully, with so much emotion.

Pastels were used in that one moment in Colors of the Wind, and it's a neat animated moment in an okay Disney movie.

For me,

It's the Part of Your World Reprise scene.

Everything is perfect in that scene.
I still think that The Little Mermaid is the BEST animated (verb, not genre) movie has ever done.

taei wrote:For me,

It's the Part of Your World Reprise scene.

Everything is perfect in that scene.
I still think that The Little Mermaid is the BEST animated (verb, not genre) movie has ever done.

On a storytelling and emotional level, that is my favorite scene out of any movie ever made, animated or not...BUT there is some very rushed and sloppy animation going on in a couple of shots that unfortunately are kind of distracting (for me, anyway) Especially Ariel's face looking...strange, as the camera is panning off during the big money shot of the waves crashing behind her at the end.

DancingCrab wrote: On a storytelling and emotional level, that is my favorite scene out of any movie ever made, animated or not...BUT there is some very rushed and sloppy animation going on in a couple of shots that unfortunately are kind of distracting (for me, anyway) Especially Ariel's face looking...strange, as the camera is panning off during the big money shot of the waves crashing behind her at the end.

gimme example shots please Im interest in seeing them.

I'm stuck between the opening of Pinocchio, coming down through the storm, and the storm sequence in The Old Mill.