Roy Disney Dies

[filkertom]

Sadness. Roy E. Disney, the nephew of Walt Disney, has passed away at the age of 79. He cared a great deal about the concept of Disney as good family entertainment and not just a money tree, and was a great champion of animation. Thanks to hughcasey for the heads-up.

We've done this recently, but it's always a good time for it: what are your favorite Disney animated features? (Not Pixar, that is.) Mine include Snow White, both Fantasias, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Emperor's New Groove, Sleeping Beauty, and The Many Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh.

Comments

[lizziecrowe.livejournal.com]

Beauty and the Beast, hands down. I wanted the beast to stay furry, though. Would have been amazing for her to love him even with the spell in place and have THAT be their life together, but the animation was incredible and the music is FAR too catchy. :)

[markbernstein.livejournal.com]

The first seven of your list of ten, plus Pinocchio. And it's too early to tell long term, but The Princess and the Frog is provisionally on the list.

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

I love a great deal of Disney's work, but have lately been enjoying their integrated live action/animated work: Fantasia, Mary Poppins, and Bedknobs and Broomsticks, especially.

Also, I have been going way back to some of the older Disney work, including early Mickey Mouse Toons from the 1930s (plus The Brave Little Tailor), and one of my all-time favorites, The Old Mill (YouTube) (and some info on it). I especially love the contrast between the mood and menace of The Old Mill and the modern conception of Disney as spun sugar and lightness. (That menace continued far later than the short, especially in the female villains: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and 101 Dalmations, for example, both had truly evil and dark antagonists.)

[mdyesowitch.livejournal.com]

The Old Mill *LOVE*
I'm keen on most of the Silly Symphonies actually.
Micky's Band and The Skeleton Dance*.

My absolute favourite feature length animation is Sleeping Beauty*
Snow White, Cinderella, Mulan, Dumbo, 101 Dalmations (although I prefer the book's original ending for sheer genius), The Jungle Book, The Lion King.

Like the referenced commenter, I'm keen on their blended stories:
Pete's Dragon, Mary Poppins, So Dear to My Heart*, Bedknobs and Broomsticks,

[lukeski.livejournal.com]

"The Princess And The Frog" is incredible.

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

I'll put in a good word for Mulan. I could have done without the tiny jive-talking dragon, but the story was pretty well told, and it's one of the few fictional treatments that actually understands the function of the Great Wall. (Sorry, pet peeve.)

[stormsdotter.livejournal.com]

I made a point of asking my History professor about that. He said, "The Wall wasn't built to keep the barbarians out. It was built to keep the barbarians' horses out." Those hit-and-run horse tactics were nasty.

...ironically, i'm writing an alternate history novel about the Huns.

Back to the original subject, I enjoyed all the movies Tom lists, and The Lion King. I also could have done without the annoying dragon in Mulan, but it was awesome to have an ass-kicking Princess.

[kshandra]

Robin Hood, ever and always. Echoing you on both Fantasias (F2K made me CRY like anydamnthing) and Aladdin.

[kilbia.livejournal.com]

OMG the "pomp and circumstance" segment? Total waterworks here too.

[alverant.livejournal.com]

That is sad news. Roy Disney sounds like he actually cares about his company and product and treating it like a form of art. I wish he had more influence over the company so their films didn't seem like commercials for stuff or a set up for a TV series or direct to video sequels (to sell more stuff). Not to mention lobbying to get laws changed in their favor and pursuing copyright so aggressively you'd think science textbooks with diagrams of a water molecule are at risk.

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

I was just "introduced" to Roy Disney on the making-of bonus feature on Fantasia 2000. Which for all I posted my ambivalence about it, was an enjoyable flick that really affected me in places.

[aiela.livejournal.com]

Aladdin, although I still have a hard time with it because it was super meaningful to my ex-husband and I. But its still one of my favorites, even tho I haven't been able to watch it in years.

Huge Fantasia fan, as well. Since we got the younger cats I won't put my Fantasia ornament on the tree, because I'm terrified it will get broken.

Robin Hood was fabulous, too.

[kilbia.livejournal.com]

Definitely the Fantasia movies.

James Earl Jones saying "What would happen if you give a yo-yo to a flamingo? Who wrote this?" = WIN.

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

Harlan Ellison was once, by his own admission, fired by Roy Disney's hand, after making a lewd remark about Minnie Mouse. Roy had standards.

My favorites are Alice, Robin Hood, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Mary Poppins, Fantasia, Fantasia 2000, The Aristocats, Dumbo, and Sleeping Beauty.

[tvskyle.livejournal.com]

Wow-- I heard it from you first! RIP Roy.

My favorites: Emperor's New Groove, Lilo & Stitch, Sleeping Beauty, Mulan, and both Goofy Movies.

[tvskyle.livejournal.com]

Oh, and Aladdin.

[archiver-tim.livejournal.com]

Kyle,
As probably one of the younger ones amoung us, which of those became faves from childhood and which from adulthood?

[tvskyle.livejournal.com]

Sleeping Beauty as a kid, Aladdin and Goofy Movie as a teenager, Mulan as a college student, and the rest as an adult.

[kkatowll.livejournal.com]

Beauty and the Beast was my favorite as a kid (I once actually listened to it on TV without being able to see the picture because the tape was so worn) but I think now that Aladdin was better. Maybe that's because the humor appeals to adults.

[djonn]

I don't know that I ever entirely warmed to many of the first-wave Disney animated classics, though classics they certainly are. But I fell hard for Beauty and the Beast, which I count as one of the great film musicals of all time in any form. I think Hunchback of Notre Dame is severely underrated (the music in it is simply astonishing), and I rather liked Pocahontas, for all that it too makes pretty free with its source material. (One just doesn't go to Disney for by-the-book adaptations of history or literature. See also in this context The Great Mouse Detective, for which I also have a soft spot.)

The hybrid films, notably Mary Poppins and the much more recent Enchanted, also win in my book. I definitely want to get hold of Bedknobs & Broomsticks before its current DVD release cycles past, and I wouldn't mind another look at Darby O'Gill and The Gnome-Mobile.

And a plug here for a feature that, while not Disney-produced, captures the spirit of the best Disney animation better than a lot of the second-tier Disney features have. Anastasia remains another of my picks for way-underrated genius, both visually and in script. (And it has Angela Lansbury, which never hurts....)

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

One of my projects this year has been to watch all of the Disney (and Pixar) animated films (and half-an films like Mary Poppins or Song of the South) (barring direct to video) in chronological order. Currently up to The Incredibles.

The first movie I saw with Elaine was Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

The first film we took R. to was The Tigger Movie, on her second birthday.

Love Lilo and Stich, although it needed more Lilo and Stitch and less Jumbaa and Pleakley.

Really glad Disney saw fit to release so many of their shorts in the Disney Treasures series.

[peachtales.livejournal.com]

Fantasia and Bambi were the first 2 movies I saw, so I am partial to those. Star Wars was the 3rd, so the Disney run was broken early on, but for a good reason :D

Edited to note that Lilo and Stitch also belongs with my faves. And Mulan.

[archiver-tim.livejournal.com]

Jungle Book.
I went with Dad to see it on first release when I was a mid-teen. Of course a bunch of younger siblings were also in tow. But, Dad and myself were laughing with riotous laughter, while the kids seen some cartoon.
Still love to hear Phil Harris and Louis Prima.

Original Fantasia for animation as art. I can see how it was to wow the audience then with what animation can be. Single unique drops of rain on water. Compare that to Charlie Brown Christmas, just seen again, where the snowfall with maybe 4 cells, rotated through-out the scene.

A short: Pluto's Christams. Pluto discovers chipmunks (Chip & Dale) in the Christmas tree way before Mickey does. Stop frame on any of the great detailed backgrounds of when Chip & Dale are in the tree, interacting with the lights, the ornaments and Pluto's nose. I think this was the Mickey Mouse short shown at the Ford Rotunda for it's Christmas season.

[laurensa.livejournal.com]

I love Snow White, The Jungle Book, Aladdin,The Little Mermaid, and Pinoccio of the animated movies, and I just watched Mary Poppins last night. The kids were in bed, I watched it all by myself. Still just magical.

Pinocchio is the first movie I remember going to see. It will forever hold a special place in my heart.

[wingus.livejournal.com]

Aladdin, Mulan, Beauty and the Beast, Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Princess and the Frog are mine.

I need to start building me a Disney DVD collection one of these days.

[archiver-tim.livejournal.com]

Well, I just brought a dozen of Disney VHS to Ann Arbor Salvation Army store. Hopefully somebody will enjoy them soon.

[wildcard9.livejournal.com]

Okay, this may be a little hit or miss. These are the ones that stick in my mind:

Bambi was probably my first Disney animation but I just don't remember it other then a tiny bit involving Bambi, Thumper, and Flower in the flower bed.

Pinnochi: this I the first one I remember.

Fantasia: saw it very late, like in the 90's. Like both versions, and which they had done Walt's concept of it get released every 5 years with 2 or more segments replaced with something new.

Robin Hood: this one came out when I was the right age. Really got me interested not just in animation but also in comics due to the adaption of it I got at Disney World.

There are a LOT of classics I have never seen, like Alice in Wonderland and Jungle Book. I plan to rent/borrow DVDs and catch up over the winter.

Nothing current non-Pixar stands out to me.
Edit: correction - Aladdin was great. Forgot about it until I saw someone else list it here.

[faithwallis.livejournal.com]

Bedknobs and Broomsticks. First movie I ever saw, according to my mom...at a Boy Scout meeting my dad was running.

Hercules actually got me to believe that Disney could do semi-adult, smart humor. James Woods was EXCELLENT in this as Hades.

Steamboat Willy. Saw it on the Disney Channel a long time ago when that channel was first created. LOVED it. Then again, I like Betty Boop and alot of stuff of that era too. I don't remember the whole of it but I do remember bits...'twas cool.

[http://users.livejournal.com/deidre_/]

I know most people think it's horrible but The Black Cauldron was the first movie I ever saw in a theatre and so I'll always have a soft spot for it.

True favorite is Beauty and the Best. I loved Belle.

Both Fantasias are gorgeous. Aladdin was fun. Hunchback has a couple of the best songs ever. Lilo and Stitch is fantastic (and my boyfriend's favorite). Oh and Robing Hood was also great.

And I'll always remember The Little Mermaid freaking out the babies in the audience (when Ursula transforms on the big screen, many very small children started crying).

[catnip13.livejournal.com]

I love many of them. Beauty and the Beast and Little Mermaid are up there. But I think Aladdin got rousted in my top spot by Princess and the Frog this weekend.

[ravenclaw-eric.livejournal.com]

I'm still angry with Disney about the way they changed a lot of classic stories around: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Black Cauldron and The Jungle Books, to name three off the top of my head. If they want to do their own stories, fine, dandy, OK with me...but what they did to The Jungle Book was, in a lot of ways, no less dishonest than an animated version of The Hunt for Red October that ended with a singing/dancing number where Ramius decides "there's no place like home, after all" and takes the Red October back to Russia, where All Is Forgiven for the big teary ending.

That said: I did like their furry version of Robin Hood a lot, and even though (as I said) I am very annoyed about what they did to the characters in The Jungle Books, it has some absolutely spectacular animation.

[ifics.livejournal.com]

To add to the long list of wonderful films mentioned above, I love Song of the South.

[houseboatonstyx.livejournal.com]

Perhaps the Golden Age for Disney is about 8 years old. ;-)

I grew up with the original classics and still love them best.

I also loved THAT DARN CAT and THE MOONSPINNERS.

POCOHANTIS was good though sad. I liked her hairstyle and that of her friend, and their grooming. That is how a princess and friend in a stable community would look (well, maybe not in the details, but you know what I mean). She was very strong too.

[antinomic.livejournal.com]

Fantasia has some great memories for me. I remember using a certain herbal product with my girlfriend and going to that movie. We laughed and giggled through the whole thing.

Such activities are currently denied me due to security clearances. The government frowns on that, for some reason. I wonder how they handle it in California, where medicinal use is OK? I ramble.....

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

Roy "Mickey Mouse is a Republican" Disney?

The guy cared more about sailing than he did about animation!

[lindaneely.livejournal.com]

I liked all the ones you mentioned plus Jungle Book - I loved that one!