My Top 10 Favorite Walt Disney Animated Classics

On December 5th 1901, 114 years ago today, a legend in the animation industry was born! And his name, is Walt Disney!! Hey everybody!! Today I want to usher in an amazing day for all of the Huge Disney fans out there!! That is why I've created a holiday(at least not to overshadow Christmas) to commemorate Walt Disney's birthday(wherever and however you like), the first annual Walt Disney Day!!

To celebrate this awesome milestone, I've decided to reveal something that I'm pretty sure a lot of you out there are curious to know about, and that's what I think is the best of all of Disney's animated classics! Now I'm sure a lot of you are going to have questions and concerns about this, so let me lay a few ground rules before I start:

1. This is a list that pertains to the movies that I personally enjoy, they are called personal favorites after all!
2. Obviously I love more than just 10 Disney movies! Just because your favorites don't appear on here doesn't mean I don't love them all the same. In fact, anything you throw at me that relates to Disney, odds are I'll love it no matter what(well, with some exceptions anyway). Plus, I just might do another list that talks about my other favorite Disney movies as like a continuation from 11 to 20, but we'll cross that bridge some other time.
3. Since I said that this is a day that centers on Walt Disney, this list will only talk about animated movies that came from the original House of Mouse itself, Walt Disney Animation Studios. So unfortunately, movies from Pixar, Disneytoon Studios, Marvel, and Lucasfilm are out of this.
4. If you guys want to share your favorites, go right ahead!! I'd love to hear your thoughts on your favorite Disney animated classics, and I'll gladly respect your opinions if you respect mine!!

And now, without further ado, these are My Top 10 All Time Favorite Walt Disney Animated Classics!!

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Number 10!

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The Emperor's New Groove

This is one of Disney's funniest(if not the funniest) of their animated movies! The story is basically a jungle/empire/aztec retelling of The Emperor's New Clothes, which is interesting since it was originally going to be an aztec retelling of The Prince and the Pauper! The movie's humor and style is very similar to the Looney Tunes! From the fast paced humor, to the personality and style of the characters, obviously the animators and storytellers were inspired by the cartoons! Even Kuzco himself is very reminiscent to that of Daffy Duck! The animation is always amazing, it's Disney! The characters are great! Kuzco is fun despite the fact that he's a jerk at the start, Pacha is loving and caring(even when he goes to incredible lengths to help out a douche like Kuzco), and the best characters by far are the villains! Yzma and Kronk are hilarious in this, especially when they're both voiced by Eartha Kitt and Patrick Warburton, the best parts normally come from them both either individually or together!! It's a really funny movie with a lot of really funny moments!


Number 9!

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Peter Pan

This movie is over 60 years old and(in my opinion) it along with many other Disney movies still stands the test of time! It's an all time favorite for people like Michael Jackson and Robin Williams(since one named his private theme park after Neverland and the other starred as the title character in an awesome Spielberg movie)! The story is simple, three kids travel with a spirit of youth(I believe that's how they described Peter Pan in the movie) and go on an amazing adventure in Neverland where they would never grow up, find the lost boys, encounter and sing with indians, lust over mermaids, and take on pirates led by the swashbuckling Captain Hook! Seriously, if we added cowboys, ninjas, and dinosaurs into this awesome mix, we'd be set!! The animation is, of course, way ahead of it's time! The characters are mostly good, with Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, and Tick Tock being the lone exceptions! Mr. Smee tries to be a villain but is too bumbling and nice, Hook is very menacing, but also a scaredy cat when the crocodile s around, and the croc is hilarious when he licks his chops for the captain. They're usually the ones with the funniest scenes in the movie! The reason why this one is low on the list is because, as a kid I thought this was great, but now as an adult I don't care as much for it. Don't get me wrong though, it's still a good classic and I do enjoy it, just not as much as I did as a kid. Other than that, this movie did good! 


Number 8!

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The Rescuers Down Under

Hands down the most underrated Disney movie ever made. It's sad that this movie bombed at the box office and it discouraged Disney from making anymore sequels(sadly leaving Disneytoon to do that job), because this movie is amazing!! Keep in mind, this was made in the Disney Renaissance(the same time as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin), and this can definitely hold a candle to those movies! This is basically a movie the the first Rescuers should have been! The story is epic, the animation is top notch, and the characters are fun! Sure it doesn't follow the Disney formula but who cares!?! It's an epic action adventure, something that the first Rescuers lacked. The old characters Bernard and Bianca(with Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor voicing them again) are still a great pair, but the movie also had some late greats like the always funny John Candy as Wilbur the albatross and the menacing George C. Scott as the villainous McLeach! If you guys out there haven't seen this movie, go do yourselves a favor and check it out! Even if you have to see the first one in order to get it, then definitely make that a priority! You won't regret it!


Number 7!

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Lilo and Stitch

Everything about this movie is cool! The story is cool, it's really great that it focuses on space, aliens, and the mission of two of them(one of which being the creator) going after an unstoppable experiment that destroys everything he touches. The experiment(either 626 or Stitch) is a really fun character! I love how it also takes place in Hawaii, a place where the biggest life lesson "Ohana means family, family means nobody gets left behind" is taught. The animation(obviously) is cool, I love how the backgrounds go back to watercolors(something that hasn't been used since Dumbo)! The characters are cool! Stitch, Jumba, and Pleakley are fun, and I even love Lilo in this, and her relationship with her sister is one of the best parts of the movie. The songs are cool, with "Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride" and "Burning Love" being my absolute favorites! It may not be a movie that's just as good as those other greats, but I feel like this is one of Disney's best movies from the Post Renaissance!


Number 6!

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Tangled

One of the newest Disney Classics on the list, this is definitely one that's a favorite for me(not as much as the next but we'll get to that one soon)! To me, this is a movie where I know it's a 3D movie, but it's one where everything feels like it's strictly 2D! The style, the characters, the backgrounds, everything in this is basically 2D in disguise! When they said they would accomplish making this feel like it's a 2D movie even though it's 3D, they weren't kidding! The story is awesome, It's one of those Disney movies where it's kind of loosely based on the source material, yet it somehow works! I love how the glowing flower made from the sun droplet is the reason why Rapunzel is kept by Mother Gothel in this(PERFECT!!)! The characters are fun! The snuggly duckling thugs are funny, Mother Gothel is kind of forgettable in some parts, Flynn aka Eugene is funny, but the three best characters out of all of them are Maximus, Pascal, and Rapunzel! Two comic reliefs with non speaking roles but are funny, now those are awesome character traits! I love Maximus, he's like a horse with the brain of a bloodhound, it even shows!! Pascal is really fun and sometimes cute, though I wonder how he came to a European-esque environment if he is a lizard that comes from tropical areas li....Monty Python logic, it must run on Monty Python logic!  Rapunzel in the original fairy tale was always the one waiting to be saved while waiting in her tower, but in here, no she saves herself(by hair or frying pan)!! That and she's funny! She also has a beautiful voice(give Mandy Moore credit for this), and she loves and creates art(wicked awesome)!! The songs are fun, "When Will My Life Begin" and "Now That I See You" are personal favorites of mine! It's a fun adventure you'll definitely wanna get wrapped up in!


Number 5!

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Frozen

One of Disney's biggest animated movies, and that's saying a lot, and I'm glad it is!! It's an amazing movie with a lot of fun stuff to offer!! The story(though loosely based again) is amazing! I love how they focus on the sister relationship between Elsa and Anna while also being different, but not completely different. I at first thought this was kind of the first time they touched upon this, but then I thought "Wait didn't Lilo and Stitch do this already?" The animation, top notch!! Much like how they could handle hair and settings in 3D well, they could handle snow and ice like nobody's business!! The way they make winter pop is unbelievable, this winter is gorgeous, I wanna live in this winter, though I kinda already do, but this one is spectacular!! The characters are awesome! Kristoff and Sven are fun, Hans is surprising in this(I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen this, which I highly doubt), Anna is fun and eccentric, but the best characters by far are Olaf and Elsa! Olaf is a carefree and fun loving snowman with a big dream, he's a character who I love for his personality! Elsa is one of Disney's strongest characters along with Beast, she may look menacing with her ice powers, but she's sweet and would never try to hurt anyone, I really love how they made her a good character that's just misunderstood. Sure she distances herself away from her sister, but it's only because she just wants to protect her. That and casting Idina Menzel to play her certainly gives this character one hell of a voice(same goes for Jodi Benson in The Little Mermaid by the way)! The songs are amazing! "In Summer" and "Let it Go" are my two favorites!! It's a fun adventure and craze that's not leaving anytime soon, and I'm proud to be a part of it!  


Number 4!

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Beauty and the Beast

The one animated fairy tale movie that all fairy tale movies wish to be and one that was released on my birth year believe it or not! It was an animated movie that made people take animation seriously and was also nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars!! At the time, that was considered unheard of!! I can definitely see why though, it's one of Disney's most perfect out of all of their movies!! The story is incredible, the animation is gorgeous, the characters are great, and the songs are unforgettable!! "Be Our Guest" is a personal favorite song of mine!! Lumiere and Cogsworth are both hilarious! Belle is a kind person whom everyone thinks is weird, but she could care less. Beast(or Prince Adam as his name implies) is a very strong character for both his style and how he was written! Yes he's a beast and acts like it at first, but we end up seeing why. He was originally a selfish prince who thought of himself, and after a cruel act, was cursed to live as a beast until he would prove himself, which if looked into it seems impossible to achieve! But as the movie progresses, his relationship with Belle(which is the most believable relationship in a Disney movie in my opinion) proves more and more that  he isn't a monster, but actually more of a human. I honestly don't know what else to say but it's amazing! I'd say see it but you all most likely did already, but who cares, go see it again!


Number 3!

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The Lion King

When it comes to my third favorite Disney movie, there's no contest that The Lion King is the perfect choice for this! This is by far, one of Disney's most popular and monstrous hits, and being a kid who was born in the early 90s as such, I was surrounded by almost all of the aspects of it!! I remember watching the movie over and over, sang all of the songs, reenacted all of the scenes with my sisters, I played both the game for the movie and Timon and Pumbaa's Jungle Games for the Super NES, I love the sequels Simba's Pride and 1 1/2, I love watching the Timon and Pumbaa Disney Afternoon show,I didn't see the stage shows in Vegas or New York, but I heard they were amazing, I even saw the movie when it came out in 3D in 2011, and afterwards I got the Diamond Edition Blu-ray as part of my collection! I also heard of The Lion Guard and curious to check it out sometime. This is basically a movie that is one of the biggest parts of my young life(that and Jurassic Park)! The story is grand, it's essentially Hamlet but retold with talking lions in Africa(something that was considered silly before it came out). The animation is also grand, from the Pride Lands where the lions call home, to the jungle paradise where Timon and Pumbaa live! The characters are great! Simba is fun and nice, Scar is menacing when he wants to be, Mufasa is a devoted father, Zazu is a great helper, and Timon and Pumbaa are great comic reliefs! The songs are unforgettable! "Circle of Life" definitely sets a grand tone for what's in store for the movie, "Be Prepared" lets you know that bad things are gonna go down, and "Hakuna Matata" is just all around fun!! By the way, has anybody noticed that The Lion King's craze is similar to that of Frozen? Circle of life? Probably. 


Number 2!

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Aladdin

This was my childhood favorite! I knew all of the lines, scenes, and songs by heart and I still do! It's a fun movie with a great story from the great Book of a Thousand and One Nights! The animation of course is amazing! The characters are a lot of fun! Aladdin is a fun character, Abu is his great little sidekick, Jasmine is a strong independent princess who just wants to marry for love, not by force, that and she has a pet tiger(that's pretty badass), Jafar is one of my favorite villains in this, from his slithery voice, his motives, and his beyond crazy evil laugh(www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrbKkC…)! Cheese and Rice, calm down man!! Then there's the two best characters of them all, Iago and Genie!! Iago is definitely a funny bird when it comes to either his voice actor Gilbert Gottfried, or the fact that he does a lot of funny things like eating "moldy disgusting crackers" and putting up with Jafar! The only problem with him though is that he's in the same movie as the Genie!! Genie is the perfect example of a great comic relief!! Whether it's his overall design, Robin Williams' peformance, or the fact that his scattered streams of references will always make me laugh and love him!! He's also what people use as the perfect example of one of Robin's best works! Robin, God speed my friend, God speed! The songs are(obviously) as memorable as any other Disney song ever!! "One Jump Ahead" "Arabian Nights" Prince Ali" "A Whole New World" and "A Friend Like Me" are all amazing!! It's certainly was a childhood favorite for me for a reason!



Now before we get to my number 1, here's some honorable mentions(Spoiler Alert: These are some of the ones that will be on my "Other Favorites" list):



Mulan: A fun take on the Chinese legend, and Mushu is certainly one of my favorite Disney characters to come from it!

The Sword in the Stone: A favorite amongst my family! It's another one of Disney's funniest! Merlin is my favorite character from this and the Wizard's Duel is one of the best parts!!

Wreck it Ralph: A great story with a great message and a lot of heart!! Also, it helps to admit that I'm a huge video game player and fanatic!!

Sleeping Beauty: Not as memorable as some other great classics, but the best parts include the fairies!! I can also see why Maleficent is one of the best of the Disney Villains!

The Little Mermaid: A sweet story with great animation, characters, and songs that brought the feel of the classic Disney formula back from the good ol' days of Uncle Walt. It's also arguably one of Jodi Benson's best performances!!



And my Number 1 All Time Favorite Walt Disney Animated Classic is:



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The Jungle Book

Walt Disney's 19th and final animated classic to be made under his supervision! Starting in 1962 when Walt got the film rights, the production slowly and surely evolved from a story firmly based in Rudyard Kipling's work, to the classic we all know it as today. It swings, it sings, it's a jumping jiving jungle classic that is anything but civilized......and I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT!!!!! It also helps that I'm a huge fan of Mr. Kipling's classic Jungle Book stories!! Where do I even begin with this? Well, I can start by saying that the story(as risky as it was to change it) is a huge heaping plate of fun and excitement!! While still focusing on the little man-cub Mowgli and his life among the animals, it tells of him having to leave his Wolf brethren behind after living with them for 10 years because of a fearsome tiger Shere Khan! He hates man and will kill Mowgli if he ever finds him, so Mowgli's panther buddy Bagheera decides to take him to the safety of the Man Village. Though Mowgli wants to stay in the jungle(can't say I blame him since it looks so fun to be a part of). Eventually when Mowgli meets and makes friends with Baloo the bear, he now wants to stay in the jungle more than ever. I love how Disney and his crew followed the simple rule that he gave them, "Have fun with it!" You can tell that they did while watching this. The animation is sketchy, it's really cool seeing this style of animation throughout the movie, the jungle has never looked so good! The characters are memorable, and I love the chemistry between them! Mowgli is a fun character once you get used to him, Bagheera may seem stern, but he only acts it because he cares, the Beatles-esque vultures are a fun sight, and Hathi and his elephants are always fun to watch! But much like how Iago is in the same movie as Genie, these characters are in the same movie as the four best characters in this, Baloo the bear, Kaa the Python, King Louie the Orangutan, and Shere Khan the Tiger! Shere Khan is an amazing villain, the top of sophisticated evil, Kaa is a fun sssly hilarious side villain, King Louie is just a jazzy ape, and Baloo just practically owns the whole thing no questions asked!! The songs are great, from the fun "Bare Necessities" to the jazzy "I Wanna Be Like You" to the slithery "Trust in Me" they all have their own flare to them!! It's an amazing classic that Walt certainly was determined to make great! All I can say now is that I can't wait until the new live action remake comes out!


And those were my top 10 all time favorite Walt Disney animated classics!! It was really fun to tell you all what my favorite classics from the greatest studio ever! Happy Birthday Walt Disney!!