So I wasn't sure where to put this in the scope of the fourms and then I remembered this thread. One thing I've thought about is my memory of Disney movies and for some bizarre reason, I thought I'd run through them all and give a brief summary of how the Disney feature films stand in my mind:
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs-Saw a few times as a kid, but was never big in the rotation. Eager to see it as an adult.
Pinocchio-Saw this a lot as a kid, remember watching bits of it again in college and realizing how dark and disturbing it is. Probably the Disney film I'm the most eager to revisit.
Fantasia-Parents didn't let me see this because Mickey uses magic. Saw it as an adult and all I could think is how much more I like the Silly Simphonies.
Dumbo-Watched a lot as a kid, saw it again as a teen and realized it's also super messed up like Pinocchio
Bambi-Lots of watches as a child, never one of my favorites because I thought it was too cutesy. That being said, I always loved the caterpillar bits as a child.(This is clearly in The Fox and the Hound. My memory is bad.)
Saludos Amigos-Unseen, but I always mix it up with The Three Caballeros.
Victory Through Air Power-Seen clips as an adult. Eager to see the whole thing.
The Three Caballeros-VHS rental as a child. Completely unmemorable.
Make Music Mine-I don't think I've seen any of this ever. Also keep getting this one confused with Melody Time. I know pix loves All the Cats Join In, so I'm eager to see it.
Song of the South-Remember whispers of this as the bad film Disney made as a child. Of course, that made me want to see it more. Still haven't seen it.
Fun and Fancy Free-Cute enough. Got several VHS rentals as a kid, but I never loved the Mickey character so it never made it into the regular rotation.
Melody Time-Most memorable for the Johnny Appleseed segment in my mind from childhood viewings.
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad-Saw once as a child, thought it was weird, but remember almost nothing beyond the fact they ride a carriage at some point.
Cinderella-One of those movies I hated as a kid for being so girly, but seeing it again as a teen, I also just realize that the mice are so annoying and Cinderella as a character just bores me.
Alice in Wonderland-Can't remember if I saw this as a child, but as a teen who liked the book, I thought Disney's take was absolute rubbish.
Peter Pan-Oh boy. Loved this as a kid but then I watched it again in high-school and that casual racism really left a bad taste in my mouth. I guess it's not bad on its own merits, but I also revisited Hook around the same time and thought that film held up a lot better.
Lady and the Tramp-I love the Tramp. I had a beloved stuffed Tramp from the Disney store. I was riveted by this film even though it was the kind of mushy romance I tended to snub my nose at as a boy. I don't remember hardly any of the plot beats, but I do remember a lot of the moments that happen in Lady's house and oh man was that rat sequence one of the most riveting sequences of my childhood. Kinda afraid to revist this for fear that it won't hold up to my vague memories and affection.
Sleeping Beauty-I might have seen bits of this film as a child, but I don't think I saw the thing end to end until I was in college. I quite liked it. Animation was great and while the story was simple, it worked well enough.
One Hundred and One Dalmatians-If I had to guess which Disney film I watched the most as a child, I think it would be this one. My mother called me Rolly because I would eat constantly. "I'm hungry, mother, I really am." was probably my most quoted movie line before the age of 10. Saw it as a teen and wasn't too hot on it, but still enjoy it as a nostalgia trip.
The Sword in the Stone-Saw it once as a kid, thought it was weird, saw it again as an adult and thought it was even weirder. That squirrel scene might have been the roots of the furry movement. Thanks, Disney!
The Jungle Book-Liked it as a kid, but oh boy do a lot of the characters annoy me. The elephants are buffoonish, King Louie is problematic to say the least, and the buzzards are such a dated pop culture reference that hasn't aged well. The live-action adaptation is much better.
The Aristocats-Hated this as a child. Hate it as an adult. I thought the proposition that everybody wants to be a cat to be erroneous.
Robin Hood-Got a ton of views as a kid. As an adult, Curtiz's Robin Hood replaces this film for me. Plus, the animation is notorious for being recycled. I still like moments of it, but for every moment I like in this film, there are two in the Curtiz film I love.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh-Probably the only Disney film that grew in my estimation as an adult. I loved it as a child and adore it as an adult. It's not technically impressive but the entire thing brings me a joy that few films are able to achieve.
The Rescuers-The old lady creeped me out as a child. As an adult, I find its southern caricatures rather grating. I do really like the mice characters, though.
The Fox and the Hound-I cried watching this film as a child. It made me so sad. Then as a teen I realized it was about racism and it made me even sadder. Haven't watched it as an adult because I'm not sure I could handle it. Also, I loved the caterpillar bits of this film. Quality comedy subplot.
The Black Cauldron-Pretty sure I've never seen this film.
The Great Mouse Detective-Oh man, I adored this as a kid but as an adult I thought the striptease scene was pretty problematic and boy did I have a thing for the darker Disney films as a child.
Oliver & Company-Hated this as a child. Thought the music was pretty bad. Once I read the book and realized they swapped contemporary NYC for the much more interesting London, I thought it was a pretty lame adaptation. Haven't seen it as an adult.
The Little Mermaid-Was never one of my favorites as a kid, but I fell in love with the soundtrack as an adult and while the movie doesn't grip me as much as an adult, the music is still top notch.
The Rescuers Down Under-I think I saw this once as a child and it left little impression. Remember it being vaguely stereotypical about Australian stuff.
Beauty and the Beast-Loved as a child, love as an adult. Only Disney film I've ever bought for myself to own as an adult.
Aladdin-Saw as an adult, it has a few good pieces, but Ashman's presence is missed as the other songs suffer. Robin Williams is amusing, but feels totally out of place in this film and creates this weird tonal divide.
The Lion King-Liked it a lot as a kid, but kinda tired of it in my teen years. I'm not there's anything I can point out as being bad or mediocre, but just one of those films that doesn't do anything for me anymore.
Pocahontas-It's no The New World.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame-Saw a couple of years ago. Has some interesting ideas/themes but I feel like it continues the steady decline of post Ashman Disney.
Hercules-Yet another I only saw as an adult. I like that one song, I guess. The humor never hits and Hercules is such a boring protagonist.
Mulan-Got some views as a kid, but it was an adult where I appreciated it more. Felt like Disney's most consistent and even release this side of BatB.
Tarzan-Hated this as a kid, still hate it. The songs are so bad. Phil Collins is the worse. Tarzan is such a boring story.
Fantasia 2000-Haven't seen.
Dinosaur-Haven't seen
The Emperor's New Groove-Love as a kid, still holds up as an adult. Love the whole egomaniac goes on an adventure in humility angle of the story and the jokes are probably some of the most consistently funny in Disney's entire library.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire-Another one I didn't see until a couple of years ago. It's good, I guess, but feels like something that should have gone direct to video.
Lilo & Stitch-Another one I didn't see until adulthood and I thought it was sweet. This is where I think Disney starts losing its 2D animation chops.
Treasure Planet-I have a soft spot for this one. I really like the Treasure Island story for some reason and I think this is a fairly creative adaptation. I do remember not particularly liking the obviously CGI elements of this movie on my lat watch.
Brother Bear-Haven't seen it.
Home on the Range-Haven't seen it
Chicken Little-Confession: I liked this one a lot when I saw it in the theater. It was mostly the humor that got to me. I haven't seen it since it came out and I know it has a reputation for being one of Disney's worst, so I don't look forward to revisting it.
Meet the Robinsons-Haven't seen it.
Bolt-It's a passable film but this is when Pixar was at its peak and those films really put these films in perspective as poor storytelling films.
The Princess and the Frog-Haven't seen
Tangled-Disney is back, baby! Alan Menkin returning piqued my curiosity and this felt like they had somehow picked up right after Aladdin and kept that style going. I was 21 when this film came out and I saw it again in theaters about a month ago and I still love this film.
Winnie the Pooh-I hold this is the most criminally underrated Disney film ever released. The short runtime and simpler animation style I think scared off a lot of people, but it's as good of a followup to the classic shorts as you could want in the 21st century. And the verbal wordplay is top notch. I cannot recommend this film enough.
Wreck-It Ralph-Really dug it, glad they tried to stick to mostly original characters and ideas. As a gamer, certain things resonate with me in terms of the ideas and themes. Took me a while to like this cast of characters, but once I did, I think it was the moment I realized that Disney was now out-doing Pixar at their own game.
Frozen-I like the sister story and how they contrast each other, but a lot of stuff around this film bogs it down. Olaf is consistently unfunny. I think the romance is completely unnecessary. It doesn't stick the landing.
Big Hero 6-Disney tackles grief in what feels like maybe the oddest superhero origin story committed to film. There's a surprising level of gravitas to a lot of this which makes the parts with kids playing superhero all the more jarring. Somehow feels more mature and empathetic than Marvel Studio's live-action films, but also more kiddish at the same time. Maybe I'm still overthinking this one. It's a fine film.
Zootopia-Disney tackles racism again and this is no The Fox and the Hound. Sweet, funny and playful, there's a lot of great twists and turns in this story that plays more like a conman story than a Disney flick. But the metaphors get a bit muddled and it's yet another egregious example of Disney making animals sexy and could you please just stop enabling the furrys, Disney? Is that too much to ask, you perverts?
Moana-The best Disney film this side of Tangled. Smart story, cool setting, mostly great songs (I'm looking at you, "Shiny!") and finally a princess story without a romance subplot! See, Disney? You can make films like this! Go make more films like this! (Note: Their next two films are both sequels that I really don't think we need. Guess the sequel machine the built with the Pixar acquisition isn't bring them enough money.)