22 votes

Five Disney animated canon films will be destroyed and you can choose, which five do you pick?

Inspired by the post asking which five animated canon Disney films to save, now it's time for the opposite: what five animated canon Disney films will you condemn to the void? Only films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios count for this question, which means that all the direct-to-video sequels are not contenders. I think this question will still be a bit easier to answer though.

34 comments

  1. [7]
    Weldawadyathink
    (edited )
    Link
    Can I destroy the “live action” lion king? It’s technically animated. I watched it in theaters with my family. The best they could say was that it wasn’t terrible, but I can’t agree. I was looking...

    Can I destroy the “live action” lion king? It’s technically animated. I watched it in theaters with my family. The best they could say was that it wasn’t terrible, but I can’t agree. I was looking out for the new Beyoncé song and, after the movie, I couldn’t even remember where it was in the story. It’s like everyone forgot the basic rules of writing a musical.

    Edit: okay, I’ll make an actual answer. I guess I can’t delete the Lion King remake. But if there is any flex in the rules I will spend all 5 deletions on the remake.

    Let’s first delete Ralph Breaks the Internet. It’s just a bad movie. Nothing else to say here. Terrible follow up to a fantastic movie.

    Next let’s remove Meet the Robinsons. Is not a bad movie, but it’s pretty forgettable.

    Now let’s drop The Black Cauldron. I haven’t seen it, but it sounds pretty bad.

    Here is where it gets pretty tough. There isn’t anything I feel great about nixing. I’ll go with Tarzan. I just don’t feel very strongly about it.

    Now I just don’t know what to do. I love the idea of Frozen 2 just because of the third one coming out. But I think I’ll go for Big Hero 6. Is a good movie, but I think I would be okay if I never saw it again.

    16 votes
    1. [2]
      babypuncher
      Link Parent
      They should have doubled-down on the "nature documentary" angle, jettisoned all the musical sequences, and really made it play out like an episode of Planet Earth but with talking animals.

      They should have doubled-down on the "nature documentary" angle, jettisoned all the musical sequences, and really made it play out like an episode of Planet Earth but with talking animals.

      10 votes
      1. ali
        Link Parent
        I watched the movie after I’ve been to South Africa that same year and have been to safaris. And I really enjoyed the movie since I felt like I was back there

        I watched the movie after I’ve been to South Africa that same year and have been to safaris.

        And I really enjoyed the movie since I felt like I was back there

    2. [2]
      Akir
      Link Parent
      The Beyoncé song wasn’t notable because it wasn’t actually part of the story. It played in the background while Simba was running somewhere, IIRC.

      The Beyoncé song wasn’t notable because it wasn’t actually part of the story. It played in the background while Simba was running somewhere, IIRC.

      2 votes
      1. Weldawadyathink
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        Yep. If I remember right, it was when Simba was traveling back to pride rock. I actually had to find a clip of the song on YouTube to convince myself it existed after I got out of the movie. Not...

        Yep. If I remember right, it was when Simba was traveling back to pride rock. I actually had to find a clip of the song on YouTube to convince myself it existed after I got out of the movie. Not part of the story and zero emotional weight.

        1 vote
    3. [2]
      tomf
      Link Parent
      Meet the Robinsons felt like the entire movie was made for that one t-rex / corner gag.

      Meet the Robinsons felt like the entire movie was made for that one t-rex / corner gag.

      1. Weldawadyathink
        Link Parent
        Yeah it does. Honestly I had no idea it was Disney. I guess I assumed it was some other studio.

        Yeah it does. Honestly I had no idea it was Disney. I guess I assumed it was some other studio.

        1 vote
  2. [3]
    CannibalisticApple
    Link
    My own picks: Chicken Little: I saw this one in theaters and it was only so-so. It feels pretty generic and also empty, just made to appeal to kids without a real heart to it. I genuinely forget...

    My own picks:

    1. Chicken Little: I saw this one in theaters and it was only so-so. It feels pretty generic and also empty, just made to appeal to kids without a real heart to it. I genuinely forget it was made by Disney.
    2. Ralph Breaks the Internet: The concept had potential, but the execution is just so lacking. The first one felt like there was a genuine love for video games from the creative team, while this one just felt like a collection of references and memes with the story being secondary. Just doesn't hit the right notes.
    3. Wish: Yeah this was an easy choice. Film failed on multiple levels, from a dumb "villain" motivation to poorly written songs to way too many unnecessary characters. Also I will forever mourn the magical star boy from the concept art, the fact they cut that for a dumb star mascot just shows how far Disney's standards have fallen on the executive level
    4. Home on the Range: Nothing personal, but I genuinely had no clue this film existed until talking to @CrystalManta a few months ago. I was in the right demographic when it came out but don't recall anything about it, and it's the one traditionally animated Disney film from my childhood that I never see mentioned, ever. Based on reviews, it seems to be average at best? So not a major cultural loss.
    5. Frozen 2: Nothing personal against it, I haven't seen it. This one is purely for chaos so people can be confused by the gap between the first and upcoming third one.
    14 votes
    1. crulife
      Link Parent
      I was floored by Frozen 2. I watched it with my kids with 0 expectations and a few parts of the soundtrack made me cry more than once. I mean the story et al are kinda ok, not superb, but whoever...

      Frozen 2: Nothing personal against it, I haven't seen it. This one is purely for chaos so people can be confused by the gap between the first and upcoming third one.

      I was floored by Frozen 2. I watched it with my kids with 0 expectations and a few parts of the soundtrack made me cry more than once. I mean the story et al are kinda ok, not superb, but whoever made that music is some sort of a manipulative genius. It's in my top 3 of Disney cartoons and I think Frozen 1 is the unneeded prequel to it.

      1 vote
    2. ras
      Link Parent
      We were on a Disney Cruise this fall and the cruise director was giving the overview of what movies were playing. He said "Wish is playing, and you should go see it if you haven't, and judging by...

      We were on a Disney Cruise this fall and the cruise director was giving the overview of what movies were playing. He said "Wish is playing, and you should go see it if you haven't, and judging by the ticket sales, you haven't". Got a huge laugh from the crowd. And no, we didn't go see it.

      1 vote
  3. hobbes64
    Link
    Well the first thing I thought of was Song of the South, because it's notorious and I think a lot of people, including Disney themselves, want it removed from the public consciousness. It is...

    Well the first thing I thought of was Song of the South, because it's notorious and I think a lot of people, including Disney themselves, want it removed from the public consciousness. It is partly live action and partly animated but I think it would go on your list because it was produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios.
    The only part of the movie I've ever seen is the "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" song because it was on one of the Disney Sing Along video tapes. Also that song won an Academy Award so it's kind of famous. And it was used on the Splash Mountain ride at Disneyland.

    7 votes
  4. [3]
    CrystalManta
    Link
    Frozen 2, Chicken Little, Wish, Fantasia 2000, and Ralph Breaks the Internet. The villain in Home on the Range is too good to erase that movie forever, and Fantasia 2000 just lacked the class of...

    Frozen 2, Chicken Little, Wish, Fantasia 2000, and Ralph Breaks the Internet. The villain in Home on the Range is too good to erase that movie forever, and Fantasia 2000 just lacked the class of the original and was too focused on cameos and lackluster musical sequences.

    6 votes
    1. babypuncher
      Link Parent
      Oh man, I loved Fantasia 2000 as a kid. It played a critical role in me developing a taste for classical music and jazz. I can definitely see how it doesn't hold up to the original though. It's a...

      Oh man, I loved Fantasia 2000 as a kid. It played a critical role in me developing a taste for classical music and jazz. I can definitely see how it doesn't hold up to the original though. It's a shame Disney no longer has an appetite for these kinds of projects anymore.

      7 votes
    2. Baeocystin
      Link Parent
      Can I save the Firebird segment at the very end? The rest, I agree, disappointing. But man, I loved that part. The fact that it was recognizably Mt. St. Helens is pretty cool, too.

      Can I save the Firebird segment at the very end? The rest, I agree, disappointing. But man, I loved that part. The fact that it was recognizably Mt. St. Helens is pretty cool, too.

  5. [3]
    Perryapsis
    (edited )
    Link
    The chaotic neutral in me wants to see what happens if you got rid of Disney's early films. If none of Snow White, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Bambi, or Cinderella existed, would Disney even exist in any...

    The chaotic neutral in me wants to see what happens if you got rid of Disney's early films. If none of Snow White, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Bambi, or Cinderella existed, would Disney even exist in any recognizable form in the present day?

    6 votes
    1. CptBluebear
      Link Parent
      Those are big ones, but I'm sure they'd pilfer other fairy tales instead. Ultimately it's their storyboarding and animation that won them their popularity, not the original stories. You'd need to...

      Those are big ones, but I'm sure they'd pilfer other fairy tales instead. Ultimately it's their storyboarding and animation that won them their popularity, not the original stories. You'd need to really pull the foundation from under them and delete Mickey, Donald, and other consistent Disney characters. Those are the ones paying dividends for them.

      1 vote
    2. 1338
      Link Parent
      For similar chaotic curiosity reasons I'd go with: Fantasia Make Mine Music Wreck-It Ralph Frozen Moana

      For similar chaotic curiosity reasons I'd go with:

      Fantasia
      Make Mine Music
      Wreck-It Ralph
      Frozen
      Moana

      1 vote
  6. [5]
    balooga
    Link
    Song of the South The Black Cauldron Planes Pocahontas Sleeping Beauty
    1. Song of the South
    2. The Black Cauldron
    3. Planes
    4. Pocahontas
    5. Sleeping Beauty
    3 votes
    1. [4]
      Soggy
      Link Parent
      Black Cauldron? You monster, Gurgi only wanted some munchings and crunchings!

      Black Cauldron? You monster, Gurgi only wanted some munchings and crunchings!

      10 votes
      1. [2]
        Carrow
        Link Parent
        Lloyd Alexander, author of the Chronicles of Prydain, said it better than I: I'd like more Chronicles of Prydain adaptations, though not from modern Disney. It would make for a great series and...

        Lloyd Alexander, author of the Chronicles of Prydain, said it better than I:

        First, I have to say, there is no resemblance between the movie and the book. Having said that, the movie in itself, purely as a movie, I found to be very enjoyable. I had fun watching it. What I would hope is that anyone who sees the movie would certainly enjoy it, but I'd also hope that they'd actually read the book. The book is quite different. It's a very powerful, very moving story, and I think people would find a lot more depth in the book.

        I'd like more Chronicles of Prydain adaptations, though not from modern Disney. It would make for a great series and game.

        Edit: source for the rest of the interview!

        5 votes
        1. Akir
          Link Parent
          There are so many things I love about the way that movie was made. But by all means, the end result was a mess. The film had a lot of technical innovation, and I think was actually the first...

          There are so many things I love about the way that movie was made. But by all means, the end result was a mess. The film had a lot of technical innovation, and I think was actually the first Disney animated film to use CGI (not counting Tron, which is practically an animated film with how much they use painted-on effects). The film is a landmark in Western animation that go alongside The Thief and the Cobbler as must-see examples of the medium.

          1 vote
  7. [2]
    JAG
    Link
    I would wipe out: Bambi Sleeping Beauty Brother Bear Lady & The Tramp Tarzan Bambi left too many children emotionally scarred Sleeping Beauty was lacklustre and lacked any depth to any of the...

    I would wipe out:

    Bambi
    Sleeping Beauty
    Brother Bear
    Lady & The Tramp
    Tarzan

    Bambi left too many children emotionally scarred
    Sleeping Beauty was lacklustre and lacked any depth to any of the characters.
    Brother Bear - I've never watched it but I can't think of a single thing about the theme or characters that is appealing.
    Lady & The Tramp was horrendously stereotypical and racist/classist.
    Tarzan always felt undercooked and rushed. Collin's music had to do some heavy lifting here, better to put the old boy down and out of it's misery.

    1 vote
    1. Rudism
      Link Parent
      The Brother Bear home video release has a commentary track by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas as their McKenzie-brothers-inspired characters from the movie. I don't remember anything else about...

      The Brother Bear home video release has a commentary track by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas as their McKenzie-brothers-inspired characters from the movie. I don't remember anything else about Brother Bear but that special feature alone makes it worth preserving IMO.

      2 votes
  8. [9]
    tomf
    Link
    anything after 2000 can go.

    anything after 2000 can go.

    1. [8]
      CannibalisticApple
      Link Parent
      So Atlantis, Lilo and Stitch, The Emperor's New Groove, Treasure Planet, and The Princess and the Frog, among others? There are a few great gems, though I do get the sentiment. I think it's around...

      So Atlantis, Lilo and Stitch, The Emperor's New Groove, Treasure Planet, and The Princess and the Frog, among others? There are a few great gems, though I do get the sentiment. I think it's around the mid-2000s that Disney films started losing their heart, particularly with the shift to 3D computer animation.

      12 votes
      1. Akir
        Link Parent
        I know a lot of people who are completely enamored about Treasure Planet, but I can’t stand it. It’s the ugliest film Disney has ever made. The designs look great as stills, but in motion,...

        I know a lot of people who are completely enamored about Treasure Planet, but I can’t stand it. It’s the ugliest film Disney has ever made. The designs look great as stills, but in motion, especially with terrible 2000s CG in the forefront, just make a lot of things look like they are wet animated kidneys and bladders and other internal organs. It actually makes me more nauseated than most gore films.

        I agree with @tomf that there is a manufactured feeling to the rest of them, but I enjoy them nonetheless. But I will single out The Princess and the Frog and maybe a few other Disney films as being carried largely by their soundtracks. I’m not saying the rest of it is no good; that’s not true by any means. I just think they would not have become so popular without them. Frozen without Let it Go would have just been let go.

        1 vote
      2. [6]
        tomf
        Link Parent
        all gone for me :) they all feel too manufactured… if that makes sense.

        all gone for me :) they all feel too manufactured… if that makes sense.

        1. [5]
          CannibalisticApple
          Link Parent
          "Manufactured" is the best word I've heard yet for how a lot of recent movies feel to me. The ones I named feel less like that, but the rest? Definitely just feel hollow and lacking something. A...

          "Manufactured" is the best word I've heard yet for how a lot of recent movies feel to me. The ones I named feel less like that, but the rest? Definitely just feel hollow and lacking something.

          A comment I saw on a song from Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio keeps coming to mind. That film had a soul and heart, and a lot of films these days just don't. And Disney is one of the prime examples of that, because their older stuff definitely had a heart. It makes the absence even more notable compared to other studios' works.

          4 votes
          1. [3]
            tomf
            Link Parent
            It drives me nuts. I think Disney plays it extremely safe, ensuring their films can be viewed in every country without any complaints. I loved his Pinocchio. He's got such a knack for capturing...

            It drives me nuts. I think Disney plays it extremely safe, ensuring their films can be viewed in every country without any complaints.

            I loved his Pinocchio. He's got such a knack for capturing dream-like spaces.

            Not sure if we're including Pixar in the list of stuff to burn, but I want to save all of those.

            2 votes
            1. [2]
              CannibalisticApple
              Link Parent
              Not just Disney, a lot of studios are doing that these days. They're trying to appeal to as many demographics as possible, they feel like... a collection of elements, rather than a cohesive...

              Not just Disney, a lot of studios are doing that these days. They're trying to appeal to as many demographics as possible, they feel like... a collection of elements, rather than a cohesive singular story. I can just feel executives getting involved and muddying up the original vision to become some mass-produced spectacle, until it loses the original voice. And that's assuming it had a voice and vision to begin with, feels like a lot of newer children's films are really just "what will appeal to kids?" than telling a good story.

              His Pinocchio was one of the first films I'd seen with an actual, genuine heart in a long time. I honestly don't even like the Pinocchio story for some reason, but that film still left me in awe. He wanted to tell that story and had no one to stop him or force him to change elements, and the result was spectacular.

              Also, Pixar is safe from the purge. They don't count as part of the Disney animated canon.

              1 vote
              1. tomf
                Link Parent
                We're definitely in the minority of seeing his Pinocchio (weird thing to say...) --- but yeah, the few I know who did get to experience it have the same response as us. It's a shame it doesn't get...

                We're definitely in the minority of seeing his Pinocchio (weird thing to say...) --- but yeah, the few I know who did get to experience it have the same response as us. It's a shame it doesn't get more love.

                Some of the crap kids will watch is insane. When I had a young kid, we mostly watched Pingu and George Shrinks, which I think I liked more than him.

                1 vote
          2. PraiseTheSoup
            Link Parent
            If you want a recent animated movie with heart go watch The Wild Robot. It's absolutely beautiful and better than anything Disney has made in years.

            If you want a recent animated movie with heart go watch The Wild Robot. It's absolutely beautiful and better than anything Disney has made in years.

            1 vote
  9. PraiseTheSoup
    Link
    Sleeping Beauty Snow White The Little Mermaid 2 Pinocchio Peter Pan The first two are the exact same story, and it wasn't good either time. Shallow and boring. The Little Mermaid 2 introduced one...
    1. Sleeping Beauty
    2. Snow White
    3. The Little Mermaid 2
    4. Pinocchio
    5. Peter Pan

    The first two are the exact same story, and it wasn't good either time. Shallow and boring.

    The Little Mermaid 2 introduced one of the most annoying characters ever conceived in Ariel's daughter, Melody.

    Pinocchio is just...I don't like puppets and I don't like the story.

    Peter Pan is just gross. Nothing about the story is appealing to me.