Arts and Culture

Ranking movies from the ‘Disney Renaissance’

Let's take a trip everyone. A trip into a very specific genre that can warm the hearts of many, young and old. I'm talking about Disney's 2D animated movies in the 1990s -- the "Disney Renaissance" as it's often been dubbed.

These movies hold a special place in my heart and in my memories. My family had almost every classic on VHS. And boy did we watch them. I'm pretty sure many of them are still tucked neatly away on the bottom shelf of my bookshelf. Can I watch them? No. But I can't see myself parting with them.

To mix things up, I thought I'd rank my top 10 favorite animated films from the last decade of the 20th century. Some of you may disagree with me. And some of you may love my ranking. Regardless, I hope this review may make you bust out your DVDs, Disney+ subscription, or even your VHS tapes (let me know where I can get a VHS player if you take that route.)

So, without further ado, lets get into it. To spare our design editor the pain, I've split this review in half. So you'll have to come back next week to learn what my top five are!

10. THE RESCUERS DOWN UNDER

We're starting off with a sequel, actually. "The Rescuers Down Under" was released in 1990 and followed its predecessor, "The Rescuers." Both films center around mouse Bernard, a member of the Rescue Aid Society. After proving himself a hero in the first film and being promoted to a full-fledged agent, Bernard is tasked with rescuing a young boy, Cody, who is kidnapped in Australia. Cody is able to communicate with animals and knows the whereabouts of a rare Golden Eagle. An eagle that sinister poacher Percival wants to add to his collection. Both films in this series are great, but for some reason the sequel is my favorite. As a kid it was a little terrifying. I mean, Cody is literally kidnapped by a stranger and taken to his cavernous and remote hide away. It's an extreme example of "stranger danger" put into action. But, lucky for him he has Bernard, his girlfriend Miss. Bianca and their feathery friend Wilbur to help save the day.

9. POCAHONTAS

As Disney often does, it took the lore behind its 1995 film "Pocahontas" and made it a lot less horrific. The story follows free spirited Pocahontas as she tries to teach her people that Spanish invaders, including one John Smith, aren't as terrifying as they are made out to be. History tells us a much different story when it comes to Pocahontas, especially her romance with John Smith. Personally, learning the truth as a teenager was jarring. However, if you treat this movie as what it is, a story, it can be enjoyable. And if you don't want to go racing through the woods to "Colors of the Wind" I'm sorry, we can't be friends.

8. A GOOFY MOVIE

"A Goofy Movie" sort of falls out of the theme many of these films have, but it absolutely deserves to be on my list. This film tells the story of a cross country adventure with Disney's titular character, Goofy, and his teenage son Max. It's a heartfelt and hilarious journey. Goofy is just a hardworking single dad who wants nothing more than to spend time with his son. Meanwhile, Max is your typical teenager who is embarrassed by everything his father does. Their dynamic makes for a great ride as the two head off for a fishing trip in Idaho… or are they? Max may have changed up the route for his own reasons. Goofy is one of Disney's most lovable characters, and he's made even more so in this film. And we can't forget the great music that comes along with it.

7. ALADDIN

1992's "Aladdin" takes up our seventh spot in this journey. "Aladdin" takes place in the fictional city of Agrabah and follows a young street rat of the same name. Aladdin thinks his life will never change… until he finds himself in charge of a Genie -- Robin Williams, of course, smashes this role. Aladdin soon learns that there's a limit to what the power of magic is capable of. And our film's villain, Jafar, gets more than he bargained for, too. "Aladdin" brings with it a good storyline, good romance between our main character and Princess Jasmine, and great music. Williams truly put his heart into "Prince Ali" and it's one of my favorites.

6. HERCULES

Coming in at number six is 1997's "Hercules." I was definitely one of those kids that became obsessed with Greek mythology for a period. So, it's no surprise that this movie is featured in my ranking. This movie is loosely -- and I mean loosely -- based on the titular Greek hero, Hercules, the son of Zeus (and in this movie Hera), as he finds his place in the world. Of course the soundtrack for "Hercules" is another killer one. However, as an adult now, I can't help but think of history class and the horror I felt learning the real stories of this fictional demi-god. Like a lot of these movies, "Hercules" likes to make its source material sound fluffier than it actually is. That aside, the movie has a good pace, great supporting characters and the Muses bring the best music to the party.

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Laura Jameson is a staff reporter for The Express.