SGP's Top 10 Best Disney Movies

It's that revolutionary company that once again remains in the hearts and minds of all us across the globe. Welcome back to another controversy meme, and here I'll be counting down my Top 10 Favorite Disney Movies. For this list, based on their appeal, heart, and overall charm of storylines and originality, I've picked the best of the best films by Walt Disney Animation Studios. And, like what I did with my Walt Disney Controversy Meme, I've once again excluded anything from Pixar because it really deserves its own category.

#10 - Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
Atlantis is most definitely Disney's most underrated movie -both in animation and the whole company itself in general- and it's really a sad thing since by us Disney fans at least (and not just me at most), it most definitely deserves any bits of praise we all give it, more than too many harsh critics. From the second we're first introduced to the film's intelligent protagonist Milo Thatch, to the very scene where the crew of the Ulysses submarine first enter the ancient town of the same name, it's hard not to sit through it all on the first watch. With an endearing plot, a new ideal concept at a Disney film, and new characters who never tend to be loathsome by the very end of the film's climax (minus Commander Rourke of course), this overhated gem is pure delight. While not the greatest ideal movie the company's ever come up with, it did gain more than enough of a cult following among us fans. Not nominated for a Best Animated Feature Oscar? What nonsense.

#9 - Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Castles are most definitely a milestone on ANY Disney Princess movies. Especially those that are enchanted with a bunch of numerous objects that humans are turned into after an enchantress casts a spell on the film's prince based on his spoiled and rude heart like Beauty and the Beast. It's also one of the only three animated films (alongside Up and Toy Story 3 beginning in the 2010s, in two separate years after the other) to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar (no joke seriously). This was of course before the Best Animated Feature category that began in 2002 with the very first winner in cinema history being Dreamworks Animation's Shrek. Having everything you need to put more than enough heart into a fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast is most definitely one of animation's finest efforts, if not technically my favorite of the Disney Princess films. There are few others I'll be mentioning, but this film still holds up no matter how much it ages.

#8 - Aladdin (1992)
When you set a movie in Arabian environments and add a little comedy to it via a comedian to play an endearing character like Robin Williams for Genie, you're really in for a recipe for absolute praise. Set in the Arabian city of Agrabah, this film follows as our zero-to-hero, yet sympathetic, street rat protagonist Aladdin as he sets out to discover the likes of the Sultan's castle, whilst at the same time using his wishes from Genie wisely, and later having to put an end to the film's psychotic antagonist Jafar - who sets out to take over the universe once he gets his hands on the genie. Throw in some amazing songs (one of which won an Oscar; A Whole New World) and excellently developed characters, along with plenty of comedic and epic moments throughout the film and you've got yourself a Disney Renaissance film that's worth more than one viewing. Genie's my personal favorite character of the film above even Aladdin, Jasmine, and Jafar (not to mention both sidekicks Abu and Iago), and I'll always remember Williams as the titular character, so here's to a legend of comedy. I'll never forget him.

#7 - Tarzan (1999)
This film is the very definition of wild and emotional. Even if some people don't exactly agree with me, it honestly has to be one of Disney's saddest films when it comes to the amount of deaths that happen throughout it; Tarzan's parents, Kala's and Kerchak's baby, and even one of the saddest deaths in Disney history - Kerchak himself (no matter how harsh he acts at first before finally accepting Tarzan as one of his own). Granted, Sabor's and Clayton's deaths were particularly satisfying, but to be entirely honest, it's one of those films that makes you wonder if Disney is one of those companies that kills off tons of memorably good characters (Sabor not withstanding). But getting back to the basic plot itself, there's lots to learn about such a heartfelt animated film like Tarzan. With more than enough memorable moments like Tarzan discovering more humans of his kind (when he forgets about his biological parents obviously), and even the final showdown with Clayton and the pirates who trap him and the Porters in the big boat to steal Tarzan's ape family (not mention all those songs by composer Phil Collins - especially his Oscar-winning lullaby sounding song You'll Be In My Heart), there's lots of good things to be said about this particular animated Disney feature.

#6 - Treasure Planet (2002)
This kind of animated adventure feels like another sci-fi film that leaves a milestone on the genre of animation itself. Instead of discovering a lost fictional empire like Atlantis though, protagonist Jim Hawkins (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) rides upon both a rocket-powered board (allowing him to hoveringly surf on ground), and a pirate-like spaceship up in space in order to search for the long lost treasure throughout the depths of the galaxy with the help of a holographic projector map. A villain with something of a big heart more than makes up for the film, John Silver, and he's definitely a different kind of bad guy who sometimes feels like an anti-villain when he has some good in him. B.E.N. the robot (played by THE hilarious Martin Short) also adds charm to the film for wonder comedic effect, something of which also adds more and more positive reception for the film to receive. And being yet another Disney film to be at least nominated for a Best Animated Feature Academy Award (despite losing to the anime feature film Spirited Away), Treasure Planet is definitely another animated classic that deserves more and more love, considering its another one of Disney's most underrated films.

#5 - The Little Mermaid (1989)
The oldest entry on my list, and definitely my personal favorite Disney Princess film after a great deal of thought when putting this list (on this meme) together, The Little Mermaid is an underwater sea adventure revolving around a mermaid princess named Ariel who sets out to try and join the human world after falling in love with a prince. Having even more great moments Disney could ever bring forth in the film, and even some more great songs as another musical (which nabbed the film two Oscars for Best Original Song via Under the Sea (above the underrated Kiss the Girl) and Best Soundtrack), not to mention a dastardly villain like Ursula plotting against Ariel to get revenge on King Triton and become the ruler of all the ocean, there's more greatness and satisfaction where all that came from. Complete with even more lovable characters and a very gripping storyline, The Little Mermaid is definitely as wonderfully breathtaking and intriguing as it's soundtrack in every conceivable way. Just ignore its forgettable, unneeded sequel Return to the Sea...

#4 - Zootopia (2016)
For this Disney flick revolving entirely around any animals with not one human being whatsoever, the plot focuses specifically on a bunny officer named Judy Hopps who eventually leads up to her partner collab with slick fox Nick Wilde as they set out to investigate/solve a specific crime throughout the town of the movie's title's same name. Having all animals playing the roles of us humans in reality, Zootopia to me feels like Chicken Little done right. (You know, since both films are all about animals without any humans as I said) Of course, the plot's not the only thing to love about the film in general. As a matter of fact, every major character in the film tends to be developed very well and act as one such movie to inspire and motivate you to follow all your potential dreams. The main villain Assistant Mayor Bellwether isn't the most clever or a personal favorite amongst me, but with understandable motivations, she's not one to consider one of the worst characters ever, let alone a Disney villain. All good things considered though, it's the better animated film of 2016 than any others like Moana (a film of which I've moved from now after a discussion I've had with my mom about it), and it most definitely deserved that Best Animated Feature Oscar.

#3 - Big Hero 6 (2014)
The second animated superhero flick to be associated with Disney after 2004's The Incredibles (just a decade beforehand) by Pixar, Big Hero 6 is at times like How to Train Your Dragon by Dreamworks Animation if you replace dragons with the superhero style concept rather. There are plenty of elements that make it similar like our six main characters (Hiro Hamada, Baymax, Gogo, Wasabi, Honey Lemon, and Fred) learning to become better at superhero abilities, and even that "first-flight" scene between Baymax and Hiro that seems very similar to that of Hiccup and his dragon buddy Toothless. As if that's not awesome enough, we get another awesome, but underrated villain who steals Hiro's technology of Microbots motivated to get revenge on another character (which arguably makes him sympathetic for various reasons), also adding up to an all around epic final battle. Since this is the basic summary of the plot, you may find yourself laughing and crying at the same time from one specific moment to another. Another Academy Award-winning animated film, this kind of plot makes me wish that Big Hero 6 had no end to it. (No wonder Disney bought Marvel and decided to create a film under its own copyright)

#2 - The Lion King (1994)
As perfect as it is - and forever will be, The Lion King has everything you need to make a film with lots wonderful originality in store for it. Particularly the fantastic opening of introducing Baby Simba all while playing by far Disney's greatest song in the background Circle of Life. Is it crime to say that not one character in the film is bad? Cause Scar is by far Disney's best villain, Simba is very close to being my favorite Disney character, Mufasa is the character with THE saddest death in the very history of animation, Zazu, Timon & Pumbaa are all lovable and hilarious sidekicks, and Scar's minions the hyenas tend to make you laugh so hard, not to mention Simba's love interest (and best friend) Nala is a very loving character. With even more amazingly catchy songs like Hakuna Matata, Be Prepared, along with the Oscar-winning song by Elton John Can You Feel the Love Tonight?, and a very strong storyline from beginning to end, just watching any of the film's best moments in Disney history (and sometimes all of cinema in general), and even talking about it (like I am right now) will make you want to give it a rewatch (at least for those of you who've already seen it, but if you haven't yet, I ask you this; what kind of human being are you??).

Before I get to my top pick, here are a few
Honorable Mentions:

- Dinosaur (2000)

- Mulan (1998)

- The Princess and the Frog (2009)

- Lilo & Stitch (2002)

- Tangled (2010)

#1 - Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
Wreck-It Ralph may not quite meet up with other Disney classics like most of those in the Disney Renaissance era amongst critics, but it's still worth a watch for those who haven't seen it yet. Now to be fair, the basic plot itself may not be as perfected as The Lion King, but as I've discussed once before, it's mainly what the film represents that makes my overall favorite. I mean it takes the concept of video game characters making tons of cameos and gets the whole video game-themed movie right which helps me to forget about all of those video game-based movies like (my worst film of all time) The Super Mario Bros. Movie (the less said about that disaster of a movie, the better), without being unoriginal and gimmicky, the story is full of so much heart, the overall look of the film is pure eye candy (like Sugar Rush itself), the characters (minus Gene) were all fantastic and possibly some of the best (if slightly underrated) that Disney has ever created, and the soundtrack's songs are as about as catchy and lovely as another musical from Disney ever can be (despite not technically being a musical). But the one thing that forever grinds on me no matter how much I try to keep my mind off it is that it lost to Pixar's satanic, demonic, and downright overrated garbage known as Brave... to both a Golden Globe AND AN OSCAR!! With the sequel on the way next year however, I'm hoping it's going to take home an award or two cause more than any other animated film to come, I am waiting with more than enough bated breath for Wreck-It Ralph's sequel Ralph Breaks the Internet.

Original blank meme created by