Top 10 Kids Movies That Adults Will Love

1. j.walk - July 9th, 2008 at 3:08 am

Yay for The Nightmare Before Christmas!
and I just saw Wall-E yesterday!
but what about Kung Fu Panda?
lol

2. MojoRisin - July 9th, 2008 at 3:22 am

The only one I haven’t seen is Darby O’Gill and the Little People. sounds……interesting. My favourite kids type movie would have to be school of rock.

3. Rezel - July 9th, 2008 at 3:23 am

I also agree about Kung Fu Panda!!!
Wall-E is so the next movie I am going to see.

4. V. Taylor - July 9th, 2008 at 3:25 am

XD I started screaming “Yesss! Yesss!” when I saw that Nightmare was number 1. I’m 15, and it’s been my favorite movie since I first saw it 2 years ago.

And yeah, Kung Fu Panda was great! All of my (dare I say, mature) teenage friends & I loved it.

5. SiC - July 9th, 2008 at 3:30 am

I would have said that The Iron Giant was written by Ted Hughes rather than Brad Bird, its based on his novel The Iron Man. Though I suppose Brad Bird may have done the screenplay.

6. Phoenix - July 9th, 2008 at 3:36 am

nice list, I was personally disappointed not to see The Lion King, Aladdin or Labyrinth in there… but I guess you can’t have all such movies listed on here

7. Crimanon - July 9th, 2008 at 3:42 am

Wall-E just came out a couple of days ago, how can it even qualify? Who Framed Roger Rabbit isn’t even technically a kids movie it’s a novel adaptation.

My God! Whatever happened to E.T. or something at least remotely redeeming like The Sound of Music? You uncultured little brats! Sing sometime instead of bobbing your head to the latest Fallout Boy and praying that your Wii fit will actually work and take off your Micky Dees supersized thighs!!!!!!!!!!

Can’t…. Breathe….. Choking on….. Whole sale….. Pop…. Culture…… gasp….. Refuse……

8. j.walk - July 9th, 2008 at 3:46 am

I also agree Labyrinth should be on here as well.
And if we’re adding Disney movies what about Beauty and the Beast?!

9. Phoenix - July 9th, 2008 at 3:53 am

oh, and Willie Wonka/Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (I personally liked them both)

10. chris - July 9th, 2008 at 4:06 am

The goonies. Or the Dark Crystal. come on!

11. modelpenguin - July 9th, 2008 at 4:40 am

Wonderful list! Cartoons are pretty much all I watch. They’re the only things that are happy on tv. Even when I’m 80yrs old, I’ll still be watching them!

12. courtney - July 9th, 2008 at 4:50 am

I’m soo happy to see Nightmare before Christmas at number one! Where’s Finding Nemo…?

13. courtney - July 9th, 2008 at 4:51 am

…and Toy Story?

14. Mom424 - July 9th, 2008 at 4:58 am

The newer Disney pictures would be a notable omission - Beauty and The Beast is my favorite. C’mon Angela Lansbury, Jerry Orbach and David Ogden Stiers. How could it be much better?

Also I have a fondness for Monsters Inc. Hilarious, and the animation is amazing. The fur looks so real.

Good list though, I’ve only missed a couple of ‘em. Nightmare before Christmas is stunning.

15. Amanda - July 9th, 2008 at 5:04 am

I agree where is finding nemo!?!? I would much rather watch Finding Nemo to The Nightmare Before Christmas, as would a lot of people

16. Cheeshygirl - July 9th, 2008 at 5:05 am

Ah yes, my kind of list. As a mom, finding movies that appeal to me AND my children isn’t always easy. I’ve found Disney classics and recent Pixar movies fit the bill. I have seen every movie on this list except Wall-E and love most of them. Great idea for a list and well executed SteveD.

17. Spurs143 - July 9th, 2008 at 5:07 am

Finding Nemo one of the best movies I’ve ever seen (cartoon or other!).

Of course, seeing as how my son (my first born) was born around the same time, may have something to do with my love for that masterpiece.

18. Chris - July 9th, 2008 at 5:09 am

I thought that the Nightmare Before Christmas was actually pretty disturbing with how everything looked.

19. Dan - July 9th, 2008 at 5:15 am

Roger Rabbit had some terrifying villians though. That movie gave me nightmares. I’d like to see Wallace and Gromit higher, and Ratatouille should be #1.

20. warningdontreadthis - July 9th, 2008 at 5:17 am

I prefer 2D animations rather than the new pixar movies that seem too come out every week -er- no day. But I wont say their bad movies, infact I like some of them and will probably try to see Wall-e.
Tim Burton is a legend, I’d prefer his movie to Finding Nemo which I think is slightly overrated…

21. GettyB - July 9th, 2008 at 5:19 am

Crimanon: Just because it’s not a classic movie doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be on the list.

22. Tempyra - July 9th, 2008 at 5:20 am

I must be one of the dead people roaming the internet then ‘cos I cannot stand Spongebob

Wall-E is a movie I would quite like to see though. And I love Wallace & Gromit!

23. Sam - July 9th, 2008 at 5:35 am

WTF where is Finding Nemo?!

24. bucslim - July 9th, 2008 at 5:38 am

Having been through three kids in the early Nineties and having to keep them entertained, I must say Disney’s golden age was a godsend for me. The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and the Lion King were great movies. I’d put Mulan in there too but only because Eddie Murphy was hilarious in that. Beauty was even nominated for best picture. Trust me, after suffering through some really horrid movies on video, it was really great to be able to enjoy a movie made for kids and I didn’t really mind having to watch it a million times when they came out on video. I’d also second the Toy Story nomination mentioned above.

25. Ellen - July 9th, 2008 at 5:48 am

I love all of the movies on this list- at least the ones that I have seen The Incredibles and Ratatouille are terrific movies, but I also love Finding Nemo and I think that it deserves a spot on the list. Maybe it’s because I’m an aussie citizen, but it’s probably my favourite Pixar movie. I also really want to see Wall-e but it doesn’t come out here in Sweden until september, which is a bore.

Anyway, Who framed Roger Rabbit is really fun, and so is the Muppet movie and Wallace and Gromit! (although I really prefer the shorties- the one with the pants and the penguin is great) I never like Spongebob Squarepants though. It might be because I only ever saw one part of an episode while browsing the channels, and it was a really odd one where he turned into a snail which said meow. yeaa so I never really watched it after that, haha

26. ScottyBGood - July 9th, 2008 at 6:00 am

Great list, but I don’t think Carl Reiner appears in the Muppet Movie.

27. Jackie - July 9th, 2008 at 6:00 am

Thank you for having The Nightmare Before Christmas number 1!! It’s one of my all time favorite movies. Also Who Framed Roger Rabbit was one of my favorite movies as a kid and I LOVE LOVE The Iron Giant. I think the Iron Giant is highly underrated…I don’t know a lot of people who’ve seen it but it’s a fantastic movie.

Plus uhh…I hate Spongebob…

28. Kreachure - July 9th, 2008 at 6:09 am

First of all, nice list, but you fail to mention Finding Nemo? Unforgivable.

29. frank - July 9th, 2008 at 6:15 am

No Toy Story I or II, both of those are classics. Great story, great adventure and funny. Some adults thing II is better than one.

30. fishing4monkeys - July 9th, 2008 at 6:16 am

#3, #7, and #9 shouldn’t be on this list in my opinion…I mean seriously…spongebob? Most kids over 8 hate spongebob let alone all the adults that despise him (her?)! I thought #7 was really boring but maybe that’s just me. And I turned off #9 about 15 minutes in but maybe I just don’t get british humor or something because it was really dull…however #2, #6, #8, and #10 really earned their place on this list. Glad to see Wall-E up there. But what about Finding Nemo?

31. fishing4monkeys - July 9th, 2008 at 6:18 am

And like frank said…what about Toy Story? Then again if it were up to most people this list would be almost nothing but Pixar

32. jfrater - July 9th, 2008 at 2:24 pm

Personal choices often dictate the content of these lists - but at least people are making good suggestions in the comments. I would have added Sound of Music and a couple of other much older ones if I had written the list - but the ones here are definitely appropriate for a list of this type

33. Tyler Straub - July 9th, 2008 at 2:37 pm

Even though you gave Shrek honorable mention, it still should have been on the list.

34. Kreachure - July 9th, 2008 at 2:40 pm

Now. Several of this films are great for adults because they weren’t made for kids per se. For example, Who Framed Roger Rabbit is rated PG for profanity and cartoon violence. The fact that it had classic cartoon characters doesn’t mean that it was made with kids in mind.

The same thing happens with The Incredibles (also rated PG). Never mind the violence (very unusual for a Pixar release), but, as the list mentions, there are several moments where there is implicit sexual insinuation between Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl. I doubt that kids would get it, but it’s there nevertheless.

And finally (or as far as I know), anyone who knows about Tim Burton knows that his style, genuinely expressed with Nightmare before Christmas, is an anti-thesis of typical “mainstream” Disney films. It’s dark, and has ‘cartoonishly disturbing’ characters and situations. It’s a family film, for sure, but its style was meant to be more thoroughly
enjoyed by adults (at least I know I did).

35. DiscHuker - July 9th, 2008 at 2:47 pm

is this working yet?

36. DiscHuker - July 9th, 2008 at 2:49 pm

alright!!

i would have included a personal favorite “the sandlot”. a story about a kid moving to a new town and trying to make friends and enjoy the game he loves (baseball). the kids love it because they can immediately relate and the adults love it because it reminds them of a simpler time.

i can’t believe no one has said “the princess bride” (although that may be due to the comments being down for several hours)

“nightmare” might be good for the adults, but not so sure that is a kid movie.

37. goof_ball - July 9th, 2008 at 2:50 pm

im 14 so i wouldnt quite call myself an adult but im not a kid either. ive never seen #4 but it seems like a good movie. and the rest are really good movies. the nightmare before christmas is actually my favorite movie. i saw wall-e in theaters and it was better than i expected. who framed rodger rabbit is a classic for my family.

38. S_R - July 9th, 2008 at 2:53 pm

Yeah, Finding Nemo Princess Bride & Toy Story!!

Love Spongebob. Don’t know if I could watch a whole movie of him, though.

Can’t stand the Roger Rabbit movie. That’s not a kids’ movie, in my opinion.

39. ftworth - July 9th, 2008 at 2:53 pm

Once again - when it comes to movies everyone has favorites - but lets stick to - “That Adults Will Love”

Missing - ICE AGE - I love Manny, Diego, and god bless Sid.

BUT - I agree 100% with the number one choice - I saw NIGHTMARE years ago - and I watch it at least once a year minimum. everyone who isn’t getting this needs to go back and watch it twice. There is so much right about this movie. Art, music, singing, good guys and bad - it truly deserves credit as one of the best animated films of all time!

40. marqueemark - July 9th, 2008 at 2:57 pm

The Iron Giant is a fantastic movie! Nightmare wasn’t as good as The Corpse Bride.

41. fresno bob - July 9th, 2008 at 2:57 pm

I was stunned to not see “The Princess Bride” as the #1

42. Katie - July 9th, 2008 at 3:03 pm

Thanks for including Wall-E on this list!! I saw it this weekend and LOVED it- go see it people, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

I’m with the others that Finding Nemo should have been included. I loved the Labrynth as a kid, but every time I try to make someone watch it that didn’t grow up on it hates it! Oh, and Roger Rabbit scared the be-jesus out of me as a kid… Good list though!

43. jhm - July 9th, 2008 at 3:07 pm

Shrek should have been in the main list.

44. Jenova4 - July 9th, 2008 at 3:08 pm

@ fresno bob : That’s because The Princess Bride was never billed as a movie specifically for kids, it was adapted from the novel which was a satire on fairy tales (billed as “A Hot Fairy Tale” right on the cover.)
Although I also hold that movie near and dear to my heart.
I love that Nightmare Before Christmas makes this list (and although I have seen Wall-e a lot recently, as well as Ratatouille and The Incredibles; one of those should have not made the list in favor of Finding Nemo, but just my personal opinion along with just about everyone else, it seems like.)
@ marqueemark: I loved The Corpse Bride, but it doesn’t compare to the overall magnificence achieved by Nightmare.

45. DiscHuker - July 9th, 2008 at 3:22 pm

goof_ball: no offense, but 14 is still a kid. enjoy it while you can

46. BlackYamiCat - July 9th, 2008 at 3:36 pm

I cheered when I saw The Nightmare Before Christmas on the top spot and the Incredibles on second. They are some of my favourite movies (being 16, i can still say that ^^)

And Who Framed Roger Rabbit? is my grandad’s favourite movie ever ^^

47. CK2005 - July 9th, 2008 at 3:37 pm

I hated the Incredibles, I can agree with a lot of them though. I personally would’ve included Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Finding Nemo, the Emperor’s New Groove, Kung Fu Panda, and the Lion King, but I see you mentioned that you left some off intentionally due to them being so popular already. Nice list, either way

48. Seven - July 9th, 2008 at 3:53 pm

I was loving this this list until I got to #1 Nightmare has become extremely overated-a thing for “goth and emo” teenagers to idolize and wear merchandise for to show how edgy they are

49. JwJwBean - July 9th, 2008 at 4:19 pm

I LOVE Nightmare Before Christmas. I am really glad it was number one. Finding Nemo is okay. I think Roger Rabbit was not so much a kids movie. Rather adult themes in it. I love Iron Giant and Vin Deisel had an excellant voice for it. Muppet Movie brings back sooo many memories. I love the songs. I am not a huge spongebob fan as are others posting here. A lot of the Disney movies have adult humor thrown in. I think it is what makes them so popular with kids and adults. I like that Shrek was in the notable omissions too.

50. Cthulhu - July 9th, 2008 at 4:24 pm

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory deserves a spot on the list.

51. JwJwBean - July 9th, 2008 at 4:24 pm

Has anyone else notice how hard it is for a new movie to get a G rating?

52. ringtailroxy - July 9th, 2008 at 4:28 pm

although I agree that “NBX” was perfect (I managed to get my dad to take me to the movies to see it when I was 18) I was very disappointed that

“The Lion King”
“The Princess Bride”
“The Bear”
and the
“Land Before Time” (the original)

where not listed here. (I LOVE Littlefoot! but all the spin-offs and sequels sucked petrified dinosaur eggs)

my favorite movie as a child was “Flight of the Navigator” I recently re-saw it on satellite and it seems kinda cheesy now. But I am convinced that this movie is the sole reason I now live in Ft. Lauderdale and have an Australian Shepherd. coincidence?

(I also watched “Honey I Shrunk the Kids’ about 100 times one summer because we had our first VCR and my little brothers loved the movie so much, we watched it just about every day before my mom kicked us outdoors, unsupervised, to “Go Play OUTSIDE!” which usually meant playing in the street. really. back in the 80’s, it was a safe thing to do!)

What I can’t understand is how come Disney no longer seems to be making all those cool live-action, emotion-wrenching, delightful, animal dramas like “Benji the Hunted”, “Never Cry Wolf”, (which, by the way, is a superb book by Farley Mowat), and ‘Old Yeller”(another phenomenal coming-of-age book by Fred Gipson)

Last one I saw was “8 Below” which, I got a “sneak peek” to go to. Okay. Not one of Disney’s greats.

rtr

53. Kreachure - July 9th, 2008 at 4:55 pm

ringtailroxy: I remember liking The Land Before Time back in the day, too! But I don’t think I would enjoy it as much now as an adult.

Sadly, twelve (yes, FRICKIN TWELVE) sequels later, it has become a forgettable series for people nowadays.

54. Kreachure - July 9th, 2008 at 5:03 pm

As long as it’s relevant to the list’s subject, did you know that Disney was accused of promoting sexual promiscuity because of a scene in The Lion King where the letters S E X can supposedly be seen? The animators said that it says SFX, but they took the scene out in future releases. Here’s a screenshot:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Lionkg2.jpg

Thus I ask, is nothing innocent anymore?

55. Christoffer - July 9th, 2008 at 5:08 pm

When I saw The Nightmare Before Christmas on #1 I was so happy I almost cried. THANK YOU. Finally someone who has got it! It is an awesome movie and it has deserved that first place!

56. FierceGrace - July 9th, 2008 at 5:13 pm

A lot of you seem to be forgetting that these are movies made for kids but seem to strike it more with adults due to well placed comedy. Not Disney movies like Lion King (although good, but no well placed comedy.) Crimanon….Roger Rabbit is a kids movie, I distinctly remember watching it as a child.
And I remember when my dad took me to see Nightmare Before Christmas in theaters when I was 7, been a fan of Tim Burton since I was a kid, and didn’t even know it! Beetlejuise and Edward Scissor Hands were my favourite movies as a tyke…disturbing eh?

57. CK2005 - July 9th, 2008 at 5:37 pm

I enjoy Nightmare before Christmas, but I do think “seven” has a point.

Kreachure, I believe it says SFX and was a tribute to the sound crew. People see whatever they want to see.

58. ryan - July 9th, 2008 at 5:48 pm

i think you forgot finding nemo

59. Gravy - July 9th, 2008 at 6:07 pm

I saw ratatouille and thought it was hilarious. I’m a sixteen year old guy, and all my friends make fun of me.

60. Byron - July 9th, 2008 at 6:09 pm

I think the transformers would have been a good choice, after all it was the

61. Byron - July 9th, 2008 at 6:11 pm

I think the Transformers would have been a good choice, after all, it was the #1 cartoon of the 80s.

62. AlyshiaH - July 9th, 2008 at 6:31 pm

Ok… so i have seen every movie on this list but Wall-e (as soon as it comes out on DVD ill get it.. but with a 3 month old Boob baby its hard to go to the movies)I agree that Finding Nemo should be on here.. and Nightmare before Christmas…. Really.. number 1??? dont get me wrong.. i love the movie… but my kids will never watch it till they are like 10. I dont think that really qualifies as a kids movie. Not that im over protective of my kids.. but Nightmare has a few things in it that would scare any young child.

63. Maggot - July 9th, 2008 at 6:38 pm

I think the statement in the intro:

“I’ve left off some real obvious ones, like Wizard of Oz, because it’s so well-regarded already.”

…answers as to why other perhaps “obvious” ones, like Lion King, Toy Story, Nemo, were left off? Mary Poppins, Sound of Music, etc. Pretty much the ones that are listed are reletively unknown, in comparision to these not-listed biggies.

64. Rosa - July 9th, 2008 at 6:47 pm

What about The Lion King?! It’s only the best movie ever made! It has deep meanings and themes that kids don’t get, but that are evident to teens and adults, making it an enjoyable, brilliant movie; also, kids love it for its fun characters and songs. (I love that Wallace and Gromit made the list. Definitely one of my presonal favorites. )

65. segue - July 9th, 2008 at 6:48 pm

Of the movies on the list I took my kids (who are all adults now) only to
‘The Muppet Movie’ and ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’…if I recall, they were older somewhat when that came out…but they both wonderful.
‘Princess Bride’ was another great movie for kids and adults, as was Project X.
At the end of Project X, my son, who was almost 10, climbed into my lap bawling with relief at the final safety of the chimps. I had to hold him for 15 minutes while he cried, but it was a good crying. I liked that a movie could touch a child so deeply and so purely.

66. Steve D - July 9th, 2008 at 6:53 pm

As the author of the list, I’m amazed at the amount of comments this has generated. Of course, there were lots of movies I considered. The Toy Story films are favorites of mine and surely would fit in this list. And from the amount of feedback, Finding Nemo seems to be a definite adult favorite, although I didn’t find it to be as enthralling as many of you out there. I thought for all its heart, it lacked much of the humor of the others. Of course, even the worst Pixar flick is heads and tails above just about anything out there.

I also considered some of the Disney flicks from a few years back, such as Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, but again, as good as they all were, I still didn’t get as much out of them as the films I listed. As a few commenters mentioned, humor definitely plays a big part in keeping many adults interested. Oh, another notable omission: Disney’s Teacher’s Pet. Hilarious!!

Yes, I could have easily made this a list of 15 or 20 or even 30, but I kept it to the top ten in my mind. If I added more, it would have become a Pixar list. Again, thanks for all the comments. Now, excuse me, it’s time to watch Bratz: The Movie.

67. Crimanon - July 9th, 2008 at 7:14 pm

FierceGrace: I remember watching Alien when I was a kid, does that make it a kids movie? Parental Discretion is advised. “It” was another kids movie to me and as far as I know Stephen Kind has never made a kids movie. Just because you watched it doesn’t mean it was a kids movie.

68. Jennie - July 9th, 2008 at 7:19 pm

I love The Incredibles, The Nightmare before Christmas and Who framed Roger Rabbit! Wall-E should be interesting to watch when it comes out (on dvd I mean, I hate theatres).

69. JoshuaB81285 - July 9th, 2008 at 7:22 pm

I just saw “Wall-E” the other day in theaters, and it just may be my favorite Pixar film now (The Incredibles and Ratatouille are among my favorites) and should be higher up on this list; but the way Wall-E was done was amazing, loved every bit of it. Glad to see “Iron Giant” on the list as well, as that is one of my favorite movies too.

Nightmare Before Christmas is great and truly a cult-classic, but it’s been killed by the “emo” crowd and all that stuff to the point I almost can’t stand it anymore.

And I agree, Pixar movies are among the best for kids and adults, they haven’t disappointed yet, I don’t think it’s possible they can.

70. Furious - July 9th, 2008 at 7:32 pm

Great list! The Nightmare Before Christmas is a great movie, one of my favorites.

71. Spanner in the works - July 9th, 2008 at 7:34 pm

Lovely list. We recently bought DVDs of both ‘Ratatouille’, Hill Larius, and ‘Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit’ (you could add all their films and the shorts as well. Nick Park et al. are a collective genius). We only buy films we know we want to watch over again (or sometimes over and over again!).
Unquestionably ‘Pinocchio’ (the Disney one) belongs and should have been in your 10. The wonderful ‘An actor’s life for me’ song, inter alia, is absolutely up there for adults to revel in, even when it isn’t combined with the fantastic animation sequence.
Perhaps ‘A Bug’s Life’?
I’m so glad the name of Ted Hughes has cropped up (‘Iron Man’), he’s always been one of my favourite poets/authors.
Spike Jonze’s ‘Where The Wild Things Are’, still apparently under wraps, may come into the reckoning once in public circulation.

Apropos. This site is so refreshing after others I’ve visited in the last day or so. Like a sweet mouthwash!

I ran into a posting block and haven’t been able to send this for yonks (most of the day) after it was written. It was written in haste and ‘blind’, and I still haven’t had time to read through all the rest above. So I’ll just post now and amend later if necessary. Apologies for any repetition, although repetition does add force.

72. chemical_echo - July 9th, 2008 at 7:46 pm

The part about Disney sweeping Nightmare Before Christmas under the carpet is completely off.

Disney knows how popular the movie still is and use it to their advantage. Every year the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland changes to a “holiday mode” where the characters from the movie are placed in the ride.
There are also several stores and stands at the Disney Resorts selling Nightmare merchandise. Last time I went I bought a Jack Skellington belt and noticed everything from hats to shirts, to posters, to signs, to snow globes, to pretty much anything. I’ve also seen some of this merchandise in the Disney stores in malls.

Disney knows the popularity of the movie and uses it pretty good. Far from sweeping it under the carpet.

73. kwizical - July 9th, 2008 at 8:04 pm

I saw Darby O’Gill and the Little People in a theater with my family when I was but a wee lad. There’s a scene in the movie with banshees that scared the beejeezus out of me for weeks.

74. DEMklok - July 9th, 2008 at 8:07 pm

I started to like spongebob after I saw the movie. It was awesome. Where’s Toy Story and The Lion King? When I was a little kid I watched the land before time so much that I broke the VHS and it would skip the hyena song. =(

75. MPW - July 9th, 2008 at 8:10 pm

There are possibly hundreds more that could qualify for this list, but these movies are great regardless. Good job and nice list.

The Nightmare Before Christmas is perfect at #1

76. the hound - July 9th, 2008 at 8:31 pm

Iron Giant rocks the shit dude.

77. Seth - July 9th, 2008 at 8:34 pm

Seven: I agree that many of the punk/goth/emo losers have taken the popularity of tNBC too far. But without it I don’t Disney would have re-released tNBC into theaters (in 3D no less!). That was the first time that I was able to see this glorious movie on the big screen. My mom forbade me to go see it when it came out (I was 10). But my cool aunt gave it to me for my birthday on VHS and I have been a huuuge fan ever since.

I was very glad to see that the Iron Giant was on there. Some other movies that could be on there that haven’t been mentioned is Babe, Willow, An American Tail, Titan A.E., Fantasia, and Fantasia 2000 just to name a few.

78. big ski - July 9th, 2008 at 8:49 pm

To all of you who hated on Spongebob a pox on ye.The writers and creators of that cartoon are in a league with Bugs Bunny,Daffy Duck,Popeye and so on. Never heard of #4 but looks kinda cool.

79. Spanner in the works - July 9th, 2008 at 8:52 pm

O.K. I’ve read through now.

Like so many here, Anita and I, as well as various friends thoroughly enjoyed ‘Nemo’, but as much for the stunning artwork and imaginative marine settings as the story. Perhaps that’s a good enough reason. The story is O.K., but not as surprising, subtle and ‘deep’ as many others. I think ‘Ice Age’ perhaps qualifies similarly. We’d certainly buy them as DVDs, but perhaps not at full price.

Perhaps SteveD you intended the great early Disney’s as too familiar, like ‘Wiz’, but surely one exemplary great historical example of the art ought to have been included? ‘Bambi’ is surely too sentimental for today’s savvy adults, and ‘Snow White’ perhaps too “innocent”, but I stand by ‘Pinocchio’. It has that quality of nearly all absolutely outstanding kiddieflicks, ancient and modern, feature or short (i.e. the Tom and Jerrys). Its style and contents were cunningly designed to hit both knowing adults and naïve kids, and do, bulls-eye. The artwork and creative imagination of ‘Pinocchio’ are peerless. It has scenes that can terrify the imaginative, boys turning into donkeys, the entrapment in the belly of the whale. And the characterisations … We enjoy a lot of pixar stuff hugely, but would never say it displaces this and the other early masterpieces. Is ‘The Battleship Potemkin’ less of a masterpiece than ‘Das Boot’? Judging them on purely technical quality, yes. Such comparisons cannot and should not be made.

80. tommy - July 9th, 2008 at 8:54 pm

What happened to “The Neverending story” ?

81. Billy - July 9th, 2008 at 8:56 pm

I’m a child of the 1970’s, so movies like “The Rescuers”, “The AristoCats” and “The Apple Dumpling Gang” fit the bill for me here.

82. jake ryder - July 9th, 2008 at 9:05 pm

Oh as the father of three I agree with these (except Roger Rabbit)but there are so many more. I was just watching Snow White with my daughter last night as she was up puking the whole night. I was struck by the fact that kids have been watching that movie for 7 decades now.

83. Spanner in the works - July 9th, 2008 at 9:35 pm

jake ryder,

You’ve obliged me to backtrack a bit on my qualification of ‘Snow White’ as rather “innocent”. As a young child I suffered hugely over the death of Bambi’s mum. But despite Maltin’s observation that Pinocchio “contains some of the scariest scenes ever put on film” it did not terrify me. The gruesome wicked witch of ‘Snow White’ and her abilty to transmogrify from the equally chilling stepmother were part of the stuff of my nightmares for a good few years though.

84. Spanner in the works - July 9th, 2008 at 10:09 pm

‘Stuart Little’ anyone?

**** Amazon, ***Maltin’s, **Halliwells.

Plus a chance to see Hugh Laurie BEFORE he became Dr House!

85. Omniforous - July 9th, 2008 at 10:37 pm

I think that Corpse Bride is also really good, and everybody in my family likes it. And did anyone mention Bambi? my dad said that it nearly ended the hunting of deer, its a good movie, and i think it would qualify to be in the list.

86. ct305 - July 9th, 2008 at 10:44 pm

I was kinda hoping to see A Christmas Story somewhere on this list. It relates so well to everyone and I have yet to meet a person that hasn’t seen this movie as a family during the holidays.

87. ct305 - July 9th, 2008 at 10:49 pm

I also think that for fairness on this list all the Pixar movies should have been placed as one number. I remember reading a list of modern black and white movies where directors were not repeated as too include as many as possible and that should of came into play here as well to try and accommodate more movies. I personally really don’t see what makes Finding Nemo better than Wall-E or any of the others besides personal taste.

88. Spanner in the works - July 9th, 2008 at 10:50 pm

Omniforous.

Yes. I mentioned ‘Bambi’ at 83, two postings above you

89. Spanner in the works - July 9th, 2008 at 10:51 pm

And at 79.

90. Hannah - July 9th, 2008 at 11:52 pm

I second that ct305! I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like Pixar movies! They are all exceptional in their own right, and I’d be hard pressed to choose a favorite. They are the only cartoons I MUST go see on the big screen.

91. esa - July 10th, 2008 at 12:46 am

The Sponge Bob Movie is on here, yet no classic Disney?
Please let me know when the world has more taste.

92. mcginnsrbig - July 10th, 2008 at 12:48 am

Where’s Toy Story?!?!

93. Spanner in the works - July 10th, 2008 at 12:57 am

I second that esa (well, I already have done in some detail).

94. Spanner in the works - July 10th, 2008 at 12:58 am

I second, or third, or whatever ‘Toy Story’ too.

95. joeyjoejoeshabadoo - July 10th, 2008 at 3:49 am

“The Incredibles” was long, tedious, and boring.

96. sue - July 10th, 2008 at 4:15 am

Beauty and the beast,finding nemo

97. hallowedbethyname - July 10th, 2008 at 4:43 am

nightmare before christmas rocks!!

98. Randall - July 10th, 2008 at 5:43 am

Tried to post this yesterday, but of course ran into trouble with the site. But…

I am going to pontificate here and get all pedantic and self-righteous. Sorry.

I cannot STAND Disney films (with some rare exceptions, the 50s version of Treasure Island among them) and my kids hate them too (blessed, intellectual kids that I have). I hate them not just for the phony, corporate-cynical mien of the hated Disney company itself (and the hypocrisy also of Walt himself) and for the bizarre, the-mother-is-always-dead-or-killed plot contrivance of Disney films AND for the sickening cutesiness they exhibit–but I also hate them for the way they SHAMELESSLY bowdlerize their subject matter–and sometimes even steal it.

(Please note that I EXCLUDE Pixar films from this. Pixar is not Disney. Thus far they have remained their own stylistic entity, not succumbing to the giant corporation’s horrid ways).

The Lion King—stolen whole cloth from a Japanese cartoon of the 60s.

Little Mermaid—sickeningly cutesy RUINATION of the beautiful and sublime story written by Hans Christian Andersen; a tacky happy ending (whereas the ending of the original tale was moving and slightly sad, but lovely nonetheless and would have taught kids a lot more about life than the usual boy-gets-girl-after-defeating-villain ending of the Disney film).

Beauty and The Beast—disgusting next to the Jean Cocteau version, which my daughters FAR prefer… as do I. And again, a ruin of the original story, turned from sublimely lovely to cutesy sickening.

Aladdin—UNBELIEVABLE bowdlerization of the original tale, and disgusting, again, in comparison to the Alexander Korda version, or the silent version with Douglas Fairbanks… again, my daughters prefer the latter two immensely over the Disney, which is perhaps the worst offender of all of the examples I’m mentioning here, in crapping on its source material with glib abandon.

Pocahantas—godawful distortion of history. Phony and moronic.

Need I go on?

Add to all this the humorless, commodity-driven attitude of the Disney Corp., only one story in regards to which should suffice: (I recall this from an old “Hate Disney” web site which listed–at length–the various shady/unethical/near-illegal or downright illegal practices that go on at Disney World and Disney Land, as well as the filmic crap that I’ve outlined here)… there was once a daycare center (pretty sure it was that) that had, upon finishing construction (or refurbishment, I can’t recall which) had decided that, to please the children, it would decorate with a Disney theme–festooning the walls with Disney characters. Sadly, the Corporate Assholes got wind of this, and soon a cease-and-desist order appeared on the doorstep of the daycare center–ordering them to remove the character depictions or face litigation of a most terrible nature.

Naturally, the center, having no funds to stand up to the corporate giant, demurred and removed the images.

Hearing of this nastiness, the folks at Hanna-Barbera, a fine and doesn’t-take-itself-too-seriously-company (unlike the masters of the hated mouse) donated murals and figures of their popular characters–Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, etc. Showing that not all business types are sphincters.

But I digress… back to the films…

It’s not too much to expect kids to appreciate better versions of stories, folks. TRY them. Kids are smarter and have better taste than we all sometimes think. They KNOW when they’re being lied to and cheated… but they won’t know if all they’re ever exposed to is the lying and cheating of Disney, all wrapped up in its pretty packaging.

99. Tempyra - July 10th, 2008 at 5:55 am

Yay for Randall and his articulate opinions!

I, too, cannot stand Disney movies.

Watching Aladdin or The Little Mermaid is like eating candy floss: tastes kinda nice and sweet, then it gives you sugar burn, and if you make a habit of eating it you’ll be terribly unhealthy. The worst part is that you KNOW all that before you give in to it’s fluffy pink looks and fork over far too much money for what is just sugar and food colouring whipped into fluff and sold at fairs, themeparks, circuses and anywhere where parents are slightly more susceptible to the demands of their children.

100. DiscHuker - July 10th, 2008 at 6:49 am

note to self…don’t suggest going to disney world with randall.

101. warningdontreadthis - July 10th, 2008 at 7:13 am

First I thought: Oh no heres Randall going on one of his rants again and criticizing my beloved Disney films. But he makes some very good points, when I read the orginal ending to Little Mermaid I was shocked. H.C. Andersen’s ending is much better and so sad it moved me to tears. Alot of Disneys work is ripped off and too cute and cliche but I still love’em (some of them). Despite the fact that there are many things I would like to change about them.

Did Hanna-Barbera every make any films? Because they were my favorites and so much better than Disney. You know Top Cat, Flinstones, Jetsons, Scooby and Yogi. Now theres some fun cartoons I havent seen for ages.

102. Drelo - July 10th, 2008 at 7:18 am

I think Emperor’s New Groove deserves a spot. It may be the funniest movie for kids that I have ever seen. Squeekity Squeek Squeekums.

103. Randall - July 10th, 2008 at 8:22 am

warningdontreadthis:

Disney sucks ass, W., and they enslave the unwary with their cutesy mind-control. The sooner you accept it, the sooner you shall breathe free again. I’m glad you found some wisdom in my rant, and glad that you agree, at least, about The Little Mermaid. I cried like a baby when I read the original. And yet, it was a beautiful and sublime ending, not simply sad. There would have been a way to do it, in a film version, that wouldn’t have been a downer for kids.

Hanna-B. only made a few actual films that I’m aware of–chief among them the great version of “Charlotte’s Web,” from the 70s, and “Hey There it’s Yogi Bear” and “A Man Called Flintstone” in the 60s… a spy spoof which was actually pretty good. I loved it. For the most part they were TV only, though–and let’s face it—they had their heyday, then went into an awful decline in the 70s and 80s…. only to rebound recently with the whole Cartoon Network thing.

The real kings of animation—far better than Disney and more intelligent, more honest, more real–are Warner Bros. I’ll take Bugs Bunny any day over that damn annoying mouse.

104. Randall - July 10th, 2008 at 8:26 am

Disc:

I was taken to Disney World–once–when I was 9 years old, in 1974. I hated it. I really did. Even the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea submarine ride was a letdown. The haunted house was cool, and the park had a fun sort of overwhelmingly surreal air to it (Pirates of the Caribbean for instance, was coolly weird) but that was it. I also hated the asshats walking around in costumes.

I had a much better time, I remember, at Cape Canaveral, and at Busch Gardens, which was still in good shape back then. But really I just preferred the beaches.

But then I always preferred Maine over Florida, so what do I know?

105. Spanner in the worksj - July 10th, 2008 at 9:11 am

Randall,

Hear, hear, hear, hear.

But to pìnch a classification from music, you are talking and listing the scummy oodles of middle-period Disney (Pixar is late period, as per last Beethoven string quartets, but hopefully not ‘last’!) For what I know you may place all Disney in that category. Not all we wrinklies do. Some of us hate what I will label the post-war crap and cynicism (although I am only speaking for myself). Instead of developing those few that were shining pillars of our childhood (and I would add ‘Dumbo’ to the three already mentioned), all went downhill on skids. The shite came out when we were more adult, and we afficionados despised them just as much as you do. To be fair, shallow and callow though the overall treatment is, one could pick enjoyable and imaginative MOMENTS out of, say, ‘Alice’. There was fringe stuff such as ‘Song of the South’ where I certainly loved the animated stories, though would fast-forward with eyes shut through the rest today.

Maybe you hate the bathwater so much you can only chuck out the baby as well. If you do, I suggest you will be betraying the artists who devoted their skills as a labour of love to creating flicks such as ‘Snow White’. A TV docu of that was once shown. Those guys worked far beyond the call of duty in a mood of collective inspiration which was not motivated by pay packets. As a driven botanist who at times can’t help doing what he loves for bugger all bread, I picked up the same vibes from them (the survivors) as they talked. I don’t think you can classify some of their terrifyingly portrayed moments already mentioned by me above as ‘cutesy’. O.K., the overall mood is less anarchic, and even in those days more sprinkled with sugar than their rivals’ work. That was simply Disney’s policy: as much when he still had some idealism left in him as when he became a total vile corporate monster.

As a young child, and in the less savvy and often more grim context of the times (war, austerity) I also enjoyed many, though by no means all the shorts. The more anarchic Donald Duck with his splendid vocals was always far more acceptable than the all-too-often embarrassing, swivel-eared Mickey. It is interesting to note that the venerated ‘Monty Python’ team partially owes direct descent from these. Their main source of inspiration was the madcap and incredibly innovative radio ‘The Goon Show’ which catapulted Peter Sellers to fame. Its writer and other main creative vocalist, Spike Milligan, a true anti-establishment rebel, based the voice of one of the main characters, ‘The Famous’ Eccles, on Goofy.

I can still recall one Disney cartoon seen as a very young child in central London cartoon theatre about a small goldfish accidentally lost down a plug-hole and its odyssey of a journey to the sea. And you’d say ‘Nemo’ was original? (O.K. I’m a biologist, I know goldfish cannot survive in salt water, but nor can clownfish away from their protective coral hosts!)

I appreciate your sickened reaction. You are also, of course, absolutely at liberty to express your personal opinion and react according to your taste and experience. But when it comes to the early periods works, you can hardly deny you’re swinning against an almost full consensus, even these days. Out of interest, I check out films I value against (at least) Maltin, Halliwell (critics), Amazon (public) and 1000 films to see before you die (critics):
M H A TOTAL
MAXIMUM 4 4 5 13
Snow White (1937)* 4 4 4.5 12.5*
Pinocchio (1940) 4 4 4 12
Dumbo (1941) 4 4 4.5 12.5
Bambi (1942)* 4 4 4.5 12.5*
Song of the South (1946) 3.5 1 5 9.5
Alice (1951) 3 1 4.5 8.5
The Muppet Movie (1979) 3 2 5 9.5
Nemo (2003) 3.5 2 5 10

* = in 1000 films to see before you die.

Notes: Without exception, and from an adult point of view, everyone whose opinion I value would put ‘Pinoke’ first. I’m disappointed it’s slightly downplayed here, and also appalled by public taste (Amazon). My overall view is nigh on identical to the ever-severe Halliwell.

They were staggeringly unique, and ‘Snow White’ in particular was an act of faith. It nearly broke the studio and all concerned were constantly told it would be a box office flop. The first ‘Big Four’ have perhaps never even been equalled since (I’m allowing Pixar as a different technology), except for the odd one-off masterpiece such as ‘Les Triplettes de Belleville’. I’d be happy that this historical viewpoint was at least acknowledged.

106. Spanner in the worksj - July 10th, 2008 at 9:13 am

I was afraid that would happen. The transfer has buggered up my table. It didn’t respect the spacings. Oh, well, just hope you can sort it out, if interested.

107. Spanner in the worksj - July 10th, 2008 at 9:16 am

Randall,

I just love what Bart Simpson does to the ‘asshats walking around in costumes’.

108. Keppa - July 10th, 2008 at 9:18 am

Haha…not too sure I would have put Watership Down on the “honorable mentions.”
Not too sure if you’ve seen the movie - but it’s fairly harsh. I’ve read the book, and saw the movie when I was much younger, and I was slightly traumitized. Granted it’s a very heartfelt story - but it does depict like 10 rabbits being killed in pretty graphic ways…
Still could kind of give me nightmares…

109. DK - July 10th, 2008 at 10:08 am

This list could too easily have been a top 20 or 30! Had I written this list it would simply have been a list of Pixar movies in no particular order! I would have put Nemo on the list before The Incredibles, but I love all that is Pixar! Wall-E, by the way, was phenomenal! I’ve seen it twice already, and yes, it should qualify even though it’s been out only a few days!

Oh! and Darby O’Gill! I must find a new copy of that, I used to watch it every year at St. Patty’s day, my dad recorded it off the Disney Channel when it used to be a pay channel, during one of their free weeks, so it would pop up saying “call 1-800-Disney1 to order Disney Channel!” or whatever every 15 minutes. It’s an excellent movie, go see it if you haven’t!

And to all you Disney haters I say ppptttthhhhhhffff. I love Disney, and you all can’t stop me!

110. kittym - July 10th, 2008 at 10:13 am

I’m a major fan of Tim Burton, and have been obsessed with Nightmare Before Christmas since it first came out, so I was very happy to see in at the number one slot. All the others I’ve seen (even though I detest Spongebob), and agree with most. I’d mention Toy Story, but I was prime age when that came out, so I may have some childhood bias about that one.

Excellent list, and I’m so glad that none of the dead-mother-helpless-princess-waiting-prettily-for-her-prince films made it on there.

111. JwJwBean - July 10th, 2008 at 10:16 am

But but but… I like Disney movies and their happy endings. I LOVE Disney World (a place my husband vows to never go again). Randall, have you been talking to my husband? He used to like Disney. I understand your point of them ruining the true stories, but I don’t mind the happy ending changes made to their movies. *SPOILER ALERT (But if you have not seen Moulin Rouge by now I have no sympathy if I ruin the movie for you.) I remember watching Moulin Rouge with my boys. We cut it off just before she dies. Not meaning to, but the boys were happy there was a happy ending. So we left it at that. Then they watched it again another time and found out she died. They were very sad. I almost felt bad about ruining the illusion of a happy ending. However, I do encourage my boys to read the true stories and compare, the same as any movie made off of a book.

112. BrotherMan - July 10th, 2008 at 10:19 am

I hear ya on Disney World, JuJu! It is one hell of an awesome place. Even the rides that are geared more towards kids are a lot of fun. I went there with some family members about 3 or 4 years ago and I had a total blast the entire time.

113. Spanner in the worksj - July 10th, 2008 at 10:31 am

Randall,

I don’t believe you can invalidate ALL Disney by comparison. There’s more than one way to skin a cat.

114. bucslim - July 10th, 2008 at 10:59 am

Randall - I read your post 98 which basically is opposed to everything I said in post 24. OK, fine, I see your point and I pretty much agree with what you’re saying, Disney sucks harder than an airline toilet when it comes to ruining original stories or intent. I wasn’t thinking of all that when I was in the audience with my little goobers. I took each film for what it was worth and I found value in most of the ones I mentioned earlier.

The biggest problem I had with Disney is those motherfuckers would pimp the next film or video with every new film or video. It’s a goddamn machine - “Get this now before it goes into the Disney vault for 10 years!” Assholes. They definitely weren’t making the movies for art’s sake it was to grease the Tarkus like behemouth they had created. I turned that shit off around the Pocohautas stage because it was nothing more than a dredging up of tired bullshit of the white guys gettin off the boat, spreading the clap and small pox and stealing the hot women and land. Hunchback was probably one of the worst films I’ve ever seen.

115. ToKiLoKi12 - July 10th, 2008 at 12:43 pm

has anyone else noticed that the movies that have jokes that can go over kids heads (while still appealing to kids) and make adults laugh end up doing REALLY well at the box office?

116. Spanner in the worksj - July 10th, 2008 at 12:55 pm

TokiLoKi12 (115),

From my 79 above:

“… but I stand by ‘Pinocchio’. It has that quality of nearly all absolutely outstanding kiddieflicks, ancient and modern, feature or short (i.e. the Tom and Jerrys). Its style and contents were cunningly designed to hit both knowing adults and naïve kids, and do, bulls-eye.”

117. Melanie - July 10th, 2008 at 1:06 pm

Toy Story, Shrek and Lion King.

118. cocololo - July 10th, 2008 at 2:07 pm

okay, i love it that you love spongebob… not many adults would admit to that.

and making the nightmare before christmas #1? hallelujah!

thank you for not putting any of that disney shit on here… one of my all time favorite movies WAS “the little mermaid” but think about the negative undertones of it… a woman gives up her voice and spreads her legs AND give up who she loves being just to be with a man? screw that, bring on the pixar.

plus, name me ONE disney hero/ine that does not have at least one dead parent and “hercules” doesn’t count cause he meets them later, he doesn’t grow up with them. and that movie sucked anyways, it was like one of the last remaining disney cartoon animation attempts before pixar rocked the house.

119. ringtailroxy - July 10th, 2008 at 2:17 pm

Seth~ Titan A.E.! I forgot that one! Isn’t it a Don Bluth film? I remember loving such great Don Bluth films as

The Secret of NIHM
and
Banjo the Woodpile Cat
when I was a child of the 80’s. Banjo was the greatest little guy!I totally related to his character.

120. Spanner in the worksj - July 10th, 2008 at 2:23 pm

cocololo, 118.

Minnie Mouse?

121. Spanner in the worksj - July 10th, 2008 at 2:30 pm

Well Great,

O.K. So Snow White, Dumbo, Bambi and Pinocchio are sheer worthless Disney shit. I’m so glad I’ve at last found better, more valid critial opinions than Maltin, Halliwell and at least a few hundred members of the public who bothered to write them up in Amazon.

Thanks.

122. Nicolelodeon - July 10th, 2008 at 3:32 pm

I’m glad to see Nightmare Before Christmas as number 1, because I am 18 years old now, but I’ve loved that movie since I was a kid. I do have to agree with most though, Spongebob should not be on this list at all, mostly because people older than 8 do hate him because he is SO ANNOYING. I do believe that Finding Nemo should be on this list, as well as Aladdin, Mulan or Toy Story. Not Toy Story Two though, that one was terrible compared to the first.

And one last note, Corpse Bride was so not better than the Nightmare Before Christmas.

123. segue - July 10th, 2008 at 3:38 pm

****
#115. ToKiLoKi12
has anyone else noticed that the movies that have jokes that can go over kids heads (while still appealing to kids) and make adults laugh end up doing REALLY well at the box office
****
Such has it always been, all the way back to the Fleischer cartoons.
btw, re the early, early Disney. I have the bit, “When I see an Elephant Fly” from Dumbo, on my personal blog.

124. MPW - July 10th, 2008 at 3:44 pm

I saw an episode of SpongeBob, where Spongebob, his boss and patrick went on a panty raid. that isn’t for children

125. warningdontreadthis - July 10th, 2008 at 4:26 pm

MPW: I’ve always thought spongebob was on drugs.

126. warningdontreadthis - July 10th, 2008 at 4:34 pm

I love Cartoon Network. It helped me learn English and thank Fry for that.

127. JwJwBean - July 10th, 2008 at 4:46 pm

#118 Cocololo “plus, name me ONE disney hero/ine that does not have at least one dead parent”

Mulan’s parents were both alive. And so was her grandmother.

I am starting to see why some of the adults here do not enjoy these kids movies. You all are reading way too much into a children’s film.

128. spongebabe - July 10th, 2008 at 4:47 pm

hey, i love cartoons and i think finding nemo should be here. FINDING NEMO!

129. Kenny - July 10th, 2008 at 4:49 pm

I remember when I saw TNBC in theaters, it was so sad, yet cute and happy, and I was obsessed ever since!
Im going to go watch that right now!

130. Sickophant - July 10th, 2008 at 4:53 pm

It’s strange. Over 129 comments and yet only Mom424 has ponted out that Monsters, Inc. has been omitted from this list.

131. warningdontreadthis - July 10th, 2008 at 5:30 pm

“The Lion King” anyone?

132. Spanner in the worksj - July 10th, 2008 at 6:29 pm

segue, 123,

“When I see an elephant fly”

Reply short but sweet and focussed. I knew if I’d get a direct response finally from anyone, It’d probably be you.

Ever felt you were talking yourself?
And it was the first sign of madness?

JwJwBean, 127,

In some cases, no. They are simply not reading anything into GREAT childrens’ films. Simply ignoring them.

If I said Hitchcock’s films were shit, you’d quite rightly all be jumping over me. (And I be jumping over myself.) If I said some Hitchcock films were masterpieces (and named them), but Hitchcock didn’t happen to hit my particular button. you’d find that a reasonable answer I hope. Wouldn’t you?

133. MPW - July 10th, 2008 at 6:31 pm

The Lion King Rules and yes I know it has been mentioned

134. segue - July 10th, 2008 at 7:52 pm

****
#132. Spanner in the worksj

segue, 123,

“When I see an elephant fly”

Reply short but sweet and focused. I knew if I’d get a direct response finally from anyone, It’d probably be you.

Ever felt you were talking yourself?
And it was the first sign of madness?
****
LOL! LOL! LOL!
Oh, Spanner, quite often!
You know, the old cartoons, Fleischer, Merrie Melodies, the early Disney’s, the early Warner Bros. were really little gems. I can still envision entire Fleischer and Merrie Melodies scenes, and thanks to both them, and Bugs Bunny, I’ve found myself, more than once, having to stifle laughter at Philharmonic performances or Operas. I always wonder how many other audience members are having the same reaction.
As to Hitchcock, some of my all time favorite movies are Hitchcock’s. He could build more fear and suspense with the use of shadows, or camera angle being just off, than any modern director can do with aall their fancy equipment…and I worked in the industry.
But enough.
Time to drug myself into senselessness.
ta!

135. Spanner in the worksj - July 10th, 2008 at 8:40 pm

segue,

For when you come back: and I hope you don’t get put through too much of a medical mill meanwhile.

Of course talking about films to you is teaching grandma to suck eggs (eggs suck?). I’d forgotten.

I’m beginning to feel sorry for these pixar-worshippers and wondering just how much of the great early stuff you and I have mentioned they really know. That isn’t in any way, in the slightest sense playing down pixar. But it’s a bit like going to the same magnificent holiday destination every year and saying it’s better than anywhere else, so who needs to go anywhere else. Personally I find that sort of exclusive approach antipathetic, but there you are. One has to specialise somehow or other, that’s all life’s short span allows, but I do that reluctantly, knowing I’m missing out on wonderful alternatives, rather than dismissively. Of course, one also has to apply the critical faculty and personal preference, but it seems to me people are confusing or mixing those two here.

I’m sure you know it, but I think my all-time favourite short, maybe my all-time favourite animated, is the Tom and Jerry ‘Cat Concerto’. It’s divine, it’s sublime, it’s as close to sheer genius as the music it’s drawn around, Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody Nº 2*. Every second is full of superb invention. And it has a happy ending too! Whenever I watch it, mixed-emotion tears come welling to my eyes; of laughter, of appreciation at its magic, of sheer joy.

*(Actually, I don’t particularly enjoy Liszt except for the thrilling Psalm 13 “Herr, wie lange willst du meiner so gar vergessen?”. But if he did nothing else than inspire that cartoon, I’d be eternally grateful!).

And talk of vile Disney deterioration. What about the modern Tom and Jerrys, etc. Ugh! ugh! What a cynical betrayal of standard there too.

136. Seth - July 10th, 2008 at 9:06 pm

ringtailroxy - Yes, Titan A.E. was a Don Bluth film… Sadly it was his last =/ It bombed so bad that he was forced to close down his studio… or something to that nature. My favorite, FAVORITE Don Bluth films are: Land Before Time, Secret of NIMH (very dark movie), All Dogs Go to Heaven, Anastasia, and last but definitely not least, An American Tail (which was also the very first movie I saw in the theaters).

An interesting side note: Had it not been for the huge success for An American Tail, there probably wouldn’t have been the Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, or any other of the post 80’s Disney movies. I read in a few places that Disney company was on the verge of shutting down their animated movie productions due to the lack of box office dollars they were getting (I guess The Great Mouse Detective and Oliver & Company were the last straws). But when An American Tail came out, it was a huge success (beating the Great Mouse Detective in 1986). This showed Disney there was still an audience for good animated movies. I tried providing a link to support my claim, but sadly I could not find one. If I do I will post it later

137. Moose - July 10th, 2008 at 9:43 pm

To Randall and all others who have expressed a strong dislike for Disney:

I hear you and I agree- Disney warps fairy tales so that everything ends happily, regardless of how the original tale went.
I applaud you for taking the time to share the original versions of these stories with your children, because I agree that if you feel they can deal with the darker aspects, they should be allowed to enjoy them. I love, for example, the Norwegian variation of Beauty and the Beast.

That being said, I love Disney of the 80s and early 90s. Beauty and the Beast is my favorite movie, animated or live action. In my defense, I have read multiple versions: the Jean Cocteau version, whichever version was used for the creepy talking Mother Goose tape player, a Norwegian variation called East of the Sun, West of the Moon, and the original Roman myth of Cupid and Psyche. Despite the many changes Disney made, it was the message of the film that touched me- you can be liked for being yourself, regardless of appearance.

I recall seeing a more traditional version of the Little Mermaid that actually pointed out what she endured- the feeling of daggers when she walked, losing the prince to another, turning into sea foam rather than kill him. I loved that too. Rather than painting Ariel as a woman who “gives up her voice and spreads her legs AND give up who she loves being just to be with a man”, I grew up seeing her as someone who was willing to sacrifice everything for love. Call me a romantic, but I loved it. I still do.

And the Lion King? Before it was a Japanese cartoon in the 60s, it was a Shakespearean play known as Hamlet.

Someone argued that Disney movies are not good because the protagonist is almost always missing the mother figure. Looking back at the original stories, there’s still no mom. Disney didn’t come up with that on their own.

I could go on in detail as to how there is good and bad in Disney films and how Disney has done nothing new in changing a story to suit the audience (which has been going on as long as there were stories to tell), but frankly, I don’t want to type that much.

Yes. Disney is a massive corporation set on making money off of selling happy stories to young children. Disneyland is an overpriced shrine to all things Disney. I still love it, because when I was young, I wanted to see the prince and the princess live happily ever after. When I’m having a bad day, I need to see that things can work out, no matter how unlikely it may seem at the time.

People see what they want to see in Disney films. I see that little bit of magic we all search for as a child and give up on as adults.

138. warningdontreadthis - July 10th, 2008 at 10:03 pm

I must point out that despite the fact that I love Disney I cant defend their recent work.

I have two 11 year old sisters who live and breath the shit Disney dishes out. High School Musical and Hannah Montana. Surley even Randall can agree that watching the Disney version of Little Mermaid is 1000 times better than watching a whore to be prance around in a wig acting like she can sing. I remember seeing an episode of Oprah where forty - fifty year olds were cheering and even crying when they saw her come in with her huge teeth and extensions. What the hell happend to dignity?

139. Chellery - July 10th, 2008 at 10:15 pm

Moose:
I totally agree with you on The Little Mermaid. I love it too. That was my favorite movie as a child, and I got the special edition for Christmas last year. Watching it again as an adult was an entirely different experience than as a child! I am moving to a different continent in a few months, and watching the final scene when she leaves her family in the ocean to be with Eric was so much more than a happy ending - it was a moving goodbye as well! I have to say it really got to me.

ringtailroxy:
Titan A.E. is an amazing film! I love Don Bluth, although the Land Before Time series is crazily out of hand. How many are there now? 15?

140. Spanner in the worksj - July 10th, 2008 at 10:24 pm

Kind of addressing your theme, Seth,

I would have to admit on reflection to being unfair and biased in lumping all later Disney animateds together for overall tubeflushing. If you can excuse that, it’s my reaction against the total ignoring or rubbishing of the early masterpieces, which were also, does anyone recall, technical ground¡breakers in so many respects. That coupled with the fact the later ones you just name were and are receiving their fair share of shouts.

To take two, I’d rate ‘An American Tail’ as definitely watchable and enjoyable, if not up to the high original standard, but perhaps ‘Aladdin’ comes close or is. That is borne out by both critical and public response, which, as per my posting 105, give an aggregate of 11.5 out of 13 stars. I wonder what the difference might have been without Robin Williams?

141. fishing4monkeys - July 10th, 2008 at 10:49 pm

warningdontreadthis: I’m no fan of disney and definatly not Hannah Montana but come on…would you rather have them watching something completely braindead like spongebob? Disney doesn’t care about dignity! They’re a company..they care about money. Disney is doing to the film industry what EA is doing to the video game industry. Pumping out as much stuff as they can and then milking it to death. They don’t give two sh*ts about dignity…they’re rich!

142. Ginger - July 10th, 2008 at 11:08 pm

Man. I though Finding Nemo was a terrible film.
As a gigantic Tim Burton fan I have to say Nightware was excellent. It definitely deserves it’s spot.

And it’s La Vie En Rose, not Le Vie En Rose.

143. Ginger - July 10th, 2008 at 11:08 pm

Hannah Montana is great!
A show with Billy Ray Cyrus.. Yummy.

144. Spanner in the worksj - July 10th, 2008 at 11:43 pm

Somewhere up above, The Hannah Barbera Flintstones is held up high against Disney, and questions were asked about whether the company made films.

I should just like to note that in my opinion the two Flintstone films are insurmountably monumental crap, a witless and humourless insult to the better aspects of their own series, and wrongly considered by at least one critic as fit to appeal only to young kids. Poor young kids!

And not only my opinion. I love the following crisp critiques quoted in Halliwell, a remarkably similar set of variations on a theme:

‘Yabba Dabba Doo-doo.’ Philadelphia Inquirer.
‘Yabba Dabba Don’t.’ USA Today.
‘Yabba Dabba Dud.’ New York Daily Post.
‘Yabba Dabba Poo!’ Empire.

Well, apparently the public flocked to see it, and it even garners an astonishing three out of five stars in Amazon, so I’m digging in for a backlash here.

No general criticism of Hannah Barbera intended.

145. Spanner in the worksj - July 11th, 2008 at 12:01 am

Thought I’d done that. Too bloody tired to concentrate properly.

Hanna Barbera, of course not Hannah. Nothing at all to do with Woody Allen.

146. sjellen - July 11th, 2008 at 12:26 am

anything pixar

147. CRSN - July 11th, 2008 at 12:27 am

The Nightmare before Christmas is a classic, it was a little unfortunate that the next movie made by them, The Corpse Bride” wasnt up to the same standard, the animation was great, but the story line was just lacking.

148. CRSN - July 11th, 2008 at 12:46 am

Spongebob square turd is a horrible animation, not only are the writters lacking an imagination, but have no idea how to put a story line together that actually has some moral meaning that gets the child/adult thinking.

i mean, even Buggs Bunnie and the Daffy Duck cartoons dont really have any moral meaning to them, but, at least they weren’t making us dumber by watching them, as horrible as a cartoon it was, “Captain Planet” sticks in my mind to this day (i thought the blond was hot when iwas now, i might not recycle as much as i probably could, but between the greenies advertising to recycle and take care of the planet and pretty much giving me the shits and Captain Planet, i think the good old captain implanted the thought that “hey! maybe i should put this can in the recycle bin”

i’m not saying that every cartoon/animation should have a moral meaning, but i aint letting my son watch bloody Pokemon or Dragon ball Z just so he nags me to go get him the trading cards or shit like that.

The old school Nija Turtles back from the early 90’s and even the OLD Transformers should be re-run instead, classics are classics and shoudnt be fucked with.

149. Spanner in the worksj - July 11th, 2008 at 11:42 am

CRSN (148),

The reason not to let your son watch ‘Get Poked’, ‘Dragon’s Bollocks’ and the worst of the saucer-eyed, Jap-crap (No racism intended: I’d as freely put Britshit, if appropriate)is not the attendant merchandise. It’s the appallingly cynical rubbish itself.

With that stuff so thick on the screen, I don’t understand why you people are so hellbent on kicking Disney and Sponge ass (as you say). Take away those of the present generation that are based around violence; whose puerile artwork could be equalled or bettered by talented kids at most art schools I have known (faces, that if they show any emotion or expression at all, can only offer hatred or revenge-aggression), and are not redeemed by a minimal portion of humanity and/or humour, and what’s left? By comparison, most of those leave the much-maligned bath commodity looking like a cross between Albert Einstein, the Dalai Lama and Bob Hope.

Many contributors here have recorded fond and important childhood memories of what Moose (137) above niceky described as “that little bit of magic we all search for as a child and give up on as adults”. I’m not going to stir up irrelevant controversy here by naming pets and pet aversions among former cartoon characters, but even the worst had humour, humanity of story line (or the violence was unmistakeably tongue-in-cheek in the cause of laughter), and decent standards of artwork and body-animation. What similar images are today’s kids going to carry away from the presnt mouldering pile as cherished memories of their old age? Given this situation; let alone the shining lights of ‘The Simpsons’ and ‘Futurama’, not for the very young anyway, thank heavens for dear old spongebob, says I.

Or is there a whole load of high quality regular animation out there that’s passed me by so far?

150. Spanner in the worksj - July 11th, 2008 at 12:49 pm

Someone said in defence of Disney earlier in this list that writers had taken stories throughout history and rewritten them to their style.

Too true, blue. Move on to the next list: W. Shakespeare, Esq.

151. Christine - July 11th, 2008 at 2:10 pm

I don’t really consider Who Framed Roger Rabbit to be a kids’ movie. When I was a kid and it came out, I had no idea what was going on. I watched it not too long ago, now that I’m older, and it has a lot of adult themes in it.

I’m surprised actually that a few Pixar movies made it but not Finding Nemo, that’s my favorite one, as an adult! =)

152. gezzanater - July 11th, 2008 at 3:31 pm

Surprised not to see Beauty & The Beast, for this was visualling a stunnng movie, and the only animated movie to nominated for Best Picture, how could it not be on the list!!!!

What about the Jungle Book, the last movie Walt Disney was involved in with great story line, wonderful memorable songs by the Sherman Bros and regarded as a Disney Classic.

Another movie that has adult humour is The Emporers New Groove, check it out, very funny and one of my favourite out of Disney.

153. segue - July 11th, 2008 at 5:27 pm

****
135. Spanner in the worksj
I’m sure you know it, but I think my all-time favourite short, maybe my all-time favourite animated, is the Tom and Jerry ‘Cat Concerto’. It’s divine, it’s sublime, it’s as close to sheer genius as the music it’s drawn around, Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody Nº 2*. Every second is full of superb invention. And it has a happy ending too! Whenever I watch it, mixed-emotion tears come welling to my eyes; of laughter, of appreciation at its magic, of sheer joy.
****
I couldn’t have said it any better, so I won’t add a word.
I don’t down-play what Pixar has accomplished. They have come up with some very nice stuff…but I know how it’s all done, so it sort of takes away the magic. It’s machines, though humans get it going and finish it up some…for what it makes up in all its technical glory, it somehow lacks the soul of the man-made, cel by cel, cartoons we grew up with.
But again, apples and potatos.

154. shutupndance121 - July 11th, 2008 at 6:44 pm

i love the ir0on giant. it was one of my favorite movies as a kid! i was so happy to see it on this list!!

155. Lethal Pixi - July 11th, 2008 at 8:41 pm

i have seen all the movies on this list-but i haven’t seen the new 3-d verson of the nightmare before christmas and my middle sister and i watched roger rabbit to death!!! the original Fantasia is my all time favorite movie and in my opinion one of the best movies ever made!!!

156. Spanner in the worksj - July 11th, 2008 at 10:58 pm

Lethal Pixi,

Interesting to have ‘Fantasia’ on board. Another major early Disney. It’s a mixture of the arts that Wagner would surely have thoroughly approved of in theory and hated in execution!

It had actually slipped my mind higher up the postings here. I’m too far down the line of musical sophistication for it to be an out-and-out personal favourite, although it is one of Anita’s. I certainly wouldn’t rate it as a childrens’ film under any circumstance either. An intelligent child, definitely a musical one, might survive and even enjoy Dukas’s ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ (certainly one of the Mouse’s best outings). ‘Night on a Bare Mountain’ and ‘The Rite of Spring’ are surely adult fare though, even when modulated by all that colour and movement, and the whole thing is well over two hours long. Of course that can be chopped up on DVD.

Even now it wallows in critical acclaim, with its acknowledged vulgarities (Wipe that dreadful ‘Pastoral’ visual, please. UGH!) and cutesy sentimentalities forgiven for its overall brilliant passages of invention. The words stunning, strange and beautiful, and innovative crop up for it from normally severe pens. The dancing hippos and alligators remind me of a much mor