The revival of Disney actually began in the late 80s, with the release of The Little Mermaid in 1989. After which, came a barrage of wonderful films.
The Revival of Disney Musicals
Disney had a string of hits on its hands, which were not merely considered to be good animated films, but simply good films.
Before this time, not only had animation gone out of fashion and so too had the musical genre. Nevertheless both genres were revived with the advent of the new Disney Musical. In fact, the songs from these Disney movies is fundamental to their success.
Five of the Best Disney Films From the 1990s
All of the following movies are available to buy on Disney DVD
5. Aladdin (1992)
One of Disney’s assets is the ability to transform a traditional, well-known tale. Aladdin was predominantly Howard Ashman’s brainchild, although sadly he died before the completion of the film. The film won two Academy Awards, one for Best Song for ‘A Whole New World’ and the second for Best Score.
Aladdin is a magical, extravagant tale of rags to riches. It is colourful, sumptuous and very funny. A big part of the appeal of the movie is undeniably Robin William’s voicing of The Genie. This was the first time that a star had been used to voice an animated character, which is strange given that it has become the standard.
4. Pocahontas (1995)
This was a very interesting subject for a Disney film, but worked extremely well. In part this is because once again Alan Menkin’s stunning music plays such a large role in the movie. The soaring ‘Colours of The Wind’ is hauntingly beautiful and poignant.
Pocahontas is also a classic tale, akin to Romeo and Juliet, which never loses appeal. Most Disney films contain a moral significance, but Pocahontas was different, in that it was very brazen about the message it was trying to convey. This was a brave move, which ultimately paid off.
3. Toy Story (1995)
Toy Story marked the beginning of a new era for Disney. Its affiliation with Pixar Studios continues to be very successful. The film was directed and written by John Lassiter. It was the first full-length feature to use exclusively computer generated images. It spawned a sequel and began a succession of Pixar films, each becoming more esteemed then the last.
This is one of the most imaginative films ever made. It tells the story of a room full of toys whose lives are turned upside-down by the arrival of a flashy new ‘space ranger’, called Buzz. Winner of a special Academy Award, the film received critical acclaim and continues to be very popular.
2. The Little Mermaid (1989)
As mentioned above The Little Mermaid was the film that began the Disney revival of the 90s. The idea was brought to directors Ron Clements and John Musker by Ashman and Menkin, who had, until then, been working in musical theatre.
It proved a winning formula and began a revolution of animated films. Suddenly these films were not just enjoyable for children, adults too found the story and music appealing.
1. Beauty and The Beast (1991)
This was the last project that Ashman and Menkin completed together. The film was critically acclaimed and adored by audiences across the world. Beauty and The Beast won Academy Awards for Best Score and Best Song for ‘Beauty and The Beast’.
The enchanting tale proved so popular that it was transformed for a stage musical, which is still doing good business around the world. The amazing songs, beautiful animation and wonderfully memorable characters make this one of the very best films ever made.
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