Disney Movies Your Friends Probably Don’t Know About
Every time I meet up with my old friends from high school, we would always reminisce about the good old days where we listened to cassette tapes and remembered Lindsay Lohan in her prime as a young star in Parent Trap. Yet, there was one topic we loved to talk about no matter how many times it crossed our lips- Disney movies. Seriously, it’s like we all had retrograde amnesia because it didn’t matter if we talked about the songs in Mulan dozens of times. It felt like we were talking about it, with the same giddiness we felt right after watching the movies in the theatre for the first time. Truly, Disney movies like Mulan, Pocahontas, Beauty & The Beast, and the like are forever etched into our hearts and memories as one of the pop cultural influences that has continued to define the childhood of many.
We all had our favorite moments from these films. One friend would talk about how she loved the scene where Aladdin and Jasmine sung “A Whole New World,” while one would rave about how Timon and Pumbaa from Lion King are their favorite Disney characters of all time. Then when it came my turn, I began to share how this one scene from the Fox & The Hound where the old lady leaves her fox in the middle of the forest was completely heart-wrenching for me. Yet, there was no chorus of “awws” and “OMG, I know!” from my friends. Instead, they asked me with honest curiosity and bewilderment: “What’s Fox & The Hound?”and I was surprised to find out that my self-proclaimed Disney aficionado friends had no idea what this movie was or that this was even a Disney production.
Consequently, I began to ask them about the other animated Disney movies I cherished growing up. Still no dice and every time I met someone who knew about these films, it felt like meeting a human being among a world of aliens (not that I know how that literally feels). So for everyone reading, if you’re like me and have been searching for a common soul… you’ve come to the right place! If not, I’ve listed some of these films here in this article.
1.) Oliver & Company
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M6UYwaYRqw&feature=related
Okay, if this fabulous musical piece by the awesome Bette Midler can’t convince you, then I don’t know what else to do.
Oliver & Company is loosely based on the classic tale Oliver Twist, only it’s set in modern New York City with dogs and cats as the protagonists. Growing up, I became enamoured with New York City partly because of this film. I felt that the animation in this film brought life to the Big Apple. Among the characters, my favorites were Georgette and Dodger who were played by Bette Midler and Billy Joel respectively. Yet despite having favorites, I loved all the characters in this film.
Aside from the song above, I have other favorites like “Good Company” and “Why Should I Worry?” where the latter was nominated for a Golden Globe.
2.) The Fox and the Hound
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UIc6o5Z8SU
I kind of shed a tear while watching this video before posting it here. I don’t know why I posted it here because it wouldn’t be as painful if you knew this was going to happen.
The Fox and the Hound is a story of an unlikely and forbidden friendship between well.. you guessed it a fox and a hound. The story tugs your heart strings because it shows you the bitter reality of having a best friend and losing them in the process. From the video, it’s clear that our fox friend would encounter more than one heart break in his life. When I was younger, I found a best friend and vowed never to leave each other’s side. Sadly, she had to move away and since we were kids, it never occurred to us to ask for each other’s address and phone number. I guess this film touches on the friendships we built when we were kids, and the challenges of facing the realities of it as we grow older.
There are a lot of sad moments in this animated film but it’s definitely a classic in my book.
3.) Aristocats
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMcsXJGf2ho
This animated film revolves around a family of aristocratic cats, hence the title, who is aided by an alley cat after the family was kidnapped by the family butler in an attempt to steal the mistress’ fortune which was meant to go to her cats. As a fan of jazz and blues, I loved the music in this film and even if I hated cats… the characters grew on me especially the alley cat named Thomas O’Malley. For a while, I grew up singing “Everybody Wants To Be A Cat” as my anthem.
Watching this film brings back the nostalgic memories of how the music and animation of Disney once was. This goes for the past two films I listed here in this article so if you haven’t watched any of these, I urge to you to do so when you have the free time.
::high five:: You’ve got a friend in me! Don’t forget the Emperor’s New Groove. It’s not as forgotten as the classics listed above, but it’s an amazing movie that doesn’t get the credit it deserves.
Great list! I loved the Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under, The Great Mouse Detective is another Disney movie that doesn’t get a lot of love either, such a great film!
Wow, that’s nostalgia. I was a huge Disney fan growing up, and I own all of those on VHS. I think everyone has seen the Fox and the Hound, though. I do agree with the other two. In fact, I was just trying to explain something about Oliver and Co to my roommate and he had no idea what I was talking about. I was shocked.
uh Song of the south. That racist movie that disney made way back when. You cant even buy copies of that shit.
Ha ha, Song of the South indeed. The film about how black people loved their massas so much they refused to stop working for them even after slavery ended and gave the world “Zippity Doo Da”. Gotta love that classic Disney white supremacist POV. Seriously, though, man. I’m assuming most of your friends are teenagers or just don’t watch that many Disney films if they haven’t heard of these because these were all wide release films back in the day. Mulan and Pocahontas are not so much considered “classics” as “stuff Disney did right after The Lion King but still before they started churning out utter mediocrity”.
Basil the Great mouse detective is one of my favourite disney films. Not sure how many have seen/heard of it though
Oh God, I loved Emperor’s New Groove! I was contemplating putting that in this list but I felt like it’s quite popular.
Ah yeah, I should have included The Rescuers but it was just okay for me and I forgot the story lol
I also own those flicks on VHS and sometimes I want to play them again but I’m afraid my VHS player will eat it up.
Hmm Song of the South? I haven’t heard of that but I will check it out. Yeah, I’m speaking from the point of view of 90’s kids who loved everything Disney made… well except for Hunchback of Notre Dame and Tarzan.
I’ve got a whole collection of that stuff still on VHS for my sons. Fox & Hound, Robin Hood (as a fox), Sword in the Stone. Trying to find Hercules right now.
How do folks not know about those movies? OcO
Looks like it’s high time to mothball America; if folks don’t know that everybody wants to be a cat, the terrorists have won.
I’m guessing most of you are younger than me. Some of the movies listed were after my time.
Disney used to do educational film shorts for the schools. Primitive Pete was a cave man in one that demonstrated how not to use tools. During WWII they made both training annd propaganda films. Some were quite good
I’ve seen them all! You’ve brought back memories. Damn that Fox & Hound. Ugh. Too sad for words
I love all the ones posted here. But what about Treasure Planet, Altantis? Some of my fav. Disney movies are the old Live Action movies like Black Bread’s Ghost, The Ugly Dachsund(sp), Doby O’Gill and the Little People? I love them all too.
I really thought everyone knew the Aristocats…. what’s wrong with people. I’m 22 now, and I tried to run around finding all the disney movies for my baby last year before I had her and the one that is just flippin’ impossible to find, (Aside from Song of the South, Disney scooped all those off the market forever ago), was the Three Caballeros. Just couldn’t find it.
Don’t forget The Brave Little Toaster and The Great Mouse Detective.