This year, my movie project was to watch all 64 Disney Animation feature films, from 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to this year’s Moana 2. It took me about 11 months to finish the job.
Over the next two weeks, I’ll count down my top ten of those films and offer up some other lists and thoughts on the catalog as a whole.
In compiling this list, I tried not to give any deference to historical importance. Snow White might be a groundbreaking achievement in the art form, one that paved the path for nine decades of excellence, but it’s a rather dull movie.
My Top Ten Disney Animation Movies
#10 – Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)
I was surprised when this movie ended up so high on my list, because I saw it just a few years ago and enjoyed it but quickly forgot it. The film was caught up in the whole COVID-era simultaneous theatrical/streaming release strategy, and I honestly can’t remember if I watched it at home or on the big screen.
One thing’s for sure… Raya deserves to be seen in a theater. This is one of the studio’s most visually impressive movies, with sharp, textured animation bringing to life an elaborate dystopian world.
Raya is the tale of a young woman who seeks to reunite five warring tribes in a world once suffused with magic. She is aided by the titular last dragon, a shape-shifting link to that mystical past.
The film’s story is refreshingly original, and nods respectfully to the myths and legends of the Asian cultures it represents. This is also one of the most thrilling action movies Disney has produced, with expertly executed combat scenes and thrillingly paced set pieces.
Raya and the Last Dragon is one of Disney’s most underrated films, and here are five more I’ll add to that list:
Disney Animation – Most Underrated
5. Meet the Robinsons (2007) – I love me some time travel, and this movie plays with the genre in funny and inventive ways
4. Bolt (2008) – An excellent action movie wrapped in a sweet girl-and-dog tale
3. Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) – A sci-fi adventure that refreshingly skews more adult than most Disney fare
2. The Great Mouse Detective (1986) – A delightful Sherlock Holmes riff
1. Treasure Planet (2002) – A futuristic spin on Treasure Island with excellent character work and impressive set design
(Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah-ah)
(Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah-ah)
Yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah
[Verse 1]
We have a choice to build or destroy
To fight or to come together
Love is a bridge and trust is a gift
We give it and it gets better
[Pre-Chorus]
There’s an energy in the water
There is magic deep in our heart
There’s a legacy that we honor
When we bring the light to the dark
Whatever brings us together can nevеr tear us apart
We becomе stronger than ever
[Chorus]
When we just trust
(Trust and believe it, you’ll see that)
(We’ll lead the way)
When we just trust
(Trust and believe it, you’ll see that)
(We’ll lead the way)
When we just trust
(Trust and believe it, you’ll see that)
(We’ll lead the way)
When we just trust
(Trust and believe it, you’ll see that)
(We’ll lead the way)
[Verse 2]
When you’re broken, open up your heart and feel
There’s no difference, we’re all family here
Despite all of our doubts, all our up and downs
There is never really anything to fear
[Pre-Chorus]
There’s an energy in the water
There is magic deep in our heart
There’s a legacy that we honor
When we bring the light to the dark
Whatever brings us together can never tear us apart
We become stronger than ever
[Chorus]
When we just trust
(Trust and believe it, you’ll see that)
(We’ll lead the way)
When we just trust
(Trust and believe it, you’ll see that)
(We’ll lead the way)
When we just trust
(Trust and believe it, you’ll see that)
(We’ll lead the way)
When we just trust
(Trust and believe it, you’ll see that)
(We’ll lead the way)
[Bridge]
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah-ah
Takin’ the first step, I see you as myself
Nothing we can’t do
Put the past behind, learn from life this time
We can start brand new
[Pre-Chorus]
There’s an energy in the water
There is magic deep in our heart
There’s a legacy that we honor
When we bring the light to the dark
Whatever brings us together can never tear us apart (Whatever)
We become stronger than ever
[Chorus]
When we just trust
(Trust and believe it, you’ll see that)
(We’ll lead the way)
When we just trust
(Trust and believe it, you’ll see that)
(We’ll lead the way)
When we just trust
(Trust and believe it, you’ll see that)
(We’ll lead the way)
When we just trust
(Trust and believe it, you’ll see that)
(We’ll lead the way)
When we just trust
(Trust and believe it, you’ll see that)
(We’ll lead the way)
[Outro]
Kumandra, Kumandra
Kumandra, Kumandra
Kumandra, Kumandra
Kumandra, Kumandra
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah-ah
Meet Me In Montauk 
Quite the project you undertook!
I didn’t see Raya in the theater or streaming, so I can’t really weigh in on this one.
Not sure I can be a helpful commenter on this since I haven’t seen many animated films. But I’m sure I will find it interesting 😉
Excited for your countdown and congrats on completing that goal!
I’m happy to see Raya make your list and totally agree. I have a slight bias toward it because the director of this one gave me my first break to start working out in Hollywood – but I think the movie is really beautiful and I look forward to revisiting it soon. 🙂
Very excited to read up on your top 10 Disney films after this tremendous project! I never got the chance to see this one, but seeing that it made your top 10 it’s certainly on the list now. It looked beautiful from the trailer and like an intriguing plot. I’ll have to check it out soon and see if it cracks my top 10!
I’m glad you are doing this. I watched all 62 films in order earlier this year. It was great seeing the progression of the process, the art, the storytelling, the songwriting. . . and my wife and I noticed little things that were the same from movie to movie (not to mention many of the same artists, producers and voices). So I came up with 62 films, up to Wish. By my count, “Moana 2” will be #63. I’m curious as to how you got 64 and which one I missed when I did it.
I’m guessing it’s “The Wild,” which I’ve seen both counted and not counted among the official tally (because it was a co-production, I believe). If you haven’t seen it, you’re definitely not missing anything!
Thanks, Clay. I definitely don’t have “The Wild” on my list of Walt Disney Animation Studios films. I have it listed under “Related Productions,” right between “James and the Giant Peach” and “Enchanted.”