Continuing my countdown of favorite Disney Animation movies following my marathon viewing of all 64…
My Top Ten Disney Animation Movies
#9 – Encanto (2021)
When Lin-Manuel Miranda gets the right material, the results are breathtaking. I’m not sure what happened on Sony Animation’s Vivo, which I found horrible, but the same year Miranda delivered one of his finest set of songs for Encanto.
This story of a Colombian family gifted with magical powers is beautifully animated and its story is touchingly told, but it’s the music that really elevates it.
‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’ became a surprise sensation, reaching #1 on the Hot 100, and the poppier ‘Surface Pressure’ also became an unlikely top ten hit. But for my money, it’s the Spanish-language ‘Dos Oruguitas,’ which scores the movie’s emotional climax, that really steals the show.
I still bump up against the film’s ending a bit (the moment that immediately follows today’s SOTD) but not enough to keep me from recognizing this as one of Disney’s very best achievements.
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Yesterday, I listed the Disney films I find the most underrated, so today I’ll highlight the ones on the other end of the spectrum.
Disney Animation – Most Overrated
5. Frozen II – I know a lot of people (my daughters included) love this movie, but I found it to be a pale imitation of its predecessor
4. Jungle Book – I expect to like this a lot more, having enjoyed various scenes from it over the years, but the whole package fell flat
3. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – So much of this movie is dedicated to boring slapstick dwarf antics, and Snow White is a bland lead
2. The Emperor’s New Groove – I admire Disney’s decision to lean into an absurd brand of comedy that was new for the studio, but I didn’t connect with this at all
1. Peter Pan – I really wanted to be transported by this one (having loved the Disney World ride since I was a kid), but found it disjointed, boring, and racist
Look at this home, we need a new foundation
It may seem hopeless, but we’ll get by just fine
Look at this family, a glowing constellation
So full of stars, and everybody wants to shine
But the stars don’t shine, they burn
And the constellations shift
I think it’s time you learn
You’re more than just your gift
[ABUELA]
And I’m sorry I held on too tight
Just so afraid I’d lose you too
The miracle is not some magic that you’ve got
The miracle is you
Not some gift, just you
The miracle is you
[ABUELA, JULIETA & PEPA]
All of you, all of you
[CAMILO]
Okay, so, we gonna talk about Bruno?
[ANTONIO]
That’s Bruno!
[BRUNO]
Yeah, there’s a lot to say about Bruno
I’ll start, okay!
Pepa, I’m sorry ’bout your weddin’, didn’t mean to be upsettin’
That wasn’t a prophecy, I could just see you were sweatin’
And I wanted you to know that your bro loves you so
Let it in, let it out, let it rain, let it snow, let it go!
[FÉLIX]
That’s what I’m always saying, bro!
[BRUNO]
Got a lotta ‘pologies I got to say
[JULIETA & BRUNO]
Hey! (Uh—) We’re just happy that you’re here, okay? (But—)
[PEPA]
Come into the light
[AGUSTÍN]
The triplets all reunite
[JULIETA, JULIETA & PEPA]
And no matter what happens we’re gonna find our way
[DOLORES]
Yo, I knew he never left, I heard him every day
[TOWNSPEOPLE & ABUELA]
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh (What’s that sound?)
[TOWNSPEOPLE]
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
[ANTONIO]
I think it’s everyone in town
[TOWNSPEOPLE]
Hey!
Lay down your load (Lay down your load)
We are only down the road (We are only down the road)
We have no gifts, but we are many
And we’ll do anything for you
[ISABELA, LUISA & TOWNSPEOPLE]
It’s a dream when we work as a team (All of you, all of you)
You’re so strong, yeah, but sometimes I cry (All of you, all of you)
[MIRABEL & ISABELA]
So do I
[LUISA]
I may not be as strong, but I’m getting wiser
[ISABELA]
Yeah, I need sunlight and fertilizer
Come on, let’s plant somethin’ new and watch it fly
[ISABELA, LUISA & MARIBEL]
Straight up to the sky, let’s go!
[MIRABEL & ABUELA]
The stars don’t shine, they burn
The constellations glow
The seasons change in turn
[JULIETA]
Would you watch our little girl go?
[AGUSTÍN]
She takes after you
[MARIANO, spoken]
Oh
[MIRABEL, spoken]
Hey, Mariano, why so blue?
[MARIANO, spoken]
I just have so much love inside
[MIRABEL, spoken]
You know, I’ve got this cousin too
Have you met Dolores?
[DOLORES, spoken]
Okay, I’ll take it from here, goodbye!
[DOLORES]
You talk so loud
You take care of your mother and you make her proud
You write your own poetry every night when you go to sleep
And I’m seizing the moment, so would you wake up and notice me?
[MARIANO]
Dolores, I see you
[DOLORES]
And I hear you
[ISABELA & MARIBEL]
Yes!
[TOWNSPEOPLE]
All of you, all of you
[MARIANO, spoken]
Let’s get married!
[DOLORES, spoken]
Slow down!
[MIRABEL, ABUELA & TOWNSPEOPLE]
All of you, all of you
[MIRABEL]
Home sweet home, I like the new foundation
[ABUELA]
It isn’t perfect
[MARIBEL, spoken]
Neither are we
[ABUELA, spoken]
That’s true
[ABUELA]
Just one more thing, before the celebration
[MIRABEL]
What?
[BRUNO]
We need a doorknob
[ANTONIO]
We made this one for you
[CAMILO, DOLORES, PEPA & FÉLIX]
We see how bright you burn
[ISABELA & LUISA]
We see how brave you’ve been
[JULIETA & AGUSTÍN]
Now see yourself in turn
[BRUNO]
You’re the real gift, kid, let us in
[ABUELA]
Open your eyes
Abre los ojos
What do you see?
[MIRABEL]
I see me
All of me
Meet Me In Montauk 
I agree this is one of Disney’s better films, enhanced greatly by Lin Manuel Miranda’s songs.
I’ve heard this was wonderful and hope to watch it one day As for Snow White I think if you had watched this when it originally came out you might have thought it was more special since you weren’t comparing it to the modern technology of today 🤷♀️
Scathing shots fired in the overrated section!!
But I love Encanto – so happy to see it on this list as well! Lin Manuel Miranda has that Midas touch.
This is one of my favorite Disney films of recent years! I found myself bumping many songs from the soundtrack and was impressed with Miranda’s ability to connect so acutely with different perspectives of being in a family like this one. I found the story compelling and unique. It’s definitely one that I return to and am happy to see in your top 10! When Julianna was born it gave me a chance to revisit some of my favorite animated films and I was happy when this one entered the rotation!
Listing “Peter Pan” as the most overrated Disney animated classic is fairly solid. Besides the overtly racist images of Native Americans, the animation and slapstick humor (like Hook being shot out of the crocodile’s jaws and skipping across the water!) remind me of standard tv animation fare and are not up to the normally high standards of Walt Disney Animation Studios films.