Continuing my countdown of favorite Disney Animation movies following my marathon viewing of all 64…

My Top Ten Disney Animation Movies
#5 – Sleeping Beauty (1959)

My next pick is the greatest film of Disney’s first half century — Sleeping Beauty. This was Disney’s third princess film, and last until The Little Mermaid 40 years later.

To differentiate Aurora’s film from those of her predecessors Snow White and Cinderella, extra care was paid to the visuals, especially the painterly backgrounds that some execs worried were so impressive they would distract from the plot.

Perhaps that’s the case through much of the film, but it’s hard to take your eyes off of Maleficent once her dastardly plan kicks in. The three good fairies who raise Aurora are also quite charming, and I must shout out Prince Phillip, who makes more of an impression than his dashing counterparts. His fight to rescue Aurora is truly thrilling.

Granted, Aurora herself doesn’t have a ton to do. She falls in love, pricks her finger, then sleeps for the rest of the movie. Not her fault… it’s kind of right there in the title. That said, the scene where she is lured to the enchanted spinning wheel is a masterpiece of gothic horror.

Sleeping Beauty is a strange and enchanting work of art, one that lacks many of the signature Disney elements but is all the better for it.

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My list of the most impressive achievements in animation by Disney would have Sleeping Beauty in the #1 slot. But setting this one aside, here are five more I treasure:

Disney Animation – Best Animation

5. Mulan
4. Pocahontas
3. The Princess and the Frog
2. The Lady and the Tramp
1. Bambi