Continuing my countdown of favorite Disney Animation movies following my marathon viewing of all 64…
My Top Ten Disney Animation Movies
#4 – Aladdin (1992)
Aladdin was the first film from the Disney Renaissance period that I really embraced. Sure, I got swept up in the acclaim for Beauty and the Beast — the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture — but it didn’t work for me the way this one did.
Maybe it’s as simple as this being the first princess movie that was really about the prince. The “street rat” Aladdin is a great character, witty and resourceful, mischievous but kind-hearted. The movies aren’t exactly lacking in male protagonists, but he felt like something new from Disney.
His love interest, Princess Jasmine, is just as cleverly drawn (pun intended), with her own frustrations and aspirations. The two make a wonderful couple, cementing the movie’s status as a great romance as well as a fun action comedy.
Speaking of comedy, few actors have been better suited to a voice role than Robin Williams as the Genie. Animation is the one medium that can keep up with his quick wit and even quicker delivery, and together Williams and the film’s artists deliver a comic tour de force.
Big laughs, thrilling action, dreamy romance… Aladdin has it all. This is the Platonic ideal of a big Hollywood entertainment.
—
Another strong element of this film is its villain, the treacherous Jafar. He belongs on a list of my favorite Disney baddies, and here are some more:
Disney Animation – Best Villains
5. Hans in Frozen (spoiler!)
4. Ursula in The Little Mermaid
3. Dr. Facilier in The Princess and the Frog
2. Mother Gothel in Tangled
1. Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty
Gotta keep one jump ahead of the breadline
One swing ahead of the sword
I steal only what I can’t afford
(spoken)
That’s everything!
(sung)
One jump ahead of the lawmen
That’s all, and that’s no joke
These guys don’t appreciate I’m broke
[GUARD #1]
Riffraff!
[GUARDS #2 & #3]
Street rat!
[GUARD #4]
Scoundrel!
[GUARD #5, spoken]
Take that!
[ALADDIN]
Just a little snack, guys
[GUARDS]
Rip him open, take it back, guys
[ALADDIN]
I can take a hint, gotta face the facts
You’re my only friend, Abu
[HAREM GIRLS, spoken]
Who?
(sung)
Oh, it’s sad, Aladdin’s hit the bottom
He’s become a one-man rise in crime
[HAREM MANAGER]
I’d blame parents, except he hasn’t got ’em
[ALADDIN]
Gotta eat to live, gotta steal to eat
Tell you all about it when I got the time
One jump ahead of the slowpokes
One skip ahead of my doom
Next time, gonna use a nom de plume
One jump ahead of the hitmen
One hit ahead of the flock
I think I’ll take a stroll around the block
[GUARD, spoken]
Stop, thief!
[MERCHANT]
Vandal!
[ALADDIN, spoken]
Abu!
[WOMAN #1, spoken]
Scandal!
[ALADDIN]
Let’s not be too hasty
[WOMAN #2]
Still, I think he’s rather tasty
[ALADDIN]
Gotta eat to live, gotta steal to eat
Otherwise, we’d get along
[GUARDS, spoken]
Wrong!
[ALADDIN, GUARDS]
One jump ahead of the hoofbeats (Vandal!)
One hop ahead of the hump (Street rat!)
One trick ahead of disaster (Scoundrel!)
They’re quick, but I’m much faster (Riffraff!)
Here goes, better throw my hand in
Wish me happy landin’
All I gotta do is jump!
Meet Me In Montauk 
Aladdin is great for all the reasons you mentioned, plus one more – the songs! I have seen so many musicals, both movies and Broadway shows, where the songs are fine but not memorable. Not the case here, or with Lion King, the Little Mermaid or Encanto.
“One Jump Ahead,” “Friend Like Me” and, of course “A Whole New World” are among the great classic Disney songs of all time.
Such a wonderful film and it always sticks out for me as well! I’ve always wanted voice acting to get more props in general – it would be fun to list out the best vocal performances across animation as well.