Let’s get real: if you’re old enough to have lived during any time between the late ’80s and early 2000s, Disney Renaissance is pretty much soul food. This was the period when Disney transitioned from doleful box office openings to pumping out classics that are still sung, quoted, and streamed endlessly today. So, which movies actually characterize this fairy tale decade? Grab your popcorn—we’re counting down the 10 best Disney Renaissance animated films, in reverse order, because suspense makes everything better.
10. The Lion King
Controversial choice alert. The Lion King offered us Broadway versions, spin-offs, and even a photorealistic reboot. Visually breathtaking and featuring an all-time Elton John soundtrack, it’s inarguably influential—but, some say, perhaps slightly overrated. The plot takes inspiration from Hamlet, and though Simba’s journey breaks your heart, it’s not everybody’s greatest masterpiece. That being said, its pop culture impact is enormous.
9. The Rescuers Down Under
Too often overlooked, this sequel is a technical pioneer. It was the first all-digital animated feature and broke new ground in the techniques that would characterize the Renaissance. Though it’s not as musically potent or emotionally resonant as its contemporaries, it’s an enjoyable romp and a landmark for animation fans.
8. Hercules
Hercules is the Renaissance’s offbeat, zany oddball. Greek mythology collides with gospel-infused tunes, and James Woods steals the whole show playing Hades. With tough-as-nails animation, quick-witted jokes, and a delightfully complicated Meg, it’s possibly underappreciated, but filled to the brim with charm—and let’s not overlook Danny DeVito as half-goat mentor.
7. Pocahontas
Breathtaking scenery and rich colors make Pocahontas an eye treat. “Colors of the Wind” is ageless, but the film’s historical inaccuracies and condensing of the racism issue have not aged evenly. It’s sentimental, but don’t look for a history lesson.
6. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Dark, dramatic, and for an older crowd, this film is a push into the unknown for Disney. Frollo is terrifying, Esmeralda is legendary, and the music is potent. The intensity makes it more of a less comforting watch, but it’s a masterclass in demonstrating that animated movies can deal with heavy themes.
5. Tarzan
Phil Collins’ score is irrepressible, and the animation—2D mixed with CGI—remains innovative. Jane is an overlooked heroine, and the action-packed narrative in the movie provides a befitting swansong for the Renaissance period. The “Deep Canvas” background technique employed was revolutionary.
4. Mulan
A game-changer. Mulan provided us with a fearless, rule-bending heroine, memorable tunes, and Eddie Murphy’s comedic relief, Masu Ushuu. It demonstrated Disney could tell non-traditional European fairy tale-styled stories—and do so wonderfully.
3. Aladdin
Sheer animated delight. Robin Williams’ Genie is iconic, the animation is colorful, and the music is perpetually infectious. Aladdin set an entire new world of comedy, romance, and adventure—and began the trend of big-name stars providing the voices for animated features.
2. The Little Mermaid
Where it all started. Ariel’s independent nature, memorable music, and rich underwater animation revitalized Disney’s fortunes. She’s the first of the Disney Princesses to rescue the prince rather than waiting to be rescued, and the Broadway-style musical numbers remain unforgettable.
1. Beauty and the Beast
The crown gem. Beauty and the Beast has everything: stunning animation, memorable music, and complex characters. Belle is intelligent, independent, and a reader, and the Beast is multi-dimensional and sensitive. The ensemble is perpetually charming, and the ballroom scene combined CGI and hand-drawn animation so that viewers were agog. It even made history as the first animated film nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars—rightly so.
Whether you’re reliving nostalgia or discovering these classics for the first time, the Disney Renaissance is proof that animation can still work its magic.