It’s time for another post to celebrate the Disney classics that celebrated a major anniversary this past year! Here are the links to my 2017 and 2018 posts from this series.
11) Frozen II: Premiere
The sequel to the overly loved Frozen was released just a few weeks ago and received a positive response. This is the fifth time a sequel has made it into the official Disney canon of animated films, with the fourth being Ralph Breaks the Internet released just last year.
10) Big Hero 6: 5th Anniversary
Taking place in the fictional city of San Fransokyo, Big Hero 6 was the first Disney animated film to be based on a Marvel comic series. It even features a cameo of Stan Lee as Fred’s dad.
9) The Princess and the Frog: 10th Anniversary
After a string of fully CGI animated films (most of which were considered flops), the beautifully hand-drawn animation of The Princess and the Frog was a welcomed return. Based on the classic fairy tale, this film was the start of the Revival Era for Disney animation.
8) Home on the Range: 15th Anniversary
Oh, deer! Home on the Range suffered a huge financial loss for Disney when it was released in 2004, though many reviewers agree that a saving grace was the music composed by Alan Menken.
7) Fantasia 2000: 20th Anniversary
Despite having 2000 in the name, Fantasia 2000 actually premiered in 1999 with its Imax release on January 1, 2000. This film was a passion project of Roy E. Disney’s and he desperately wanted to see a sequel to the film his uncle had made 60 years earlier that revolutionized the animation world.
6) Tarzan: 20th Anniversary
Tarzan marked the end of the famous Disney Renaissance. Based on the legendary books by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan is well known for its creation of Deep Canvas, an animation program which allowed 2D characters to be placed over a 3D background.
5) The Lion King: 25th Anniversary
The 25th anniversary of The Lion King coincided with the release of the live action remake earlier this year. The popularity of the story led to Disney’s longest running Broadway show and the third longest running Broadway show of all time.
4) The Little Mermaid: 30th Anniversary
My favourite Disney film swam into theatres over 30 years ago! The Little Mermaid made significant animation history as it began the Disney Renaissance and introduced the world to memorable characters such as Ariel, Prince Eric, Flounder, and Horatio Thelonious Ignacious Crustaceous Sebastian.
3) Sleeping Beauty: 60th Anniversary
The inspiration behind the iconic Disneyland castle, Sleeping Beauty was actually released four years after the park opened. The unique animation of Sleeping Beauty was based on a pre-renaissance, gothic, and medieval look.
2) The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad: 70th Anniversary
The last of the Package films, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad is a popular film to watch around Halloween. The two stories that make up this film are based on The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving.
1) The Three Caballeros: 75th Anniversary
The second film (after Saludos Amigos) to be made as a result of Walt Disney’s goodwill tour to South America during World War II, The Three Caballeros features Donald Duck, José Carioca, and Panchito Pistoles as they tour Latin America.
Happy Anniversary to these films and Happy New Year!!
Thanks for mentioning some more obscure movies too!