The 9 animated films that defined the course of Disney   

A look back at the Renaissance period of the studio

One of the most tender and touching moments of the period that defined the future of Disney, will occur during the end credits of the film Beauty and the Beast . One of the people who played an important (if not the most important) role in Disney’s rebirth, Howard Ashman, dies of heart failure in 1991, having been diagnosed with HIV. A few years earlier, and more specifically in the 80s, the company is trying to make a restart and recover after a bad period for it, both in the creative part and financially. Mainly in finance.

So, in 1986, the studio decided to bring in a Broadway man to create some new projects. This man was Ashman, who by “carrying” with him his experience from the world of musicals, will become the driving force during the first years of Disney’s renaissance. Every storyboard passed through his hands, every frame through his eyes, and he was the one who would decide on the final result. After all, Ashman was the man who first introduced “I want songs” into animated films. That is, the songs that are heard by the main heroes of the story, making their wants and needs clear through the lyrics.

The first film he will undertake is The Little Mermaid , where he, along with Alan Menken (the next great of this period), will write all the songs. The Little Mermaid premiered in theaters in 1989, garnering rave reviews and becoming a huge commercial and artistic success. The next project that the two will undertake will be Beauty and the Beast . Unfortunately, however, the bad news will catch up with them. With all the strength he had left, Ashman works exclusively for the completion of the film. In the early hours of March 14, 1991, two months before his 41st birthday, he dies. Beauty and the Beast is dedicated to him, with the end credits displaying the following message: ” To our friend Howard, who gave a mermaid her voice and a beast his soul, we will be forever grateful. Howard Ashman 1950-1991″ .

The decade between 1989 and 1999 is considered the renaissance of Disney, when the studio returned strongly to the field of animation, revolutionizing the genre. By making films based on classic fairy tales, and having visionaries like Ashman and Menken on their team, among others, they managed to become the number 1 force in the world of animation in the 90s. Academy Awards, accolades, commercial gains, innovative and fresh ideas, the following list has the 9 films that defined not only Disney’s course in the world of entertainment, but also the future of animation.

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The Little Mermaid | Directed by: John Musker & Ron Clements (1989)

The Little Mermaid is Disney’s 28th animated feature film, it premiered in theaters on November 17, 1989, and tells the story of Princess Ariel, a mermaid who dreams of becoming human. The film was written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, while its music and songs were written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. It is based on the dark fairy tale of Hans Christian Andersen.

Beauty and the Beast | Directed by: Gary Trousdale & Kirk Wise (1991)

Beauty and the Beast, based on French Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont’s 1741 fairy tale of the same name, is the studio’s 30th film and the 2nd in its revival period. A black-and-white, unfinished version of the film premiered on September 29, 1991, at the New York Film Festival, and left everyone speechless. The completed version of the film was released in theaters in November to rave reviews. In 2014, Time magazine ranked it as one of the best animated films of all time.

Aladdin | Directed by: Ron Clements & John Musker (1992)

Ron Clements and John Musker’s Aladdin hit theaters in 1992 and became the most successful film of the year grossing over $500 million worldwide. The film, in addition to the wonderful songs written by Alan Menken, Tim Rice and of course the lyrics of the late Howard Ashman, also had Robin Williams in one of his best performances as the genie. It is based on the well-known Arabic tale of the same name from the collection One Thousand and One Nights.

The Lion King | Directed by: Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff (1994)

The Lion King tells the story of a young lion named, Simba, who will succeed his father, Mufasa, as king of the African savannah. It was directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, while the film’s songs were composed by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Hans Zimmer. Heavily influenced by William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the film received highly positive reviews impressing with its story, design and of course, its music.

Pocahontas | Directed by: Mike Gabriel & Eric Goldberg (1995)

Directed by Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg, Pocahontas is definitely among the most wronged Disney princesses for reasons that we don’t need to analyze in this article. Just to briefly mention that this animated romantic epic received mixed reactions from audiences and critics, with the main disagreement being the historical inaccuracies present in the script. Apart from that, the film is considered a commercial success with revenues reaching $346 million at the worldwide box office.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame | Directed by: Gary Trousdale & Kirk Wise (1996)

Based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo, Notre Dame is another successful addition of Disney to the field of animation, which continues, in the renaissance period, to offer quality stories to its children’s (and not only) audience. The plot, certainly darker than what had been presented up to that time, revolves around Quasimodo, the deformed servant of the Paris Cathedral, and his desire to be accepted by society.

Hercules | Directed by: John Musker & Ron Clements (1997)

The movie Heracles was released in cinemas in the summer of ’97, and left a positive impression on audiences and critics. Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, it is the studio’s 35th animated feature film and the 7th animated addition in the Renaissance period. Certainly with a more funky mood than the rest of the list, she managed to leave her own personal touch in the history of the company. James Wood’s performance as Hades stands out.

Mulan | Directed by: Barry Cook & Tony Bancroft (1998)

Another superbly directed animated film of the same period, Mulan, also managed to win awards, accolades, bringing the studio at the same time quite a lot of revenue compared to its total budget. The plot of the film takes place during the Han Dynasty, where Mulan, daughter of the old warrior Fa Zhou, impersonates a man to take her father’s place during the general conscription, and then goes to fight against the invasion of the Huns.

Tarzan | Directed by: Kevin Lima & Chris Buck (1999)

Somehow, we’ve reached the end of the Renaissance decade, and Tarzan. Having already moved away from the musical formula used in the original films in previous years, here, we have yet another excellent soundtrack full of Phil Collins songs specially made for the film. As with the previous films, Tarzan won accolades and awards, while getting everyone talking about its design and story.