Top 10 Best Disney Animated Movies

If you have never seen The Lion King, then you don't have a complete childhood. I remember watching this movie for the first time when I was six or seven, and it is still my favorite Disney movie. Why watch it? The animation is top-notch, including the amazing CGI "wildebeest" moment. The characters develop in incredible ways, there are truly memorable lessons, and the movie combines Shakespeare, the Bible, and African folk legends to create a fun, emotional movie for adults and children.

Oh yes, and the music, thanks to Elton John, is the best I've ever heard in an animated film. From the epic "Circle of Life" sequence to the hilarious "Hakuna Matata," this movie is also the highest-grossing animated film in history. The Lion King truly shows how important standing up for yourself, your friends, and life is.

This film really blew Disney out of the water. I love this movie! I always think of it whenever I see anything related to Africa, and I was blown away by how amazing it is.

I was a little nervous when I heard that a new Lion King was being made because the first one was truly spectacular! I sat down in the theater and quickly ate up my Junior Mints. When the movie started, I was already blown away by the amazing animation! Just wow!

The new version was better than I thought, but it wasn't even close to the heart and spirit of the original. I'm glad they brought back the voice of Mufasa because that's what made The Lion King - well, The Lion King! This Hamlet-like story is so amazing on so many levels. This is my favorite Disney movie!

There is actually one Disney movie that stands back-to-back with The Lion King, and that movie tells the story of a girl who must find herself, who she really is inside. Her reflection. And that movie is called Mulan.

Many people sadly think that this movie revolutionized film, but don't realize it's more than just that. I have seen several movies from Ghibli to Pixar to Disney, but this is the best animated movie. What's good about the movie is that it appeals to people who hate themes of "friendship" or "love," and also to those who like them. I lean more towards disliking friendship themes in movies, but it didn't bother me. The movie's entertainment value is enough to make the audience forget the theme. This movie is plain genius. If you don't think this movie is better than the third one (although the third one is a very great movie), I need to have a talk with you. The third will never surpass the first or the second.

I didn't know this list included Pixar, which for me has to be viewed as its own thing. Nonetheless, I have to say that Toy Story is my favorite Disney animated movie and my favorite animated movie of all time. I love the chemistry between the characters Woody and Buzz, and the cast of secondary characters is also very lovable, well-acted, and well-animated. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen are perfect as Woody and Buzz, respectively, and their performance should not be overlooked just because it's an animated movie. If this list were only about Disney animated features and didn't count Pixar movies, I would have to say that Fantasia was my favorite.

This is probably one of the best Disney movies ever made. Even the remake is good! (I love Naomi Scott though, so I'm partial.) And to anyone who prefers Will Smith as the Genie to Robin Williams, get out! Robin Williams's Genie for life!

Toy Story before Aladdin? Really? Toy Story shouldn't even be in the top ten. The animation in Aladdin is far more superior, and the plot is also more interesting with better musical numbers. Robin Williams, may he rest in peace, was amazing in this film as well. Aladdin should be number one.

Aladdin is my number one movie. I have loved it my whole life. My top ten Disney movies are:
1. Aladdin
2. The Little Mermaid
3. Wreck-It Ralph
4. Frozen
5. Finding Nemo
6. The Emperor's New Groove
7. Mulan
8. The Princess and the Frog
9. Toy Story
10. Lilo & Stitch

There are a lot of other great Disney movies out there, but these are my top ten.

I have to say that I absolutely adore this movie! I've loved it ever since I was practically a baby. I'd always sing along to the songs, and I still do to this day. The movie is fun, romantic, and beautiful. Belle is the best Disney Princess for several reasons:

1. Don't judge a book by its cover.
2. People will judge you, so move on and do what you love.
3. The nicest people often come from unexpected places.
4. Be nice to everyone, no matter what.
5. Don't follow the crowd. Stand out as your own person.

I'm sure there are more lessons, but these are all I could think of. If you haven't watched this movie, I highly recommend it. Also, if you haven't seen the live-action version, it's also awesome!

Great in every aspect of animated filmmaking. The animation is beautiful, the score and songs are excellent, and the storytelling is much deeper than people give it credit for. Especially when you realize that Belle isn't the main character - the Beast is - it becomes much more than just a love story. It transforms into a redemptive narrative that asks the question, What does it mean to be human? Not to mention, it has a great cast of characters. None of them feel hokey or out of place (I'm looking at you, Hunchback gargoyles).

I know The Lion King is always going to be the forerunner, and even I think that it's my personal favorite. However, when discerning the best as objectively and unbiasedly as I can, I think The Lion King lacks some of the deeper story elements that Beauty and the Beast has, which puts it just a touch above The Lion King.

Who doesn't like Nemo?! Finding Nemo is the best, and here's why.

1. There is father-son love, not that other love muck.
2. There are so many funny fish in the movie.
3. It's about a man, or fish to be correct, being able to not be afraid of the outside world.
4. Dory!
5. Crush! He is the coolest dude.
6. Vegetarian-ish sharks.

This movie has the best movie written all over it. It deserves to be higher than Toy Story.

This is one of my favorite movies of all time. Some parts are funny and some are sad. I like that the setting is based in Australia because I have traveled there, and it's a beautiful country. I didn't expect a Disney movie to be set in Australia. I recommend that you vote for Finding Nemo!

When does Finding Dory come out? This movie is awesome and has helped me through my roughest times. Movies like this one are among the greatest and should at least be on par with The Lion King. It also helped Talia. Remember, at your roughest times, "Just keep swimming."

Rest in Heaven, Princess.

A girl is thrown into a position that not only does everyone believe she doesn't belong in, but she herself thinks she could not bring honor to her family in this way. A war is forcing her disabled father, whom she loves, to be recruited and fight. This girl loves her father so much, she is willing to risk her life to keep him safe. One problem: girls aren't allowed to enter the war.

When I first watched this movie, it made me laugh, cry, and cheer on Mulan as she broke down boundaries that divided men and women, and basically won a war for her nation that forbade girls to do such things. While there is romance, it isn't "guy sees girl, guy falls for girl." In my opinion, Mulan is the best Disney princess, not because she fell in love with someone important, not because something wonderful happened to her. It's because something horrible happened to her, and she was strong enough to overcome it.

And yet, no matter how amazing I try to make her, she's still human. She still has flaws. Also, have you seen the "dragon"?

Now this may surprise most people, but I think Up is a bit overrated. This is coming from someone who genuinely loves Up. The first 10 minutes of the movie is art and film at its peak. The rest of the film is a very fun-loving and hearty adventure, and the twist villain was obvious, but at least it made sense. The reason I think it's overrated is because of those first 10 minutes. People act as if those first 10 minutes define what the film is like as a whole, but they don't. The rest of the movie doesn't even come close to how spectacular the first 10 minutes were, although it was still good. Yes, I think it's overrated, but it's overrated for a good reason. This is still one of my favorite animated movies of all time.

I am shocked that Up isn't even in the top 5! What on earth? This movie is amazing and beautiful! It portrays actual adventure and friendship, especially adventure. If you're an adventure-lover like myself, vote for this movie! This movie is incredible, and I love all the music they offer, especially the theme song. Whenever I hear the theme song of this movie, I imagine balloons floating up in the blue, clouded skies through the sunlight!

I might have a bit of a bias because this was the first movie I ever saw in a movie theater. However, Monsters Inc. is probably still my favorite Disney movie. It's likely tied with Toy Story and Wall-E, but I think this should be higher up on this list.

Sully is such a cute monster that you just want to hug, and so is our secondary protagonist, Boo. It feels like you're watching Sesame Street, but in a manner more oriented for both younger and older kids, as well as teenagers like me. Anyway, you should definitely give this a shot.

This should be number two. I remember watching it. It was amazing! I went to Disneyland and was looking for something to take home. Then I saw Sully, the stuffed animal. I slept with it for a year. If you haven't seen it yet, then rent it or wait until ABC Family shows it. Either way, it is worth the wait. It is amazing!

I used to watch this every day when I was younger, and I'd always cry at the end for some reason. This movie holds so many great memories for me. Even though Monsters University was okay, it will never measure up to this animated masterpiece.

This is the best movie I have ever seen in my life! The strategy used in this movie is amazing. It's a very, very nice movie. Hats off to Mr. Lee Unkrich! With this movie, Disney Pixar has proved that it is the best company for animation movies. After watching this movie, I became fond of animated films. My favorite character is Woody because he never loses self-confidence and never gives up on his friends. This movie should be in first place! I expect more fantabulous animated movies like Toy Story 3 from Disney. Disney, you are great!

I love this movie. It has funny moments, but I almost cried because they were trying to get home, and sometimes you have that feeling that they might die or not make it. However, they made it. I love all Toy Story movies because they mean, like, you can do it, and they push you to do your best. It's really nice and has a very wonderful meaning to me that I truly understand.

The best Disney movie ever! Pascal and Maximus make hilarious sidekicks. Eugene and Rapunzel are so cute together, Alan Menken did the score, and the music and songs are incredible. The story is amazing. There is almost nothing that this movie is missing. The fact that it didn't even make the top ten is an atrocity and a disrespect to Tangled.

A wonderful movie that anyone of any age or gender can watch and most definitely enjoy. The animations are beautiful, and I really love the storyline too. Actually, I love everything about this movie. I've watched it countless times, and it never fails to make me feel light and happy. The movie pulls me into the story so much. One moment I'm laughing, the next I'm crying, and then I'm melting because it's all so cute and sweet.

The voice actors were perfectly cast. Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi singing together was amazing. Oh, and have I mentioned how cute Rapunzel and Eugene are? Every character in the story is unique in its own way. The movie brings back the original 'Disneyness' - innocent, pure, and sweet. Tangled will definitely stay as my favorite movie for a very long time.

I've seen all the classic movies, and I absolutely love them all. However, it was The Little Mermaid that really made me pay attention and grow to understand meanings within the movies themselves. Not to mention that it is a classic movie. It's even written that if it hadn't been for the success of The Little Mermaid during the era it came out, pretty much none of the other movies we all know and love would have even been made. It set up the potential and the inspiration for the Disney Renaissance that made so many amazing and memorable movies (i.e., The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, etc.). It is and forever will be my most favorite and prized Disney movie until the day I die!

This is a classic to me. It's all about a rebel trying to follow her dreams, and sticking it out even when things look hopeless. She rescues the prince three times as well, which is not half bad for a Disney movie. The story also has strong metaphors regarding biracial love, and how it triumphs over bigotry and cultural differences. On top of that, the music and imagery are amazing. Who doesn't know Part of Your World or Under the Sea? Plus, there are not many ginger heroes in fiction, so it was nice seeing a Disney Princess I could relate to visually.

To be honest, this movie made me cry, especially at the end where Baymax had to say goodbye to Hiro, which broke my heart. In my opinion, this movie kind of inspired me to choose a path in electronics because of all the tech that was in the movie and the possibilities that could happen in our daily lives. This movie was definitely one that had not only good graphics but also an amazing story plot. I would definitely watch this movie again.

This movie is unique. It is the first Disney movie where not one person has a love interest - even in Brave, the parents did. I thought they did a beautiful job with Hiro's character, and I was glad he was the protagonist. It is also one of the few Disney movies where the main character turns into a villain. It's not as predictable as everyone thinks. How many people thought Tadashi was Yokai? There were also some clichés, but in its defense, it is a Disney movie. I think this is the best movie Disney ever created. It's totally worthy of the top ten.

'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' (1937) remains the most impressive full-length animated film of all time, and no computers were used! In terms of dramatic story development, excellent animation, and brilliant color - not to mention eight timeless songs - this movie ranks among the best motion pictures in the history of cinema. I'm always enthralled by the marvelous 'Silly Symphony' sequence. Everything about it is superb.

Each of the seven dwarfs has a distinct personality, and the animals are endearing as well. Snow White herself captures our emotions. We love her innocence and fear for her life at the hands of the evil queen, her stepmother. When the dwarfs mourn her lifeless body preserved in a glass coffin, we empathize with them.

It's incredible how the use of thousands of drawings can influence the viewer's mind and heart. A work of creative genius, this film is a gem for all ages. Initially known as "Walt Disney's Folly," it became the most successful animated feature of all time and ranks 10th on the list of the most successful movies ever. It was also the first animated motion picture to be chosen for placement in the National Film Registry. "Magic mirror on the wall, which is the fairest animated film of all?" After 80 years, the answer remains the same: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Dr. H. James Birx
Distinguished Visiting Professor
Faculty of Philology, University of Belgrade

Don't get me wrong. I think Nick Wilde is my favorite character in this film. But you have to admit, he has had a tragic childhood that hits way too close to home. He had a dream that he would become the leader of his own scout troop when he was young. But as the big day came, when he was going to be the first predator to join the Junior Ranger Scouts, all the members turned on him, pinned him down, and forced a muzzle onto his face. Then we see him running away in tears, retreating to a nearby corner, ripping the muzzle off his face, and curling up into a fetal position. It was also implied that his family was raised in poverty, so that explains everything. If you were raised as a sweet and innocent kid during your childhood and experienced that kind of situation (minus the muzzle), then chances are the scene can make for a difficult watch.

I love how this movie shows a perfect example of the real world. It deserves to be at the top of this list! It's amazing how someone could come up with such a story that best shows how the real world is today. It shows a perfect example of how fear could turn into racism. I loved the plot, too, especially how it had a surprise villain. This movie so deserves an award. It's very colorful and entertaining. Plus, we all love animals, don't we? It also shows the great friendship between a bunny and a fox and how the real world is like: messy, complicated, but solvable. We are all one. I love this movie and rate it 5 stars - 100% amazing. The animation is also great, and the music is wonderful. Loved it.

Easily the best Disney film ever. The story, visuals, voices, and music represent Disney at its finest. People think it's inappropriate for children, but it's not. My parents let me watch it when I was two, and my siblings and I loved it. We didn't even pick up on the dark themes as children. Kids don't notice or understand those elements at a young age. It's visually and musically entertaining and exciting. As we got older, understanding those themes made us love the movie even more. The characters are relatable and realistic, and the voices are perfect. Frollo is the best Disney villain ever, and Esmeralda is the first true Disney feminist. She's smarter than Belle and braver than Mulan. Disney needs to breathe life back into this movie and start promoting it again at all the theme parks and stores.

This is easily the most underrated Disney film in existence. While I'm not surprised that The Lion King is at the top of this list, this movie deserves more praise. Yes, it's dark, but it is potentially one of the most visually stunning and meaningful Disney movies ever. To add to that, the soundtrack is beautiful, and Esmeralda is 100% the most underrated Disney heroine. She deserves more love. Frollo is probably the most realistic villain. It's too bad that people don't show this movie any love. It's one of my favorites.

This movie is impressive. I could watch it every day, and I would love to see a second part of it. I really think it's appropriate to give to a child to watch. It changes their view of the world.

Part of the reason I love this movie is that my whole family really relates to it. This should be higher on the list. It addresses more serious topics, like suicide and genocide, and turns them into something fun and exciting.

Brad Bird really put a lot of effort into this film, and I like the fact that it's just a bit more mature and edgier than the usual Disney fare.

Why in the world is this ranked 42nd?! This is seriously one of the best movies ever! (And I'm a teenager.) I loved Elsa. I think she was definitely the best character. I loved how she was a good person overall but could be bad at times, like a normal person would. Not to mention that she's gorgeous - one of the prettiest Disney princesses so far.

This movie had some amazing songs too. I honestly loved all of them. The cast was amazing and had great voices. It wasn't super over-romantic like a usual Disney movie. I loved how at the end, Elsa was the act of true love and not Kristoff. I liked how they showed sisterly and familial love. Elsa's ice magic was amazing, and the animation was beautiful. The movie also has a lot of meaning if you really pay attention. Overall, this is one of my all-time favorite movies, not just Disney - all time!

While The Lion King is a good movie, it is far from being one of Disney's best. There are huge problems with it. The main character, for instance, is the most boring and generic element in the entire movie. When compared to Anna, the protagonist of Frozen, there's just no contest. Anna is much more entertaining.

Another problem is the music. Most of it is lackluster. Be Prepared is great, and I like Circle of Life, but everything else is just annoying. Again, compared to Frozen, there's no contest. Frozen wins by a landslide as every single song is amazing.

One other huge flaw is the muddled message. Simba learns to face his past, but when he does, he starts to lose. Everything he was taught before suddenly works against him. Nobody even helps him or backs him up much until they find out he didn't kill his father. So, I guess the moral is never take responsibility for what you've done because nobody will help you unless it turns out you really didn't commit the crime. How is this confronting his past? It's a past that never happened. Even when he did think it happened, the movie didn't support him. That is a gigantic flaw.

An actual Disney/Pixar film that isn't about princesses, superheroes, cheesy kid-human characters, or random songs popping out of nowhere. The plot is more understandable than most Pixar films. Take Monsters Inc., for example: the plot is about monsters creating energy made of screams. And then, plot twist, the leader of the corporation is evil. The end.

And it's my second-best Pixar film, but Wall-E takes the top spot. A robot in a time-scarred Earth is sent to rebuild and clean the Earth. Humans are sent aboard a space cruiser to survive, and WALL-E's home is a shipping container full of scrap. Then a large rocket disturbs the peace. A large white and blue robot named Eve comes out (WALL-E pronounces it 'Eva'). They then stow away on the human colony ship, with an evil computer controlling its movements. Better than any plot in an animated movie.

First off, how is this not in the top 10 at a minimum? Secondly, if you want this list to be about Disney animation, how can you not include the movie that focuses almost 100% on animation and very little on script to tell its story? By far, this is one of Disney's greatest movies of all time. I believe it should be number five. Number one should be Snow White because it's what started it all. Number two should be The Lion King because it initiated Disney's new era in movies. Number three should be Toy Story, as it was the first Disney-Pixar collaboration and what I believe marked the beginning of Disney's third era in movie-making. Finally, you could argue that either Finding Nemo or Wall-E should be numbers four and five.

Why was this movie not on the list until just now? I love, love, LOVE this movie! (Despite it differing from the actual ancient Greek mythology, but that's really beside the point.) Prepare yourselves for a rant. Here we go...

First, we have the handsome yet clueless and accident-prone Hercules as the hero. Then we have a Disney princess (Megara) who actually betrays her "prince" and then saves his life before dying (and coming back to life). Not to mention Hades (James Woods - he totally nailed the voice) is probably one of the cleverest, funniest villains I've ever seen.

Hades: How sentimental. You know, I haven't been this choked up since I got a hunk of moussaka caught in my throat.

Although it differs from the Greek myths, I enjoyed pretty much everything about the movie. Hercules went from zero to hero and was able to reunite with his birth parents, but chose his own path with Meg in the end. Megara's character was so different from the average 'damsel in distress.' She was sarcastic, witty, and able to take care of herself. She may have been working with the baddies at the beginning, but that was because of her sacrificing herself for her previous boyfriend. These characters had a lot of emotional depth. I really loved the soundtrack too. It probably has one of my favorite Disney songs, "Go the Distance."

The Jungle Book is just the first movie that someone has to watch in their childhood. It delivers the important message that you should value your friends, a lesson I believe everyone should take into account. The movie is so much fun!

I have loved The Jungle Book since I was a little kid. This definitely should be in the top 10. Knock out some of the computer-animated movies. Leave some with original-type animation. Hand-drawn animation adds a lot of character to a movie!

My favorite movie ever! I love all the characters. Baloo and Shere Khan are cool. This is my dad's favorite Disney movie. My great-uncle Leo painted some Jungle Book drawings on my bedroom wall. His son Jonathan helped.

I watched half of this movie months ago, and so far, it blew me away! My favorites are Bald Mountain and the dinosaur scene. Fantasia is without a doubt one of Disney's milestone movies. A masterpiece!

Yeah, the Concert Feature gets my vote. I didn't even have to think about this one. If I had to pick one with a continuous narrative, it's probably Beauty and the Beast or Hunchback, maybe Pinocchio. But Fantasia is simply my favorite Disney animated feature by far. In fact, it's my favorite animated movie of all time and a top ten film for me personally. Each viewing is just as enjoyable as the last, and I find something new to appreciate each time. I still smile at the humor and magic of Sorcerer's Apprentice, have my perception of survival changed by Rite of Spring, laugh raucously at Dance of the Hours, and stare in awe at Night on Bald Mountain. It's an experience, a film like no other. It gets my vote for number one, unequivocally.

I just had to vote for this because it's an absolute classic, and I have a fascination with weird, trippy things. Oddly enough, I never did drugs, but I get my highs off watching movies like this. Things in it don't make sense. It's very dream-like and surreal. I love it. Plus, the Cheshire Cat is one of my favorite Disney characters of all time. I could watch this over and over and never get bored of it!

I just really enjoy how weird it was. The animation is beautiful. I'm just a sucker for colors. The characters are amazing too. Who doesn't love the Cheshire Cat? And it's surprisingly humorous if you catch the jokes. This, Brother Bear, and The Emperor's New Groove have got to be the most popular underrated Disney movies ever, and rightfully so.

It is a world from the imagination of a child's heart. This is one of the more precious Disney movies and it always made me think. Maybe I will go paint some roses red... :) Alice is also a great main character with smarts. She's sweet and simply an innocent figure. I love how she wants these peculiar things, such as a desire for pictures in all her books and not words. I love "Alice in Wonderland"!

This movie is my favorite, and I think it's very underrated. Here are some reasons why this movie is so epic:

1. Lilo teaches Stitch that there is more to life than destruction.
2. The movie is about friendships and family.
3. It was funny.
4. The music was great.
5. It had action-filled, suspenseful moments.
6. Stitch and Lilo both have their own flaws, making them an awesome pair.
7. I love how Lilo keeps saying that you don't leave Obama behind.
8. Lilo is bullied by her friends, making her relatable to some people.
9. They are both unique.
10. Lilo means broken in Hawaiian, and Stitch fixes her.

My all-time favorite Disney movie. It has well-developed characters, decent-to-great action for a Disney film, and the comedy is generally on point without being overbearing. It really is a nice, heartwarming family drama with an alien setting and subplot that ties back into its main themes of family.

It's sort of overrated, but it was a funny movie when I was younger. Stitch looks funny and is a blue monster. The best scene with Lilo was when she was talking back to her sister and got in trouble. Disney (not Pixar) has declined in quality and was good only until 2011.

I will admit, I did not vote for Pinocchio, but I still think this is a great Disney film. It will probably never get the recognition it deserves, given the popularity of Disney's later movies. However, in my opinion, Pinocchio has the best animation seen in a Disney film, especially given the time period it was made.

The story, although nonsensical at times due to how naive Pinocchio was, really nails the morals in a frighteningly memorable way. This pushes the film into the discussion as one of Disney's best films. I would put it at least in the top 10, if not the top 5.

I can't believe this is so far down the list! I am 56 and enjoyed this immensely as a girl. However, children nowadays don't get to see this Disney film as much. They watch the computer-generated ones. The film was a little 'dark,' with naughty boys being turned into donkeys. But I totally agree with the vote below: the drawings are exquisite. Back then, they didn't have the technology we have now and had to painstakingly draw every moment we see. I agree that the clock scene is fantastic, and Jiminy Cricket was a great sidekick. I liked him as much as Pinocchio!

Mind you, I was scared of that fox and Stromboli (the puppet man) who put Pinocchio in a cage. But the film has plenty of more positive moments too.

All you parents, please buy this and encourage your kids to watch this great film! Everyone will learn that lying really doesn't pay, laugh out loud.