Dumbo (1941)
This sweet film is cherished by many. While the premise of an elephant who can fly with his ears is slightly absurd, it certainly charmed the viewers. And who can forget the iconic moment of Dumbo’s mamma cradled him through the bars of cage while singing “Baby Mine?” Talk about waterworks.
The film unfortunately also contains many racist themes and has been commonly regarded as perpetuating black stereotypes. I mean, the main crow is literally named Jim Crow.
The Black Cauldron (1985)
One of the most stylistically different Disney films ever made, one might forget it's actually Disney! It truly was refreshing to see how they broke away from the mold. That is essentially what makes the film so special.
Still, the film didn't do fare particularly well. People often wonder if it simply would have done it better had it not been a Disney film. The screenwriters had a big job to do and condensed two books into an 80-minute film
Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)
This majorly big production film is a testament to just how big Disney has gotten. This almost hybrid Disney -Marvel production brings us tons of Star Wars superhero cameos that detract from the story.
Unlike its predecessor, this installment feels like a showcase of big brands and corporate power. Not really a heartfelt Disney film.
Peter Pan (1953)
The beloved film is one of Disney's best, but it has a lot more in common with Dumbo than it would like to admit. Yep, the original Peter Pan was pretty racist too. Remember the song "What Made the Red Man Red?" That would just not fly these days.
The cultural tone-deafness aside, it is a charming film about the pains of growing up. There are also memorable songs and wonderful visuals. How can we forget Pan and the Darling children flying over London?
Brother Bear (2003)
Not many remember this one but this film was actually considered as one of the more thoughtful and emotionally layered Disney films of that era. The story tells us of Kenai, a boy who learns a lesson by getting transformed into a bear after he murders the bear that killed his brother Sitka. Kenai befriends another bear, Koda, (bear with us here) and eventually discovers a painful truth.
The film received praise for its vibrant animation that reflects Kenai's growth. With that said, Brother Bear's soundtrack, even if it was by the legendary Phill Collins, turned out to be cheesy and even intrusive at times,