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,
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.
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?
Dinosaur (2000)
The computer-animated giant reptiles displayed a breathtaking prehistoric backdrop that was quite jaw-dropping. It did still sometimes look a little too much like a computer game. The story was not too bad, even if it resembled "The Land Before Time" a little too closely.
It does at least contain a little more action and than "The Land Before Time" and even scored a PG rating due to some of its rather frightening scenes. The animation didn't age well but there are some unforgettable moments such as the devastating aftermath from the meteor.
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
One of the classic early package films, this film joins two great shorts, "The Wind in the Willows" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." The only problem, the books on which these shorts are based greatly differ in style.
The former is a lighthearted tale, while the latter is a classic horror story. Pairing these side by side is odd to say the least, even if as they are good as singular works. As far as the animation, even by 1940s standards is subpar.