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.
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,
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 Aristocats (1970)
Fearing the vocal talents of Eva Gabor as Duchess, folks simply fell in love with this film. However, "The Aristocats" got a slightly lower ranking on an account of its lacking in originality and seems to emulate films like the"One Hundred and One Dalmatians" and "Lady and the Tramp".
With that said, "The Aristocats" is still delightful and the energetic scat song "Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat" is enough to make this movie a Disney classic.
Fantasia (1940)
In order to appreciate "Fantasia", you have to surrender to it. It's simply a visual and symphonic experience. You may not exactly "like" it, but it sure is something to be appreciated. Bear in mind that it was also only the third film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Ultimately, while Fantasia is not about anything, it is still impressive and somehow even more so than it's modern counterpart.