10 Classic Disney Movies: A Roast and a Toast

Because you can love something and still notice that the prince identified his true love by her shoe size.

Disney has made animated movies for almost a century. They shaped how most of us learned to feel things. They're also, if you look closely, a little bit ridiculous.

So for each film: one roast, one toast. Love and honesty, together.

10. The Lion King (1994)

Roast: It's basically Hamlet with lions, and nobody warned the kids. Also, Scar runs the worst-managed kingdom in film history. Zero food, many hyenas.

Toast: One of the greatest soundtracks ever made, and Scar is one of Disney's best villains.

9. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Roast: Belle's love story starts with the Beast locking up her dad. The talking furniture is doing a lot of matchmaking.

Toast: The ballroom scene is a landmark: one of the first times Disney blended hand-drawn characters with a computer-animated background. And Belle, the girl who reads, is a top-tier hero.

8. Aladdin (1992)

Roast: Aladdin's whole plan is pretending to be a prince. That is, technically, fraud.

Toast: Robin Williams's Genie changed animated voice acting forever. Studios started casting big-name comedians because of him.

7. The Little Mermaid (1989)

Roast: Ariel trades her voice for legs to impress a guy she's met once. King Triton's parenting style is "destroy all your stuff."

Toast: This movie kicked off the Disney Renaissance. And Ursula is pure style.

6. Mulan (1998)

Roast: The Huns survive an avalanche and just walk it off.

Toast: Mulan is one of Disney's greatest heroes, and "I'll Make a Man Out of You" is the best training montage in animation.

5. Hercules (1997)

Roast: Greek mythology fans have filed a lot of complaints. In the myths, Hera is not Hercules's loving mom. Not even close.

Toast: The Muses turn it into a gospel concert, and Hades is the funniest villain Disney ever made.

4. Frozen (2013)

Roast: Elsa shuts her sister out for years, and the movie's solution is one big song.

Toast: "Let It Go" became a worldwide event. And the twist about true love being between sisters changed the fairy tale formula.

3. Finding Nemo (2003)

Roast: A shark support group. "Fish are friends, not food." Just let that sink in.

Toast: The underwater animation was jaw-dropping, and Dory carries the movie. Also, Marlin learning to let his kid grow up might be the most honest parenting story Pixar ever told.

2. Pocahontas (1995)

Roast: The real history is very different. Historians say Pocahontas was a child when she met John Smith, and there's no evidence of a romance at all. Disney turned a hard chapter of history into a love song.

Toast: "Colors of the Wind" is a masterpiece, and the art direction is gorgeous. Also, Meeko the raccoon has more personality than John Smith.

1. Cinderella (1950)

Roast: The prince danced with her all night and couldn't remember her face. His plan was to try a shoe on every woman in the kingdom. Also: glass shoes. For dancing.

Toast: The Fairy Godmother's transformation is one of the most magical moments in animation. And this film saved Disney. After World War II, the studio was in deep financial trouble, and Cinderella was the hit that kept the lights on.

Final thought

These movies aren't perfect. That's what makes them fun to love. The best way to respect a story is to take it seriously enough to notice its flaws.

Your turn

Which movie deserved a bigger roast? Which deserved a bigger toast? Tell me in the comments.

New episodes drop on YouTube first. Subscribe to Mr. Bray Labs so you never miss one.