Disney Animation Reviews #21: Robin Hood

Disney Movie Review: 21/53 - Robin Hood

Robin Hood (1973) is one of the most surprising features in the Disney animation canon. As only the second animated film to be produced without the help of Walt Disney, Robin Hood ultimately works as one of the best animated features of this in-between period for Disney animation.

The film is a terrific amount of fun almost from start to finish. It borrows quite a bit from The Jungle Book in its look and design and even some in its humor. Perhaps the biggest inspiration Robin Hood took from The Jungle Book is its reliance on brilliant voice acting. While not as great as The Jungle Book, Robin Hood's cast of voice actors is wonderful. The great comedian Peter Ustinov breathes wonderful life into Prince John, Phil Harris is back for his third Disney feature in a row as Little John, and at least a dozen other wonderful voice artists contribute to the piece.

Prince John is the film’s greatest asset. He is a whiny, stupid, blustering fool. As a villain, he doesn’t inspire much fear, but as pure entertainment he is magnificent. A lot of this can be contributed to Peter Ustinov, who gave himself completely to the role. Ustinov’s voice is already cartoony so it is the perfect fit for Robin Hood.

Two other standout characters are Maid Marian and Lady Cluck. Marian is a delightful Disney female with personality and wit. She and Robin Hood make for a wonderful team and the most believable Disney couple since Lady and the Tramp. Lady Cluck, Marian’s lady-in-waiting, is a loud, boisterous, hilarious woman. She is involved in some of the film’s funniest scenes and is one of the most memorable characters.

There are so many fun characters in Robin Hood that it’s hard to mention them all. The Sheriff of Nottingham is brilliantly wicked, Sir Hiss is a wonderfully put-upon sidekick, Friar Tuck is snarky and fierce, Little John is magnificent as Phil Harris kills it once again, and even Robin Hood himself is exciting and engrossing. The large cast of widely enjoyable animal characters is probably Robin Hood's greatest trait, but at times it feels like there are a few too many characters to focus on just a few.

Many sequences of the film are a true comedic blast. The archery sequence and subsequent craziness is one that really stands out—complete with a football parody! The song and dance sequence, “The Phony King of England,” is jivey and awesome but relies heavily on obviously recycled animation. (Well, maybe it’s only obvious because I’ve recently watched every film before Robin Hood.)

Overall, though, Robin Hood is an exciting, fast-paced, under-appreciated gem. The music is lovely, the characters are a blast, and the story keeps you interested from the get-go. Robin Hood is great fun and a wonderful animated piece.

3.5/5 Golden Arrows

Disney Animation Reviews #20: The Aristocats

Disney Movie Review: 20/53 - The Aristocats

Ryan Dosier - The Aristocats (1970) marks a lot of firsts for Disney animated features. Not only is it the first animated feature produced in the 1970s, but it is also the first animated film without Walt Disney’s guiding hand. Both of these factors make The Aristocats one of the weaker Disney features, but it remains a cute, harmless fun little movie with great voice acting and music.

The star of The Aristocats is Thomas O’Malley, voiced by the great Phil Harris hot off his role as Baloo in The Jungle Book. O’Malley is a complete rogue character. He oozes charm and is the funniest and most delightful character in the film. Luckily once he shows up onscreen the bulk of the story rests on his shoulders to make it a fun enough watch.

Unfortunately none of the other characters in The Aristocats stand out much at all. Edgar the butler is especially weak as the film’s villain. He does nothing to make him a great or really even a good villain. He’s entirely forgettable. Duchess, the female cat, and her three kittens are adorable and sweet but sometimes too much so. The snappy Thomas O’Malley is much more fun.

It’s clear watching the film that Disney, wisely, was not attempting to push any boundaries in animation without Walt there. What they made was a fun film that is still worthwhile even though it is nowhere near as important or wonderful as the work overseen by Walt Disney. The character animation remains terrific and the music is jazzy and jumpy, but for the most part The Aristocats pales when compared to earlier Disney classics.

The most dynamic and delightful moment in The Aristocats is the song “Ev’rybody Wants to be a Cat.” The song itself is upbeat and fantastic with incredibly catchy music and lyrics. The colors and animation used in this scene are delightful as well. It’s hard not to smile and dance along during the song.

The film’s story is incredibly weak. Simplistic tales like this have worked for Disney before, but The Aristocats is not one of those times. Very little happens and we aren’t given enough reasons to root for our heroes to let them carry the movie alone. A stronger story really would have benefited The Aristocats.

Overall, The Aristocats is a very good effort from the animation studio founded by Walt Disney without Walt Disney there. It is charming and fun throughout and is quite forgivable in its faults. A few fun, lasting characters make The Aristocats worth watching.

2.5/5 Creme de la Creme a la Edgars

Disney Animation Reviews #19: The Jungle Book

Before we jump into the review, I'd like it to be known that I have read Mitchell's review of the film, and I have to say I whole heartily disagree with him. This review is fully positive of the film. Mitchell: How could you not love this movie? 

Disney Movie Review: 19/53 - The Jungle Book

Ryan Dosier - The Jungle Book (1967) was the final animated feature film to be overseen by Walt Disney. And boy oh boy, did Uncle Walt go out with a bang. I adore everything about this film and hereby declare it Walt Disney’s greatest film since Pinocchio. Every single thing about the film works beautifully. It is a comedy, it is a drama, and above all it is jazzy, unforgettable fun.

The first thing I noticed re-watching The Jungle Book was that the voice actors are credited as their characters for the first time in a Disney animated feature. Sebastian Cabot is credited as Bagheera the panther, Phil Harris is credited as Baloo, etc. Undoubtedly this is because of how incredibly important the voices are to this film. It’s hard to think of more perfect casting choices than Phil Harris as Baloo, Louis Prima as King Louie, and every other voice in the film. The voices are so crucial to the characters. By far, The Jungle Book possesses the best voice acting in a Disney animated feature yet.

The animation in The Jungle Book is impeccable in every single scene. Bagheera moves like a real panther, the Vultures fly and squat like real vultures, Kaa the snake coils and curls incredibly, and Shere Khan is outstanding with his movements and facial expressions. The highlight, animation wise, is a tie between Baloo and King Louie. The great Ollie Johnston animated Baloo through most of the movie, especially in his dancing scenes, and it stands out as some of the greatest cinematic animation ever. King Louie appears only briefly but he is completely perfect. It’s impossible to describe how he moves and jumps and dances. It’s just wonderful.

Baloo the bear is the film’s greatest success. Baloo immediately commands the film as soon as he is onscreen scatting. He takes control of the story, the humor, the charm, and the fun of the picture. Baloo’s relationship with Mowgli is the delightful heart of the film and is one of the most wonderful Disney friendships you can find. But it is Phil Harris’s outstanding voice work that makes Baloo soar. His performance of “The Bear Necessities” is one of the greatest Disney songs period. Baloo never stops impressing throughout the entire film, right up until his “death” scene at the end, where gets the biggest laugh.

Mowgli is also a fantastic character that benefits greatly from the supporting cast but still manages to be entertaining and charming on his own. Viewers care for Mowgli because he is the viewer. Who wouldn’t want to stay in the jungle with Baloo and King Louie? Mowgli grows and learns and we learn and grow with him.

Then there’s King Louie, who does the most with the smallest amount of screen time. Louis Prima adds so much to the character and the film with his exceptional voice. The song “I Wan’na Be Like You” is sweet, jazzy perfection. However, it is King Louie’s astounding animation by the astounding Frank Thomas that makes him an incredible character. He jumps and jives and dances about through the scene in hilarious fashion. Again, it’s impossible to describe how he moves. King Louie is the animated embodiment of swinging fun. Unbelievably perfect.

Shere Khan is another bafflingly great character. The main villain of the film does not appear until 47 minutes in. But as soon as he’s there, Shere Khan commands the screen. He sneaks through every scene so beautifully thanks to the animation from Milt Kahl. I love watching Shere Khan’s facial expressions because each one is incredible. His mouth can go so small it almost disappears and so wide that his fangs show. Shere Khan, although very brief in appearance, is one of the truly great Disney villains.

I could go on and on about the characters and the animation of The Jungle Book. I found myself completely stunned by the animation and I really can’t get over how perfect, beautiful, hilarious, and unbelievable it all is. The Jungle Book may be the most perfectly animated Disney film of all time—and I don’t say that lightly.

The story of The Jungle Book film is absolutely wonderful as well. The film never, ever lets you get bored. It’s packed to the brim with fun, excitement, and humor. There is never a dull moment with Baloo, King Louie, Bagheera, Kaa, Shere Khan, and the rest of the glorious cast. It flows and bounces like a great jazz song, climaxing with a terrific fight between Baloo and Shere Khan, which leaves Baloo fallen. Bagheera goes on to eulogize Baloo beautifully... while Baloo, still very much alive, listens with tears in his eyes. It is so very funny. If you don’t laugh when Baloo says, “I wish my mother coulda heard this!” you need a sense of humor check.

So that’s my love letter to Walt Disney’s final masterpiece, The Jungle Book. This movie represents the best of Disney animation. It is full of heart, humor, songs, fun, and stunning animation. The things that come together in The Jungle Book make for a true masterpiece and one of my favorite Disney films. It’s a Disney bear necessity.


5/5 Prickly Pears