4. Mulan
Directors: Tony Bancroft, Barry Cook
Voices: Ming-Na (Mulan), Eddie Murphy (Mushu), BD Wong (Captain Li Shang), Miguel Ferrer (Shan Yu), Harvey Fierstein (Yao), June Foray (Grandma Fa), James Hong (Chi Fu), Miriam Margolyes (Matchmaker), Pat Morita (The Emperor)
Year: 1998
The second Disney animated film to make this list is Mulan. Released in 1998 Mulan is Disney Studio’s 36th animation film and is based upon the Hua Mulan Chinese legend; Fa Mulan is the only daughter of aged warrior Fa Zhou who has been called to fight in the war against the invading Hun army. In order to save her father from fighting, and most likely dying, Mulan dresses as a man and is drafted in the army in her father’s place. The Disney version follows this plot but adds a level of depth to the Mulan character by placing her add odds with the traditional role played by women in patriarchal China, having her fall in love with the captain of her platoon and being the soldier to save the Emperor from Shan Yu, leader of the Hun invasion. In her adventures she is accompanied by the quick talking and hilarious dragon Mushu
Mulan grossed $304 million and was nominated for two Academy Awards. Mulan was released during an era known as the Disney renaissance and was produced in water colour. The film score was composed by Jerry Goldsmith while songs such as Reflection and I’ll make a man out of you were written by Matthew Wilder and David Zippel. Mulan is a beautifully crafted animated film that can be enjoyed by all members of the family making it very deserving of its place on this list
3. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Directors: Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Voices: Bill Hader (Flint), Anna Faris (Sam), James Caan (Tim), Bruce Campbell (Mayor), Mr. T (Earl), Neil Patrick Harris (Steve), Lauren Graham (Fran), Andy Samberg (Baby Brent), Angela Shelton (Regina), Benjamin Bratt (Manny)
Year: 2009
Based on the children’s book of the same title by Judi and Ron Barrett Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - a computer animated film – follows Flint Lockwood who believes himself to be a genius. Sadly for Flint none of the things he invents ever work or have any real use in society. Flint’s self belief and determination to succeed stem from his mother’s support during his childhood. When she dies he is left alone with his father who believes he should simply give up and join the family business. The island that Flint lives on relies solely on the revenue generated from canning sardines and when the economy falls into crisis Flint decides to invent a machine that will produce food from water. Flint’s machine is actually a success but after a mishap the machine becomes lodged in the atmosphere and food begins to rain down from the sky. The island becomes famous for the uniqueness of its food-weather but chaos soon follows which Flint, as the inventor of the machine, has to sort out in order to save the island and get Sam, the girl he has fallen for
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was released in 2009 and grossed $124,870,275. While Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs might not be as well known as some of the other animated films on the list it is by far one of the funniest. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a hidden gem that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike
Directors: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
Voices: Matthew Broderick (adult Simba), Nathan Lane (Timon), James Earl Jones (Mufasa), Jeremy Irons (Scar), Rowan Atkinson (Zazu), Whoopi Goldberg (Shenzi), Moira Kelly (adult Nala), Madge Sinclair (Sarabi), Ernie Sabella (Pumbaa)
Year: 1994
Released in 1994 Disney’s 32nd animated classic The Lion King takes its inspiration from William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. Following the celebration of the newborn Prince Simba the viewer witnesses the tension that has arisen between King Mufasa and his brother Scar, who is no longer the heir to the throne of Pride Rock. This tension grows to a point where Scar engineers the murder of Mufasa with the help of his hyena lackeys and manages to convince the young and impressionable Simba that it is his foolish actions that have caused the death of his father, thus convincing Simba to flee Pride Rock forever. Scar takes over the ruling of Pride Rock and unites Mufasa’s kingdom with his unofficial kingdom – the badlands. Luckily for Simba he is rescued by Timon and Pumba, a weird pair of beasts who raise Simba to follow their philosophy: Hakuna Matata. The main principles of Hakuna Matata are if it feels good do it and don’t worry about a thing in life. Pretty good, right? After years of Scar’s rule the savannah has been brought to ruin and Nala, Simba’s former best friend, must find him and convince Simba to quit his carefree life, return and reclaim his right as a king by usurping Scar
In 1994 The Lion King grossed $783 million worldwide, became the most successful film that year and the 35th highest grossing film of all time. The Lion King is also the highest grossing hard-animation film of all time and like Mulan belongs to the era known as the Disney Renaissance. Songs such as The Circle of Life, Can you feel the love tonight? and I just can’t wait to be king were written by the great Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice, while the score was composed by the legendary Hans Zimmer. After its success as an animated film, winning two Academy Awards, The Lion King was transformed into a hit Broadway and West End Musical
Directors: Mark Osborne, John Stevenson
Voices: Jack Black (Po), Dustin Hoffman (Shifu) Lucy Liu (Snake), Angelina Jolie (Tigress), Jackie Chan (Monkey), Ian McShane (Tai Lung), Seth Rogen (Mantis), David Cross (Crane), Randall Duk Kim (Oogway), James Hong (Mr. Ping), Michael Clarke Duncan (Commander Vachir)
Year: 2008
Dreamworks Animation’s 2008 film Kung Fu Panda follows the hero Po, a giant panda who yearns to become a Kung Fu master and dreams of one day joining the magnificent Furious five in the Jade Palace. Po’s problem is that he is a lazy, heavily overweight panda who is stuck in the family trade of selling noodles. When the Valley of Peace is threatened by the news that bad Kung Fu master Tai Lung has escaped his prison, wise master Oogway is forced to search for the Dragon Warrior – a warrior so skilled in the art of Kung Fu that he or she is destined to defeat Tai Lung and save the valley. It is assumed that this master with come from among the revered Furious Five so it is a strong shock to all when Po is chosen – seemingly by accident – as the Dragon Warrior who must save the day
While Kung Fu Panda is intended for a younger audience, Kung Fu Panda mixes comedy with the more serious messages of never judge a book by its cover and the philosophical idea of predestination. Again the fun and powerful soundtrack was scored by the great Hans Zimmer, also composer of The Lion King. Kung Fu Panda is one of the best animated films I have seen in recent years and a picture that you simply must see
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