Disney Movies Ranked: (Round 11) The "Restoration Age"

Disney Movies Ranked: (Round 11) The "Restoration Age"

Welcome back everyone to my comprehensive ranking of every Walt Disney Animation movie. This is the 11th round in the blog series. If you'd like to visit the past rounds, you can click on the links below:

Round 1 "The Golden Age"

Round 2 "The Silver Age"

Round 3 "The Gilded Age"

Round 4 "The Shadow Age"

Round 5 "The Forgotten Age"

Round 6 "The Neo-Classical Age"

Round 7 "The Epic Age"

Round 8 "The Progressive Age"

Round 9 "The Modernist Age"

Round 10 "The Diaspora Age"

This round begins what many people have termed, the Disney "Revival Era", or Disney's "Second Renaissance". In general, the movies in this round see a return to the the quality and heart of classic Disney films. The characters are lovable and relatable, the songs are fantastic, the animation is gorgeously made. Not only that, but the stories are also incredibly creative. Because this movie began the return to the glories of Disney's animated past, I have termed this round the "Restoration Age".

Many people say that the movies in the Disney Revival are very reminiscent of Pixar movies. For one thing, the Disney animation team finally caught up with Pixar's CGI animation in terms of visual quality. The characters and environments are beautifully animated, and you can tell that a lot of effort and time went into creating them. The stories are creative, and cover some pretty mature themes such as psychological cruelty and discovering the difference between one's desires and one's needs.

And the best part about these movies is that they made tons of money! This is important because it's taught Disney that audiences care about quality. Parents don't just want to stick their kids in front of some mediocre gag fest for an hour and a half. They want to watch something that makes them feel things, they want to feel like a kid again. They want their children to know what it's like to appreciate a beautiful piece of art.

Learn more about the Disney Revival here 

Now let's get started on the rankings! 

1. Best Female Lead

4th Place: Kanga (Winnie the Pooh)

So, Kanga is the only female character in this Winnie the Pooh movie, again. She's pretty much the same this time around. She knits Eeyore a new tail (sort of), which is really the most the movie lets her do. Not a bad character, she's just kind of there. 

3rd Place: Rapunzel (Tangled)

Rapunzel is definitely a return to the classic Disney princess stereotype. She has a sweet and gentle innocence about her, which in a day when such things are mocked is actually a little refreshing. She has a touch of modernity to her, so she isn't a complete push over. But as a whole, her personality is one defined by a gentleness and overall good-naturedness. Considering what Mother Gothel put her through, it's surprising that she turned out so well.

Of course, some of the psychological abuse she had to endure under Mother Gothel comes through. For one thing, she has an anxious, unsure side to her personality that shows up quite a bit. Mostly, this anxiety and self-deprecation is entwined with Mother Gothel. Despite this flaw, Rapunzel is a decent, likable protagonist who stands out as one of the most charming Disney characters in recent history. 

2nd Place: Vanellope Von Schweetz (Wreck-it-Ralph)

"You're a winner. You're adorable. And who doesn't love an adorable winner?"

Vanellope is a pretty fun character, even if she's a little annoying at times. She's got a lot of personality, and she adds a lot of heart to the movie. I was a little skeptical when I first watched the movie about it spending so much time in Sugar Rush, but Vanellope helps make that bearable. She's like most little kids--pretty annoying at times, but also adorable.

The character arc which Vanellope follows is parallel to the one that Ralph follows, which is no doubt intentional. Like Ralph, Vanellope is an outcast, who feels trapped in her position of inferiority. She's basically treated like trash by everyone else in her game--even though she used to be their queen. Given those circumstances, it isn't hard to see why she starts off so self-centered.

However, as seems to be the theme of Wreck-it-Ralph, Vanellope goes against her "programming" and begins to think outside of herself and her own problems. She goes against what's familiar to her, snarky self-preservation, to become something better. By the end of the film, we see her risking her life (which is a big deal considering the fact that she can't regenerate in her glitched state), to rescue Ralph. The Vanellope we saw at the beginning of the film would have never done that. 

Winner: Tiana (Princess and the Frog)

Tiana is an interesting character, mostly due to how multi-faceted she is.  For one thing, she has a unique personality. She's stern, persistent, and very goal-oriented. She has a rugged, down to earth type of personality that makes her very appealing and relatable compared to other Disney princesses. She might not be the most charming person up front, but her hard-working attitude and subtle wit eventually win you over. 

She also has a very interesting character arc. Unlike a lot of protagonists, Tiana starts off as a person who has a good head on their shoulders, wants good things, is responsible, and is already working hard to get what she wants and has a good plan. On the outset, it doesn't look like she needs any character development. But then, we start to see some subtle holes in her life show up, and she must learn to recognize and meet these unmet needs. She learns that having people you love and who support you is more important than any other external goal. Having dreams and ambitions are great, but they're meaningless if there's nobody to share them with. "My daddy never did get what he wanted, but he had what he needed. He had love!" I love the power of that line. It's simple, but powerful, which I think sums up Tiana pretty well.

2. Best Male Lead

4th Place: Eeyore (Winnie the Pooh)

So, although Winnie the Pooh is of course the titular character of this movie, I found that Eeyore has a little bit more of an actual story, plus I've used Winnie the Pooh before in his first movie. 

Eeyore is a perpetually depressed character, who can be sort of controversial. Some people hate him, thinking that he's an absolute kill-joy, and some people love him, praising him as being the only character in the movie with a good head on their shoulders. I'm still not really completely sure what I think of him yet, but I can definitely feel for him. 

He kind of reminds me of Sadness from Pixar's Inside Out. There's a scene where Pooh is talking about how hungry he is and how he wished he had some honey. Eeyore sits their and listens to him, and tells him how sorry he is that Pooh is hungry. It's a small thing, but it helped me see that for all he's got going against him, Eeyore can be a good listener at times. 

3rd Place: Naveen (Princess and the Frog)

First of all, let me tell you why I used to hate Naveen. As Tiana, and as is later pointed out by himself, Naveen is basically useless. He wastes most of his time, and doesn't really care or think much about others' needs. Sure, he's charming, and isn't ever deliberately mean, but he's pretty self-absorbed. I used to think Naveen was nothing more than a copy and paste of previous Disney "tramp" archetypes. But, this time around, I learned that his character has some nice nuance to it.

The one thing that really stood out to me this time was his vulnerability. For the first half of the film, he acts rather nonchalantly and confident. However, he eventually opens up to Tiana and reveals that he feels troubled by his uselessness. In his own words, "I don't know how to do anything". If you think about it, that's a pretty unique weakness to overcome. But he does overcome it. He becomes motivated by his love for Tiana to find purpose in his life. I still don't care for some aspects of him, but after truly seeing his character arc, I like him a lot more now.

2nd Place: Eugene Fitzherbert (Tangled)

Eugene, or "Flynn Rider" as we know him for most of the film, also fits the "tramp" archetype, though I feel like he does a slightly better job at it than Naveen. For one thing, he starts out a little rougher. He genuinely doesn't care about other people at all at the beginning. He admits that his "dream" was to be on an island alone. Plus, his cynical side helps give voice to some of the incredulousness the audience no doubt feels towards some of the more over the top parts of the film.

I really like his transformation. Unlike a lot of "tramp" characters, his growth happens incrementally, and gives you room to understand and appreciate his new side. His first major step is when he shares his real name with Rapunzel (which actually happens sooner than I thought it did). He later goes on to open up to Rapunzel about his past as an orphan, "who had nothing". At this point, we can see him starting to let himself be vulnerable, rather than clinging to the invincible "Flynn Rider" persona he had adopted.

Next, we see him start to fall in love with Rapunzel, as they participate in the kingdom's celebrations, and as they see the floating lanterns together. For the first time in his life, he starts to think about somebody else besides himself. Then, this newfound selflessness is put to the test. He's captured and about to be hanged when Maximus comes in to save the day. His immediate thought is to go find and help Rapunzel. He isn't concerned about his own safety, which he totally would have at the beginning of the film. Then, what may have been the truly first selfless act he's ever done, he cuts Rapunzel's hair--freeing her from a life of servitude and bondage to Mother Gothel, even though he believed it would kill him in the process.

Eugene's story is one we've heard time and again. And usually that's a minus for me. However, Tangled doesn't cut corners in Eugene's development just because it's a familiar premise. They do his character justice, when it would have been so easy for them to expect us to "know" his story and present it halfheartedly. 

Winner: Wreck-it-Ralph (Wreck-it-Ralph)

As I've said earlier, the journey that Ralph makes throughout this movie is very similar to that followed by Vanellope. However, I feel like Ralph's development is given more time and exploration by the movie, and is a little bit more emotional.

One key difference between Ralph and Vanellope is that Ralph seems to be more keenly aware of the gulf that separates him from the rest of society. He's not an outcast because his code was glitched up like Vanellope's--he's literally programmed to be the "bad guy". He's been told his whole life that he's only good for one thing--ruining things. It's easy to see why he envies Fix-it-Felix, the one who's been lauded his whole life for being the one who solves everyone's problems.

Then Ralph meets Vanellope, and for the first time in his life, he creates something for someone else, and they love him for it. The "medal" that Vanellope makes for him is a perfect symbol of the difference between the fake, cheap acceptance Ralph was originally looking for, and the genuine, true acceptance he finds. This new acceptance helps him learn how to accept the difference between who he's "programmed to be" and who he truly is. "Because if that little kid likes me, then how bad can I be?"

3. Best Villain/Antagonist

4th Place: Owl (Winnie the Pooh)

Of course, Owl isn't really much of an antagonist in this film, however, he is the one responsible for the majority of the problems the characters face. For one thing, he was the one who took Eeyore's tail and turned it into a doorbell. Then, he's the one who misreads Christopher Robin's note, "will be back soon", convincing everyone that Christopher Robin has been kidnapped by the terrible "Baxon". The problems he causes are more amusing than problematic, but I can't help but feel that if he'd been a little more humble and open to admitting his mistakes, the whole movie wouldn't have needed to happen.

3rd Place: King Candy/Turbo (Wreck-it-Ralph)

"You wouldn't hit a guy with glasses would you?"

King Candy was a really fun villain for this movie. First of all, I love his puns--I'll never be tired of them. He's fun to watch as he vivaciously jumps around, and delivers his lines with an enthusiastic performance. Then, there's the twist that caught me completely by surprise the first time I saw this movie--he was actually Turbo, the character who's misdeeds made it taboo for characters in the arcade to go against their programming.

It's interesting to see how King Candy opposes Ralph and Vanellope. Ralph and Vanellope are characters who must go against their programming in order to save the arcade, whereas King Candy/Turbo going against his programming is the whole reason the arcade is in danger in the first place. It helps add complexity to the movie's major themes. The movie shows us that even though going against tradition, and stepping outside of the bounds society has set for us can be a good thing--and can even lead to new opportunities and personal growth--it can also lead to pain and misery if it is done for selfish reasons. 

2nd Place: Mother Gothel (Tangled)

Mother Gothel makes me cringe every time I see her, but in the way good villains are supposed to make you cringe. Mother Gothel may not be the most powerful villain, or the most charismatic, and she really only does one thing, but she does that one thing super well--she antagonizes the protagonist. This is one aspect of villainy that Mother Gothel excels at. She reminds me of Frollo from Hunchback of Notre Dame--but in woman form.

Mother Gothel makes it her goal to completely hamstring Rapunzel's confidence, in an attempt to control her. And she is brutally efficient at it. For starters, there's the song "Mother knows best". I know that most of the moms in the theater probably chuckled at the lyrics, but it's actually an incredibly horrifying song. It's the perfect example of the type of cruelty Mother Gothel uses.

Throughout the song, she tries to make Rapunzel feel as weak and powerless as possible, with lyrics like "...sloppy, under-dressed, immature, clumsy, please--they'd eat you up alive!" And then, perhaps the most twisted part about Mother Gothel is how she opens her arms up to Rapunzel in an attempt to "comfort her" from all the horrible psychological abuse she just put her through. Not just in the song, but throughout the film in general. Not only does she make Rapunzel powerless by abusing her, but then she also makes her feel powerless by thinking that she's the only person Rapunzel can turn to. All of this manipulation and cruelty make it so satisfying when Rapunzel actively stands up to her at the film's ending.  

Winner: Dr. Facilier "The Shadow Man" (Princess and the Frog)

First of all, "Dr. Facilier" is just a really cool name. Dr. Facilier is one of the most memorable Disney characters in general, but is also a very memorable, and powerful villain. For one thing, I just love the whole voodoo witch doctor powers he has. He fraternizes with evil spirits and demons, has his own personal shadow minion, can transform people with seeming ease, and who knows what else. His powers are brought to life super well on screen, and they really help make him feel like a menacing villain.

Beyond all that though, Dr. Facilier plays a powerful role in developing the film's themes. One of the major themes that seems to permeate Princess and the Frog is the concept of vulnerability, and how different people react to it. Like Tiana, some people are simply unaware of their vulnerabilities. Like Naveen, some people put on a show to try and hide their vulnerabilities. And then there are people like Dr. Facilier, who seek to overcome their vulnerabilities by seeking power and by harming others.

One of my brothers pointed out just how vulnerable Dr. Facilier really is. He essentially gambles with powers that are far beyond his own control, putting his own life in jeopardy for seemingly superficial reasons. We see his physical vulnerability, in the form of the talisman that he wears around his neck--which can't be broken, otherwise his demonic "friends" will come to collect on his "debts". We also see his vulnerability in more subtle ways in his dialogue with Lawrence, the power hungry assistant to prince Naveen. In order to psych Lawrence up for their plan, Dr. Facilier says the following: "Aren't you tired of living on the margins? While all those fancy cats in their fancy cars don't even give you so much as a sideways glance?"

As he says this, we see a look of anger, and possibly even pain, flash across his usually well composed face. I think this quote highlights his biggest feelings of vulnerability. Just like Tiana, he was a poor, mistreated member of society, who had to scrape by just to make a living. I can imagine him as a young child, alone on the streets, turning to anything--even voodoo and evil spirits--to give him some shred of control, some illusion of power over his life. His whole life, he looked at what he thought he wanted, but never at what he truly needed. In this way, he serves as the perfect opposite to Tiana. They both came from similar backgrounds, but one chose the path of happiness, and the other chose the path of anguish. 

All of this vulnerability pays off in what may be the most satisfying--and probably the most horrifying--villain death scenes in all of Disney. As Tiana shatters his talisman, the giant voodoo spirits pop out of the ground and ask him "are you ready?", to which he gives the terrifyingly stark response, "no, I'm not ready!" I can't think of a more horrifying ending than to see death and realize that you spent your whole life clawing desperately for power and false ambitions, only to realize that they are absolutely meaningless and that you have spent a life defined by nothing but agony and misery. This is in stark contrast to the life full of meaning and acceptance which Tiana and Naveen create for themselves.

Plus, he has one of the best Villain songs ever!



4. Best Side/Supporting Character(s)

4th place: Tigger (Winnie the Pooh)

Uggh, so I'm not a very big fan of Tigger. He was probably my least favorite character growing up, and I find him just as insufferable now. Is he funny sometimes? Sure. But the way he just completely bulldozes over all the other characters without any regard to them whatsoever is just plain unlikable in my opinion. Like, yeah we get it Tigger, you like to bounce around, but do you have trample over everybody in the process? There's absolutely nothing wrong with a cheerful character. But Tigger isn't cheerful--he's either Narcissistic or has Borderline Personality Disorder. Sure, he's extroverted, but he doesn't actually add to anybody's happiness, he just takes what he can and moves on. And if you ever once try to call him out on his boisterousness, he'll either shut you down or try to "convert" you to his line of thinking.

Let me illustrate what I mean. In the 2011 Winnie the Pooh movie, Tigger spends most of his time trying to "Tiggerize" Eeyore. Without any regard to Eeyore's feelings, Tigger drags him around, physically abuses him, and tries to turn him into a "Tigger"--because obviously Eeyore's just a problem to be fixed, right? Surely, everything in Eeyore's life would be a million times better if he was an obnoxious, over-the-top extrovert like Tigger, right?  Maybe if Tigger had some kind of character development--like maybe if he came to understand that other characters don't appreciate his over the top boisterousness and learned to regard other people's feelings--then he wouldn't be so bad. But no, he stays the same throughout the whole film--and he's usually rewarded for it. Essentially, he's an immature child in an adult's body who nobody has the courage to discipline.

Blech! I agree with Eeyore's summation: "The wonderful thing about Tiggers is you're the only one."

3rd Place: Maximus (Wreck-it-Ralph)

Aw, Maximus. The sentient, yet mute, animal comedic gold. There's nothing really deep or special about Maximus. He's just funny. But sometimes that's all a good side character needs to be. The main characters surrounding him aren't particularly humorous, so he definitely helps cut some of the tension.

2nd Place: Ray (Princess and the Frog)

Ray's a pretty good character. He's the one throughout the whole movie who sees what everybody actually needs. He seems like a dumb hick, but he's really one of the wisest characters in the whole movie. Ray is motivated by love and a genuine appreciation of life's beauties. His valuing of simple, yet profound, things is symbolized by his love for Evangeline. Everybody thinks he's crazy for thinking that he'll be able to be with a star--but at the end of the movie, after Ray's death, we see a new star form right next to Evangeline. To me, this shows that although the simple beauties of life can be mocked and overlooked, in the end, they are real and can be some of the most beautiful things in life.

Winner: Fix-it-Felix (Wreck-it-Ralph)

The one thing I love about Felix is how much he contributes to the movie as a whole. In the beginning, he serves as a powerful opposite to Ralph. We see Felix loved and celebrated by everyone around him, while Ralph is tossed into the mud. We see him live in relative comfort and ease--relying on the powers handed down to him by his dad. Meanwhile, Ralph is left alone in the dump, without any friends, or life purpose.

At first, it seems like Felix doesn't really have any need for growth or development. He's a pretty nice guy, and he's got everything going for him. But then he steps outside of his comfort zone and discovers that there's a whole world of growth out there waiting for him. He risks his life to save his game, something he's never had to really do up until that point, and he learns about his own limitations. When he's locked inside of King Candy's "fundgeon", there's nothing that his fix-it powers can do to help. It isn't until he's broken out by Ralph that he realizes that Ralph's role and talents are just as valuable as his own. 

Then, with what had to have taken quite a bit of humility, Felix chooses to help Ralph save Sugar Rush, and Vanellope. In the end, he helps make the arcade a better place for Ralph, and other game characters who were disadvantaged. He went against his own "programming" to see what truly needed to be fixed.

5. Best Songs/Music

4th Place: Winnie the Pooh

This song helps highlight what I was talking about with Tigger.

Anyway, the music in this movie was kind of...lazy? Maybe it's just me, but it felt like there was no point to any of these songs, as if they were just trying to fill up time in this already incredibly short movie. The "Baxon" song is kind of decent, but I can't even remember any of the others. Maybe these songs are great to some people, but for me, I'll pass.

3rd Place: Wreck-it-Ralph

This movie doesn't have a lot of music to it, but the music it does include makes sense. The musical score helps add to the action scenes, and makes the more touching scenes--like when Ralph is making what he though was his final sacrifice--more powerful and poignant. "Shut up and Drive" is a fun little pop song thrown in that I found pretty well-done. It encapsulates Vanellope's character so well, and adds some memorability to her transformation into a racer.

2nd Place: Tangled

The music from Tangled is very well done, if not a little formulaic. "When will my life begin" helps get the movie going in an upbeat, enthusiastic way, only to be contrasted by the wonderfully well-done, "Mother knows best". The yearning for freedom and the reality of imprisonment emphasized by these two songs does a great job of introducing the main conflict. 

"I've got a dream" is one of those beautifully weird songs that I've come to love from Disney. I feel like it captures some of the whimsy and wonder Walt Disney himself would have wanted. Then of course there is the beautifully written, "I see the light" which plays at every other millennial's wedding reception to this day. It's the epitome of a classic Disney love song.

Winner: Princess & the Frog

Princess & the Frog's music is the perfect example of what Disney has accomplished during their revival era. They've taken everything people loved about classic Disney, but also added unique aspects to it, giving it a flavor of its own. The directors said they wanted the music of this movie to be like Gumbo--lots of different and distinct flavors mixed in to create a wonderful treat. And the music does just that. 

"Friends on the other side", "Ma Belle Evangeline", and "When we're human" are my three favorite songs from this movie. The first revives the delicious evilness of villain songs from the past, while throwing in some truly haunting visuals and themes. The second is a love song--but it's a love song about the side character and his semi-imaginary girlfriend, while at the same time paralleling the romance between the two main characters. Finally the third song is a rollicking jazz piece that highlights the New Orleans flavor of the whole movie.


6. Best Romance

4th Place: None (Winnie the Pooh)

This movie didn't have enough run time to have an actual plot, let alone any romance...

3rd Place: Felix & Calhoun (Wreck-it-Ralph)

So I'm a pretty big fan of this couple, even if they don't get a whole lot of screen time together. The general theme of all the romances in this round seems to be "opposites attract", and nowhere is that more evident than with Felix and Calhoun. It's kind of a cool twist though because its opposites you don't really ever see get together in most movies. He's a sweet, likable guy and she's a hardened war veteran. They balance each other out quite well. I'm excited to see more of them together in the sequel (as of writing this I have NOT seen the sequel yet, so don't say anything!)

2nd Place: Eugene & Rapunzel (Tangled)

A rather cliche type of romance, but one that is well executed nonetheless. Something that I really like about this couple is how they both help each other learn to love themselves. Eugene helps Rapunzel become freed from Mother Gothel's abusive, obsessive imprisonment and helps her see that her magical powers are not what define her worth (as Mother Gothel taught her), but that her worth lies in who she is. Rapunzel helps Eugene learn to accept his true self, rather than relying on his Flynn Rider persona, helping him to live a genuine, rather than fake life.

Winner: Tiana & Naveen

Contrary to the opening video I linked you guys to, I feel like Tiana and Naveen's romance is more nuanced and organic than Rapunzel and Eugene's (though I still love those two together). Their relationship isn't quite as simple as teaching the other person to love themselves, but rather, they help each other see the weaknesses they'd been hiding or running away from and help them face it head on.

At first Tiana relentlessly points out Naveen's weaknesses. She calls him out on his laziness, and his nonchalance, and helps him to see the effects his weaknesses have on people. Later on, she helps him learn how to become hard working and honest. But, more than that, she helps him gain true confidence in himself, as he learns that he is not useless and that his life can be meaningful.

Naveen helps Tiana to welcome others into her life, at a time when she was used to shutting other people out. Although it's never directly stated, you can tell that Tiana is afraid of socializing with other people, and doesn't really have a lot of confidence in herself in that regard. Naveen helps her see that she is desirable, and that her personality is something people can be attracted to. Thanks to Naveen, Tiana starts to let other people into her life and accept their help.

4th Place: Winnie the Pooh

Apparently, almost everyone loved this movie (or at least all the critics did), and I'm not really sure why. There just wasn't really anything that special about it in my opinion. The plot was rather pointless and circular, the characters weren't expanded upon in any meaningful way, and I was kind of bored watching it. I mean, I'm sure little kids would enjoy it, but it's just a little too juvenile for me.

3rd Place: Tangled

Disney's CGI flagship. This movie is an excellent movie, and I absolutely love its music and characters. The plot however feels a little recycled (it seems like a mix between Lady and the Tramp and Hunchback of Notre Dame meets The Little Mermaid). However, it definitely deserves its praise. 

2nd Place: Princess & the Frog

The last truly great piece of traditional animation in my opinion. The story and characters are colorful and very reminiscent of that old Disney magic. The songs are fantastic, and the movie's elements all come together fairly well. The one thing keeping this from being the winner is its frankly mediocre ending--I honestly feel like it would have been a more touching story if they had stayed as frogs, the whole "oh I married you so now I'm a princess" twist at the end kind of felt a little forced, as if Disney was more concerned about future merchandising than ending the story well.

Winner: Wreck-it-Ralph

A movie that people mistake for Pixar to this day, which just goes to show just how good it is. Wreck-it-Ralph is a very unique, well-done movie. The animation is beautiful and has tons of unique elements and character designs to it. The jokes are hilarious, the characters are meaningful, and the story is well crafted. More than anything though, I love the themes that permeate this movie, and the love and care that you can tell went into every detail. Overall, I think Wreck-it-Ralph is the perfect example of everything the Disney Revival has come to mean.

***

Well that's it for this round. That means there is only one round left, and then we get into the finals! I'm still working out specifically how I'm going to handle the finals, so I'll be sure to include more info on that in my next post. The final round will cover Frozen, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, and Moana! 

This round, I want to highlight a local Utah charity started by one of my own LDS institute instructors, Greg Thorpe--Just a Break

Just a break is a charity that is dedicated specifically to individuals and families suffering from cancer. They help provide these families with special vacations, and other gifts designed to help them with the stress and grief that occurs with Cancer. To learn more about hem, visit their website here