We've seen the golden age of Disney films, endured the dark ages, and relished in the light of the Disney Renaissance, but little is said about the studio's experimental phase. For those who might not remember, Walt Disney Animation went through an extended period of testing new techniques and bringing new stories to life in the early 2000s. The results were... a bit strange.
While the era had several hits like the original Lilo & Stitch, some were dead in the water, and a few were unfairly forgotten. So why bring them up now? Those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat it. It might be time for Disney to look back at what worked... and what didn't.
The hits!
First, let's talk about what worked during this period. During this age, variety was the spice of life for Walt Disney Animation Studios, and it brought many passion projects, such as Treasure Planet and Emperor's New Groove, to the forefront. It still had the typical Disney flavor with stylish visuals, bopping musical numbers, and (of course) warm critical reception.
In this writer's opinion, balance was the name of the game. This was a time when Disney still did it's family feature, but allowed new themes and techniques to shine. Take Fantasia 2000, for example. It took inspiration from one of Walt's passion projects, yet allowed for experimetation with music and visuals.
One of the problems facing the studio today is veering too far away from Disney's core values. Yes, experiment, grow as artists, and try something unexpected. However, it's still done while appeasing the family audience, and not just shareholders alone.
The misses...
Art is subjective, and not everyone is going to vibe with some of Disney's alternative films. That said, for every Atlantis: The Lost Empire, there's a Chicken Little or Home on the Range. Sometimes, things just don't work, financially or creatively.
While films like Atlantis and Treasure Planet were arguably ahead of their time, as they achieved cult status, some of the others felt too out of Disney's wheelhouse (talking about you, Chicken Little) to the point where the magic was practically lost. Coincidentally, that seems to be where the studio is today.
The point of any form of experimentation is to see what works and what doesn't. However, the true litmus test is the audience response. Seeing how people are growing more appreciation for Disney's alternative artsy era, a revisit to these techniques might be worth a shot. Of course, it's just a theory.
All these films and more are ready to watch on Disney+!