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Ten underrated Disney films that remind us they are an animation powerhouse

Beyond the best of the best in animation are hidden gems that Disney fans should check out.

By Ramon Paolo Alfar

CONJURING DAD – In Disney and Pixar’s “Onward,” brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot (voiced by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt) are given a special gift from their late father on Ian’s 16th birthday. But when an accompanying spell meant to magically conjure their dad for one day goes awry, they embark on a quest fraught with some of the most unexpected obstacles. Directed by Dan Scanlon and produced by Kori Rae, “Onward” opens in U.S. theaters on March 6, 2020. © 2019 Disney/Pixar. All Rights
CONJURING DAD – In Disney and Pixar’s “Onward,” brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot (voiced by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt) are given a special gift from their late father on Ian’s 16th birthday. But when an accompanying spell meant to magically conjure their dad for one day goes awry, they embark on a quest fraught with some of the most unexpected obstacles. Directed by Dan Scanlon and produced by Kori Rae, “Onward” opens in U.S. theaters on March 6, 2020. © 2019 Disney/Pixar. All Rights /
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4. James and the Giant Peach (1996)

Based on the novel by Roald Dahl, James and the Giant Peach follows a young boy, the titular James, who finds a colossal peach with a motley group of anthropomorphic insects. Using the peach, the crew embarks on a treacherous journey to New York, away from James’ two cruel aunts.

Henry Selick continued his streak of macabre pieces after the success of The Nightmare Before Christmas. While not as iconic as the latter, James showed tons of possibilities for stop-motion animation, from the peach sequences to the New York third act. For Tim Burton fans, it is surely a treat.

5. Fantasia 2000 (1999)

The legacy of Fantasia cannot be understated. Any animated masterpiece that aims to follow in its footsteps has a high benchmark to reach. While Fantasia 2000 is not as remarkable as the first one, it is still a wondrous masterpiece of animation and music that deserves the attention of Disney fans.

Among its animated sequences, standouts include Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5” featuring colorful origami-shaped butterflies, Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” over a Jazz Age-fueled New York setting, and Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite” with its sweeping wildfire sequence. Add the classic “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” short, and you have a grand celebration of animation and music.

6. Meet the Robinsons (2007)

Despite odds, Disney took another shot at a sci-fi piece with Meet the Robinsons. Based on a book by William Joyce, the movie follows young genius Lewis, who discovers his connection to a highly advanced future from time traveler Wilbur. That discovery also leads Lewis to meet Wilbur’s eccentric extended family.

Meet the Robinsons is unlike any other Disney-animated effort. The out-of-the-box imagination of the animators and director Stephen J. Anderson fueled its unique charm and silly humor. Yet, it never loses its spirit found in Walt Disney’s philosophy, “Keep moving forward”. This is best revisited, even without any nostalgic connection.

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