Is it me or have Disney animated movies drastically declined in quality over the years?

Question

I've seen virtually all of the Disney animated films over the years, and what I'm seeing is that the older ones stand out as rewatchable classics (e.g. 'Snow White', 'Peter Pan', etc.), whereas the newer ones are forgettable (e.g. 'Mulan', 'Hercules', etc.)
It's not just the story, the pacing, the voices, but the quality of the animations. The older Disney films just seem as if they are drawn so much more carefully, with focus on details and colors. Watch something like Snow White, and you can see the individualized attention to things such as the animals of the forest (there are dozen of individual animals carefully animated in some of the scenes, all interacting with detailed backgrounds, etc.)
But with the newer Disney films, it seems like the computer has taken over with so much of the narrative, and these stories just seem so, I dunno, soulless.
Thoughts?

Answer 1

I TOTALLY agree with you. I have always said that I like Disney - meaning the old - hand-drawn movies. That is what animation is all about. I am 23 and hate the new finagled technology. I wish they still made movies the way they used to. I loved Sleeping Beauty, and I think the turning point was right about the time of Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas.... Something in there really jumped, and I haven't seen a hand drawn film since. I'm not big into Disney anymore because of that.

Although, I do appreciate Pixar and Dreamworks Animation... But it's a whole separate category. I don't know what you would classify Finding Nemo or Cars in... But I thought Nemo was the best film out since.... hmm.... Beauty and the Beast. I think a lot of dedication went into that, although it was thoroughly computer-generated.

I like a lot of meat to my movie. The meat also goes into the work that was done. I loved going into the Disney stores and looking at the strip-tick's they had on file to see what ones I wanted. I can't say that I saw any of the newer films in there.

Answer 2

Well, take heart, Disney cartoon fans, If you dislike the more contemporary Disney animated movies such as "Mulan" or "Hercules". You will NEVER see another hand-drawn Disney animated movie.

Disney announced "Home on the Range" was the last. After the incredible success they had with "Aladdin", "Pocahontas" and "The Lion King", its just too time consuming and costly to produce hand drawn animation anymore. The last NON Disney animated movie "Titan, A.E." was produced right here in Phoenix, AZ. and due to the movie flopping, the animation studio in Phoenix was closed. As far as Disney is concerned, everything from this point on will be done on computer. And yes, something is lost when its the computer doing the animating, instead of real people doing their best to ANIMATE real people. There was a real love of movies and storytelling in those old classics, now its all about pratfalls and sight gags.

Yet another reason why I dont go to the movies anymore.

Answer 3

I actually prefer the newer movies... except for a few exceptions such as Chicken Little... I truly loved the re-issue of Pocohontas with the additional footage and the Lion King is an absolute classic... Mulan I have to disagree... I truly loved it.. Hercules was just fluff but a lot of the older ones are really good love Alice and Cinderella but the new ones to be can't really be judged by the old ones standards because it is a different era and different technology.

Answer 4

It's not just you - I haven't really enjoyed a Disney cartoon in a long time. Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora - they look like "real people" - Ariel, Belle, Jasmine - look at how they are drawn - no one has eyes that large in thier faces, no one is shaped like they are - altho of the newer cartoons, Belle & the B&B movie are among the better drawn. I detested Hercules, the animation is pitiful. Tarzan had a great story & a fantastic soundtrack, but again, the people aren't realistic looking. The quality overall of the animation is no longer as good - I don't know if that's human error or if it's because it's all done by computer generation now but the fact remains that it is very poor. Good question.

Answer 5

Who actually draws a cartoon anymore with computers around? I think they stopped drawing the cartoons like almost 8 years ago. I understand, what you are saying about the story lines and all, but did you see Cars yet? It is pretty great! As was Finding Nemo and Toy Story 1 and 2, so I guess, no I don't agree with you. I think that the newer Disney movies are awesome!

Answer 6

I think your wrong. You're referring to the classics that Disny made over the last few decades. Peter Pan Snow White. But so you forget all the crappy ones they made back then that no one cares to remember? There are good and bad back then as well as now. You mentioned Mulan and Hercules, but what about Aladdin? Lion King? The Little Mermaid?

Answer 7

When Walt Disney was alive he made sure of the quality and experience was the most important part of anything Disney. He would not even let them build the Haunted House ride. It is nothing more them greed driving the Disney company now. Money and share holders first everything else second.
And my wife buys every Disney movie, new and old, she can.

Answer 8

I agree with you. I'm going to guess that it is because of the cost of producing such a quality piece. Hopefully that will soon come to close as they have purchased Pixar. Computer animation has come along way and I believe it will get even closer to real life rendering. I just hope they don't decide to see how cheap they can get and still draw people to the box office!

Answer 9

I hate all the sequels. I mean, Cinderella 2?.. c'mon!

Although I do think Mulan was a pretty nice movie, really the last decent one they've done.

I didn't know until recently that the Lion King's plot was actually pretty much lifted from Hamlet. That really annoyed me cause I liked The Lion King, but now I can't see it the same way anymore.

Answer 10

Cinderella. palms down. sure, i comprehend that is type of girly besides the undeniable fact that the little mice contained in the action picture merely make the total element 100X better. Jaq and Gus Gus are too lovable to bypass up. Tarzan has also been a in demand for a lengthy time period. My love for that action picture is 50% because of Phil Collins. Lol.