Disney has been producing feature-length animated movies since the 1930s, and the studio has gone through some ups and downs over the years. Although thebest animated Disney moviesare beloved by people of all ages across the globe, there have been some difficult periods in the studio’s history.
When people think of Disney classics, they mostly think of musical hits from the 1990s or pioneering gems from the 1940s or 1950s. Other decades tend to be forgotten about. Just about every decade of Disney’s history has produced something worth watching, but it’s been a roller-coaster, to say the least.
101930s
Snow White
Disney only made one feature-length animated movie in the 1930s, but it was the first film of its kind ever made.Snow Whiterepresented the culmination of the studio’s artistic and technical innovation up until that point. It’s still heralded as a true animated classic.
Had Disney made any more films before the end of the decade, the 1930s might have ranked higher.
Had Disney made any more films before the end of the decade, the 1930s might have ranked higher, but it’s hard to vouch for the strengths of one movie over five or six from another decade, even ifSnow Whiteis a landmark of animation, and a heartwarming classic. The middling response to 2025’sSnow Whiteunderlines thatDisney’s live-action remakesstruggle to live up to the quality of the classics.
92020s
Encanto, Wish, Raya and the Last Dragon, Strange World, Moana 2
We’re halfway through the decade now, but Disney has yet to produce a single animated movie in the 2020s that has the potential to go down in history as a true classic. WhileEncantoandRaya and the Last Dragonreceived generally positive reviews, they still don’t compete with the best that Disney has to offer.
Disney’s recent animated successes have been balanced out by a couple of duds.Strange Worldwas a notorious flop, andWishdidn’t live up to its billing as a celebration of the studio’s last century. There’s still time for things to change, andDisney’s upcoming moviescould see the 2020s rise through the rankings, starting withZootopia 2andFrozen 3.
81970s
The Aristocats, Robin Hood, The Rescuers
The 1970s and 1980s are often referred to as Disney’s “dark ages”, as the studio failed to recapture the magic in the years following Walt Disney’s death. Disney produced just three animated movies in the ’70s, none of which typically rank among their greatest hits.
The Aristocats, Robin HoodandThe Rescuersall share a charming art style, and one could argue that they’re a little underrated. They feel very much as though they’re caught between two distinct eras of Disney’s ambitions, but there’s a lot to love in these three.
71980s
The Fox and the Hound, The Black Cauldron, The Little Mermaid, The Great Mouse Detective, Oliver & Company
Disney became a little more prolific in the 1980s, although the decade still didn’t yield many true classics. Movies likeThe Fox and the HoundandThe Great Mouse Detectivefared reasonably well with critics, and they’ve become cult classics for people of a certain age.
Disney also produced a few critical flops in the ’80s, such asOliver and CompanyandThe Black Cauldron.The real saving grace in this mixed bag wasThe Little Mermaid.It arrived right at the end of the decade, signaling the end of the dark ages and the beginning of a new era.
61960s
One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Jungle Book, The Sword in the Stone
Disney only produced three animated movies in the 1960s, with Walt Disney’s death in 1966 throwing the studio into disarray. However, there isn’t a single miss in these three movies.The Sword in the Stoneis probably the weakest, but it’s still better than much of what came in the ’70s and ’80s.
The Jungle BookandOne Hundred and One Dalmatiansdeserve their critically acclaimed status. Their cozy art style is rather unique among Disney’s canon, but it gives them endless rewatch value. With great stories and memorable characters to match, they make up for Disney’s scarce production in the ’60s.
52000s
The Princess and the Frog, Lilo & Stitch, The Emperor’s New Groove, Treasure Planet, Bolt
Disney’s animated movies from the 2000sare a strange mixture of the old and the new. As other studios had already moved on to 3-D computer-generated animation, Disney was still making 2-D hand-drawn feature films. Disney tried to catch up with 2005’sChicken Little,one of the studio’s most infamous duds.
What’s interesting is thatDisney’s best movies of the 2000s are the ones that don’t try to chase the trends in animation.Lilo & StitchandThe Emperor’s New Grooveboth came out at least five years afterToy Story,but they’re hilarious and beautifully rendered.Treasure PlanetandAtlantis: The Lost Cityare interesting artifacts from a brief period between the old style and newer trends, but the late 2000s were stuffed with disappointing 3-D movies.
41940s
Dumbo, Bambi, Pinocchio, Fantasia
The early 1940s were the peak of Disney’s first wave of innovation, when the studio was miles ahead of the rest of the world in terms of feature-length animation. Some of the studio’s most enduring classics come from this time, such asBambi, PinocchioandFantasia.These aren’t just Disney classics, they’re also some of thebest animated moviesever made.
82%
6.0
85%
6.3
58%
6.1
Fun and Fancy Free (1947)
73%
75%
The Second World War eventually reached into every corner of society in the 1940s, even the world of animation. Disney had to halt its hot streak afterBambito contribute to the war effort by making propaganda films. It’s interesting to imagine how the studio might have continued without this interruption. It’s possible thatthe 1940s could have been Disney’s best decade if it weren’t taken over by the war.After the war, Disney focused on musical anthology films for a while. Like any anthology, these have their highs and lows.
32010s
Tangled, Frozen, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Moana
After a tumultuous period in the 2000s, Disney rebounded in style. It took a little while for Disney to catch up with the likes of Pixar and DreamWorks, but the studio was soon producing 3-D computer-generated movies that were just as good as its rivals.
2010’sTangledand 2013’sFrozenproved that Disney had found its feet once again, and the decade produced several more big hits in the form ofMoana, ZootopiaandBig Hero 6.Frozen 2indicated that Disney’s future would rely more on sequels, although there are still plenty of original movies.
21950s
Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella
Disney recovered from a choppy period during and after the Second World War, making the 1950s one of the studio’s best decades.Disney produced five movies in this time, all of them classics.Starting withCinderellain 1950, the decade is defined by nostalgic Disney magic.
Disney returned to the beautiful style that made the early 1940s so memorable, with hits likeAlice in WonderlandandPeter Panoverflowing with visual wonders to match the fantasy worlds of their stories. The decade ended with the experimental style ofSleeping Beauty,inspired by medieval tapestries and stained-glass windows. Once again, Disney was innovating in animation like nobody else.
11990s
The Lion King, Aladdin, Mulan, Beauty and the Beast, Hercules
After 1989’sThe Little Mermaid,the Disney renaissancewas in full swing. What followed was the studio’s most productive decade ever, with hit after hit drawing on mythology from all over the world. WithThe Lion King, Aladdin, Hercules, Beauty and the Beastand more, it’s hard to choose any particular standouts from such a strong period.
Disney’s ’90s movies strike the perfect balance between humor and compelling storytelling.
Disney’s ’90s movies strike the perfect balance between humor and compelling storytelling. It explains howThe Lion Kingcan feature a scene as heartbreaking as Mufasa’s death alongside the side-splitting comic relief of Timon and Pumbaa.The era is also famous for its brilliant music, producing some unforgettable soundtracks.
