Growing up, I’ll admit that I always thought “Disney movie” was just another way to say “animated movie,” and I never realized till way later that ole Walt wasn’t behind absolutely everything I ever watched.
While, these days, it may seem like The Walt Disney Company owns every single franchise under the sun, there are still a few production companies out there doing good work, and there are even a few breaking that Disney embargo on animated stuff. (The nerve of them, right?)
While I should say that I do appreciate most stuff that comes out of the Happiest Place on Earth’s headquarters, I also think it’s pretty cool to recognize the less obvious contenders. Therefore, for anyone who ever watched these kid flicks in the golden days of childhood and assumed it was another Micky Mouse production, here’s to putting the record straight! These are my Fave Eight non-Disney films.
1. Anastasia (1997)
Anastasia remains, to this day, one of my favorite movies of all time. Forgotten families, lost princesses, enemies-to-friends-to-life-savers-to-lovers and not to mention one of the prettiest songs in animation history (@you, “Once Upon a December”), this one has got everything. Also, I still wish I could pull off those bangs.
2. Sinbad (2003)
Sinbad was a swashbuckling film back in the day, before Pirates of the Caribbean, and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t one of the reasons why I have a thing for sailors today (a story for another time). It’s a high-seas adventure through and through, with goddesses’ magic, sword fighting duels and high perils at sea. For what more could you hope?
3. American Tail (1986)
This movie holds the sweetest little place in my heart. A tiny immigrant mouse family moves to America only to lose their youngest mouse child, who, despite all sorts of harrowing misadventures, manages to find his tiny mouse parents amongst the big human city of New York. Tears ensue, and honestly? My whole heart.
4. The Road to El Dorado (2000)
Movies that should have been gay: The Road to El Dorado. Movies that are still great despite the heteronormativity: The Road to El Dorado. This is a film about two stupid screw-ups who manage to discover the Lost City of Gold and, despite a lifetime of poor decisions, choose to protect it against invading Spanish colonizers for the hope of the whole city. Beautiful. 5. The Iron Giant (1999)
Man, this one still gets me. Boy finds big robot; robot understands boy; boy loves robot; military tries to kill robot; boy protects robot, but robot still sacrifices himself to save boy. It’s the unlikely friendship story we never asked for but definitely all needed.
6. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)
Honest to God, I still listen to the Spirit soundtrack when I’m at the gym because something about running like a horse spoke to me on a spiritual level as a child, and I’ve never found something that felt freer since. The gist of this one? Wild horse and American Indian f*ck up a U.S. colonel while Bryan Adams sings a bunch of anthem bops. Can’t go wrong honestly.
7. The Swan Princess (1994)
The Swan Princess is probably that one princess movie you always assumed was Disney but it turns out it never was. The gist? They’re in love, but she gets turned into a swan, and it takes true love to save her from her birdy form. My favorite part of this movie was always the argument song at the beginning, in which it’s two kids that just hate on each other for five minutes, even though we, the audience, know they’re def going to get married by the end. Also, just look at that animation sequence.
8. Prince of Egypt (1998)
Last, but most certainly not least, Prince of Egypt went above and beyond for what it was supposed to be. I mean, look at the art for this one. They consulted 60+ scholars from various Middle Eastern backgrounds to make sure the Exodus story remained faithful to various world religions and turned this into one of the most heartwarming and uplifting “kid movies” of all time. Snaps to ‘em. What’s your favorite non-Disney children’s movie?