Growing up, I had a VCR. I loved watching movies on videocassette, and most of my movie finds were thrifted. I had an extensive film collection that I was pretty proud of, and although videocassettes aren’t popular anymore, I enjoy the overall nostalgia of taking one out of the cassette box, putting it in the television slot, rewinding, and playing it. Overall, I enjoy the retro feel of hearing the cartridge and the buzzing. I think it adds to the unique experience that I would not get with DVD.
Because of VHS, I’ve watched children’s movies many have never even heard of, so I would like to introduce (or reintroduce) you to some of my favorite hidden gems.
1) Thumbellina is about a girl who is born as tiny as a thumb (hence the name). She thinks that she’ll never find her true love until she meets a fairy prince. However, they are separated by a toad. The rest of the movie is about Thumbellina’s friends helping her to get back home and ultimately to find her prince.
2) Anastasia is based on the royal Romanov family from Russia and the grand mystery of Anastasia’s disappearance. After an unfortunate event takes place, Anastasia is separated from her grandmother at a young age. She grows up fending for herself until she meets a young man and his agent who promise her that they will reunite her with her grandmother.
3) Balto is the story of a heroic wolf who participates in the sleigh dog team within a remote small town. His mission is to safely deliver important medicine to another town where young children are becoming very sick. Although he faces many perils, he ultimately becomes the leader of the pack, manages to return home, and is hailed a hero.
4) In The Brave Little Toaster, a set of household appliances are stowed away and become lonely. They set out on a mission to reunite with their previous owner, making their way to the city. There, they are faced with the dilemma of being outdated in comparison to modern technology.
5) In All Dogs go to Heaven, Charlie (a dog) is killed by a gambler and goes to heaven. He is then returned to Earth by the power of a watch. Granted another chance at life, he plans to take revenge. However, he meets a little girl who is being exploited by the same gambler who killed him and decides to rescue her.
6) In The Swan Princess, a young princess falls in love with a prince, but has been cursed by a spell that turns her into a swan when the moon is out. She and her animal friends embark on a journey to reverse the spell and stop the evil magician who cursed her.
7) The Thief and the Cobbler resembles Aladdin in many ways, from the poor male protagonist to the royal princess, as well as an evil consultant to the king. But the film proves to have its own special qualities. The kingdom is threatened by the neighboring enemy, so the cobbler and princess unite to restore the kingdom with the help of a noble thief.
8) The Road to El Dorado is a gem in the name itself. Two conmen from Spain accidentally set sail to the city of gold in a conquistador’s ship. They find a city of gold and are embraced as gods because of prophesied legends of the past. Ultimately, they are faced with whether they should tell the truth or let people be happy that they have returned.
9) The Iron Giant is about a giant robot who is believed to be from outer space and lands on Earth, where he meets a young boy named Hogarth. They become friends despite their differences. However, the government learns of his existence and decide that he is a threat to humanity. They plan to destroy him, but the Giant only wants to protect his friend.
10) In A Goofy Movie, Goofy feels that he and his son, Max, are not very close and do not have a father-son relationship. He decides to plan a family vacation for the both of them, so they can bond and go fishing, However, Max is only interested in one thing, Maxine, and he made plans to go with her to watch Powerline (a famous popstar). He ends up tricking Goofy to drive to the concert, but along the way, Max learns about the power of family, love, and trust.
11) The Prince of Egypt, a film that is darker in nature than the rest, is a retelling of the Book of Exodus. Moses (the protagonist), embarks on a journey to free his people. He pleads with his brother, an Egyptian pharaoh, who rejects his request to let his people go. Thus, a series of plagues erupt in Egypt. Only then is Moses able to take his people through the Red Sea and to freedom.
These are only a few of the movies that I remember from growing up, but they definitely hold a special place in my heart. I like to watch them every once in a while and be flooded with nostalgia. Now that I’m older, I recognize themes I might not have noticed when I was a child. These are great films that I think should have more recognition, not only for their themes, but for their extremely good cinematography and catchy musical numbers!