Which movie really ended Disney's "Renaissance"?

Nat 2022-03-18 09:01:03

Tarzan is often considered the definitive ending to Disney's "Renaissance" period, but several other films aren't too different from it.

Disney's "Renaissance" is often cited as a major highlight in the history of Disney Animation Studios.

It is generally defined as starting in 1989 and ending in 1999, and includes 10 films: The Little Mermaid, The Little Mermaid, The Australian Adventures, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, The Wind in the Wind "Fate", "The Hunchback of the Clock Tower", "Hercules", "Mulan" and "Tarzan" .

The Little Mermaid (1989)
8.4
1989 / USA / Romance Animated Fantasy / Ron Clements John Musker / René Auberjonoy Christopher Daniel Barnes

Rescue Heroes: Adventures in Australia (1990)
7.5
1990 / USA / Animated Crime Adventure / Handel Boutoy Mike Gabriel / Bob Newhart Eva Garbo

Beauty and the Beast (1991)
8.5
1991 / USA / Comedy Love Animation / Gary Trosdale Kirk Weiss / Peggy O'Hara Robbie Benson

Aladdin (1992)
8.2
1992 / USA / Comedy Animation Adventure / Ron Clements John Musker / Scott Werner Robin Williams

The Lion King (1994)
9.1
1994 / USA / Animated Adventure Song and Dance / Roger Allers Rob Minkoff / Jonathan Taylor Thomas Matthew Broderick

Pocahontas (1995)
7.7
1995 / USA / Animated Drama Family / Mike Gabriel Eric Goldberg / Joe Baker Christian Bale

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
7.7
1996 / USA / Animated Drama Family / Gary Trosdale Kirk Weiss / Tom Hughes Demi Moore

Hercules (1997)
7.9
1997 / USA / Comedy Love Animation / John Musker Ron Clements / Tate Donovan Josh Keaton

Mulan (1998)
7.9
1998 / USA / Animated Adventure Drama / Barry Cook, Tony Bancroft / Mingna Wen, Eddie Murphy

Tarzan (1999)
7.7
1999 / USA / Animated Adventure Drama / Chris Buck Kevin Lima / Brian Blessed Glenn Close

But was "Tarzan" really the last movie of that era? Or is there another film that better encapsulates the moment when "one of Hollywood's most important studios broke its most impressive streak" ?

Pocahontas 1995

Pocahontas , released in mid-1995, was a bit of a disappointment compared to previous films.

The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King are all Disney hits, both word of mouth and commercial.

As explained in the documentary "Awakening Sleeping Beauty," even the underperforming "Saving the Little Heroes" in 1990 was historically significant in helping Pixar connect with Disney.

While these formulas became increasingly common in films, the artistry, acting, story, and music came together to create some of the most impressive animated films of the era.

But Pocahontas breaks this near-perfect continuity, with its portrayal of the Jamestown settlement and its relationship between the Native American princess and the English settler John Smith that feels like a different shade and style Weird hodgepodge.

The musical elements, slapstick version of animal companions, gritty messages, and dramatic flashpoints fail to coalesce into a plausible story and instead create a chaotic film.

While the animation is still impressive, it feels like something designed to earn accolades.

Although "Renaissance" has continued with four other films since then, there is reason to believe that "Pocahontas" was the beginning of the "Renaissance"'s real decline.

"Tarzan" 1999

Tarzan , released in 1999, is widely regarded as the true end of Disney's "Renaissance."

Based on the classic novel, Tarzan is about a man raised by an ape.

It retains many of the standard features of the era, including music, cutting-edge visuals and celebrity cameos in small roles.

Tarzan is still a good Disney movie, but it never reached the heights of Aladdin .

However, this is the last time in a decade Disney has used this particular routine.

Subsequent films either used CG effects, took on new genres ( "Dinosaurs" and "Four Eyed Chickens" ) and more action elements ( "Atlantis: The Lost Kingdom" and "Silver Island" ), or Transform into completely different shades and styles ( "Star Trek" and "Becoming a King" ).

The routine established in The Little Mermaid fell out of favor for a while after Tarzan .

Therefore, "Tarzan" can easily be regarded as the swan song of the entire Disney "Renaissance".

"Dinosaur" 2000

It's a long-awaited project from Disney.

Made entirely in CG, this is its first feature-length computer-animated film.

The story revolves around a young dinosaur from prehistoric times, Arada, who tries to lead his friends and family to a so-called "nesting ground" to escape other carnivorous dinosaurs.

A more dramatic movie than most Disney movies, Dinosaur is full of grim graphics and a dark story beat.

While it was praised for its visuals, reviews were mixed.

Between Tarzan and Dinosaurs, Fantasia 2000 feels in many ways a precursor to an era to come.

And Dinosaurs made that change concrete, showing a very different style, story, and craft than previous years.

This impressive but narratively boring film is a good indication of how different Disney is about to become.

Becoming a King 2000

According to Vulture reported that in 2000 comedy "The Emperor," a start more like a typical Disney "Renaissance" era movies.

Originally conceived as The Kingdom of the Sun, it was a direct musical adaptation of The Prince and the Beggar, and was set in the Inca.

However, pre-production on the film proved so tricky that early test screenings of the proposed storyboard by Disney executives failed.

Ultimately, David Reynolds suggested turning the film into a full-fledged comedy.

The project was immediately reworked with a new tone, allowing for rapid progress.

It's a big departure from Disney's usual routine.

It also marked the true end of Disney's "Renaissance" and ushered in a truly different and unique period of cinema.

Eventually, this new formula paid off in movies like The Princess and the Frog and Tangled.

View more about Pocahontas reviews

Extended Reading

Pocahontas quotes

  • Thomas: [Thomas aims at Kocoum and closes one eye] Both eyes open.

    [he opens both eyes, fires and hits Kocoum in the chest]

  • Thomas: [looking at Kocoum's body after shooting him] Is he?

    Pocahontas: You killed him.

    Thomas: I thought that.

    Pocahontas: [Angrily rushes at Thomas] Get away from him!

    John Smith: [holds her back] Pocahontas, it wont help! He was only.

    Pocahontas: [shouts] He killed him!

    John Smith: [they hear other Indians approaching] Thomas! Get out of here!

    [Thomas hesitates]

    John Smith: [yells] Get out of here!