As a child, I sat in theatres glued to the screen while animated films played. The stories were incredible, the colors were vivid and everything was geared toward families. Time has never faded the wonder and amazement of these film; learning later how they were made was equally enthralling.
The beauty of hand-drawn animation cannot be duplicated by today’s CGI. Each frame of the film was drawn and painted by hand, then photographed in sequence. A cartoon was a lot of work, a feature film was a full-time production that could become a masterpiece. Although a lot of animated films exist, there are timeless classics that live action and CGI will never duplicate.
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
This film became the standard for the children’s story. Disney’s portrayal of the seven dwarves has endured the test of time. The characters are recognizable, and recent movies such as “Maleficent” sport the headgear drawn by the studio’s master animators.
Cinderella (1950)
I believe I first saw this film when I was around seven or eight years old with my sister. To this day, over 45 years later, we still sing songs from the movie and imitate the character of the mouse, Gus.
Dumbo (1941)
I never had a reaction to movies as a kid; no screaming at horror films, crying at tearjerkers or covering my ears during loud noises. The scene in which a lonely baby Dumbo is cradled in his mother’s trunk through the bars of a dangerous animal cage still makes me cry; tears were running down my face in the movie; my sister exclaimed in the crowded theatre, “look, Mommy! Tina’s crying!” I wanted to take a stick to the brat who was picking on the baby elephant, I thought it was wrong to lock up the mother for protecting her baby. Darn, I’m crying now.
Bambi (1942)
One of the most beloved films of all time, Bambi has never been remade in CGI. It just wouldn’t work. Watching the little guy take his first steps was most likely based on watching a horse foal; it’s perfect. The story line is magnificent; kids of all ages will enjoy it over and over.
The Lion King (1994)
It’s hard to realize that this film is not yet years old, but it quickly became a classic. Although the story has a few scenes that may be hard for younger viewers to watch, it’s an incredible film. The voices of James Earl Jones and Jeremy Irons are perfect for their characters. I truly believe that if someone tried to remake this film in CGI, it would fail miserably. It is an animated epic.
Pinocchio (1940)
Most people know the story of the puppet who wanted to become a boy. There are morals in the tale that deal with running with the wrong crowd, ditching school, lying and not obeying a parent. Eventually, the puppet does get his wish, delighting audiences everywhere.
Fox & Hound (1981)
This is a seriously funny and cute movie about two unlikely friends. Two young creatures, one a fox hound and the other a fox, form a forbidden friendship. As their lives progress, circumstances ensue that test that friendship and its limits.
All Dogs Go To Heaven (1989)
Charlie is a dog loyal to no one. He’s a player, taker and happy-go-lucky dog that crosses the wrong dog crook and winds up at the pearly gates. He’s given a second chance, but he has to accomplish a unique task to get into Heaven. That task- rescue a little girl from the dogs who had him killed. Burt Reynolds is the voice of Charlie, while Dom DeLouise is the voice of his Basset Hound companion. The movie is hilarious and fit for all ages.
Rock A Doodle (1991)
A local barnyard rooster has the place convinced that the sun rises because he crows. When an owl who hates the sun exposes him, he’s run off the farm. The owls take over and cast a magic spell that keeps the sun from coming up, leading to weather chaos. The farm animals discover that they have to get the rooster back so he can crow; that will make the sun rise again. The problem is, he’s become a rock and roll star.
These wonderful films can be watched online, rented or purchased. They are a great addition to any movie collection. If you have or babysit children, they’re almost a must. Since I watch small children, I consider them essential.
Source: The author of this article has over 40 years of experience in diverse subjects and skills such as DIY, home improvement and repair, crafting, designing, and building furniture, outdoor projects, RV’ing and a consummate movie fan.
