Defining Disney Podcast: Recent Episodes
Defining Disney
Podcasters in search of the ultimate truth - what is the best animated Disney movie? It's our job to find out, using objectivity and a detailed rubric unlike any other. Each episode covers one movie, distilling down into eight categories how it stacks up.
Finish the canon with us with our take on Lilo and Stitch, a supersized episode with eight - yes, EIGHT - guests that make up part of our podcast ‘Ohana contributing their own unique perspectives to this fan favorite film.
‘Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten. We promise our long run time is worth not being left behind!
Don’t miss:
- The way this movie breaks our hearts and puts them back together again a million and one times
- How many elements of Hawaiian culture and specific Kauai references Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois make central to this film’s story, characters, and landscape
- A discussion of the various things that worked in this film that Disney was able to take forward into the Revival and beyond
- Our final score, which may or may not surprise you based on our love for this film
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including even more members of our podcast community!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for the full Walt Disney Animation Studios canon
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Lilo and Stitch
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
- Meet our guests: Stephen | Katy | Bray | Lauren | Kaitlyn | Tim of OSW | Darin of NostalgiaCast | Kevin
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss our return, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Drawers, floors, doors - let’s go! Come with us and the family Madrigal as we unpack Encanto, a magical tale of a family blessed with gifts and riddled with trauma, set in beautiful Colombia.
Don’t miss:
- The way this film’s team learned from other past films to make this one the best it could possibly be
- How many specific Colombian cultural elements the film incorporates
- A discussion of the character development within this film, both in range and growth, that sets the new gold standard for the category in our rubric
- Our final score, which sets the bar high for any future Disney films we may cover down the line
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including several members of our community on Twitter!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Encanto
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Come along on another symphonic journey as we tackle our last package film in Make Mine Music! Fair warning - this one isn’t on Disney+, so you may not be able to watch it before listening.
Don’t miss:
- The short that really serves as the blueprint for discussing character development in music
- How jazz ties all of these shorts together, even with all its wide-varying subjects
- A discussion of the oddities that litter this film, including changed score segments, one anthropomorphic animal in an otherwise normal world, and a short that was cut entirely
- Our final score, cementing the package era as the overall lowest in the canon
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including several members of our community on Twitter!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Make Mine Music
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
As historically inaccurate and insensitive as it is, the time has come in our journey to tackle Pocahontas, Disney’s very fictional retelling of historical events between the colonists of Jamestown and the Native American Powhatan tribe.
Don’t miss:
- The way the music of this film saves its bacon on several fronts
- How interruptions from studio exec Jeffrey Katzenberg caused stumbling blocks in character development
- A discussion of how many things Disney got wrong about Native Americans, despite the fact that they did make far more of an effort than most studios at the timea
- Our final score, which puts it near the bottom of the Renaissance
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including several members of our community on Twitter!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Pocahontas
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
As historically inaccurate and insensitive as it is, the time has come in our journey to tackle Pocahontas, Disney’s very fictional retelling of historical events between the colonists of Jamestown and the Native American Powhatan tribe.
Don’t miss:
- The way the music of this film saves its bacon on several fronts
- How interruptions from studio exec Jeffrey Katzenberg caused stumbling blocks in character development
- A discussion of how many things Disney got wrong about Native Americans, despite the fact that they did make far more of an effort than most studios at the timea
- Our final score, which puts it near the bottom of the Renaissance
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including several members of our community on Twitter!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Pocahontas
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Get the tissues, y’all - it’s time for us to take on The Fox and the Hound, one of Disney’s Dark Age films that really pulls at the heartstrings.
Don’t miss:
- The reason Amos Slade is one of the scarier villains we encounter in the canon, despite his immaturity of holding a grudge against a literal adolescent animal
- How some of the imagery in this film quickly gets burned into your mind
- A discussion of the theming nuances of this film that help us make a guess at where in America it might take place
- Our final score, which strikes the balance between the strong moments and its lack of staying power
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including several members of our community on Twitter!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Fox and the Hound
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Get the tissues, y’all - it’s time for us to take on The Fox and the Hound, one of Disney’s Dark Age films that really pulls at the heartstrings.
Don’t miss:
- The reason Amos Slade is one of the scarier villains we encounter in the canon, despite his immaturity of holding a grudge against a literal adolescent animal
- How some of the imagery in this film quickly gets burned into your mind
- A discussion of the theming nuances of this film that help us make a guess at where in America it might take place
- Our final score, which strikes the balance between the strong moments and its lack of staying power
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including several members of our community on Twitter!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Fox and the Hound
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Join us for a trip down memory lane to the Hundred Acre Wood for 2011’s Winnie the Pooh, the last hand-drawn animated film at Walt Disney Animation Studios - for now.
Don’t miss:
- The surprisingly linear story for a Pooh film, which are typically episodic
- How cleverly the dialogue is played on to create the main conflict of the story
- A discussion of the film’s effect on the studio’s approach to hand-drawn animation and that outlook moving forward
- Our final score, which reflects the strength of story and the nostalgic notes they didn’t quite hit
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including those who joined us for #ddpwatchnight on Twitter!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Winnie the Pooh
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
We’re back for our home stretch of Disney’s animated canon with our take on Pinocchio, an early Golden Age classic where Disney pushed the envelope both in content and technology.
Don’t miss:
- The meandering, episodic nature of the story - a risk for Walt Disney in only his second film
- How frighteningly sinister some of the villains are in this film, compared to others across the canon
- A discussion of the film’s treatment of magic, which is… questionable at best
- Our final score, which reflects the difficulties with story and character opposing the strength of visuals
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including those who joined us for #ddpwatchnight on Twitter!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Pinocchio
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
You best start believing in ghost stories, dear listeners - we're in one! We're tackling fan-favorite Disney franchise Pirates of the Caribbean for our latest bonus episode, so join us as we take our rubric to the first film, Curse of the Black Pearl.
Don’t miss:
- The sheer number of quotes the three of us throw into this episode
- How the fights in this film do so much work for the character development
- A discussion of the way this film has fed back into other Disney phenomena
- Our final score, making this easily the best-ranked film of any of our bonus films thus far
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Follow our guest Bray on Twitter
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
You best start believing in ghost stories, dear listeners - we're in one! We're tackling fan-favorite Disney franchise Pirates of the Caribbean for our latest bonus episode, so join us as we take our rubric to the first film, Curse of the Black Pearl.
Don’t miss:
- The sheer number of quotes the three of us throw into this episode
- How the fights in this film do so much work for the character development
- A discussion of the way this film has fed back into other Disney phenomena
- Our final score, making this easily the best-ranked film of any of our bonus films thus far
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Follow our guest Bray on Twitter
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Confront the Mistress of All Evil with us as we discuss Sleeping Beauty, one of Disney’s most visual-forward films that unfortunately trades style for substance in some cases.
Don’t miss:
- The iconic art style of this film that makes nearly every shot a frameable masterpiece
- How the title misleads the audience about who the real protagonist of the film is
- A discussion of the film’s score, which is largely lifted from the original Tchaikovsky ballet
- Our final score, which represents the peak of the Silver Age
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including those who joined us for #ddpwatchnight on Twitter!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Check out our guest Darin on his podcast, NostalgiaCast
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Sleeping Beauty
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Confront the Mistress of All Evil with us as we discuss Sleeping Beauty, one of Disney’s most visual-forward films that unfortunately trades style for substance in some cases.
Don’t miss:
- The iconic art style of this film that makes nearly every shot a frameable masterpiece
- How the title misleads the audience about who the real protagonist of the film is
- A discussion of the film’s score, which is largely lifted from the original Tchaikovsky ballet
- Our final score, which represents the peak of the Silver Age
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including those who joined us for #ddpwatchnight on Twitter!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Check out our guest Darin on his podcast, NostalgiaCast
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Sleeping Beauty
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Travel back in time with us as we break down Dinosaur, Disney’s only prehistoric adventure, which combined incredible technological advances with an excellent score and still somehow ended up lackluster.
Don’t miss:
- The strong visual elements of the film that unfortunately couldn’t save its story
- How the character development absolutely tanks this film’s score
- A discussion of the sheer power of James Newton Howard’s score in this film
- Our final score, which mirrors the beginning of the Digital Age
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including some of our good friends on Twitter who love this movie despite its flaws.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Dinosaur
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Take the first step with us as we break down Raya and the Last Dragon, the first post-pandemic outing for Walt Disney Animation Studios that took us all on maybe exactly the adventure we needed.
Don’t miss:
- The strong story score for the film, despite starting with two montages
- How the soundtrack helps differentiate between the different locations the film takes places in
- A discussion of the fact that it’s kind of a miracle this film got made at all
- Our final score, which is maybe a little lower than we expected after our first look bonus episode
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including some of our good friends on Twitter who shared how this movie gave them new hope in dark times.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Raya and the Last Dragon
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Be our guest for our Season 5 premiere - Beauty and the Beast! Join us as we tackle this evergreen Disney classic and break down exactly why it means so much to so many Disney fans, casual and hardcore.
Don’t miss:
- The punch of character development this film packs, not just for our lead and romantic interest, but for the villain as well
- How this soundtrack doesn’t just take a stage-geared approach, but has layers and layers of interconnectivity to underscore character arcs and even make commentary on the world around us
- A discussion of the film’s ubiquity across Disney culture, and for good reason!
- Our final score… could it take the top spot? Listen to find out!
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including those who joined us on our biweekly #ddpwatchnight on Twitter!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Beauty and the Beast
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
We’re tackling a controversial topic within the Disney fandom: live-action remakes! Join us as we take a walk through Disney's history of this phenomenon and decide which of these films do and do not pass the vibe check. Regular listeners be warned - this episode throws the rubric out! We are strictly grading these films on a pass/fail basis.
Don’t miss:
- Our confusion and anger at Disney's refusal to learn from their own successes
- How some films eke out a pass thanks to the advancements they made in the art form of film
- A discussion of all the remakes Disney has in the works and our various levels of concern over them
- Our assessment of the overarching problem with this phenomenon - why we hate this trend, why it's earned Disney so much vitriol from fans and detractors alike, but also why it's successful
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Woo-hoo! We're off on an adventure with Scrooge and the boys in DuckTales: Treasure of the Lost Lamp, DisneyToon Studios's first foray into feature film that unfortunately can't hold a candle to the show it's based on.
Don’t miss:
- The way this film had a bevy of interesting, well-developed villains to pick from in the source material and completely disregarded them
- How the film relies more on tropes so much, we compare it to at least three non-Disney franchises
- A discussion of the few theming successes it does have, and why it maybe should have a sensitivity warning beforehand
- Our final score, which physically hurt us to give - a franchise this good should not have to stomach a middle installment this low
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Venture deep into the Hundred Acre Wood with us as we break down The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Disney’s first feature-length take on this beloved children’s character.
Don’t miss:
- The surprisingly strong story structure for what is essentially a package film
- How this film kicks off the beginning of an enormously successful franchise for Disney
- A discussion of the layers of theming within the Pooh universe
- Our final score for the film, which makes it the best of the Dark Age
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including those who joined us on our biweekly #ddpwatchnight on Twitter!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Check out our guest Carlo on his show, The Movie Loot, wherever you get your podcasts
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
The Internet awaits! Join us for this adventure into the worldwide web as we look at Ralph Breaks the Internet, a sequel that expands the world of Wreck-It Ralph and his friends from their little hometown arcade to the entire online world.
Don’t miss:
- The conflict in the film that led to strong character development for our leads but a less-than-quantifiable villain
- How this film used visual elements of theming to handwave away some of the social and scientific questions it leaves unanswered
- A discussion of the movie’s music, which sadly doesn’t distinguish itself from the original film
- Our final score for the film, which is the lowest of the Revival era thus far
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including some friends from our community on Twitter!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Ralph Breaks the Internet
- Check out our guest Chris on his show, Let’s Chat with Chris Revill
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Strut down Fifth Avenue with us and earn some street cred as we tackle Oliver and Company, Disney’s take on the classic Oliver Twist featuring some adorable animals and memorable songs.
Don’t miss:
- The forgettable, generic villain that is Sykes - he might as well be Loan Shark #1
- How this film laid the groundwork for many of the strategies that made the Renaissance work
- A discussion of the movie’s music, which was unique in several ways
- Our final score for the film, which is the highest of the Dark Age films we’ve scored thus far
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including those who joined us on our biweekly #ddpwatchnight on Twitter!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Oliver and Company
- Check out our guest Robin on her show, Black Case Diaries
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Swing on in and pull up a vine as we break down Tarzan, the final film of Disney’s Renaissance era that goes hard on both the feels factor and the music, courtesy of Phil Collins.
Don’t miss:
- The heaping helping of gut punches this film delivers in its two opening sequences
- How this soundtrack masterfully interweaves story and character throughout its lyrics and music
- A discussion of the film’s awards (and our back-and-forth about a particular Grammy category that seems a bit bogus)
- Our final score, which just barely squeaks into the top 10!
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including those who joined us on our biweekly #ddpwatchnight on Twitter!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Tarzan
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Go on the adventure of a lifetime with us as we visit Treasure Planet, one of Disney’s few true sci-fi genre films, and discuss why it’s a strong film despite its box office faceplant.
Don’t miss:
- The complex approach this story takes to its villain and how that sets it apart within the canon
- How this film gives character death its due more than many Disney classics
- A discussion of the movie’s theming and its various strengths and terrifying weaknesses
- Our final score for the film, which is pretty high considering the death knell this movie was for 2-D animation for the studio
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including a friend from our email 'Ohana!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Treasure Planet
- Check out our guest Robert on his show, Science Fiction Remnant
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Laugh with us and cry with us as we take it back to the Golden Age with Dumbo, the flying elephant!
Don’t miss:
- The highs and lows caused by this film’s outrageous dream sequence, Pink Elephants on Parade
- How living in Florida informed our opinions of the film’s opening with regard to theming
- A discussion of the complete lack of character development, even in comparison to even the simpler contemporaries of this film
- Our final score for the film, which signals the start of a downturn for the studio as the war began
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including those who joined us on our biweekly #ddpwatchnight on Twitter!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Dumbo
- Check out our friends at That Song from that Movie, whose Dumbo episode we recorded a clip for last year!
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Venture back to a dark age, indeed, as we take on The Sword in the Stone, Disney’s adaptation of the first part of T.H. White’s interpretation of Arthurian legend The Once and Future King.
Don’t miss:
- The banger of a standout on the soundtrack that is Higitus Figitus
- How production challenges caused the main character to be voiced by three different actors
- A discussion of the film’s quirky theming, which allows lots of room for meta humor
- Our final score for the film, which, when put in context, starts to signal the turn of the age for the Disney animation studio
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including several who joined us on our biweekly #ddpwatchnight on Twitter!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on The Sword in the Stone
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Come down to New Orleans with us as we discuss The Princess and the Frog, a new spin on a classic tale that signified a major shift in Disney’s trajectory that would set the stage for a new era of prosperity that continues to this day. Don’t miss:
- The absolute triumph that is Randy Newman’s score
- How Dr. Facilier is, from almost every angle, the best (worst?) villain since Claude Frollo
- A discussion of the strength of the theming in the film, particularly in regards to the setting
- Our final score for the film, which puts it just outside the top ten!
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including some of our fellow podcasters from our fantasy football league put together by our friends at Best Film Ever!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on The Princess and the Frog
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Santa Claus? Or Scott Calvin? Come along with us as we find out if there really is a difference as we take on The Santa Clause, an irreverent Disney Christmas classic starring Tim Allen as the unwitting jolly old man himself.
Don’t miss:
- The way this film capitalized on its strengths, which aren’t what you might expect of a typical holiday film
- How the few scenes in the North Pole really add to the theming and give shades of the magic surrounding Santa
- A discussion of the reasons why only Scott and Charlie make it into the well-developed category in terms of character development, despite a significant amount of screen time dedicated to Laura and Neil
- Our final score, which is on the lower end for our bonus films, despite our personal enjoyment of the film
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Fly with us to Neverland as we tackle Peter Pan, a film in the canon that has left its fingerprints all over Disney history. We’ll discuss its ups and downs, and why some of it is a product of its time, and perhaps why it didn’t have to be.
Don’t miss:
- The way this movie brings a magical fantasy world to life (and still somehow manages to bring some of the worst parts of reality into it)
- How the soundtrack evokes old Hollywood, from its composer to its talent
- A discussion of the unusual character development this film brings to the table, from a sympathetic villain sidekick to some sudden growth for minor characters
- Our final score for the film, which is somehow the highest for the Silver Age so far
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including some of our friends from #ddpwatchnight on Twitter!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Peter Pan
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Let it begin! Join us for a rollercoaster adventure as discuss Bolt, the final film in Disney’s digital age, as he discovers who he really is beneath the superpowered lies he’s been told while he’s been on television.
Don’t miss:
- The strong emotional value of a mostly-animal cast
- How the lack of a focused antagonist affects the story and character development but does provide some significant commentary on how people treat animals
- A discussion of the ways this film helped Disney finished their digital transition period and begin their revival era
- Our final score for the film, which is on the lower end, even for the digital age
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including some Twitter friends of the show!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Bolt
- Donate to the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando that was impacted by a fire earlier this year
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Australia awaits as we dive into The Rescuers Down Under, Disney’s first canon sequel and first attempt at an action-adventure film with their own anthropomorphic animal twist on the genre.
Don’t miss:
- The contrast between the concrete, grounded villain facing Cody and the oddly indirect antagonist facing our familiar mice heroes
- How the setting set up the animators for some real show-off sequences
- A discussion of the many ways this film walked so many, many after it could run
- Our final score for the film, which is a surprisingly large chunk lower than the original
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including some of our friends from our podcast fantasy football league!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on The Rescuers Down under
- Check out Kaitlyn’s company Variant Ventures in the TTRPG space
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
The Sanderson sisters are back for blood! Join us as we delve into the fantastically festive world of Hocus Pocus and discuss just why this movie has garnered so much attention as it has aged.
Don’t miss:
- The way this film has only gotten more and more well-loved as time has gone on, despite critic opinions
- How the theming is one of the film's biggest strengths
- A discussion of the small, specific character and music choices that go a long way to develop our leads
- Our final score - the highest for any bonus film since Nightmare Before Christmas a full year ago!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know which film surprised you with its score
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
We’re officially halfway through the Walt Disney Animation Studios canon! Join us as we recount the best films so far in all of our categories and then some, as well as evaluate our experiment so far.
Don’t miss:
- The proof we’ve developed that the rubric and process we created are working
- How some films surprised us in particular categories, especially story and character development
- A discussion of you, our viewers, and the episodes you liked best per our download statistics
- The definitive top ten after rating 33 total canon films
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know which film surprised you with its score
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Come with us on another musical journey as we dissect Melody Time, another of Disney’s wartime package films, focused this time on folk stories and tall tales.
Don’t miss:
- The variety of different cultures and worlds this film spans and the good and bad of the worlds it builds
- How the music has lasted in some unexpected ways
- A discussion of the role this movie played for the studio and how it accomplished its job
- Our final score for the film, which is the highest package film score so far!
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including some of our friends from our podcast fantasy football league!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Melody Time
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Return to Arendelle with us as we take on Frozen II, the sequel that brought Disney’s biggest IP of the century back to the big screen. We’ll discuss how it measures up to the phenomenal first film, which still sits comfortably in our Top 5, as well as the new efforts it made and issues it tackled.
Don’t miss:
- The crucial role Olaf plays in this film as an audience stand-in
- How fear once again resurfaces as the film’s antagonist, though not as clearly as in the first film
- A discussion of the truly masterful music the Lopez duo wrote for this film - better than the first film, if you can believe that
- Our final score for the film - can it beat its powerful predecessor?
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including all our listeners who joined us for #ddpwatchnight on Twitter.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Frozen II
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Grab your coats and magnifying glasses! We’re off to Baker Street as we discuss The Great Mouse Detective, a Dark Age Disney film that shows shades and elements of what would later make Disney’s Renaissance the iconic era of success that it was.
Don’t miss:
- The ways this movie walked so that Renaissance films could run
- How the parallels drawn between this mouse detective and his human counterpart raise some very odd questions regarding mouse culture
- A discussion of the progression of both the development process and the technology that moved the needle at the studio between The Black Cauldron and this film
- Our final score for the film, which is on the higher end for the Dark Age
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including #ddpwatchnight commentary from some familiar friends!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on The Great Mouse Detective
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Hop a carpet and fly with us to Agrabah as we tackle another one of Disney’s heaviest hitters during its Renaissance era, Aladdin!
Don’t miss:
- The stellar character development we get for an unusually large number of characters
- How this movie’s entire soundtrack has lasted the test of time, even without a true “I Want” song
- A discussion of the film’s beautiful but inconsistent theming, particularly with regard to specific cultural references
- Our final score for the film, which cracks the top three!
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including debunking a pesky urban legend sent in by fellow podcaster Nick.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Aladdin
- Check out History of the Entire World I Guess, if you want to know where all the references we made throughout the episode are from (language warning!)
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
We committed to scoring every single film in the canon, and that includes the duds! Come with us as we dissect Chicken Little, a film that accounts for some of Disney’s strangest choices in the Digital Age.
Don’t miss:
- The way this movie tried - and failed - to emulate the success of DreamWorks’s more irreverent films like Shrek
- How the soundtrack was somehow full or stars and yet has failed to last even the 16 years since its release
- A discussion of this movie’s failings, both on the rubric and in its overall message to audiences
- Our final score for the film, which is honestly pretty abysmal
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including some of our friends from #ddpwatchnight on Twitter!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Chicken Little
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Welcome the Great Prince of the Forest with us as we discuss Bambi, the first of Disney’s features focusing on the natural world, and how it set the tone for many more films to come.
Don’t miss:
- The way the movie’s themes introduce the idea of the circle of life before the studio ever even dreamed of Lion King
- How the music has lasted - or not lasted - over the years
- A discussion of the fantastic techniques and technologies the animators showcased throughout the film
- Our final score for the film, which unfortunately suffers due to the story difficulties
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including some of our friends from #ddpwatchnight on Twitter!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Bambi
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
We’re going inside the world of video games with our take on Wreck-It Ralph, the oft-overlooked Revival installment that makes a complex commentary on what it means to be a “good guy.”
Don’t miss:
- The way dialogue reveals specific character choices throughout the film
- How the music belies what’s coming in the big twist way before the movie actually gets there
- A discussion of the fantastic worldbuilding in this film and how it’s mostly done just with visuals, rather than being explained verbally
- Our final score for the film, putting it just inside the top ten
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including #ddpwatchnight commentary from our friends at Let’s Chat with Chris Revill!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Wreck-It Ralph
- Follow our guest Rory @roryvariant and his TTRPG media group @variantsventure
- Follow our friend @WithSherman who edited this episode for us - he’s a lifesaver!
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Returning to what brought him his initial success, Walt tackled another fairytale once the war was over and his animators and audience had returned. Join us as we discuss Cinderella, an all-time Disney classic, as we begin our third season!
Don’t miss:
- The overlooked elements in Cinderella’s character development that she doesn’t get enough credit for in modern princess debate
- How the innovations in both music and production made leaps and bounds toward making animation a legitimate genre
- A discussion of the lasting impact this film has made on Disney and film history as a whole
- Our final score for the film - despite the praise, it’s not as high as you might think
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including our friend Lauren who’s guested on the show previously - check her out on Mulan (1x02) and Hunchback of Notre Dame (2x13).
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Cinderella
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
If you've heard our interviews on other podcasts, you know that we, your hosts, are both former Walt Disney World Cast Members. After two full seasons of talking about Disney films, we're finally answering your questions about our time with the Mouse.
Don’t miss:
- The things we've learned as Cast that every park Guest should know
- How we feel about keeping the magic alive when you can see behind the scenes
- A discussion of some of the ins and outs of social life as a CM, especially in the College Program
- Why we're so grateful for our Disney journeys just as they are, despite the fact that we both left
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Keep your Ko-fi subscription current for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know what you’re most excited about to come to EPCOT
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Another hardcore Disney-fan favorite hits our rubric as we tackle A Goofy Movie, the Goof Troop spinoff that was released as an afterthought but became a cult classic famous for its fantastic music and '90s nostalgia.
Don’t miss:
- The unique way this film handles its climax that sets it apart from so many main studio films
- How marketable this film has become over the years despite its original release having so little fanfare
- A discussion of the fantastic music in this film and the unassuming source of its quality
- Our final score for the film, which might surprise some if one goes by reviews and box office only
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including our friends Nat and Bray, who Disneybounded as Max and Goofy for #ddpwatchnight.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Keep your Ko-fi membership current for continued exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on A Goofy Movie
- Check out the two YouTube videos we mention in the episode: Tevin Campbell's Powerline performance at D23 and Max and Goofy's Perfect Cast on Father's Day
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
It's another special episode as we cross over with Oof! Right in the Childhood to tackle another Tim Burton film, James and the Giant Peach, an adaptation of a classic Roald Dahl novel that uses perhaps every different film style known to man in a fantastical tale of a young hero on a quest to find himself and his dreams.
Don’t miss:
- The reasons the music for this film perhaps doesn't stick as well as that of other Tim Burton films or Randy Newman soundtracks
- How much development the ensemble bug cast surprisingly gets
- A discussion of the film’s cinematography - what works and what doesn't with so many different styles of animation and live-action involved
- Our final score for the film, which is fairly middle of the road considering some of the strangeness in it
PLUS, in the spirit of a true crossover, Jen takes us on a look back on this film largely targeted at children from an adult perspective and leads our discussion on the things that maybe wouldn't get the greenlight if the film were being made today.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the canon movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on James and the Giant Peach
- Follow @oofmychildhood on Twitter and support Jen on Patreon to be the first to know when ORITC comes back from hiatus
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Our super-sized season two finale tackles one of Disney’s most ambitious and adult adaptations, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Join us as we discuss the difficult issues it takes on and how well it navigates the fine line between making a film of children and bringing a faithful film version forth from this classic piece of French literature.
Don’t miss:
- The in-depth research that Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz did into Gregorian chants and Catholic tradition to weave Latin and Greek Biblical references throughout the film’s score
- How masterfully Tab Murphy’s script explores the complex relationship between religion and morality
- Our discussion of the few really negative things that keep this film from breaking the top five
- Our final score for the film - it ties a fellow Renaissance film but arrives at that number pretty differently
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including our friend Emily who offered us the chance to discuss the missed opportunity in removing the book’s original ending.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking graph for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- Check out this production of the musical version of this film that features a deaf actor playing Quasimodo
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Ever wanted to go to South America? Join us as we follow Disney artists there in Saludos Amigos, a package film with a pseudo-documentary throughline following studio animators and musicians as they use inspiration from their many destinations to create several shorts for the film.
Don’t miss:
- The surprisingly strong story structure, given that this is a package film
- How the music puts in work to develop each of the shorts’ lead characters
- Our discussion of the impact this film had for both the studio and international relations between the Americas
- Our final score for the film, which is actually the highest of any package film so far
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including our friend Dwight at Broken Brain!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking graph for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Saludos Amigos
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
When Fantasia was first created, Walt Disney originally intended for the film to be updated every few years with new segments, new animation styles, and new compositions of music. Finally, nearly sixty years later after the original’s release, his nephew and studio made good on that dream, bringing us over an hour of new Fantasia content showcasing how far animation had come set to new and exciting classical music.
Don’t miss:
- The surprisingly high score we reached for the Overall Story category despite the fact that this is technically a package film
- How the music truly carries both the story and character development of the entire 75-minute feature
- Our discussion of the hidden gem at Magic Kingdom that we believe is inspired by this film
- Our final score for the film, which is just barely higher than its predecessor
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, or didn't watch the movie, as the case may be!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking graph for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Fantasia 2000
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
We couldn’t have a Disney podcast and not talk about the parks, no matter how film-focused we are. Join us as we discuss the upcoming renovations and additions to EPCOT at Walt Disney World and the way it will change the park’s image and theming overall.
Don’t miss:
- The way Disney is going all in on using IP for every new park attraction
- How we feel about the restructuring of the park’s lands and themes
- A discussion of the new nighttime spectacular and two vastly different ways it could go
- Which announced projects may be sidelined and why
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for continued exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know what you’re most excited about to come to EPCOT
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Swing into things and take on The Jungle Book with us, as we look at the last film Walt Disney himself worked on that adapts the classic Rudyard Kipling novel with a memorable musical twist.
Don’t miss:
- The different way this film approaches its villain and why it works, both from a story and a character development standpoint
- How the Sherman Brothers played an integral role in the film beyond just writing two iconic tunes
- Our discussion of the exact setting of this film - we’re honestly still not sure what year it is
- Our final score for the film, which might be higher than some expect considering how often this movie is glossed over
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including two of our dear friends who’ve been great friends of the show.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking graph for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Jungle Book
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Gasp! We're doing our first NON-Disney film! Thanks to a commission from our Ko-fi member Gordon, we're tackling The Road to El Dorado, an early 2000s DreamWorks buddy adventure film that's become a cult classic thanks to its witty banter and quality memes.
Don’t miss:
- The reason this film was so similar to a Disney film released around the same time
- How one minor character switch could have drastically changed the historical accuracy and believability
- A discussion of the film's music, which is surprisingly oft-forgotten when discussing Elton John and Tim Rice
- Our final score for the film, which unfortunately isn’t anywhere near as high as we know Gordon had hoped
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including a shoutout to our friends over at The Emperor's New Podcast, who covered this film for April Fool's Day.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi subscriber for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Road to El Dorado
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Come along on the cattle drive with us as we go in on one of Disney’s weakest outings in recent memory: Home on the Range. Fair warning! We do not pull our punches.
Don’t miss:
- The problem the uncomfortable dialogue creates for both the story at large and the audience’s ability to connect to the characters
- How mismatched the music is to what’s actually happening on screen
- Our discussion of the many missed opportunities across the board in this film
- Our final score, which is the lowest to date, including package films
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including thoughts from several friends from our Ko-fi exclusive Discord server.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking graph for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Home on the Range
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Curious about Disney’s newest outing? We paid the extra $30 for Premier Access to watch Raya and the Last Dragon to help you make an informed decision about whether or not it’s worth the money for you. (Spoiler alert – we think it is!)
Don’t miss:
- The way the visuals showcase the many techniques and technologies developed by the studio during the Revival era
- How important an addition Raya is to the official Disney Princess lineup for a number of reasons
- A discussion of the pros and cons of the incredibly talented voice cast
- Why we’ll have to wait to properly score this film against our full rubric
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know what you thought of Raya
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Voyage beyond the reef with us as we take on Moana, a combination princess-adventure story that cemented Disney’s Revival as the company’s true new era.
Don’t miss:
- The strong positives and lesser-publicized negatives of Polynesian and Pacific Islander representation in this film
- How Lin-Manuel Miranda and Opetaia Foa’i weave their respective styles together to create something incredible
- Our discussion of the treatment of the ocean throughout the film, both visually and in its characterization
- Our final score for the film - it cracks the top 5!
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including some Disney-loving dads who also happen to be our Ko-fi members.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking graph for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Moana
- Check out the explainer TikTok we reference in our music section
- If you want to learn more about some of the missed opportunities in Maui’s story, here’s the anthropology article Katy references in theming
- We encourage you to do what you can to stop AAPI hate across the world - here's a link to donate to the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, but there are many groups doing great work that are worthy of your donations
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Join us for our very first tribute episode as we celebrate some of the most inspirational and prominent women in Disney history, both real and fictional, in celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8th.
Don’t miss:
- The role women played in the earliest days of Disney animation and WED Enterprises, Walt’s precursor to the Imagineers
- How one female composer has spanned four different properties under the Disney umbrella and tackled the most difficult and personal of topics in a way that speaks to children and adults alike (spoiler alert – there are tears!)
- A discussion of the groundbreaking women of the Disney Princess franchise, both on screen and in the soundbooth
- The first canon LGBTQ+ animated character under the Disney umbrella
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for first access to exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know why the women of Disney are special to you
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Go on the ultimate hero’s journey with us as we dive into Hercules, another Disney Renaissance installation that shows the good and bad sides of sanitizing material for G and PG audiences.
Don’t miss:
- The endless praise we have for the music of this film, from composers to vocalists and everyone in between
- How strong the story actually is, particularly in its capable use of less traditional story structure and strong conflict between protagonist and antagonists, despite the fact that it cleans up much of the original myth of Hercules
- Our discussion of the insane quotability of this entire film
- Our final score for the film - it came so close to cracking the top 5!
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including our friend Nat who brought us the joy of Gospel Truth in Spanish.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking graph for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Hercules
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Take a stroll through the imagination of Walt Disney with us as we break down Lady and the Tramp, a film centered on an iconic canine couple navigating the challenges of family drama and societal pressures in a town inspired by the home of Disney himself.
Don’t miss:
- The iconic music and how several songs have lasted the test of time almost more than the film itself, some in a great way and one… much less great
- How the film’s setting evokes images of both the Old South and middle America and where those influences come from
- Our discussion of the significantly sparser dialogue and how that worked both in the film’s favor and to its detriment
- Our final score for the film, which is far more in line with modern day critics than the reviews from the time of the film’s release
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including our friends (and their dog Lady!) who joined us for our #ddpwatchnight.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking graph for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and our guest Chris @letschatrevill and let us know your thoughts on Lady and the Tramp
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
It’s arguably the most successful direct-to-video sequel Disney ever made, and now, we’re taking it on - The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride! Join us as we journey back to Pride Rock and conclude our Lion King-themed winter content with this (surprisingly good) second installment.
Don’t miss:
- The incredible (and risky) increase in the role of music from the first movie to this one
- How just a few lines of dialogue could have solved an enormous gaping plot hole
- A discussion of the highs and lows of this film’s cinematography, and why that inconsistency might make sense
- Our final score for the film, which unfortunately isn’t anywhere near as high as its predecessor
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including all our friends who joined us on Twitter for #ddpwatchnight.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on The Lion King II
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Hop into the world of Zootopia with us as we tackle Disney’s most recent foray into an anthropomorphic animal world and the many timely issues it addresses.
Don’t miss:
- The powerful message of inclusion and diversity Disney relays in this film, with layers of depth for both young and old
- How the animation team built on the new tools developed for Frozen and went even a step further to depict the many different looks of fur in the film
- Our discussion of the movie’s big plot twist and why it’s so effective
- Our final score for the film - it’s higher than you might expect, considering how this movie has been overshadowed by some of its Revival counterparts
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including several insightful listeners on Twitter who joined us for our #ddpwatchnight.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking graph for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Zootopia
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Join us for our very first listener-created episode, centered on the iconic film The Lion King, a masterpiece of Disney Renaissance animation and music that has taken on many forms and lasted the test of time. We've asked our listeners and fellow podcasters to tell us why this movie means so much to them, and they delivered!
Don’t miss:
- The adoration for the film's music, both the soundtrack versions and the radio cuts from Elton John
- How the film helps tackle the difficult concept of grief and self-exploration in a way for young people to understand at various different levels
- A discussion of the incredible cinematography and design that identify this movie within moments
- The way the franchise has spanned the world and pervaded Disney's content for nearly two decades
We'd like to thank everyone who sent in submissions for this episode, including The Derek Duvall Show, Oof! Right in the Childhood, Stressed Depressed & Anxious, and That Song from That Movie.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Check out our Ko-fi membership for continued exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know why The Lion King is special to you
- A special shoutout to our friends at The Movie Chef Podcast, whose hilarious clip we hope to include on a future (PG-13 rated) blooper reel of some kind
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Venture into a world of yore with us as we take on The Black Cauldron, a high fantasy tale based on the Chronicles of Prydain series that is considered one of Disney’s biggest flops to date. Brace yourself - it’s not pretty.
Don’t miss:
- The sheer number of questions we have about the world and characters of this film
- How this film laid the groundwork for many future films, both in technology and in personnel
- Our discussion of the Horned King and how truly creep-tastic he is
- Our final score for the film - it’s our lowest-scoring non-package film to date.
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including our friends at Pedestrian at Best Podcast and It’s a Musical Podcast, as well as some comments from our Ko-fi exclusive Discord server.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking graph for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on The Black Cauldron
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Welcome to our very first interview episode! Today, we’ll be talking with former Disney Cast Member, Broadway actress, and singer/songwriter Jerusha Cavazos to discuss her time in the Festival of the Lion King, her experience on Broadway, and so much more.
Don’t miss:
- An inside look at the Disney audition and rehearsal experience
- The Disney movies Jerusha wants to turn into Broadway shows (spoiler alert: most of them aren’t animated!)
- Some inspiring lessons that 2020 brought all of us
- Why the story of Lion King is so special to Jerusha and many others around the world
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content like this and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and Jerusha @jerushacavazos
- Listen to Jerusha’s new singles on Spotify
- Donate to The Actors’ Fund to support on- and backstage talent while Broadway is still closed
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Hop on the flying serape as we discuss The Three Caballeros, another wartime era package film featuring beloved Disney icon, Donald Duck, and his two best friends on a bird-centric, culture-filled journey through Latin America.
Don’t miss:
- The positive and negative ways Disney represented various Latin cultures in the film
- How the opening shorts of the film may actually be some of the strongest work in the movie
- Our discussion of Donald and his unusual, often uncomfortable characterization in the later parts of the movie
- Our final score for the film - oof: it’s in our bottom three!
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including our friend Nat, who shared her thoughts with us as a big Donald Duck fan and wants to help save DuckTales, where the Three Caballeros have made guest appearances.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking graph for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on The Three Caballeros
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Come along for the journey with us as we discuss how Disney began to tie family and adventure together with Brother Bear, marrying together the emotional themes that made them so successful during the Renaissance with a more exploratory plot and story structure that had become commonplace during the Digital Age.
Don’t miss:
- The incredible symbolism and storytelling Phil Collins and Mark Mancina pulled off in the soundtrack
- How the sheer feels factor of this movie can induce tears, difficult conversations, and borderline discomfort
- Our discussion of the incredible setting of this film and the expert way the cinematography and animation show it off
- Our final score for the film, which is far closer to audience opinions than the published critics’ consensus
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including our friends at Let’s Chat with Chris Revill! Podcast, where our guest Bri is from!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking graph for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Brother Bear
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
The circle of life brings us into season 2 as we take on The Lion King, a masterpiece of Disney Renaissance animation and music that has taken on many forms and lasted the test of time.
Don’t miss:
- The crucial role both songs and score play in this movie and how iconic they’ve become over the years
- How the imagery surrounding Scar and his villainous plot mirrors history… including some scary parallels to present-day America
- A discussion of the incredible cinematography and design that take this movie from good to great
- Our final score for the film - here’s a hint: it cracks the top three!
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including all our listeners who joined us for #ddpwatchnight on Twitter.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Become a Ko-fi member for exclusive content and access to your hosts and our team
- Join our ‘Ohana to be among the first to know about new content we’re developing
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on The Lion King
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Sacré bleu, we’re going to Paris! Join us for a fun, if simple, family romp as we adventure through France with the Aristocats, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and concluding our first season of the show.
Don’t miss:
- The strong theming of this film, despite the anachronistic use of jazz
- How the various accents and dialogue styles contribute to quick development and diversification of characters throughout the film
- A discussion of the relationship between Duchess and O’Malley and how it could have been more realistic
- Our final score for the film, which is relatively in line with critics’ aggregate scores for once
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including all our listeners who joined us for #ddpwatchnight on Twitter.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Join our Ohana for exclusive content and sneak peeks of what’s coming down the line, including our Ko-fi subscription coming January 1st!
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on The Aristocats
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Halloween and Christmas are on a crash course to collide in our first bonus episode, as we tackle the Tim Burton classic The Nightmare Before Christmas. Join us as we discuss which holiday this movie belongs to (spoiler alert: it's both!) and what makes it such a sneaky strong entry in our scoring rubric.
Don’t miss:
- The new and innovative way Burton used stop-motion to create something the world had never seen
- How Danny Elfman used minor scales and Phrygian mode to give the score and songs a unique feeling
- The incredible care that was taken to the theming of Halloween Town
- Our final score for the film, which may surprise those who consider this a "niche" movie
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including all our friends who joined us on Twitter for #ddpwatchnight.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Join our Ohana for exclusive content and sneak peeks of what’s coming down the line
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on The Nightmare Before Christmas
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
- Check out this video from Sideways, from whom we drew some of our music analysis
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
This week, we tackle The Emperor’s New Groove, a movie Disney surprisingly turned into an irreverent cult classic despite the production process being an absolute mess. Join us as we discuss this hilarious, quotable film and its surprising number of strengths.
Don’t miss:
- The origins of this film’s concept and how it became the story it is
- Why this is the first movie we’ve scored that has supporting characters that are better developed than the main protagonists
- Our strangely accurate ability to quote 90% of the movie verbatim
- This film’s final score, which might be surprisingly high to anyone who isn’t incredibly familiar with it
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including some input from our friend at The Emperor’s New Podcast.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Join our Ohana for exclusive content and sneak peeks of what’s coming down the line
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on The Emperor’s New Groove
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
- Check out Snuff Out the Light, the cut Yzma song we never knew we needed
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Disney’s Revival kicks in full force as we discuss Tangled, a return to form for Disney after a decade of exploration and experimentation with different story structures and subjects. Join us as we highlight the strength of the music and cinematography and discuss the weaknesses it may have, despite some of our sentimental attachments to it.
Don’t miss:
- The moments where Tangled walks so movies like Frozen could run
- How director Glen Keane designed Flynn Rider as a character - he did his homework!
- The reasons Caroline and guest Stephen have a special subjective attachment to this film
- Why Mother Gothel might be one of the worst and most realistic villains Disney has created
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including lots of love for the TV series that serves as a continuation for the film.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Join our Ohana for exclusive content and sneak peeks of what’s coming down the line
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Tangled
- Here you can find the Reddit post Caroline used to discuss Kingdom Dance in the Music category
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Disney shattered the world’s view of animation with Snow White, but after that, Walt still wasn’t satisfied. No, Disney continued to push the boundaries with their next film, perhaps even further than they should have. This brought us Fantasia, full of vibrant animation, new techniques in musical recording, and the loveable, iconic Sorcerer Mickey.
Don’t miss:
- The way this film introduced generations of children to classical music and the idea that music can evoke images
- How Disney created an entirely new sound design system in order to take this film on tour across the country and give theatergoers a full orchestral experience
- The mastery of animation that this movie requires to characterize so many different worlds and characters with next to no dialogue
- Our final score for the film, which is shockingly high for a musical without a true narrative throughline
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including some similarities between one segment of the film and our favorite YouTube video (content warning).
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Join our Ohana for exclusive content and sneak peeks of what’s coming down the line
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Fantasia
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
- We want to give a special shoutout to our friend Ryan at The Coolness Chronicles for all his love and support for the show!
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
We’re taking on the viral sensation that is Frozen! Join us in our longest episode to date, as we discuss how this film took over the world using incredible music, complex and relatable characters, and a new twist on the power of love.
Don’t miss:
- The crucial role music plays in this movie - and it’s not just Let It Go
- How Elsa gave a voice to those who often feel they can’t be free to show their true selves
- A discussion of the gorgeous and technologically insane landscapes of this movie and all the work that made them possible
- Our final score for the film, which proves that this movie is worth the hype
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including all our listeners who joined us for #ddpwatchnight on Twitter.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Join our Ohana for exclusive content and sneak peeks of what’s coming down the line
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Frozen
- When our transcription is available, we’ll link it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Double the trouble awaits you when you dive in with us to The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, a Wartime Era package film that saw Disney take on two classic works of literature. Listen as we discuss how the mischief of Mr. Toad comes to life in The Wind in the Willows and how the Headless Horseman becomes a host unto himself as he terrorizes Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow.
Don’t miss:
- Disney’s first attempt at representing a character with a mental illness onscreen
- Our debate over whether the Headless Horseman is his own character or if his character development actually belongs to another character in the short
- How the iconic narrators of these two shorts make the movie with their voice work
- Our final score for the film, which is surprisingly high for a package film
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including one exchange with a Twitter friend who told us about their experience with this movie in Spanish.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Join our Ohana for exclusive content and sneak peeks of what’s coming down the line
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Ichabod and Mr. Toad
- If you need or want a transcription for any reason, find it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
We’re off on an adventure as we tackle The Rescuers, an inspiring tale of two little mice and their rescue of a young girl kidnapped by a treasure hunter. Listen as we discuss the creative theming of a world of mice, the changes in animation techniques, and the way the shortened run time limited its overall success.
Don’t miss:
- All the details we caught of mice making the human world their own
- How Madam Medusa seems to be a budget version of another villain we know and love
- The way the music and animation techniques date the film pretty specifically
- Our final score for the film, which indicates we may be developing a bell curve in our scores
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including interactions we had with viewers on Twitter during our biweekly watch party.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Join our Ohana for exclusive content and sneak peeks of what’s coming down the line
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on The Rescuers
- If you want or need a transcription for any reason, find it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Keep moving forward with us as we discuss Meet the Robinsons, one of the final films of Disney’s digital age that marked a return to form and showed glimmers of hope during a bit of a creative slump for the studio.
Don’t miss:
- How going back to the tried and true formula of strong story and dialogue, great character design, and lots of heart set Disney on the right path again
- Our opinion on some of the reviews for this film, which were surprisingly dismal considering what precedes this movie in the canon
- The studio’s most iconic villain since 2000 and why Bowler Hat Guy deserves more credit than he gets
- Our final score for the film, which turned out much higher than most critics gave it at the time
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including some thoughts from Discord on the film’s big twist.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Join our Ohana for exclusive content and sneak peeks of what’s coming down the line
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on 101 Dalmatians
- If you need or want a transcription of this episode for any reason, find it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Dive into the most successful era of Disney film with The Little Mermaid, which brought Broadway-style musicals into animation and prosperity back to the studio with the help of legendary composing team Howard Ashman and Alan Menken.
Don’t miss:
- The way this film’s music changed the game and set the tone for the decade to come
- Why Ursula is such an iconic villain - and it’s not just her villain song or her stellar voice acting
- The stellar development this film’s sidekicks get and how that factors in score-wise
- Our final score for the film, which puts it well into our Top 3 so far
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including interactions we had with viewers on Twitter during our biweekly watch party.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Join our Ohana for exclusive content and sneak peeks of what’s coming down the line
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on The Little Mermaid
- If you need or want a transcription of our episode, find it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Everyone’s got puppy fever in our next installment - we’re tackling One Hundred and One Dalmatians, a charming entry in the canon that showcases Disney’s building blocks for success, including one of the best villains the studio has ever created.
Don’t miss:
- How design contributed to Cruella’s character development and her place in the iconic villains lineup
- The use of music as a story element, including its role in Roger’s story arc
- How effectively dialogue is used throughout the film, from Pongo’s narration to the Twilight Bark
- Our final score for the film, reflecting one of the strongest things this movie has going for it: heart
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including some love for the live-action version.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Join our Ohana for exclusive content and sneak peeks of what’s coming down the line
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on 101 Dalmatians
- Find our transcription of this episode here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Your intro to the Silver Age of Disney animation has arrived! Journey down the rabbit hole with us as we tackle Alice in Wonderland, one of Disney’s most colorful outings that earned it strong scores for aesthetics and iconic characters. But we’ll also talk about the elephant in the room: too many directors, not enough plot.
Don’t miss:
- How having five directors over the film’s development negatively impacted the story and character development throughout the movie
- The significant lack of a villain in the first ¾ of the movie
- The lone character development arc in the movie that gets absolutely no resolution
- Mary Blair’s role in the art direction of this film and the part color plays in both its immediately recognizable style and its development of Wonderland as its own character
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including comments from Discord about why young kids don’t keep this movie on repeat.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Join our Ohana for exclusive content and sneak peeks of what’s coming down the line
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Alice in Wonderland
- If you'd like a transcription of our episode, find it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Our search continues with our take on Robin Hood, Disney’s anthropomorphic animal spin on the classic English legend. We’ll take a look at why this movie is so subjectively dear to us despite the fact that it’s objectively very surface-level on a lot of our key points.
Don’t miss:
- How the film handles the historical subject matter without making it too heavy for its young audience
- The creative way the narrator is used throughout the film as both an exposition tool and an inside look at everyday life in Nottingham
- The controversial sequence that definitely doesn’t fit with anything else in the movie
- The film’s final score, which is surprisingly low for how much we subjectively enjoy it
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including several viewers’ thoughts on why they loved this movie when they were young.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far
- Join our Ohana for exclusive content and sneak peeks of what’s coming down the line
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Robin Hood
- Check out the reused animation wikipage we discuss in our Beauty and Creativity section of Cinematography
- If you need or prefer a transcription, find it here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Summary: Our first foray into the package films Disney produced during World War II starts with Fun and Fancy Free, which is really two animated shorts stitched together by a Jiminy Cricket-centric narrative set in partially-live-action Hollywood.
Don’t miss:
- The reason that movies like this were essential to Disney’s future success despite their low narrative quality
- Why the movie got over half credit in the story category despite not having one solid narrative
- The oddity of the live-action through-narrative featuring Jiminy Cricket, a ‘40s child star, and a ventriloquist with his dummies
- Our final score, which marks the first film to get less than half credit for every single category
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including those from a very knowledgeable listener from Discord with a mind for trivia.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far (it’s more than four!)
- Join our Ohana for exclusive content and sneak peeks of what’s coming down the line
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Fun and Fancy Free
- Check out our friends at We're That Disney Family who we mention in our Continued Usage section
- Here's our transcription of the episode for anyone who needs it
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Nerds unite! We’re talking about Disney’s first animated comic book movie Big Hero 6, a Revival-era film that is often overshadowed by the enormous Frozen craze only a year before. We’ll talk about why it deserves more love than it gets and why it’s a must-watch for young people learning the true impact of grief.
Don’t miss:
- Why Tadashi Hamada transcends the typical “early character death” trope Disney is so infamous for
- Our discussion of the truly spectacular worldbuilding and world-merging in this film
- Baymax’s insane quotability and the reason Scott Adsit is such a revelation
- Our ultimate score for the movie, proving it deserves more attention than it gets
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, including a discussion we had on Twitter that made us all want to watch the follow-up TV series.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far (it’s more than four!)
- Join our Ohana for exclusive content and sneak peeks of what’s coming down the line
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Big Hero 6
- If you need it for any reason, the transcription of our episode can be found here
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
It’s time to talk about one of Disney’s post-Renaissance films that’s become sort of a cult classic, a paradise for both nerds and adventurers alike - Atlantis: The Lost Empire. In this third launch day episode, we discuss what went wrong for this movie and why we hate that more people don’t know about it.
Don’t miss:
- The “Peter and the Wolf”-style character development that the score subtly runs underneath the entire film
- Some awesome innovations industry professionals made specifically for this movie
- The highest cinematography score we’ve given to this day
- Our ultimate score for the movie, which may shock you
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, featuring some comments from a Facebook meme group we may or may not be part of.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far (it’s more than just the launch day three!)
- Join our Ohana for exclusive content and sneak peeks of what’s coming down the line
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Atlantis
- If you want or need a written copy of our audio, here's a transcription of our episode
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Being ‘90s kids, we had to seek out one of the strongest films of the Disney Renaissance for our second episode. Listen as we discuss Mulan, her strength of character, the music that we still get stuck in our heads decades later, and the stunning animation this movie brings to the table.
Don’t miss:
- Some of the most memorable sections of score in Disney canon and why they matter
- The complexity of Mulan’s conflict and why her story is worth telling
- The stupidly large percentage of the movie we can quote offhand
- Our final score for the movie: a really high bar to clear for future films
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, featuring an important discussion on this story’s role in identity discovery for both adults and children, sparked by comments from our friends on Discord.
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far (it’s more than just the launch day three!)
- Join our Ohana for exclusive content and sneak peeks of what’s coming down the line
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Mulan
- Here's the transcription of this episode for those who need or want it
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!
Where better to start our mission to find the best animated Disney film ever than where it all began? In this episode, we discuss Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and its merits - it’s the gold standard when it comes to one of our categories, but we’ll break it down by our rubric and set the bar for the rest of the canon to measure up to.
Don’t miss:
- Our first (and thus far, only) unanimous perfect score in any category
- Which scenes were so well-animated they were reused several times over for decades to come
- The way our dads’ attachment to this film continued to pop up throughout our childhoods
- Our ultimate score for the movie, which will set the bar for all future films to be scored
PLUS, we talk through all the thoughts our audience had when they watched the movie, featuring our very first Twitter follower and their stellar animation knowledge!
Links for you:
- Our website has our ranking spreadsheet for all the movies we’ve rated so far (it’s more than just the launch day three!)
- Join our Ohana for exclusive content and sneak peeks of what’s coming down the line
- Follow us on Twitter @definingdisney and let us know your thoughts on Snow White
- If you prefer to read versus listen or need captions, here's a transcription of our episode
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single episode, and if you enjoyed this one, please leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening and we’ll see ya real soon!