the magic of disney

Since returning from Disney World about a month ago...

 ...I can't get the magic of Disney off my mind. I've been listening to Walt Disney Radio on Pandora and watching Disney movies. I even decided Danny and I are going to be Jasmine and Aladdin for Halloween! I especially have an affection for the movies Disney produced in the very beginning. Starting with Snow White all the way to Pocahontas, please enjoy this collection of my all time Disney favorites.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released in 1937 and was the first film produced by Walt Disney. It was also the first feature-length animated American film and the first in the Walt Disney Animated Classics collection. The film was based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grim. This is the original poster for the movie from 1937.

And the updated poster from when the movie was re-released. It was first re-released in 1944 to bring in revenue for Disney during WWII. 

Alice in Wonderland was based on Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Walt Disney had originally wanted Alice to be his first film, but ended up pushing it aside until it was released in 1951. It was poorly received by critics, and was never re-released (like several of his films) while he was alive. It was later considered to be one of Disney's best films.

Peter Pan was released in 1953 and was based on the 1904 play by J.M. Barrie. Kathryn Beaumont voiced the character of Wendy, and she also was the voice of Alice in Alice in Wonderland.

I love how the original poster for Cinderella claims "Greatest since SNOW WHITE." It's amazing that the legacy of Disney's first film resounded all the way to 1950 when Cinderella was released. Sidenote: "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo" is one of my favorite songs from any Disney movie.

Poster from the re-release as part of the Disney Masterpiece Collection.

Sleeping Beauty was released in 1959 and was based on the fairy tale La Belle au Bois dormant by Charles Perrault. It was the last "fairy tale" film produced by Walt Disney before his death in 1966.

Poster from the re-release.

101 Dalmations was released in 1961 and was based on the novel The One Hundred and One Dalmations by Dodie Smith. 101 was the first Disney film set in a contempory ("modern" back then) time period.

The Jungle Book was released in 1967 (based on the book by Rudyard Kipling). It is the 19th film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. It was the last film produced by Walt Disney and he passed away during production :'(. It was the last film to really have his personal touch. I have such fond memories of this movie from when I was little.

The Little Mermaid (one of my top three favorites) was released in 1989. This is the original poster from '89 (it was re-released in 1997). It's based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. When I was little, my dad would go out of town and always bring my brother and I "happies" when he returned. I distinctly remember one phone call with him (I was probably 7 years old) when he was out of town and he asked me if I liked Beauty and the Beast or The Little Mermaid better. I said "LITTLE MERMAID!" and he surprised me with a small toy from the movie upon his return. Just something from my childhood that I will always remember :)

Aladdin was released in 1992. This is one of my top 3 favorite Disney movies. There is one line from the movie that I've always thought signifies mine and Danny's relationship: "A whole new world/ a dazzling place I never knew/ but when I'm way up here/It's crystal clear/ that now I'm in a whole new world with you." Danny and I were from two completely different worlds, and yet we knew that we were supposed to be together - I guess you could say it was "crystal clear" ;)

Beauty and the Beast was released in 1991. It was the 3rd film released during the Disney Renaissance period, and was based on the fairy tale La Belle et la Bete. It was the first Disney film nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.

The Lion King was released during the summer of 1994. It is the highest grossing 2D animated movie of all time (can you believe that?!). It won two Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Award for Best Picture (Musical or Comedy). I love with all my heart the Lion King soundtrack (and the broadway musical). I think it was groundbreaking at the time for an animated film to have such a rich musical soundtrack. The storyline was inspired by Shakespeare's Hamlet and the Biblical stories of Moses and Joseph. It was originally titled King of the Jungle.

And finally, rounding up my favorite Disney movies is Pocahontas. Released in 1995, it was the first Disney film to be based on a historical character. It was also part of the Disney Renaissance era. Interesting little fact - Mel Gibson voiced the character of John Smith (who knew?). "Colors of the Wind" is on repeat on my ipod - I love that song.

I hope you enjoyed my little homage to Disney. I will always, always have a special place for Disney in my heart. After all...it brought me to husband :)