5 Things You Didn’t Know About Disney’s Peter Pan

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Disney’s Peter Pan (1953)

Walt Disney (born 1901) predated the creation of Peter Pan’s play by 3 years. Therefore, he was the perfect age to grow up with the popular play. He was an even better age to be influenced by the subsequent novel which revived the popularity of the show in 1911; being among the thousands of young children who fell in love with story. After seeing it live, he could never forget it, and it even prompted him to play the title character in school.

So, to honor this classic’s 65^th Anniversary, and Walt’s love of the story, here’s a list of 5 things you may not know about Peter Pan!

#1: It Was Almost Abandoned

It was no surprise that Walt had always wanted to make a Peter Pan film. In fact, after making Snow White, Walt had originally intended for Peter Pan to be one of his earliest features. He procured the rights as soon as he could afford them and made plans to move into pre-production not long after Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was first released.

But fate was not so kind. The rights of Peter Pan were very difficult to obtain because J.M. Barrie had donated them to The Great Ormond Street Hospital in Britain; an act of astounding charity that unknowingly made the rights difficult to license. Eventually, Walt did gain the rights, but it was too late. The U.S. had already been drawn into WW2. The U.S. Government took control of various studios, including Disney, to produce propaganda for the war effort. This brought Peter Pan to a screeching halt. In fact, the project seemed abandoned for good, until Walt managed to get the studio back on track after the war with Cinderella (1950). With the returns from Cinderella, Walt managed to fuel dream projects like Alice in Wonderland (1951) and Sleeping Beauty (1959), and Peter Pan finally made it to the screen after a hectic 15 years in production!

#2: Peter Pan Changed Everything

Peter Pan marked the end of two eras at the Disney Studio. The first was that Peter Pan was the last Disney film in which all of the ‘Nine Old Men’ worked together. The “Nine Old Men’ were the most influential, skilled, and loyal animators at the studio. All of the Nine stayed with the company after Peter Pan, but split up into different projects such as developing Disneyland, or working on live-action films. The second era that Peter Pan ended was that of the ‘third-party distributor’. Peter Pan was the last Disney film to be distributed by a third-party distribution company. In fact, Walt has been working most of his career to accomplish this. He was proud to unveil a brand-new company, Buena Vista Distribution, to the public later that same year! Now he would distribute his own films. This meant that he could finally have 100% control over his product from start to finish. In the past, companies like RKO Radio Productions (the distributor of Peter Pan) would control Disney’s product after it was finished. With Buena Vista, Disney finally had the ability to do what he wanted with his films whether he was finished with them or not.

#3: The Story Was Almost Completely Different

Over the 15 years of its production, the story of the film changed drastically. In one early version of the film, Peter Pan thought that John was too grown-up for Neverland and abandoned him. This would have made one of the main characters of the original Peter Pan story nonexistent in early drafts! In addition to possibly dropping certain characters, there were also dramatic changes to the overall tone of the film. There was an especially dark and more serious version of the film that was storyboarded, targeted more towards teenagers, that Walt promptly shut down for being too scary. And in a final possibility, Nana, the nursemaid dog, was going to accompany the children to Neverland. In fact, the narrative of the story was going to be told from her point of view!

Of course, any one of these possibilities would have made the story completely different from the beloved tale we know! But it’s fascinating to see what direction the Disney artists went before they settled on the right course. It’s always interesting to see what could have been.

#4: A Popular Tinker Bell Rumor is Actually Wrong

There is an popular rumor going about Tinker Bell which has gained quite a bit of notoriety. Legend has it that Tinker Bell was modeled after the famous film star Marilyn Monroe. While this is a very interesting, and naturally compelling theory, it is unfortunately NOT TRUE! The idea of Marilyn being popular enough to influence the design of a Disney character has become so popular that Marc Davis himself (Tinker Bell’s designer and animator) went on record to say that he actually directly based Tinker Bell’s design on model Margaret Kerry. Margaret provided live-action reference for the character and the influence of her distinctive features can be clearly seen in Tinker Bell. Tinker Bell may bear a passing resemblance to Marilyn, but it’s impossible for her to be based on the starlet, since Marilyn didn’t really become famous until AFTER Peter Pan!

#5: Extraordinary Casting

Peter Pan has one of the most fascinating voice casts in all of Disney’s history. A star-studded cast, including a few familiar Disney veterans, filled out the ranks. The title role was filled by Bobby Driscoll, a veteran of five Disney films, and a popular teen heartthrob. Surprisingly, he was the first male to play Peter Pan on film ever! In addition to Driscoll, another Disney child star, Kathryn Beaumont, played Wendy Darling a mere two years after appearing as Alice in Disney’s Alice in Wonderland. Finally, to everyone’s excitement, long-time character actor Bill Thompson (White Rabbit, The Dodo, Scrooge McDuck, etc.) played the lovable Mr. Smee.

But it wasn’t only Disney Luminaries who made up the cast. The great Golden Age starlet Heather Angel (Bulldog Drummond) provided the voice of Mrs. Darling, Television superstar Tom Conway (The Falcon) voiced the narrator, and last but not least, unparalleled Radio King and stage veteran Hans Conried (Orson Welle’s Mercury Theatre Company) turned in the distinctive performance of the hilarious Captain Hook; a fan favorite villain. In fact, Hans’s voice is so comparatively unique, that it’s hard not to notice that he also plays Mr. Darling; continuing a peculiar tradition of the stage performance where the same actor always played both characters!

peter pan 57 — Conried also played Hook in live-action reference footage so that Hook even looks and moves like him!

Above are rare photos of Conried in costume!

Enjoy these facts? Let us know in the comments! We want to know; what’s your favorite thing about Peter Pan?

Pixar Saved Disney!

Pixar Saved Disney!

Disney has become synonymous with the art of animation and it’s no wonder as to why. Since 1923, the Walt Disney Company has led the industry in terms of story, art, and technical innovation. In fact, without Disney’s achievements in animation, most historians agree that Disney would not be the successful corporation that it is today. However, that’s not to say that the company hasn’t had their rough patches. In fact, there was a struggle in Disney history that relatively few people are aware of; a struggle that was resolved when Pixar saved Disney!

To explain how this happened, we must go way back to Disney’s Dark Age for context. During Disney’s self-proclaimed ‘Dark Age’ (the 70’s and early 80’s; the years following Walt’s passing), the animation division of the company was going through an artistic rough patch. Disney leadership focused less and less on animation; pushing out films that were cheaper and less artistic than Walt Disney’s original standards. Many animators were dissatisfied with the results of the era. As a result, some of those same animators, under the leadership of a veteran artist named Don Bluth, left and formed their own company; Don Bluth Productions. This was the first time in history that Disney had a real rival for animation; a serious threat that might have ended Disney Animation for good.

Thankfully, many of Disney’s best animators stayed through the tough times and eventually pushed through the Dark Age and into the Renaissance; returning Disney to the days of innovation and art! With the advent of the Renaissance, and Disney’s return to quality over cost, Disney rocketed past Don Bluth Productions and once more secured itself as the top company in animation. However, the success of Don Bluth Productions had unforeseen consequences; it taught film executives that other companies could succeed in the field of animation. Soon, an art form that was almost exclusively dominated by Disney met with many more rivals than it ever had faced before.

From the mid 80’s through the early 2000’s, various other companies rose up to challenge Disney’s dominance in animation, and Disney had to work extra hard to stay ahead of the shifting professional landscape. For the most part, this wasn’t really a problem. Disney’s films were usually far more successful than their rivals, and Disney had their long and storied past to rely upon for support and experience. No one could really contend with Disney on an artistic level in the 80’s or 90’s due to Disney’s acclaimed Renaissance. When they stuck to their roots of quality and innovation, Disney was at the top of their game.

However, it was not to last. After the release of Tarzan in 1999, Disney leadership once more reverted to the strange and dangerous decisions that were made in the Dark Age; effectively ending the Renaissance and beginning a new age called the Experimental Era. While many in the animation department at Disney strove for excellence, they were undermined by corporate leadership. As a result, even though most of the films in this era used bold new techniques and attempted to approach new types of stories, most of the films met with mixed results regarding critics and audiences. With Disney seemingly struggling to stay ahead, rivals swooped in with a vengeance; trying to rise to the top using Disney’s lack of success.

3aa6945819223301fb37ff9debcf2bb3 — a great ‘Experimental Era’ film

But luckily, Disney would not be beaten so easily. Roy E. Disney (Walt’s nephew) strove to keep Disney animation at the top and managed to overturn the leadership of the company in 2005/2006 and replace it with a new one that would respect animation and make sure that it was always striving to be the best that it could be. This new leadership was…Pixar?

Yes, indeed; Pixar save Disney Animation! Disney had already been partnering with Pixar since the release of Toy Story in 1995, and the company had realized that Pixar had become what Disney Animation wanted to be; a company full of innovation, artistic exploration, and high-quality production. While Disney struggled with their films in the early 2000’s, Pixar had excelled at every single one that they released; appealing to newer audiences and smashing records with their unique stories. Disney started to see that a Pixar partnership was not enough, and that they needed Pixar more than they thought. So, they ended up purchasing the company in 2006. The lesser-known result of this purchase was the leadership shift that accompanied it. With Pixar becoming part of the Disney family, the founders of the young CGI animation studio were unexpectedly co-opted into running Walt Disney Animation; breathing new life into the struggling Disney animation division and filling its offices with younger and fresher artists!

This ensured that the people behind Pixar’s success would also contribute to Walt Disney Animation’s success; giving Disney Animation strong artistic leadership that would respect animation as an art form and secure the historic company in the new millennium. The decision certainly paid off, because as soon as Pixar leadership took the reins of Disney Animation, the company saw a revival…The ‘Disney Revival’ era that we are currently living in today! With the success of Princess and the Frog in 2009, Disney entered a Second Golden Age.

Finally, after the release of 2011’s Winnie the Pooh (the last Disney hand-drawn film) Disney’s started its permanent transition to the more commercially stable format of Computer Animation that was pioneered by Pixar! Without these changes, Disney might have lost its animation division to younger rivals and would have been a very different company than the one we know today. Pixar led Disney animation into an era of financial stability for the company spearheaded by commercially and critically successful films like Zootopia, Frozen, and Tangled; making Pixar the inadvertent savior of the Disney company as we know it today!

What’s your favorite Pixar or Disney animated film since the Revival?

Thor Related to Hercules?!?

Thor Related to Hercules?!?

A short, strange spotlight on the Mighty Avenger

Like many Marvel fans, we like to go back over some of the comics related to our favorite Marvel characters and refresh our memories on their backstories. In so doing, we came across something wild in Marvel canon that we had almost forgotten. Thor is a relative of Hercules! No joke!

a48 — the general reaction we get when we say this!

How do we know this? We recently read the Thor entry to the 80’s version of the Essential Handbook of the Marvel Universe; an encyclopedic series breaking down every Marvel character’s powers, story, and appearance in meticulous detail. In this series, they list the known relatives of every hero in the Marvel universe, and under Thor, it lists his mother as…Gaea?

thor copy_LI — a scan to prove it; the info is circled! a more up-to-date version is below!

For those of you who don’t know, Gaea (also spelled as Gaia, Giah, etc.) is a primordial Greek Goddess (in Marvel canon: a powerful alien being that originates from an alternate dimension), and is the mother of the Greek Titan Kronos, as well as the grandmother of Zeus! And we are pretty sure that everyone knows who Zeus’s son was… Hercules! Thor has a unique relationship with the extremely powerful Gaea in the Marvel universe for a specific reason; Marvel wanted Thor to have a reasonable reason for being the most powerful Asgardian besides Odin, and they wanted to bind the Asgardian and Olympian mythologies together for a more cohesive Marvel lore.

Obviously, in the original myth of Thor, Frigga is Thor’s real mother, and this seems to be the route they’re taking in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (but who knows, maybe Frigga will be revealed to be Thor’s step-mother). However, Marvel’s version of the Thor story presents us with a fascinating family tree that the original myth does not! We did some checking to make sure that this familial relationship is still canon (after all we were looking at the outdated 80’s version of this encyclopedia for nostalgic reasons) and we confirmed that it remains canon in the Marvel timeline…at least for now. So, what does this mean for Thor?

It means that, as of now, Thor is the brother of the Titan Kronos, and the Uncle of Zeus…making him the Great Uncle of Hercules!

***

Now, because this blog’s usual audience are often Disney fans and may not be familiar with the intricacies of the Marvel universe, we must present a disclaimer: the Hercules Thor is related to is NOT the same one from Disney’s animated film, but rather a lesser-known Marvel character that we will show below…

Unfortunately for you Disney nuts out there, this dashes the hopes of there being a definitive Disney/Marvel Universe crossover…unless you count Big Hero 6. Some people will be relieved and some will be disappointed…it just depends on what kind of pop-culture fan you are.

Of course, Disney’s animated film Hercules is just a different interpretation (or point of view) of the same mythology shown in Marvel. If the enterprising fan wanted a headcanon/fan-theory excuse, they could say that Disney’s Hercules is the human’s legend of Hercules, and not what really happened (which could be the events of Marvel’s Hercules)? After all, humans did accidentally mistake the Asgardians and Olympians for Gods in Marvel, so it’s possible that they could have exaggerated the myths a little from what really happened.

You can take that theory as far as you like, but we just find it fascinating that Thor is related to both the Asgardians and Olympians in Marvel continuity; a Son of Odin and an Uncle of Zeus!

a10 — our reaction to this glimmer of false nerd hope.

One last thought for crossover junkies: There’s even a theory floating around that connects Ariel’s family to Hercules’ through Ariel’s father Triton! It’s not our theory, but we do think it makes perfect sense and has a lot of evidence, so maybe we’ll cover the theory someday if you really want to know about it. But for now, just be satisfied to know that Thor could be a distant relation of Ariel! Marvel mythology presents such an interconnected family tree that it makes our heads spin to think about it! Who knows; maybe Disney Animation and Marvel might be connected by more ways than just business/ownership. What do you think Disney should do about this?

If you’re still scrolling, and you haven’t clicked away yet (we love you random viewer!), we wanted to let you know that this post which you’re reading was chosen by YOU!

Also, have request or idea that you want us to cover? Leave comments with your requests and thoughts (keep it family friendly please; we have parents who read these posts with their kids!) here. We may even feature your comment on one of our blog posts! Regardless of whether your comment gets used or not, we want to let you know that your opinion matters a lot to us and we LOVE hearing from you!

The Eras of Disney Animation

Here’s some fun Disney History for all you fans out there! If you already know this stuff you can check out last week’s post instead! But for the new fans, or those general Disney History buffs, this post is for you! Who knows; Maybe you’ll learn something new!

So, without further ado…

The Golden Age:

The Golden Age of Disney Animation began with the release of Snow White in 1937. The term ‘Golden Age’ doesn’t necessarily refer to the success of these films because, besides Snow White, most of the films in the Golden Age were largely unsuccessful at the time of their release. Most of them only gained “Classic Status” years later. ‘Golden Age’ more accurately refers to the quality and technical achievements of the era’s animation. Walt spent almost every cent he made during this time on the next masterpiece. He focused on making each film better than the last, ushering in visions of great art and innovation. Unfortunately, this ‘Age of Art’ was cut short by the advent of a worldwide war…

The Wartime Era:

Because this era was the result of WWII, a largely uncontrollable event, most critics don’t seem to hold it against Disney. This ‘sub-era’ is marked by a halt in the production of animated features as the studio was literally taken-over by the U.S. Government and co-opted into creating propaganda for America…for very little compensation. During this time, Disney had to rely on ‘package films’ to pay the rent and had almost no time to explore more creative avenues. These package films were often compilations of several short films edited together with new inserts to fill out a feature film run-time. Although many of these films are beloved today by Disney fans, they are generally considered of far less quality than the rest of the Golden Age.

The Silver Age:

Considered by some to be a late extension the Golden Age, the Silver Age is nonetheless separated from the earlier films of the era by the events of WWII. Artistic expression was put on hold during the war. However, with the success of Cinderella, Disney was finally able to revive the innovative works which categorized its early years. This era marks the most prosperous time for the company during Walt’s lifetime, with many films in this era proving to be massive successes that went down in history as Disney Classics. But sadly this era of innovation was not to last. During this time, Disney’s increasingly high standards of innovation started making films incredibly expensive to produce. The cost of production was reaching a critical mass that no Box Office success could overcome. This finally happened in 1959 when Walt Disney reached what he considered the pinnacle of his art form: Sleeping Beauty. It was a Box Office hit, but was still dwarfed by its extravagant production costs. The constant improvement of animation could not be sustained.

Although the films after Sleeping Beauty still met with success, they were far less innovative than earlier endeavors. Animation as an art form began to fade. Eventually the quality of animation came to its lowest point when Walt Disney passed away during production of The Jungle Book. His passing left the company confused and directionless, ushering in a figurative “Dark Age” for animation.

The Bronze Age:

Also referred to as the Dark Age, the Bronze Age of Disney Animation was largely a result of Walt Disney’s passing. Left without a sense of direction or strong leadership, the company entered an era of hits and misses. They seemed to largely fall short of the ‘magic’ that most people associated with Disney. Most of the films in this era, while fondly remembered today, struggled to reach an audience, critical or otherwise. The films in this era did explore some unique and fascinating ideas, but were far less capable of executing them than previous generations. Animation was at a low point, with a focus on films that were cheaper and faster to make, as well as the company shifting its attention to live-action films and theme-parks. during this era they underestimated the vast potential that animated films could have on an audience…That was, until a surprise Box Office hit paved the way for something new…

The Disney Renaissance:

The Great Mouse Detective (from the Bronze Age) made enough money to finance a fairy tale passion project called The Little Mermaid. This film officially launched what most modern audiences consider to be the definitive era for the company in today’s filmmaking landscape: the Disney Renaissance! It is referred to as a ‘Renaissance’ by film critics because of its return to Walt Disney’s ideals of art and innovation, and the company’s success at finally capturing that sense of ‘Disney Magic’ that set them apart from other animation studios. Disney was back as the world’s leading animation studio, churning out hit after hit and charming the world with its beloved characters and stories.

The New Millenium:

The New Millennium, also called the Experimental Era, mostly centered around Disney changing the way they produced their animation and structured their stories. It was a time of exploration which saw much less success than the Renaissance, and focused on new genres of storytelling. These included Sci-Fi Comedies, Irreverent Comedies, Steampunk, and even Time Travel! Not only did Disney try new things with writing and story structure during this era, but they also experimented with new technology. In this era, Disney introduced more Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI), which they had already utilized with their partners at Pixar. This led to Disney making their own full-length CGI animated film: Dinosaur. Not only would this experimentation with technology become the standard at Disney, but it would also spell the beginning of the end for traditional hand-drawn animation in the next era. Despite its shortcomings, many of the films in the Experimental Era would become crucial to the success and reliability of the next age of animation.

The New Golden Age:

Also referred to as the Revival Era, The Second Golden Age is the one we are currently living in. Starting with the critically acclaimed Princess and the Frog, and going straight through to Disney’s latest film Moana, this era is typified by its unprecedented critical and audience approval. Every single film in this era has been critically acclaimed, and while some are more successful than others at the Box Office, they are all highly rated by audiences. This era was also marked by the decline of traditional hand-drawn animation, with Winnie the Pooh as the last Disney film of this kind, and saw the company switch exclusively to CGI. Built on the foundation of the Experimental Era’s innovations, and fueled by nostalgia for the Renaissance, the New Golden Age continues to forge a path of unique and engaging storytelling for a new generation.

Top 10 Underrated Disney Sidekicks Part 2

Top 10 Underrated Disney Sidekicks Part 2

In Loving Memory of Francis Xavier “X” Atencio (1919-2017)

Disney has always been known for having the most memorable characters in animation, and with every memorable main character comes the lovable sidekick! Whether carrying out their partner’s plans, or offering moral support, the sidekick often steals the show. Even then, there are a few of these Disney buddies that just don’t get the attention they deserve. To honor them, here’s Part 2 of our picks for the Top 10 Underrated Disney Sidekicks!

Don’t forget; this is Part 2 of 2! Click here if you want to read Part 1

[Note: For this list, we’re sticking with sidekicks from the 56 current films in ‘Disney’s Animated Canon’.If you want to see more underrated Disney stuff, you can check out our lists for Animation, Disneyland attractions Part 1 and Part 2, and Disney California Adventure Attractions!]

So, without further ado…

Maximus

This lovable horse seems to be far more competent than any ordinary soldier in the kingdom…probably a lot smarter too! With a doglike manner, and an eye for justice, Maximus became an unexpected friend to the very fugitive that he had been tasked to hunt down. As one of the most hilarious and entertaining parts of Tangled, Maximus always brings out a laugh when he’s attempting to outwit Flynn Rider, or stealing the scene with another lovable sidekick; Pascal. We’re very glad when Flynn cleans up his act as Eugene Fitzherbert and becomes unlikely friends with this noble steed, otherwise we may have never gotten to see Maximus’s hilarious adventure as one of Rapunzel and Eugene’s ringbearers in Tangled Ever After!

Dopey

The original, lovable, clumsy, and all-around wonderful comedian from Disney’s very first full-length feature film, Dopey will always have a place in our hearts! Originally one of Disney’s most popular characters, Dopey started the legacy for all Disney sidekick characters that followed. The silent star made us wish we could wiggle our ears and made us want to try out diamond spectacles! Not to mention his extreme athletic skills at balancing on top of two other dwarfs! He may not talk much, but he has a charm that enchants millions of Disney fans around the globe; even after 80 years! With his enthusiasm, simple-minded kindness, and affinity to trip on his own robe, Dopey will always have the last laugh!

Jaq and Gus

1 p.gif — destined to be friends forever!

Ok, we know that these guys are really two characters instead of one, but could we really have one on this list without the other? Let’s face it, just like Lumière and Cogsworth or Timon and Pumbaa, Jaq and Gus couldn’t be as lovable without each other to interact with. The most loyal pair of mice you’ll ever meet (besides good old Mickey and Minnie of course!), Jaq and Gus would do anything to help their kindhearted friend Cinderella fulfill her dreams. Considering how many dangers they face in their quest to help Cinderella find true love, we think that these mice are the real heroes! They faced the evil cat Lucifer, stole back the key of Cinderella’s freedom from Lady Tremaine, and climbed up a mountain-sized staircase to try and get it back to her! Their bravery is astounding! With Jaq’s shrewd and mischievous mind, and Gus’s selfless bravery, no one could ask for better friends! Gus-Gus fight Lucify! Help Cinderelly!

Baloo

1 k — When good old Papa Bear’s around, that’s when the bear necessities are found!

Now we’re getting into those characters who blur the line between the underrated and the best of the best, but we still think that Baloo doesn’t get as much credit as some of the more iconic sidekicks. This ‘jungle bum’ (as uptight Bagheera calls him), always knows how to grab ahold of a swinging beat when he hears one! So, fall apart in Baloo’s backyard and rest at ease with the Bear Necessities of Life; you’ll want to stay in the jungle too after you’ve spent a day with this huggable companion! A true friend who risked his life to save Mowgli from the opulent Shere Khan, old papa-bear Baloo has got it where it counts. Voiced to perfection by Disney personality Phil Harris, Baloo the Bear will have you wishing that you could dance like him! We’ll tell you something true; the Bear Necessities of Life will come to you!

Tigger

1 a — T-I-Double-Guh- Er! That spells Tigger!

Again, here’s another sidekick that deserves to be ranked with the best, but often gets pushed under the rug when compared to the likes of The Genie or Olaf. In our opinion, Winnie the Pooh would not truly be Pooh without this bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy, and fun friend! He may get a little overexcited sometimes, and think that he’s the best at everything (He somehow thinks that ice skating is what Tiggers do best…we don’t know how he feels about that after what happened to poor Rabbit), but he’s a true friend through and through. An expert on Heffalumps and Woozles, and the resident bouncer of the Hundred Acre wood, Tigger always delights us and leaves us wanting more fun. Paul Winchell delivered a hilarious performance as this lisping stuffed cat, and Jim Cummings (also the official new voice for Pooh) carried on the legacy after Mr. Winchell passed away. But whoever is voicing this energetic enigma, the character is alway sure to steal the show! The most wonderful thing about Tigger? He’s the only one! And that’s the end of our list! As Tigger always says “TTFN; Ta, Ta For Now!

Enjoy our list? Like and Share! Let us know your favorite sidekicks in the comments and stay tuned for more Disney fun every week! Until next time; have a magical week!

X Marks the Spot; A Tribute to X Atencio

In loving memory of Francis Xavier Atencio (1919-2017); today, we honor one of the greatest Disney Imagineers of all time.

This week, we were saddened by the news that X Atencio passed away on September 10, 2017; he was 98 years old.

Francis Xavier Atencio, fondly referred to as ‘X‘ by his friends, was a beloved animator and Imagineer at Disney. He served the company for 65 years ( he started at 19 years old) and knew Walt Disney personally. In fact, Atencio was favored by Walt as a show-writer at Imagineering (the Disney branch that oversees the creation of the Disney Parks). His credits in the company include, but are not limited to, animation in films as early as Fantasia, the script for Adventure Thru Inner Space, The Haunted Mansion, and Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland , and as a voice-actor in many of those same attractions. He is probably most well known to fans as the voice of the talking skull at Pirates of the Caribbean, and for penning the extremely catchy lyrics of ‘Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirates Life For Me’ and ‘Grim Grinning Ghosts’. X Atencio rightfully became a ‘Disney Legend’ in 1996 (the award is the highest honor the company can bestow).

Walt Disney with a young X Atencio. Walt knew talent when he saw it!

There is no doubt that we will miss this Master Imagineer greatly , and his works will live on in the hearts of millions for years to come! Because of you, we sail with theiving pirates on the Seven Seas, dance with grinning ghosts beneath the lonely trees, and sing the songs of all your symphonies! May you Rest In Peace our Pirate Captain, our Maestro of Music, and our Great Storyteller! We miss you dearly X Atencio!

X Atencio drawing what looks to be Winnie the Pooh. We will miss you, and your creative genius, dearly!

Top 10 Underrated Disney Sidekicks Part 1

Top 10 Underrated Disney Sidekicks Part 1

Disney always creates the most memorable characters in animation, and with every memorable main character, there comes the lovable Disney sidekick! Whether they’re carrying out their partner’s plans, or offering moral support, the sidekick often steals the show.

Even then, there are a few of these overlooked Disney buddies that just don’t get the attention that they deserve. To honor these stupendous sidekicks, here’s Part 1 of our picks for the Top 10 Underrated Disney Sidekicks! Now that Part 2 is up, you can find it HERE!

[Note: For this list, we’re sticking with sidekicks from the 56 current films in ‘Disney’s Animated Canon’. Also, if you want to see more underrated Disney stuff, you can check out our lists for Animation, Disneyland Part 1 and Part 2 , and Disney California Adventure!]

So, without further ado…

Timothy Mouse

Poor little Dumbo didn’t have a friend in the world, until this wonderful mouse came along. Dumbo’s best friend, biggest supporter, and faithful protector, Timothy Q. Mouse has a heart of gold. While not as popular as other sidekicks, Timothy was one of the first to touch the hearts of millions. With a brave heart, unwavering faith, and good old-fashioned determination, Timothy Mouse stuck with Dumbo until the end; finally realizing their collective dream of Dumbo becoming a star and astonishing the world with unbelievable story of the amazing elephant who could fly like a bird!

LeFou

1113 — He may be the simple-minded goon, but he’s also a hilarious!

With a name that literally translates to ‘The Fool’, Lefou could certainly use a little more common sense. Gaston’s number one thug and yes-man, Lefou feeds off Gaston’s popularity; getting whatever praise is left over from the huntsman’s adoring fans. Not much brighter than his boss, Lefou is still quite memorable for his impromptu singing skills and motivational pep-talks. Also, who can forget his awesome impression of a snowman? Who cares if he can’t even spell his best friend’s name! With the strongest and most handsome man in town as your buddy, what could possibly go wrong?

1121 — When Gaston was a lad he ate four dozen eggs…but we think LeFou might want to stick to cereal.

Koda

This little firecracker of a cub seems to have boundless energy and enthusiasm. He may talk too much for Kenai’s taste, but for us, he just comes off as lovable. It certainly breaks our hearts when Koda is rejected by Kenai at first, because we wouldn’t even think twice about staying in the body of bear for this little buddy (okay, maybe not forever, but you get the point). He’s the little brother you’ve always wanted, and even though he can be a bit of a handful, he’s got it where it counts! Thank goodness this little brother finally got what he so desperately wanted; a family that’s always there for him, no matter what!

1114 — He certainly loves to talk…kind of like us if you think about it.

Iago

1116 — This sidekick to the Sultan’s Vizier may get a bit too outrageous sometimes…

Okay, we know we probably shouldn’t like villain sidekicks, but Iago is someone who always seems to make us laugh; even when we know that it might not be a good thing we’re laughing at! He’s just so gosh darn outrageous that it’s hard not to let out a giggle every once and while. But then again, what did we expect from the hilariously comic vocals of Gilbert Gottfried. Seriously, after learning Gottfried was the talent behind this sarcastic parrot, we’re ‘so worked up that we’re molting!‘ With Iago’s spot-on voice impressions (seriously, how does he do that Jasmine voice?), and tough guy attitude, Iago makes the perfect backdrop for Jafar’s more subdued villainy; even if they are both just as crazy in the end!

Kronk

1120 — He may have gotten mixed up in the wrong crowd, but Kronk truly is a good guy at heart!

In our opinion, Kronk is literally the best thing about Emperor’s New Groove and that’s saying a lot! In a movie full of comedic irreverence, Kronk takes the cake (or in this case, spinach puff!), and makes us laugh out loud every time. While not the sharpest tool in the shed, Kronk is a lovable goofball, and we can’t blame Pacha’s family for wanting to ‘adopt’ Kronk as their uncle; even after Yzma tried to burn their house to the ground! It’s a good thing that both Kronk’s Shoulder Angel and Shoulder Devil could agree on fighting back against Yzma, or Kronk wouldn’t have accidentally saved the day! With a superhero jaw, and the perfect physique, it’s hard to believe that he also happens to be such a great cook! Talk about having it all. Voiced to perfection by Disney luminary and television personality, Patrick Warburton, Kronk will always charm us with his impromptu theme music. Just remember, junior chipmunks must be versed in all the woodland creatures…*nods head in understanding* Riiiiiiight!

Enjoy our list? Like and Share! Let us know your favorite sidekicks in the comments and stay tuned for more Disney fun every week! Until next time, have a magical week!

Top 5 Underrated Disney Movies

Top 5 Underrated Disney Movies

With so many good films to remember in the Disney animated canon, it can sometimes be easy to overlook a few of the lesser-known masterpieces. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of what we think are the ‘Top 5 Underrated Disney Animated Films’, so that these great movies can finally receive their due. For this list, we will stick to 56 films that are presently part of Disney’s official ‘Animated Canon’. It’s very hard to narrow this list down to an economical number, so if your favorite movie isn’t featured, please let us know in the comments and please understand that we did our best to include what we could. Perhaps we’ll compile a Part 2 with your picks if enough people want it!

Now without further ado, here we go…

#5: Fantasia 2000

Fantasia has experienced a great deal of resurgence in popularity since its debut in the 40’s, but its sequel is still vastly overlooked even by Disney fans at large. The same concept of the original Fantasia, a showcase of music synchronized to gorgeous animation, remains; but it is enhanced by valuable lessons learned from the original. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 82%, Its hard to believe that Fantasia 2000 only broke even at the box-office. However, its breathtaking scenes of melody and imagery have spoken to the hearts of many viewers who have seen it since. But the coup de grace of the film is the final sequence; the beautiful music of Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite synchronized to one of the most beautiful pieces of animation ever created. The breathtakingly beautiful scene of the Forest Sprite and the primeval destructive forces of the world must be seen to believe!

#4: Tarzan

This is by far one of the more well-known films of this list, but we at Disney Magic Fanatic believe it is still vastly underrated. The gorgeous film is listed among many people’s favorite Disney films, but due to licensing issues (The estate of Edgar Rice Boroughs limited what Disney could do with the property), Disney was never able to capitalize on its initial popularity. However, due to its Oscar winning music by Phil Collins, gorgeous backgrounds, animation (Tree Surfing rocks!), and an intense attention to anatomy and detail, this film rises above the rest and deserves more attention than it seems to have been receiving.

The amount of detail in the animation and anatomy of the characters is breathtaking. Tarzan is animated by Glen Keane; the mastermind behind Tangled and the animator of dozens of gorgeous sequences of animation (such as the Beast’s transformation). Not a single frame is wasted with his work!

#3: Winnie the Pooh (2011)

For some reason, no one we ask seems to know that this sequel to the adorable Disney classic even exists. Perhaps it’s the fact that it was released the same weekend as a super-popular Harry Potter film (how could it hope to compete at the box-office!), but regardless of the reason, there is no denying that this film is amazing. Imagine all your childhood nostalgia being fulfilled in an innocent tale of beauty and fun in The Hundred Acre Wood; that’s what this film does. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 90% and a devoted fan following, there is no denying how well-made this film was. In fact, here at Disney Magic Fanatic, Winnie the Pooh is one of our favorite Disney films since the Renaissance of Animation. Just trust us…GO SEE IT!

winnie_the_pooh-3 — The canonical sequel is absolutely adorable and faithful to the original.

#2: The Emperor’s New Groove

Sure, it’s no Lion King, but The Emperor’s New Groove is hilarious! Everyone we ask seems to love this film and we certainly understand why. What can go wrong with a selfish Emperor being turned into a talking Llama? What’s not to like about a villain who’s scary beyond all reason and proof that Dinosaurs once roamed the earth? Nothing; except for the full comedy of ridiculous events and crazy meta-commentary in which those things are found! Plus…who doesn’t love Kronk and his shoulder devil and angel? Spinach Puffs for everyone!

source — Kronk is our favorite! He makes the film into a real hoot!

#1: Treasure Planet

In our opinion (note the keyword: OPINION), Treasure Planet is the most underrated Disney film of all time. It seems to grow on you every viewing more and more, until it’s firmly planted in your mind. Directed by Disney luminaries John Musker and Ron Clements (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Moana, etc.), Treasure Planet is a breathtaking display of gorgeous animation, brilliant world-building design, and lovable characters. Sure, it lacks a little on the plot side, and has a few bugs with its logic, but it’s all worth it for the sumptuous visuals and unique blend of 18^th century design and high-tech cyberpunk. Featuring a brilliant voice cast, including a now-superstar Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the great Emma Thompson, and the ever-entertaining Martin Short to name a few; this film has an immense imagination and deserves a little more credit!

black_hole — The film’s visuals are the stuff of dreams; taking years to painstakingly animate.

tumblr_n6nee8FgU91r65lvvo2_500 — There is absolutely no shortage of imagination in this film!

treasure-planet-23 — The stylistic design is unique and fresh; always catching the eye with its intricate detail.

Like our list? Please Like and share and also stay tuned for weekly Disney joy!

Top 5 Most Successful Disney Villains

The Top 5 Most Successful Disney Villains

In some cases, Disney’s villains are just as memorable as the heroes they face off against. However, there are a few fiendish felons that rise above the rest in their craftiness. So, to be fair to these guys, we’ve compiled a list of who we think are the most successful Disney animated villains; regardless of how good of a villain they are or their actual level of popularity. This list is based solely upon the villain’s individual level of success in a film’s plot; even if they remain unmemorable for the audience!

Warning: ‘Be prepared’ for a spoiler alert (but you already knew that!)

#5: Doris the Evil Bowler Hat

1280x720-ZSi — Creepy! Doris gives us the shivers!

Meet the Robinsons is a lesser known Disney movie and the villains are therefore often overlooked by Disney fans at large. However, there is still no denying the success which that film’s villain obtained. Doris, a multitasking super-hat that somehow controls minds (don’t ask), was invented by the film’s hero, named Lewis, in the future. Doris subsequently became self-aware, turned evil (again, don’t ask), and manipulated Lewis’s childhood friend Michael ‘Goob’ Yagoobian into attacking Lewis’s legacy. By stealing a time-machine, Goob allows Doris to go back in time and sell herself as Goob’s invention before she had been invented by Lewis so that she can be massed-produced and have the numbers to mind-control all of humanity (it’s very complicated). She succeeded in doing all of this, but thankfully all of her evil machinations were easily undone when the young version of Lewis decided to overcome his fears and never event Doris in the first place (confusing timey-wimey stuff). At least the endearing unicorn-loving Goob wasn’t such a bad guy after all!

yTdQ34X — We’re glad Bowler Hat Guy (Goob) isn’t a bad guy after all!

#4: Prince Hans

tumblr_n70vn9nqc21qjoke8o1_500 — We love to hate Prince Hans! Shame on him!

No villain makes us cringe more than the chief slime-ball of all Disney villains; the wicked Prince Hans from Frozen. Even Gaston seems a gentleman when compared to how Prince Hans treated the women in his life! Prince Hans set out to marry into the royal house of Arendale and thus inherit the kingdom himself. He manipulated poor Anna into thinking he was in love with her, forced Elsa to retreat from fear, and then dumped Anna and left her to the effects of a frozen heart! He tricked the whole kingdom into thinking he was some dashing hero. He succeeded with all his plans, but in the end, he had not counted on true love to thaw the frozen heart!

#3: Ursula

tumblr_nw8g4jDseK1qzfsnio2_1280 — Who knew such a deep voice could get any deeper…..or that such a big octopus lady could get bigger!

Besides having one of the best villain songs in all cinematic history, Ursula also stands as one of the most successful schemers in the Disney canon. It’s amazing how fast she accomplishes her goals; considering she made up her plan from scratch only after she had discovered Ariel’s rebelliousness! Ursula managed to trick a distraught Ariel into selling her soul and her voice in return for human legs so that she could get prince Eric to fall in love with her. It was not a fair deal! Despite awesome relationship advice from Sebastian, Ursula uses Ariel’s stolen voice to make certain that poor Ariel would never reach that already-difficult goal. Because of the loving father he is, King Triton takes Ariel’s place as Ursula’s slave (talk about a different kind of Disney ‘true love’!) Ursula becomes the master of wind and tide just as she had always wanted….at least for a few minutes. Even if he isn’t good at guessing names, Prince Eric still makes a great hero!

giphy — *Shivers*….That’s one bad octopus lady!

#2: Jafar

Aladdin-disneyscreencaps_com-1535 — Just look at that Monkey-faced malice!

This slimy Sultan’s Vizier manages to sneak his way into the Sultan’s highest confidence with snake-like craftiness. Not only does Jafar manage to remain the Sultan’s most trusted adviser for most of the movie, but he also pulls off a pretty convincing old man disguise! This schemer even seems to have backup plans to achieve his goals if the original plans fail (like marrying Princess Jasmine…He’s so old; YUCK!). Through carefully laid schemes and tempered patience, Jafar not only reaches his life’s goal of becoming Sultan, but even goes a step further; becoming a powerful sorcerer and then an all-powerful genie! Pulling off ‘phenomenal cosmic power’ is an astonishing feat to be sure, but it’s too bad some major strings came attached to the whole genie thing…

#1: Scar

tumblr_n0vm3xxo8y1trav8xo1_500 — What a showman! If he wasn’t so evil, he might be a pretty good actor!

Scar certainly did exactly what he had set out to do (except for catching that mouse for lunch…). Not only did his years of patience and planning pay off with his rise to King of The Pride Lands, but he met every single goal on the way to get there; all of it working perfectly to his design. He engineered the demise of his own brother, managed to convince his own nephew that it was somehow his fault, and even fulfilled his promise to some rather crazy Hyenas. Also, he has the longest period of success out of any Disney villain in history! Scar managed to rule as King long enough for Simba to be raised to adulthood by a lovable Meercat and Warthog; all while enjoying a rousing chorus of Hakuna Matata! Even though the Pride Lands went to waste under Scar’s lethargic rule, he still proved himself to be an extremely successful schemer!

4af23c8b8e4caca3391d2fbfd7bb5c564a3e0ec5_hq — What follows this still brings tears to our eyes…

Like our list? Was your favorite foe included? Let us know in the comments below! Tell us who YOUR picks would be, and we may make another list with your picks later! If you like our content, please like our post and share!

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