It’s safe to say that out of all of the early Renaissance
films, Aladdin is the most fun. It’s bright colours and energetic soundtrack make
it one of the most vibrant films in the canon so far and it of course has the brilliant
comedy of Robin Williams throughout. Web video creator and film commentator Lindsay
Ellis once said that this was one of the earliest animated films to use the ‘Dreamworks
style’ which would become so prevalent in the animation industry later on and
she was right. It uses more comedy, pop culture references and celebrity voice actors
than any previous Disney film, or animated film in general for that matter. But
the difference is that Aladdin is able to balance out a slightly more comedic
tone with genuine artistry and heart – that’s something special.
As I said, the vibrant colours and rounded designs make this
one of the prettiest films Disney has ever produced. From a visual perspective,
this is was level of animation not seen by Disney before. There’s just something
so fluid in the character designs and movements, it looks wonderful. Something a
bit more unusual for Disney classics, which often take themselves quite
seriously, is that it is really funny. Robin Williams is of course hilarious as
the Genie, who is probably the best character in the film for that reason and
Gilbert Godfrey is perfect for the part of Iago. Aladdin is an interesting
hero, primarily because (unlike many previous Disney protagonists) he’s not
perfect. He makes mistakes and has to learn from them, which of course also
makes the story as a whole more interesting, as well as making him a more well-rounded
character.
Jasmine is also one
of the most dynamic Princesses yet, whilst her and Aladdin have a refreshing amount
of chemistry, considering previous Disney couples usually (infamously) sang
half a song together before deciding to get married.
Speaking of singing songs, this one has my personal favourite
soundtrack of the Disney Renaissance period (yes, I’m including Hunchback on
that list). The music is fun and goofy at times, whilst being stunningly beautiful
in others – it really has a perfect balance.
Aladdin has all the aspects that make Disney classics great –
a sneering baddie (who I didn’t even get a chance to mention, but who is of
course up there with the greatest Disney villains), lovable goodies, stunning animation
and fantastic songs. But it also adds a comedic and fun tone which makes it not
only one of the best Disney films of this era, but in general.
Ranking
Good guys: The
good guys of Aladdin are well rounded whilst also being incredibly likeable, so
the good guys get 10/10
Bad guys: Jafar
is a classic Disney baddie, so the bad guys get 8/10
Animation: Visually,
this is Disney’s best film so far, so the animation gets 10/10
Music: Some of
the catchiest songs in the canon get 10/10
Plot: A classic
story told well, the plot gets 8/10
Overall rating: 46/50
Next review: The Lion King
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