A few weeks back, I came across the most amazing article that opened my eyes on how I view the Disney animated classics. Derek Jacobs, a molecular biologist and big movie buff, wrote an analysis that categorized feature-length Disney animated films into chronological time periods. Essentially, he believes that Walt Disney Studios went through sections of years at a time where it experienced outside events, such as technology developments and real-life tragedies, which ultimately categorized different groups of movies that were produced in these time frames. Personally, whether I completely agree with this concept or not, I think it's a fascinating theory. Derek goes into great depth explaining each of these "Seven Ages of Disney Animation" so I highly suggest that you read the entire article. It took me a good chunk of my work day, but I completely devoured it. For those of you interested in a brief summary, I have condensed each of Derek's seven ages into small bite-size pieces. Hopefully, these intrigue you enough to go check out his full-length article. 1. The Age of Innovation (1937-1942): The five films in this age (Snow White, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, and Bambi) mark the development of where it all starts for Disney animation- "stories driven by personal relationships often replying on the structure of a musical". Based on the time of release and what was believed to be possible in movie-making, these were a hallmark of what was to come from the studio. 2. The Age of Package Films (1942-1949): During this time period, Disney forgoes any single narrative and focuses on movies which contain multiple stories, some with underlying unifying material. The main reason for this change in direction was World War II. As many of Disney's employees for drafted, the studio had a difficulty time completed a full story. Although not a strong point in Disney animation, some pieces of these movies (such as Ichabod and Mr. Toad and Mickey and the Beanstalk) did have something to offer fans. 3. The Golden Age (1950-1967): The longest period of sustained success in its films, Disney produced eight masterpieces in this age. From Cinderella and Sleeping beauty- two films who stared female leads and produced award winning music- to 101 Dalmatians with its technical achievements in using Xerox cameras, this period helped put the studio back on the map after its slump. 4. The Age of Inconsistency (1970-1988): This nearly two-decade long period was comprised of films that were mainly deemed subpar by a combination of fans and critic reviews. Robin Hood and The Black Cauldron, two of the worst produced during this time, were products of cost-cuts and disjointed visions from newly appointed studio head Jeffery Katzenberg and CEO Michael Eisner butting heads. Was this period truly Disney's worst? I'll let you decide. 5. The Five-Year Renaissance (1989-1994): My absolute favorite time of Disney animation. Am I biased since this is when I grew up? Possibly. But these movies speak for themselves. "For the first time in a generation, Disney was able to offer compelling protagonists, great musical numbers, and memorable villains all at the same time." From The Little Mermaid to the oscar-nominated Beauty and the Beast, this was truly a magical period in Disney filmmaking and spotlights the studio at its absolute best. 6. The Second Age of Inconsistency (1995-2007): It's hard to entirely agree with Derek on this period being a second slump of quality for the studios because so many of my personal favorites (Hercules, Mulan, and Tarzan) were produced at this time. But due to the many feature films that fell flat with both loyal viewers and critics (Dinosaur, Home on the Range, and Chicken Little to name a few), this period is chalked up as another span of dark ages for the studio in terms of overall excellence. 7. The Computer Age Renaissance (2008- Current): At last we come to current times, where the movies (with the exception of the hand-drawn The Princess and the Frog) were done using computer animation. All 7 films produced in this era so far have been nothing short of amazing. "The seven films in this age average a Rotten Tomatoes score of 88.4 for this age, compared to the 87.4 average for the First Renaissance." The characters, story plots, and technological achievements leave diehard fans like me only wanting more. I think one of the best parts about the Disney brand in general is all the different views, analysis, and theories that fans put on the studio's movies. From myths about sexual innuendos, to hidden meanings and easter eggs, I thoroughly enjoy reading any and all speculations on the movies I love. Check out Derek Jacob's full analysis on the "Seven Ages of Disney Animation" here.
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