The ‘70s and ’80s were troubling times for Disney. After Walt died in 1966, the studio
found itself in a period of uncertainty. This was the period often referred to as the “Dark
Age” and the “Bronze Age.” This era was the first time the animation studio had to operate without
Walt’s hand guiding them. Not only did they lose Walt, but they were also beginning to see many of
their legendary animators retire, paving the way for a new generation of artists to join
the company. During this time, Disney was often conflicted between whether to fall back on their
legendary older talent or give the castle’s keys to this younger generation of animators.
The movies of this era, unsurprisingly, were just as all over the place as the studio itself was!
They adapted everything from classic fairy tales to more contemporary book series.
Some of these movies have become classics to Disney fans, but many appear to have been
forgotten. Are these movies better off that way, or are some worth a reevaluation?
I’m Brad with WickedBinge, and this is the Disney Dark Age: Worst to Best.
Like always, we’ll be starting off this list with the worst films as we
work our way up to the best. Without any further introduction, let’s get into it!
Earning the not-so-great title of “worst” film, The Black Cauldron is first on the list!
An adaptation of the first two books in the Chronicles of Prydain series, the movie focuses
on the titular cauldron. The villain of the movie, the Horned King, seeks the cauldron because of its
immense power. However, a group of heroes fights together to destroy the cauldron and stop it from
getting into the King's hands. Of these heroes, we have the pig-keeper Taran, princess Elionwy,
the bard Fflewddur, and the creature Gurgi. To say that the production of this movie was difficult
would be putting it lightly. Billed as Snow White for a new generation, The Black Cauldron
went through numerous delays and changes. Just to give you an example of how hectic it was,
the movie was initially intended to hit theaters in 1980. It didn’t come out until 1985. Executives
always came in and out, each with their own vision for what the movie should be. It should be no
surprise to you then that this is the worst entry in the dark age lineup. While the animation is
occasionally stunning, and it's refreshing to see a Disney movie with a darker feel, there’s
not much to this movie once you get past those highlights. The story is fine, but what kills it
are the characters. They don’t leave much of an impression, and they’re as stock as can be. The
bard Fflewddur, in particular, feels utterly useless throughout the movie. Seriously,
what does he do? By the time the movie ends, you’ll probably be thinking the same thing! Gurgi
is perhaps the only memorable protagonist, but not for a good reason. He’s extremely annoying, with
an especially grating voice. The only character we can really give props to is the Horned King.
He lacks a strong personality, but he does have a great presence and one of the most gruesome
Disney villain deaths. This is also a film where you can really tell that executives had interfered
with the product. The film feels like it is torn between being a traditional Disney family movie
or a grittier, fantasy movie. It makes the movie all the more jarring, with the tone shifting at
random. Worst of all, however, is that this film's failure almost killed Disney animation entirely.
After the film was deemed a financial failure, there was legitimate talk about closing down
Disney’s animation division. There was a belief that the animation was far too expensive,
and The Black Cauldron’s humongous budget didn’t help matters. Overall,
The Black Cauldron is easily the worst movie of this dark age,
and it’s not surprising that Disney barely mentions it these days. Wouldn’t you believe
this movie is the only major film in the Disney canon that doesn’t have a Blu-Ray release?
Next up, we have The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh! Released in 1977,
the film follows Winnie the Pooh and his many adventures. What a concept! After our last entry,
Winnie the Pooh is a refreshing change of pace. The characters are all lovable and charming,
whether it be Tigger or Winnie himself. They’re instantly iconic. All you need is to see a
picture of one of these characters, and you’ll immediately be hearing their voice. The animation
isn’t the most beautiful among the Disney films, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s just a film about
a boy and his friends, and the animation fits the ordinary world shown in the movie. We also
love how the characters really do look like a blend between living animals and playthings.
It’s a pretty laid-back movie as well. There are no big action set pieces or a diabolical
villain here! As we said, it’s just the adventures of a bear stuffed with fluff.
We’ve been sending a lot of praise towards this film, so you might wonder why this film
is second to last on the list. Well, to put it bluntly, it’s because this isn’t really a
movie. You see, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is actually a compilation of three Winnie the
Pooh shorts released in the years prior. Some new scenes are added to stitch the stories together,
but it is essentially three separate films in one. So not only is this not a traditional movie, but
this also means the film lacks a strong narrative. It doesn’t make the movie terrible or anything,
but it does make it feel less like a proper entry in the Disney animated canon. If you are a
fan of the Winnie the Pooh characters or a Disney completionist, this movie is definitely one you’ll
enjoy. If you don’t meet those requirements, then maybe you should look at other films on this list.
Our next entry is 1981’s The Fox and the Hound! This film revolves around a fox named Todd and
a hound named Copper. As the movie begins, they become the best of friends and are
inseparable from each other. However, fate has a much different plan for the duo. Copper is
supposed to become a hunting dog, meaning Todd will undoubtedly become a target for him soon.
They reunite after the hunting season ends, and both have grown into adults.
As the film progresses, the two walk a line between rekindling their friendship
and becoming the worst enemies to each other. The Fox and the Hound is a very different kind
of Disney movie. It’s not focused on fantasy, adventure, or comedy like a lot of other films.
It might actually be one of the most dramatic Disney films to ever be made. That’s not to say
there isn’t adventure or comedy in this movie, but it’s surprisingly scaled back. At the heart
of this movie is this relationship between two friends, and it is always played straight.
Sometimes the drama can feel a bit overdone. Still, it is nevertheless commendable that
Disney ever even made a movie like this. However, drama is pretty worthless if we aren’t invested in
the characters. Fortunately, that is not the case in this movie. The characters are all compelling
and interesting. Each character has a clear set of motivations, and you understand why they are
the way they are. Copper and Todd’s friendship is totally believable, and you’ll find yourself
getting legitimately interested in what happens to them. We also commend this movie for not falling
into a lot of the classic Disney tropes. The characters in this film are very unlike the
classic Disney archetypes, making them stand out more. Even the character of Amos Slade, who you’d
think is the villain of the movie, isn’t really evil. Besides a great story and great characters,
we should mention how instrumental this film was to Disney’s future. This was the film that helped
launch the careers of artists like Tim Burton and Brad Bird, who would go on to create some of the
greatest animated features of the last thirty years. This movie, like any, is not perfect.
The film is pretty slow, and it takes a while to get invested in it. The plot is, at the end of
the day, a Disney movie plot. You know pretty much everything that’s going to happen, and you won’t
be in for many surprises. However, this is such a different Disney movie than all the rest that we
can’t really fault it. If you want to see a Disney movie unlike others, this is one to look at!
Next, we have Oliver & Company! The film loosely follows the book Oliver Twist, with Oliver being
a homeless kitten in this retelling. He ends up befriending a gang of street dogs,
who are led by Dodger. Eventually, Oliver ends up being adopted by a rich girl named Jenny.
Meanwhile, a street thief named Fagin, who owns the dogs, owes a great sum of money to
the loan shark Sykes. The two stories soon intersect, and Jenny is kidnapped by Sykes.
Oliver, Dodger, and the rest of the animals must work together to stop Sykes and save Jenny.
Oliver & Company, like Fox and the Hound before it, has a lot of good going for it, but also
things that hold it back. The film feels rather generic at times, almost like a run-of-the-mill
talking animal movie. The story isn’t particularly compelling, either. This isn’t a movie that will
subvert your expectations. With all that out of the way, let’s analyze the good aspects.
Oliver & Company is a perfectly entertaining movie, as cliche and derivative as it may be.
The animation is nice to look at, and it has a style, unlike most Disney films. The movies of
this era have a much sketchier look to them, and this film embraces it in a way the others don’t.
It’s rough around the edges, and it perfectly fits the feel of the movie. After all, this is a movie
about thieves and street animals. If it looked like your average Disney movie, that wouldn’t
be fitting at all! The setting of present-day New York is another welcomed change of pace. There’s
a lot more going on in the world of this movie than there is in other films of the dark age.
The city is always alive and busy, just as New York should be. The characters are all likable,
and they bounce off of each other well. Oliver is a fun protagonist, and we especially enjoy
the relationship he finds himself in with Dodger, who is actually voiced by Billy Joel.
This film even has a few catchy musical numbers. They’re not quite as memorable as the Disney
renaissance movies, but good nonetheless. It is Billy Joel writing the music, after all. “Why
Should I Worry” is absolutely the best song in the movie, but they're all pretty enjoyable.
We rank the movie here, though, because of its role as the precursor to the Disney renaissance.
This was the last film released in the dark age, and it almost acts as a bridge to what we now know
as the Disney renaissance. While it certainly isn’t as good as those renaissance films,
this movie has many of the same markings as those in that era. It has entertaining characters, good
songs, and a lot of heart. With a good combination of new elements and classic Disney tropes,
this movie is one of the better movies in the dark age, and so it deserves fifth place!
In fourth place is the 1970’s The Aristocats! In this movie, we follow a cat named Duchess and
her three kittens: Berlioz, Marie, and Toulouse. They live with a rich mistress, but their fortunes
change after their butler tries to dispose of them to gain the mistress's inheritance. The family
soon meets an alley cat named Thomas, who tries to help them get back home. The Aristocats is a
fun and charming film that is somewhat lacking in the originality department. The animation is nice
and stylish, especially during the musical number “Ev’rybody Wants to Be a Cat.” It’s a colorful
scene with a catchy song, making it easily the most memorable part of the movie. The music in
the entire movie is for sure a highlight. There are only around half a dozen songs in the film,
but each is a high point. This movie has a decent amount of comedy to it and is probably
one of the funnier movies of the dark age. The characters are also likable. The relationship
between Duchess and Thomas, in particular, is the most interesting one in the movie.
The kittens can occasionally be annoying, but they are kittens. It’d be a little weird if
they weren’t just a tad annoying. The only real “bad apple” in the cast is the villain, Edgar.
He doesn’t have much in the way of an interesting personality or presence in the way most Disney
villains do. His big goal is to get rid of the cats to collect the mistress’s inheritance,
but couldn’t he have just talked it out with her? It would’ve definitely saved him a lot of trouble!
This movie is also significant for being the last film released with any involvement from
Walt Disney. It feels like a good sendoff to that era of movies, as well as a good prologue
for what is to come in the dark age. While it’s not as memorable as many of the other
films Walt helped create, it’s far from being a bad movie. Its biggest crime is a failure to
bring anything new to the table. It takes a lot of cues from prior Disney movies like 101 Dalmatians.
Even casting voice actor Phil Harris as Thomas does little to differentiate the role from his
earlier outing as Baloo in The Jungle Book. Though the film suffers from a bland story,
we still feel there is enough to make this one of the most enjoyable films of the dark age. It just
goes to show you that compelling characters and a sense of fun are enough to keep a movie going!
Securing the bronze trophy is none other than Robin Hood! Released in 1973, Robin Hood retells
the classic story we all know, but with a twist! In this retelling, the characters are
all animals. For example, Robin Hood in this film is a fox, while the villain Prince John is a lion.
We follow Robin Hood and his gang of merry men as they fight against Prince John's oppression.
Robin Hood also finds himself in a relationship with Maid Marian. Robin Hood is just a plain fun
film from start to finish. There’s rarely a dull moment to this film, and it has all the
adventure you would want in a Robin Hood film. The characters are all great, and they stick with you.
Even if you’re watching another Robin Hood adaptation, the chances are high that you’ll
be thinking of these versions as the definitive incarnations. Robin Hood has all the charm and
heroism you’d expect him to have, and he’s easily one of the more interesting Disney protagonists
of this era. Prince John is an entertaining villain as well. He’s not really threatening
or intimidating, but he’s still a lot of fun. He’s as cowardly as they come, which makes for a great
foil to how charismatic Robin Hood is. Even the side characters are a ton of fun, whether Sir Hiss
or the rooster Alan-a-Dale. We also have to give props to the decision to turn all the characters
into animals, which we feel makes the movie stand out in a sea of Robin Hood adaptations.
If this film was just a straightforward retelling of the original Robin Hood story, what would have
really set it apart from other animated Robin Hood movies? Having all the characters be critters goes
a long way in giving the film a vibe unlike any other adaptation of this story. While we
greatly enjoy this movie, we do have a few gripes about it. There are some very obvious instances
of animation being reused, most famously the scene which recreates a moment from Snow White.
If you’ve seen the movie, you know what exactly we’re talking about. In addition, Phil Harris
plays yet another character that sounds just like Baloo. In this case, it may actually be worse,
as his character in this movie even looks like Baloo! Thankfully, once you get past those flaws,
this is easily one of the most fun movies of the dark age, and it is definitely worth checking out!
We’re giving the silver trophy to 1986’s The Great Mouse Detective! Based on the Basil of
Baker Street books, the film is essentially Sherlock Holmes, but with mice! The story
revolves around the detective Basil and his friend Dawson. They go on an adventure to save a toymaker
after his daughter asks for their help. The trail takes them all the way to the nefarious Ratigan,
who plans on using the toymaker for his own evil purposes. Want to know why we rank this
movie so high? Five words: John Musker and Ron Clements. If those names don’t ring a bell,
then maybe their work does. These are the guys who gave us films like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin,
and Moana. This movie was their directorial debut, and it has all the charm and fun the duo would
put into their future Disney movies. The Great Mouse Detective is a breath of fresh air in the
dark age. It was the first film released after The Black Cauldron almost destroyed the studio,
showing that Disney was still capable of delivering fantastic animated features.
The story in this movie isn’t the most unique. Still, the setting of 19th century London,
alongside its elements of mystery definitely gives the movie a fresh vibe. The characters are all
fun, especially the villain Ratigan. Unlike many of the other villains in the dark age films, he
has a presence, and Vincent Price is glorious in the role. He always dreamed of getting to play a
Disney character, so the role fits him like a glove! There are even a few exciting set
pieces in the movie. The final battle between Basil and Ratigan in a clock tower is exciting
and tense, unlike similar scenes in previous movies. It’s even a tad more vicious than most
action scenes in these movies, and you really get the sense from it that Ratigan is a dangerous foe.
This film doesn’t particularly do anything new or unique, but it doesn’t need to.
It was the movie Disney needed at the time. It’s fun, adventurous, and charming, and that’s all it
needs to be. Let’s not forget that it showed the world that Disney could still make great movies
after many had written them off. If this movie didn’t work out, it’s entirely likely that the
Disney we know today would not exist. Overall, The Great Mouse Detective is absolutely an
underrated gem in the Disney canon and one to check out if you haven’t done so already.
Finally, we’ve reached the end! The recipient of the golden trophy is none other than The
Rescuers! The film is released in 1977 and focuses on the mice Bernard and Bianca. Bianca is a member
of the Rescue Aid Society, while Bernard acts as a shy janitor to the organization.
The two are put together by the group to save Penny, a girl abducted by the jewel thief Madame
Medusa. She uses Penny to retrieve the Devil’s Eye, the world's largest diamond, and it's up to
Bernard and Bianca to save her from her abductor. The Rescuers is above all the other dark age films
because it feels like the most complete film. It has heart, comedy, adventure, a compelling story,
and they all blend well. All of the other films struggle in at least one of those areas, but
this film excels in all of them. The relationship between Bernard and Bianca is a really interesting
one. While you do get the sense that they are romantically involved by the end of the film, they
never draw attention to it. Though it's not done in the way of a traditional Disney love story,
their romance still feels natural and real. The orphan Penny is another great character,
and you do truly get attached to her. You sympathize with her and want her to get out
of her dire situation. The villain of the movie, Madame Medusa, is another great villain. She’s
certainly one of the nastier Disney villains, with how frequently she endangers Penny’s life.
Sure, Maleficent is evil and all, but Medusa has no problem aiming a gun at a child. Yep, she’s
that bad! We also really enjoy the art direction of this movie. When most people think of “Disney,”
they think of bright and beautiful colors. That isn’t the case in The Rescuers, which might be
one of their darker-looking films. The colors are all pretty flat and muted, and the locations
range from the bayou to a pawn shop. It’s an excellent decision that makes the movie stand
out more from its predecessors. In conclusion, The Rescuers is without a doubt the best film in this
dark age for Disney. Even animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, two of Disney’s
“Nine Old Men,” believe it was the best movie they made without Walt. Now, what does that tell you?
But let us know in the comment section: which is the best and worst movie to come
out in the Disney Dark Age? And tell us what we should cover next. Be sure
to check out some of our other Disney Era rankings too. Remember to hit that
notification bell and binge more of our videos. But most importantly, stay wicked.