The Ultimate Walt Disney Animation Movie Marathon List
Updated: May 20, 2024
It’s no secret that I’m an animation nerd, especially when it comes to Walt Disney. But there was a time when I felt like a poser when I realized how many Disney movies I had never watched. Flashback to 2019, I made The Ultimate Walt Disney Animation Movie List that included Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Studio Ghibli (which I was conflicted about but added it only because of Ponyo), and the other branches of animated Disney movies like TV Movies or those that went directly to "home movie" (VHS, DVD, wow I’m old). Needless to say, I made it to about Lady & the Tramp 2 when I dropped the ball and the list ended up in the back of a drawer until about two weeks ago.
After updating it a little, I thought I’d share this list with the world since it seems that there doesn’t seem to be one around for the 100th Anniversary (which thoroughly surprised me). This list and its photos were sourced from a combination of Disney Animation, List Challenges, and my favorite digital place, Wikipedia and Fandom. In my humble opinion, Fandom had the most concise list and even went the extra mile to give you more information about how some of these movies are umbrellaed under Disney’s arsenal of movies. I understand that Disney wants to show you the best of their theatrical arsenal but don’t leave out Lion King II and the other minor sequels from the list like they don’t exist. But that is a rant for another article.
The real question is, how many movies have YOU watched from this massive list? How many releases have you lived through and how many of these movies were around before you were even born? It's a wild rollercoaster that awaits us and I can’t wait to share how these animations have (or have not) withstood time in future articles. Some of the movies on this list will surprise you. I personally can't wait to tell y'all about the movie The Wild and how in denial I was that it was really a "Disney movie".
Whether you turn it into a drinking game with friends or have a fun family movie night. There's no limit to the ways you can get through this list. Grab your popcorn and make sure to drink plenty of water as we sing, laugh, and cry through 100 Years of Disney Animated Movies! Let the celebration of magic and wonder begin! If you would like to download the complete list, click the PDF below.
Golden Age of Movies (1937-1942)
4. Dumbo (1941)
5. Bambi (1942)
Disney Wartime Era Movies (1943-1949)
2. Make Mine Music (1946)
Bonus points if you really feel like watching the "Wartime Propaganda" Movies (1942-1944)
{Important Side Note: I've watched all of these and they are a timepiece at best. You will not be less of a Disney fan if you skip this mini-list of war movies. They are NOT FOR KIDS, so don't put this on as a fun family treat. I fell asleep through all of them and will not be doing a single review about these five other than this: they were war movies.}
1. Donald Get’s Drafted (1942)
2. Reason & Emotion (1943)
3. Der Fuehrer’s Face (1943)
4. Education for Death – The Making of a Nazi (1943)
5. Commando Duck (1944)
Disney Silver Age Movies (1950-1967)
7. The Sword & the Stone (1963)
8. The Jungle Book (1967)
Disney Bronze Age Movies (1970-1988)
1. The Aristocats (1970)
2. Robin Hood (1973)
3. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
4. The Rescuers (1977)
5. The Fox & the Hound (1981)
6. The Black Cauldron (1985)
7. The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
8. The Brave Little Toaster (1987)
9. Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) (Live Action Elements)
10. Oliver & Company (1988)
Disney Renaissance Era Movies (1989-1999)
1. The Little Mermaid (1989)
2. Ducktales: The Movie Treasure of the Lost Lamp (1990)
3. The Rescuers: Down Under (1990)
4. Beauty & the Beast (1991)
5. Aladdin (1992)
6. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
7. The Lion King (1994)
8. The Return of Jafar (1994)
9. A Goofy Movie (1995)
10. Pocahontas (1995)
11. Toy Story [PIXAR] (1995)
12. Aladdin & the King of Thieves (1996)
13. James & the Giant Peach (1996)
14. Hunchback of Norte Dame (1996)
15. Beauty & the Beast: Belle’s Enchanted Christmas (1997)
16. Hercules (1997)
17. Pooh’s Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin (1997)
18. Princess Mononoke [STUDIO GHIBLI] (1997)
19. Belle’s Magical World (1998)
20. A Bug’s Life [PIXAR] (1998)
21. Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride (1998)
22. Mulan (1998)
23. Pocahontas 2: Journey to a New World (1998)
24. Doug’s First Movie (1999)
25. Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
26. Tarzan (1999)
27. Toy Story 2 [PIXAR] (1999)
28. Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving (1999)
Disney Post-Renaissance Era Movies (2000-2009)
1. Dinosaur (2000)
2. The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
3. An Extremely Goofy Movie (2000)
4. Fantasia 2000 (2000)
5. The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea (2000)
6. The Tigger Movie (2000)
7. Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
8. Lady & the Tramp 2: Scamps Adventure (2001)
9. Monsters Inc [PIXAR] (2001)
10. Recess: School’s Out (2001)
11. Spirited Away [STUDIO GHIBLI] (2001)
12. Cinderella 2: Dreams Come True {A Shorts Movie} (2002)
13. Hunchback of Notre Dame 2 (2002)
14. Lilo & Stitch (2002)
15. Return to Neverland (2002)
16. Tarzan & Jane {A Shorts Movie} (2002)
17. Treasure Planet (2002)
18. Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year (2002)
19. The Jungle Book 2 (2003)
20. Atlantis: Milo Returns (2003)
21. Brother Bear (2003)
22. Finding Nemo [PIXAR] (2003)
23. Piglets Big Movie (2003)
24. 101 Dalmatians 2: Patch’s London Adventure (2003)
25. Home on the Range (2004)
26. The Incredibles [PIXAR] (2004)
27. Lion King 1 ½ (2004)
28. Mickey, Donald, & Goofy: The Three Musketeers (2004)
29. Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas (2004)
30. Mulan 2 (2004)
31. Howls Moving Castle [STUDIO GHIBLI] (2004)
32. Teachers Pet (2004)
33. Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo (2004)
34. Chicken Little (2005)
35. Kronk’s New Groove (2005)
36. Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch (2005)
37. Pooh’s Heffalump Movie (2005)
38. Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie (2005)
39. Valiant (2005)
40. Tarzan 2 (2005)
41. Bambi 2 (2006)
42. Brother Bear 2 (2006)
43. Cars [PIXAR] (2006)
44. Fox & the Hound 2 (2006)
45. The Wild (2006)
46. Tales from Earthsea [STUDIO GHIBLI] (2006)
47. Cinderella 3: A Twist in Time (2007)
48. Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams (2007)
49. Meet the Robinsons (2007)
50. Ratatouille [PIXAR] (2007)
51. Ponyo [STUDIO GHIBLI] (2008)
52. Bolt (2008)
53. The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning (2008)
54. Tinker Bell (2008)
55. Wall-E [PIXAR] (2008)
56. A Christmas Carol (2009)
57. The Princess & the Frog (2009)
58. Tinkerbell & the Lost Treasure (2009)
59. Up [PIXAR] (2009)
Disney Revival Era Movies (2010-Present)
1. Toy Story 3 [PIXAR] (2010)
2. The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)
3. Tangled (2010)
4. Tinkerbell & the Great Fairy Rescue (2010)
5. Cars 2 [PIXAR] (2011)
6. Winnie the Pooh (2011)
7. Gnomeo & Juliet (2011)
8. Mars Needs Moms (2011)
9. Brave [PIXAR] (2012)
10. Frankenweenie (2012)
11. Tinkerbell & the Secret of the Wings (2012)
12. Wreck it Ralph (2012)
13. Frozen (2013)
14. Monster’s University [PIXAR] (2013)
15. Planes (2013)
16. The Wind Rises [STUDIO GHIBLI] (2013)
17. Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014)
18. Tinkerbell & the Great Pirate Fairy (2014)
19. Big Hero 6 (2014)
20. Tinkerbell & Legend of the Neverbeast (2014)
21. The Good Dinosaur [PIXAR] (2015]
22. Inside Out [PIXAR] (2015)
23. Strange Magic (2015)
24. Finding Dory [PIXAR] (2016)
25. Moana (2016)
26. Zootopia (2016)
27. Cars 3 [PIXAR] (2017)
28. Coco [PIXAR] (2017)
29. Incredibles 2 [PIXAR] (2018)
30. Wreck it Ralph: Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)
31. Spies in Disguise (2019)
32. Toy Story 4 [PIXAR] (2019)
33. Frozen 2 (2019)
34. Onward [PIXAR] (2020)
35. Soul [PIXAR] (2020)
36. Luca [PIXAR] (2021)
37. Ron’s Gone Wrong (2021)
38. Raya & the Last Dragon (2021)
39. Encanto (2021)
40. The Bob’s Burger’s Movie (2022)
41. Turning Red [PIXAR] (2022)
42. Lightyear [PIXAR] (2022)
43. Strange World (2022)
44. Elemental [PIXAR] (2023)
45. Wish (2023)
46. Elio [PIXAR] (Spring 2024)
47. Inside Out 2 [PIXAR] (Summer 2024)
I will do my best to update this list as new movies surface. You may notice that some of these movies aren't theatrical movies, but highlighting each and every minor studio made the list EXTREMELY crowded and overwhelming, so I took them out. If you want to know more specific details, I'd refer you to the references at the beginning of this article. I hope to see you soon in whatever form I appear. Until next time!
About the Author
Crystal Cabrae is a storyteller who specializes in writing dystopian, romantic, and adventurous worlds for animation and fantastical fiction. She is a proud graduate of Full Sail University, AMDA, and New World School of the Arts. Her six years of acting training in both New York and Miami gives her a unique perspective when approaching her characters. She has a passion for sharing how to create stories with the world and inspiring the storyteller that lives within all of us. Follow her on IG or Pinterest to know the latest.
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