Other 2D Animated Classics 1982-2022
In order of release date: My favorite theatrically released hand-drawn Western animated films from studios other than Disney to parallel the pre-Renaissance to post-Renaissance period of Disney animation. Although the time periods for each parallel don't always match the Disney films, they are often similar in either spirit, theme, or style. This list doesn't include CGI only films, direct-to-video sequels, tv movies, or anime, such as the fantastic Studio Ghibli (which are on a separate list).
I've divided these films into 5 Distinct Eras:
The Copper Age: (1982 - 1989) The films in this time period have a similar animation quality as the Bronze Age Disney films. These include mostly Don Bluth's early classics, and lots of mice and other animal-centric films. Although these films vary in quality, a few like The Land Before Time are timeless classics and are better than many of the films released in Disney's Bronze Age.
The Brass Age: (1990 - 1994) These films are similar to the Copper Age films. Much as brass is an alloy of copper, these films are in many ways alloys of the previous age. The ideas might not be as original, but they are still fun.
The Proto-Renaissance (1994 - 1997) Although the Disney Renaissance began in 1989, it took a few years later for the other studios to produce a similar quality of fluid animation in their films. The Swan Princess is a good example of this, and like The Little Mermaid, it signaled an opening of the door for future possibilities. I've labelled this the Proto-Renaissance, because despite some real gems, these films didn't reach Disney level heights.
The Parallel Renaissance (1997 - 2003) Anastasia marks the turning point on this list. Anastasia is Don Bluth's comeback film - a true masterpiece that excels in all areas (animation, story, music, and cultural impact). It stands alongside the greats of the Disney Renaissance, and (after years of people confusing it for a Disney film), it ironically is now basically a Disney film after Disney purchased Fox. The other films in this era share similarities to the Post-Renaissance Disney films, and include some of my favorite hand-drawn films as well, including The Iron Giant. Sadly, the Parallel Renaissance couldn't last forever, and it came to an end in 2003 with Dreamworks' final 2D film, Sinbad.
The Irish Revival (2009 - Present) Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon has revived Western 2D animation as a critically acclaimed art form to echo the revival of Disney's animation. They were inspired by Celtic Folklore and the Disney Renaissance, and their films stand out as fresh.
For those interested, my Disney Animated Classics list can be found here:
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls051452524/
I've divided these films into 5 Distinct Eras:
The Copper Age: (1982 - 1989) The films in this time period have a similar animation quality as the Bronze Age Disney films. These include mostly Don Bluth's early classics, and lots of mice and other animal-centric films. Although these films vary in quality, a few like The Land Before Time are timeless classics and are better than many of the films released in Disney's Bronze Age.
The Brass Age: (1990 - 1994) These films are similar to the Copper Age films. Much as brass is an alloy of copper, these films are in many ways alloys of the previous age. The ideas might not be as original, but they are still fun.
The Proto-Renaissance (1994 - 1997) Although the Disney Renaissance began in 1989, it took a few years later for the other studios to produce a similar quality of fluid animation in their films. The Swan Princess is a good example of this, and like The Little Mermaid, it signaled an opening of the door for future possibilities. I've labelled this the Proto-Renaissance, because despite some real gems, these films didn't reach Disney level heights.
The Parallel Renaissance (1997 - 2003) Anastasia marks the turning point on this list. Anastasia is Don Bluth's comeback film - a true masterpiece that excels in all areas (animation, story, music, and cultural impact). It stands alongside the greats of the Disney Renaissance, and (after years of people confusing it for a Disney film), it ironically is now basically a Disney film after Disney purchased Fox. The other films in this era share similarities to the Post-Renaissance Disney films, and include some of my favorite hand-drawn films as well, including The Iron Giant. Sadly, the Parallel Renaissance couldn't last forever, and it came to an end in 2003 with Dreamworks' final 2D film, Sinbad.
The Irish Revival (2009 - Present) Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon has revived Western 2D animation as a critically acclaimed art form to echo the revival of Disney's animation. They were inspired by Celtic Folklore and the Disney Renaissance, and their films stand out as fresh.
For those interested, my Disney Animated Classics list can be found here:
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls051452524/
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