Disney's Animated Classics (Hardback)

💬THE VIBE:
This wasn’t just a book. It was a thesis, a master class, an education. At times it felt dense and academic, but in the best possible way, like being handed the keys to one of the world’s most prestigious courses on Disney animation history.

STANDOUT ELEMENTS:
The detail and thought behind every page felt intentional and deliberate.
So many surprising facts: how Les Poissons from The Little Mermaid is strikingly similar to Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast. Or that Aladdin was ineligible for screenplay Oscar nominations because Robin Williams improvised so much of his performance.

I appreciated how it went beyond nostalgia to explore the nuance of Disney’s evolution…the artistry, the cultural blind spots, and how the films reflected (or didn’t reflect) their times.

🧠WHAT STUCK:
This book brought me back to being 13 or 14, visiting the animation studios at MGM in Disney World, dreaming of working there one day. I was in love with the art of animation. That dream shifted over time, and now I draw cities instead…places tied to memory, vacations, and home. But the feeling I had reading this book mirrored that original spark. It reminded me why art and storytelling matter, why they stay with us long after the credits roll.

✅FINAL VERDICT:
4 stars
A must-read for Disney fans who want more than just surface-level nostalgia. It’s smart, full of surprising insights, and gave me the same sense of wonder I felt standing in Disney’s animation studio as a teenager. This book doesn’t just celebrate Disney’s magic…it examines it, critiques it, and ultimately deepens your appreciation for how animation has shaped culture for a century.

NetGalley, Jennifer Cooper

Stephen Rötzsch Thomas has put together a compendium that analyzes all 63 of Disney’s animated classic movies, comparing and contrasting and in general, showing us how the movies are all interconnected. From Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to the most recent films, this informal look at Disney’s efforts to revolutionize animating while also trying to maintain their box office dominance was interesting to say the least.

Because art is subjective, I did not always agree with the author’s assessments on some films. I thought the intertwining of societal and cultural changes that happened over the years and how they affected Disney’s output was very interesting. I also appreciated the author pointing out when backgrounds for older Disney films were used for other movies in an effort to save money. I guess I never paid that much attention to the backgrounds, because I never noticed.

I became a Disney convert during the 1990s, when Disney had recaptured the hearts and minds of the public with a string of films that could not be beat at the box office: The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Aladdin were seminal films during my teen and young adult years. There’s also a great discussion of all the bloody sequels that were straight-to-video during the 1990s and early 2000s. Because I was a new Disney enthusiast, I bought them all. Some of them hold up better than others.

I found it really revealing that there are whole stretches of time when I wasn’t paying attention to animated movies and found out that some movies are considered animated classics, like Chicken Run and Meet the Robinsons. They seem like lesser films that have no business being in the canon. There is also the effort from the author to point out the inherent racism and sexism that appears in the older films.

Overall, this was a very interesting read.

NetGalley, Jennifer J

This work is an engaging history of Disney’s animated films, during his time at the helm, and afterwards when for a period the company and its output was in the doldrums. Graphics from the movies and insightful commentary by Rötzsch Thomas enhance the narrative. The acknowledgements add to the flavour of the book - Stephen Rötzsch Thomas so clearly enjoyed his topic and researching it, a feature that shines throughout the narrative.

NetGalley, Robin Joyce

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Amazing! I absolutely love this one! As a long Disney fan, I'm gonna read every single one that has the background for his movies especially.

NetGalley, Helen Freire

Disney's animated theatrical features have been going strong since 1937's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Stephen Rötzsch Thomas' new book Disney's Animated Classics A Comprehensive Guide takes a look at them all the way up to Moana 2! It's no mean feat to cover all these films, but Thomas does so in a very personal and highly entertaining fashion that's full of interesting trivia and personal anecdotes to keep your spirits up in this fun read.

After an introduction in which Thomas laments getting the wrong Disney animated feature VHS as a holiday gift from a holiday, he marches through the films one by one delivering more than the plot summaries one expects. Part of what makes Disney's Animated Classics so special is how specific Thomas' opinions are whether it's questioning Gurgi's grating voice in The Black Cauldron or admiring Billy Joel's acting chops in Oliver & Company. There's a lot of humor in these reviews too, which goes a long way in making readers wanting to read just one more chapter.

Headings for the chapters only list the film's name along with the directors. Some additional credits up front might have been nice, although several are referenced in the body of the reviews themselves. There's no ranking of these movies, but there's no need for that since the book presents the films in chronological order along with a robust index in the back.

A delightful look at the animated films we all loved and grew up with, Disney's Animated Classics by Stephen Rötzsch Thomas is an amusing look at an impressive roster of films. Although the films discussed certainly vary in quality (it's doubtful there are many Home on the Range fans), Thomas' writing certainly does not. He does a great job at presenting his strong point of view on these well-worn features.

NetGalley, Mat Bradley-Tschirgi

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

As a devoted fan of all things Disney, I found Disney's Animated Classics: A Comprehensive Guide by Stephen Rötzsch Thomas to be a truly special read. I have a particular fondness for the animated classics in particular, and this book captures the rich, untold stories and the sheer magic behind the beloved films.

Thomas provides a comprehensive and engaging look behind the scenes, exploring the little-known details, creative inspirations, and surprising connections that shaped these iconic movies. The book is packed with so much information, making it a perfect guide for a super fan. It's a perfect blend of an unflinching, funny history and a loving tribute to the films that have defined generations. I think it would make an excellent gift idea for anyone with a love for animation and Disney movies.

For any die-hard Disney fan, this book is an absolute must-read.

NetGalley, Cozy Puppy Reads

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This is a great book to learn more about your favorite Disney movies... Definitely would recommend!

NetGalley, Rebecca Stewart

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

As a die-hard Disney fanatic and former cast member, I'm obsessed with this book! It's packed with fascinating facts on Disney's rich history, from animation to the latest blockbusters. I devoured every chapter, which took me on a magical journey from the first Disney movie to the present. Now, I'm on the hunt for more books that dish out the dirt on Disney's past.

NetGalley, Sheri Page

In the 1970's, I grew up on Disney animation. Most weekends were topped by Sunday night's Wonderful World of Disney and afternoons occasionally provided reruns of the classic Mickey Mouse Club from decades before. When the films came out of the vaults for their cyclical returns, I hit the theaters with family. Thus, I had to check this one out.

Thomas' approach is in interesting one. He hits each of the films in chronological order, devoting a short chapter to each in turn. Given the length, we naturally are not getting every fact about the films. He provides details relating to the making of each one along with other interesting factoids. Most of these are likely known to the true Disney-devoted, but I often found myself picking up a new tidbit here and there.

It is definitely an author's prerogative to decide what they are focusing on and how to deliver their narrative. I found this one touched on personal connections and felt it was all delivered in a rather easy-going, conversational manner. It is clear that Thomas has a love for Disney animation which comes through in the text.

NetGalley, Martin Maenza