Ignoring the minor detail that
Winnie the Pooh for some reason is not the 51st film in the Disney Animation canon in the UK, its pretty amazing to see the company reach it's 60th animated from their very own animation studio that isn't Pixar or 20th Animation Studios. It's been a long ride for the company and sure not every single animated film of theirs has been a hit. But many have become franchises for the company, made several appearances in TV shows, cartoons, video games and books. Not to mention that a fair few have had remakes which have not gone down well and most are just a lazy excuse to make the same film over and over again with a lack of spark and that. So here we are with the 59th and 60th films from the animation canon. Both very different films, but manage to maintain the magic, the comedy and the superb animation that has made the company plough through some tough times. Let's take a look:
Raya and the Last Dragon
There was a period of time when Disney made it possible for new releases originally planned just for the cinema, to be avaliable for streaming on their very own streaming platform, Disney+. This was known as Premier Access, where certain newly released films can be watched for a premium price until a period of time has passed, after which said film is then free to watch for all subscribers. Due to legal action and the pandemic's current status in the world, that whole thing has been scrapped and one of the films that was released in this programme was
Raya and the Last Dragon. In a land called Kumandra, evil spirits known as the Druun ravage the land and turn all living beings into statues. The last dragon known as Sisu (voiced by Awkwafina) uses her powers to create a gem and banish the Druun which revives the people but not the dragons. A power struggle then occurs that forces the people to divide into tribes. Many years later, the Heart tribe leader Benja (voiced by Daniel Dae Kim) attempts to unite the people with a feast. But this too proves fruitless when his daughter Raya (voiced by Kelly Marie Tran) attempts to protect the gem that her tribe have protected for so long, but fails as a result of being betrayed by her new friend Namaari (voiced by Gemma Chan) in a plot to steal the gem. In the end, the gem is broken and each tribe gets a piece of it just as the Druun return to ravage the land once more. More years pass and an older Raya sets out to find Sisu and put the gem back together, with some help from some unlikely allies along the way. This is one of the best of Disney's own animated films I find. Its well animated, got good humour and the idea of betrayal and redemption may not be original. But the way it plays out is certainly emotional, but with heart too. 9/10
Encanto
In Disney's latest musical film, a family called the Madrigals reside in an "Encanto" in which an enchanted candle creates a sentient "Casita" and over time, a village grows around the Encanto of which the Casita protects with its magic. Said magic is given to the Madrigals who each gain a door and powers such as super strength, good hearing, shape-shifting and the power to heal and create flowers and storm clouds among other things. But despite everyone getting powers, only Mirabel (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz) doesn't get powers nor a door. But that may all change when on one fateful night, cracks begin to appear which causes Mirabel to figure out the truth behind the family's secrets and learn of visions that affect the future. And she must do so before her family fall apart. It's one of those films where it feels like it should be longer and yet 109 minutes go by, and it really just feels like a short film. Nevertheless, the music is pretty good and catchy, the magic is as magical as you can get, the humour is good and the emotional parts are pretty good too. Not bad for Disney's 60th (or 59th in the UK, again minor detail) in house animated film. 8/10
Two great Disney films that continue to prove that animation can still be taken seriously and that the mission that the disgraced John Lasseter set out is still very much the way forward.
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