The latest Lion King 2 thread had a pretty staunch reaction to its assertion that it's equally as good as the original. More notable is that many nonetheless agreed that despite not meeting par, TLK2's still good on its own merits, and I'd wager the consensus would insist it's the best film that Disney's former sequel house, Disneytoon Studios, was capable of accomplishing.
And to the latter belief, I would say that everyone is WRONG.
THIS is the best film Disneytoon ever made:
The goddamn fucking Tigger Movie, that's what.
First, look at the animation quality in the Wonderful Thing About Tiggers sequence. No awkward eye placement, no obviously weird pose-to-pose animation, proper ease ins and ease outs, satisfying follow-through, solid-as-a-rock posing, no ink and paint department overshadowing the animators' drawings- it's all there. The character animation is an absolute joy to behold, and it's set against some gorgeously painted woodland scenery reminiscent of the original films. Better yet, this quality is maintained throughout the entire production.
Next, I'll preface story this by saying that I feel Disney's best films are the ones with the simplest stories and character motivations, where forced plot twists and ambiguous character desires don't get in the way of their narrative style earning the emotional highs that make these films so revered. The Tigger Movie is great because it's simple (and also not bogged down with the chain that is following up a superior act by being a numbered sequel): Tigger wants to find his family which conflicts with the fact that "he's the only one." This arc leads him to a surprisingly grave loneliness that's as genuine as it is heartbreaking. Tigger is supposed to be happy, he's supposed to be the naive, optimistic backbone of the group. So when he realizes the truth that there is no Mom and Dad, no Brother and Sister, no Auntie and Uncle to send letters to, he becomes unmistakably lost. In short, we live in the timeline where a Disneytoon send-off had the balls to do what a Pixar film did not.
But of course this is Disney where happy endings rule the day. The ending is expected but nonetheless tear-inducingly sweet, having been earned properly after THE MOST UNEXPECTED CLIMAX IN A WINNIE THE POOH FILM EVER WHERE EVERYONE ALMOST DIES. (low quality) Not only is it a cool-ass sequence, but it's further strengthened by capping off a secondary plot where Roo desperately wants to learn Tigger's Whoop-Dee-Dooper bounce, the most powerful bounce in his arsenal. Ultimately, Roo is Tigger's brother from another mother. He admires and emulates him, shadows him around, and tries his best to make him happy. It's the showcase of this relationship that gives weight to Tigger's epiphany and the ending, and it's why such a cliche' ending comes off instead as heartfelt and satisfying.
The Sherman Brothers returned to do the soundtrack, which is fitting as they did so not just for the original films but also the Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh TV show, which had absolutely gorgeous melodies and running themes. They are joined by Harry Gregson-Williams who worked on Disney's Narnia and The Martian. The score is literally so good that it is the primary reason the film went to theaters at all. I repeat, heartless bastard Michael Eisner heard the score and even he was so moved by it that he believed the film deserved better than just direct-to-video and sent it to theaters. Not even Lebo M.'s "He Lives In You" saved TLK2 from that fate.
And of course, what Disney theatrical feature is complete without a pop single? Here, have Kenny Loggins' nostalgic-laden, sentimental acoustic song "Your Heart Will Lead You Home," complete with child-backed chorus.
That's your primer on the best Disneytoon production ever. If you haven't seen it, do that now. If you have, talk about it. If you don't like the film, well...do you need a hug from GAF? Remember, we're always there for you. Signed--
And to the latter belief, I would say that everyone is WRONG.
THIS is the best film Disneytoon ever made:
The goddamn fucking Tigger Movie, that's what.
First, look at the animation quality in the Wonderful Thing About Tiggers sequence. No awkward eye placement, no obviously weird pose-to-pose animation, proper ease ins and ease outs, satisfying follow-through, solid-as-a-rock posing, no ink and paint department overshadowing the animators' drawings- it's all there. The character animation is an absolute joy to behold, and it's set against some gorgeously painted woodland scenery reminiscent of the original films. Better yet, this quality is maintained throughout the entire production.
Next, I'll preface story this by saying that I feel Disney's best films are the ones with the simplest stories and character motivations, where forced plot twists and ambiguous character desires don't get in the way of their narrative style earning the emotional highs that make these films so revered. The Tigger Movie is great because it's simple (and also not bogged down with the chain that is following up a superior act by being a numbered sequel): Tigger wants to find his family which conflicts with the fact that "he's the only one." This arc leads him to a surprisingly grave loneliness that's as genuine as it is heartbreaking. Tigger is supposed to be happy, he's supposed to be the naive, optimistic backbone of the group. So when he realizes the truth that there is no Mom and Dad, no Brother and Sister, no Auntie and Uncle to send letters to, he becomes unmistakably lost. In short, we live in the timeline where a Disneytoon send-off had the balls to do what a Pixar film did not.
But of course this is Disney where happy endings rule the day. The ending is expected but nonetheless tear-inducingly sweet, having been earned properly after THE MOST UNEXPECTED CLIMAX IN A WINNIE THE POOH FILM EVER WHERE EVERYONE ALMOST DIES. (low quality) Not only is it a cool-ass sequence, but it's further strengthened by capping off a secondary plot where Roo desperately wants to learn Tigger's Whoop-Dee-Dooper bounce, the most powerful bounce in his arsenal. Ultimately, Roo is Tigger's brother from another mother. He admires and emulates him, shadows him around, and tries his best to make him happy. It's the showcase of this relationship that gives weight to Tigger's epiphany and the ending, and it's why such a cliche' ending comes off instead as heartfelt and satisfying.
The Sherman Brothers returned to do the soundtrack, which is fitting as they did so not just for the original films but also the Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh TV show, which had absolutely gorgeous melodies and running themes. They are joined by Harry Gregson-Williams who worked on Disney's Narnia and The Martian. The score is literally so good that it is the primary reason the film went to theaters at all. I repeat, heartless bastard Michael Eisner heard the score and even he was so moved by it that he believed the film deserved better than just direct-to-video and sent it to theaters. Not even Lebo M.'s "He Lives In You" saved TLK2 from that fate.
And of course, what Disney theatrical feature is complete without a pop single? Here, have Kenny Loggins' nostalgic-laden, sentimental acoustic song "Your Heart Will Lead You Home," complete with child-backed chorus.
That's your primer on the best Disneytoon production ever. If you haven't seen it, do that now. If you have, talk about it. If you don't like the film, well...do you need a hug from GAF? Remember, we're always there for you. Signed--
