Despite being not even a year old, Frozen. With such a stellar soundtrack, it would have been worthy of the Disney Renaissance era.
Whether it be through their songs or scores, the musical elements of the Disney Renaissance period have played a serious role in just how much of a cultural impact they've had. To this day, their soundtracks are held in high regard by die-hard Disney fans, and their songs still remain timeless to this day.
The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
The first-ever animated sequel from Disney, The Rescuers Down Under accomplished everything a proper sequel should do and elevated the elements of the first Rescuers film in all the best ways. Unlike the rest of the Disney Renaissance films, however, it's not a musical, which doesn't give the overall soundtrack much of an advantage in comparison to the others.
The musical score from Bruce Broughton, however, still manages to capture all of the fun, thrills, and intensity that anyone could ever want from a high-stakes adventure. The movie continues to fly under the radar of Disney fans, but with the ion behind both its visuals and its music, it certainly deserves more attention.
Hercules (1997)
Hercules marked composer Alan Menken's final musical collaboration with Disney, and while it may not be one of his most celebrated efforts, the amount of hard work that went into it was obvious. An energetic Gospel-driven soundtrack may seem out of place for a story set in Greek mythology, but the film somehow managed to pull it very well.
The energy of the Muses with their songs like "Gospel Truth" and "Zero to Hero" is incredibly infectious and effective in their method of moving the story forward. The other songs may not carry the same memorability, but Michael Bolton was a more than perfect choice for the end credits rendition of "Go the Distance".
Pocahontas (1995)
Disney took several creative liberties with American history in telling the story of Pocahontas, and while the film has its fair share of flaws, the soundtrack certainly isn't one of them. While most of the songs aren't quite ed as fondly as ones from the other Renaissance films, there's a certain elegance to their sound that's as undeniably beautiful as the film's visuals.
"Colors of the Wind", often regarded as the film's most famous track, is a prime example of how the emotional strength of the melody, lyrics, and messages within the songs are only elevated by their performers. Not all of the voice actors provide their own singing voices, but the ones that do, such as Mel Gibson, show an equal amount of ion and dedication in doing so.
The Little Mermaid (1989)
unpopular opinions of The Little Mermaid on Reddit, but one thing almost all viewers can agree on is the timeless nature of its soundtrack.
From the classic villain song "Poor Unfortunate Souls" to some of the more feel-good tunes like "Under the Sea", the soundtrack completely redefined everything that audiences now come to expect from a Disney musical. It's no wonder that it helped launch one of Disney's greatest eras, and it influence its music had on future films clearly shows.
Aladdin (1992)
From the very first song, it's made perfectly clear to the audience the kind of wild ride they're in for with Aladdin. In a similar fashion to what Hercules did for Greek mythology, it tackles the Arabic folktale with a more energetic Broadway tone and quality with its songs.
Songs like "One Jump Ahead" and "A Whole New World" create a wonderful atmosphere, and it's hard to not feel nostalgic hearing the late great Robin Williams channel his comedic energy into song with "Friend Like Me". If there's one thing that can be said about Aladdin's soundtrack, compared to the rest, it's that it certainly has the highest fun factor.
The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996)
While there are several notable differences from the original Hunchback of Notre Dame story in Disney's take on Victor Hugo's tale, with everything else it manages to get right, most viewers are completely willing to overlook them. In both its score and its songs, it does everything a musical should do: convey the emotions of its characters as well as advance the story.
With its powerful orchestration, the soundtrack of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a complete roller coaster of emotions, from dark and dreary to uplifting and hopeful. The use of the choir, especially in songs like "The Bells of Notre Dame" and "Hellfire" is especially impactful in creating an epic sound fitting for the equally epic size and scale of the film's visuals.
Mulan (1998)
Having only four songs, unlike the average animated Disney musical which has roughly around five to six, the musical aspects of Mulan make it a rather special case. While its songs such as "Reflection" and "I'll Make a Man Out of You" are undeniably catchy and memorable, the film ditches them around the halfway point to properly match the darker tone that follows.
It's when the songs stop and the musical score by Jerry Goldsmith takes over, however, that the real strength of the soundtrack kicks in. With its high intensity during the battle scenes and the moving and triumphant sounds in the climax, it perfectly complements Mulan's saddest and funniest moments and creates a beautiful atmosphere suited for its ancient Chinese setting.
Tarzan (1999)
As the final film of the Disney Renaissance, Tarzan not only ended the era on a glorious high note, but it took its musical aspects in a much different direction that no one was anticipating. With Phil Collins of Genesis both writing and performing the songs himself, rather than having the film's characters do so, it's not a musical in the traditional sense, but that seems to be why it was and continues to be so beloved.
The score by Mark Mancina is of course a beautiful thing by itself, but it's the songs by Collins that truly helped shape the film's identity and cement its legacy. From "Son of Man" to the Oscar-winning "You'll Be In My Heart", the movie certainly would not be the same without Collin's songs, and the fans wouldn't have it any other way.
Beauty And The Beast (1991)
Winning one of three Oscar nominations for "Best Original Song", Beauty and the Beast became a major game-changer not just in the field of theatrical animation, but for the movie musical genre as a whole. There's a magical quality in its music that perfectly reflects the fairy tale tone and vibe of the film's story.
Alan Menken's score as well as the songs he co-wrote with Howard Ashman are undoubtedly his greatest work under Disney. There are unforgettable endearing classics like "Be Our Guest", or "Gaston", considered the most jovial Disney villain song ever composed. Its beloved music is just one of many reasons why Beauty and the Beast is the best Disney princess film.
The Lion King (1994)
If there's one film from Disney animation that truly reflects the power of their music and its ability to move and enchant an audience, it would no doubt be The Lion King. With Sir Elton John and Tim Rice having crafted the songs and Hans Zimmer composing the score, the trio made for an absolute movie musical dream team.
The iconic tracks from John and Rice such as "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" and "Be Prepared" have been ingrained in the minds of many, but the majesty of Zimmer's powerful score is enough to evoke tears and goosebumps from viewers. The film's soundtrack is a of work art all its own, and a unique creation that remains timeless to this day.
