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- With live-action movies Snow White, Disney has shown that it doesn't intend to stop making remakes of earlier animated works anytime soon. Even so, some animated works fare better than others as a live-action story.
With a vast number of animated movies in the studio's history, Disney has made a move towards producing live-action remakes of its fan-favorite stories in recent years. This trend has generally been met with mixed responses, both critically and by wider audiences, but the endeavor continues nevertheless.
While some of these remakes were unnecessary, there are some animated films—whether they be works from Disney or another production company—that could benefit from the live-action remake treatment.
Updated on December 12th, 2022 by Stacie Rook:
With live-action movies Snow White, Disney has shown that it doesn't intend to stop making remakes of earlier animated works anytime soon. Even so, some animated works fare better than others as a live-action story.
Animated Films Where Remakes Weren't Needed
The Lion King (1994) - The Lion King (2019)
The success of Disney's 1994 The Lion King made it the perfect candidate for a live-action adaptation, but ultimately, its 2019 remake brought nothing significantly new to the story of Simba and the animals of Pride Rock.
Given its wholly-animal cast of characters, the so-called 'live-action' version of The Lion King was actually almost entirely CGI, save for one opening shot of the sunset, as revealed by the film's director Jon Favreau (via People). Despite the impressive technology used to make the movie, it ultimately fell flat when compared to the heart of the original.
The Jungle Book (1967) - The Jungle Book (2016)
A hybrid of live-action and CGI, 2016's The Jungle Book is an impressive feat to behold, and it's this wonder which led to the title winning Best Visual Effects at the Academy Awards in 2017.
While the live-action adaptation does introduce some new elements to the story, it's also very similar to Disney's 1967 work, which sometimes makes the movie's tone feel jarring. Additionally, 2016's The Jungle Book is not a musical, which strips it of perhaps the most memorable aspect of the animated film on which it's based. It's these elements combined which make the remake feel unneeded.
Dumbo (1941) - Dumbo (2019)
Tim Burton’s 2019 adaptation of Dumbo almost immediately strayed from the animated movie's plot, and its significant story changes made it quickly lose the spirit and emotional weight of the original film.
With a focus on human characters instead of the titular elephant, and the absence of any talking animals, 2019's Dumbo is a far cry from the animated classic. Given how far it strayed from its source material, Tim Burton's film perhaps would have worked better as a wholly new title, rather than being billed as a remake.
Alice in Wonderland (1951) - Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Disney's creepy original Alice in Wonderland from 1951 perfectly adapted the surrealism of Lewis Carroll's books, capturing the nuances of every character and lending a sense of wonder and unsettling beauty to each location Alice traveled through.
The 2010 Alice in Wonderland, which kicked off Disney's string of live-action remakes, was also visually striking, but had a far darker color palette, robbing it of the psychedelic look that's often associated with Wonderland. Additionally, its story made Alice into more of a secondary character, favoring figures like the Hatter and the Red Queen, which seems like a missed opportunity for one of Disney's most recognizable heroines.
Pinocchio (1940) - Pinocchio (2022)
Disney's Pinocchio was panned by critics for its lackluster magic, and failure to bring anything new to the old tale, though some of the voice acting received praise.
Considered wholly unnecessary, the 2022 Pinocchio feels particularly soulless not only when compared to the 1940 Disney version, but also the acclaimed Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, which was also released in 2022 and delivers on a unique version of the fairy tale.
Animated Films That Could Have Great Live Action Remakes
Ice Age (2002)
While the first Ice Age movie from Blue Sky Studios is a great comedy full of funny characters, its animation is not the strongest, an issue that only becomes more apparent as time goes by. This is especially evident in the film's largely white landscape, which doesn’t do its epic setting justice.
Although seeing Manny, Sid, and Diego in their ‘live-action’ forms would rely on the same CGI that has led remakes like The Lion King to receive mixed responses, the prospect of seeing the grand, glacial world the characters live in—alongside some dinosaurs—makes a remake seem worth it, and it has the potential to be a visual feast perfect for the movie theater screen.
Bolt (2008)
Even though Disney's Bolt was well-received critically, it hasn't become iconic in the same way that many other Disney animated movies have. Even so, Bolt has an interesting storyline, and features a mix of human and animal characters that would translate well to a live-action remake.
A blend of spy movie and adventure-comedy with lovable non-human characters, Bolt never fully reached its potential as an animated film, but a live-action remake could give it the chance to shine.
The Iron Giant (1999)
From Warner Bros., the best non-Disney animated robots. Its animation style and characters have made it a cult classic, alongside its genuinely heartfelt storyline, and a strangely warm voiceover from Vin Diesel in the titular role.
In a way, the film could benefit from being left alone, with no sequels or adaptions to interfere with its legacy. At the same time, though, the Iron Giant is an iconic character, and a combination of the movie's real-world setting and largely human cast could translate easily for a live-action remake.
Tangled (2010)
As several animated Disney princess movies have already spawned live-action remakes—like 2015's Tangled could also star in a live-action remake in the studio's future.
With a layered personality and strong character arc that makes her one of the best Disney princesses, Rapunzel's story could provide plenty of material for further adaptation. Additionally, Rapunzel's relationships with both Flynn Rider and Mother Gothel are complex, and could be enchanced through live-action exploration.
Ratatouille (2007)
Pixar's Ratatouille is unique for the studio because a large percentage of its main character are human, and it's this very aspect of the movie that makes it a great choice for a live-action remake.
Though the rat Remy is one of the film's protagonists, and some of his family and friends feature in the story as well, he spends much of the film hiding from detection under Linguini's hat, a fact which could make live-action adaptation easier. A beloved story with lots of heart, Ratatouille could benefit from the nuance of live-action performances.
