As Disney's 2D animation fades into all-computer animation, here's a look back at Disney's greatest achievements over nearly seven decades. With all due respect to Pixar, this list is limited to hand-drawn films only.
1. "Pinocchio" (1940): Like all great films, this one seems new with every viewing. And the message is wonderful: "If your heart is in your dreams, no request is too extreme."
2. "Beauty and the Beast" (1991): The first time I saw this movie, I left the theater feeling like I was walking on air. This is one of the best love stories ever put on film, animated or otherwise, and it has one of the greatest song scores, too.
3. "Fantasia" (1940): Walt Disney's grand experiment still impresses 64 years later, ranging from Mickey's finest hour, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," to the terror of "Night on Bald Mountain." "Fantasia 2000" is an underrated and very worthy successor.
4. "Dumbo" (1941): If you don't at least shed a tear during the "Baby Mine" scene, schedule an appointment with a surgeon, because you've lost your heart.
5. "Aladdin" (1992): No Disney movie is funnier.
6. "The Little Mermaid" (1989): My favorite of Disney's princess stories, largely because of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's incandescent songs. This was the film that sparked Disney's renaissance.
7. "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937): Aside from being the film that started it all, this movie boasts one of Disney's finest comic creations: the dwarfs. They, more than Snow White herself, are the reason this film has aged remarkably well.
8. "Cinderella" (1950): She was the most well-rounded of the princesses in Walt's era, and she had the best voice — along with some utterly charming mice companions.
9. "Lady and the Tramp" (1955): Ingenious animal characters, especially the devilish Siamese cats, great songs and an unforgettable spaghetti dinner highlight this classic.
10. "Bambi" (1942): Sorry, folks, but I always thought "The Lion King" was a little overrated. This remains Disney's finest film about the often painful process of growing up. Besides, Thumper's a hoot.
Note: Of these 10 films, only "Dumbo" is not on moratorium, but all have been released on video. Except for "Cinderella," "Bambi" and "Aladdin," all have been released on DVD.