Toon Talk Special: 50 Greatest Disney Animated Moments: Part 2 of 2
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The 50 Greatest Animated Disney Movie Moments
Part Two of Two
If you missed it, Part One is still available

While this may not be on the par of what will win the Academy Award or who will be the final Survivor, I hope you were looking forward to finding out the "final 25" of this list. So without further ado...

#25 - The Headless Horseman
The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad - 1949

As the spindly hat rack of a man Ichabod Crane makes his way home from the Van Tassels' Halloween party, he succumbs to the ultimate in paranoia. As clouds form into a giant hand, clutching the moon, he is stirred on by the memory of Bram Bones' spine-chilling tale of a horseman who haunts the neighboring countryside in search of a "head to chop." The schoolmaster imagines frogs croaking his name, a crow screeching "Beware! Beware!" (shades of Poe) and mysterious hoof beats in the distance. Seeing that his fears are getting the best of him, he laughs nervously, a laugh that is drowned out by a hideous cackle. The sky blazing fiery red, mounted on an ebony steed, his moonlit blade in one hand and a flaming Jack O' Lantern in the other - The Headless Horseman rides again!

#24 - The Rainstorm
Bambi - 1942

Drip, drop, drip, drop ... these are the first sounds we here as this "little April shower" begins. The ballet of raindrops, backed by a melodious storm, is the first time the young prince has seen such an event, and we see it through his awed eyes. As the forest animals scatter for cover, the song (with a vocal chorus that is very Forties) segues into a thunderous symphony, illuminating the wonders, and dangers, of Bambi's wilderness home. As the skies clear and the dew settles, the scene ends as it began: drip, drop ...

#23 - The Wildebeest Stampede
The Lion King - 1994

(c) Disney

"It's to die for!" Simba's uncle Scar says of the surprise waiting for him in the bottom of the ravine. A life-threatening surprise is what lays ahead for the future lion king. Rocks rattle on the ground as the hyenas spook a herd of wildebeests into the canyon, on a direct course for the helpless cub. Mufasa arrives to rescue his son, but is trampled by the onslaught of hoofed beasts due to the fratricidal actions of Scar. As the dust settles, Simba plaintively cries out for his father, but there is no answer. When he finds the fallen form of Mufasa, the confused cub nestles up to him, unable to comprehend his tragic loss.

#22 - Jessica
Who Framed Roger Rabbit - 1988

"Got a thing for rabbits, huh?" We are in the Ink and Paint Club and the featured act is about to begin. The curtains part, a shapely leg appears. Jaws drop and eyes pop as what's attached to that leg shimmies into view. Breathlessly cooing her torch song, all eyes in the room are on the buxom Mrs. Roger Rabbit as the spotlight follows her, glinting off her scarlet dress, sparkling like it has a life of it's own. The (human) men in the audience can't stifle their yearning moans. For the first time, a Disney character was overtly, uncompromisingly sexual. "I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way." You could say that again ...

#21 - A Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
Song of the South - 1946

Uncle Remus (James Baskett in his legendary role) is telling young Jim the tale of Bre'r Rabbit: "Now this here tale didn't happen yesterday, nor the day before. 'Twas a long time ago and in them days everything was mighty satisfactual! The critters they was closer to the folks, and the folks they was closer to the critters, and if you'll 'scuse me for sayin' so ... 'twas better all around. Yes sir, honey, it happened on one of them zip-a-dee-doo-dah days. Now that's the kind of day when you can't open your mouth without a song jumpin' right out of it ... " As Uncle Remus hits the first note of the classic song, blue skies burst from around him as if springing directly from his imagination. Welcome to the land of briar patches, laughin' places and Mr. Bluebird on your shoulder.