Toon Talk Special: 50 Greatest Disney Animated Moments: Part 2 of 2
Page 2 of 5
#20- The Flight of the Golden Eagle
The Rescuers Down Under - 1990
Cody has freed Marahute from poacher McLeach's trap. But the wings of the giant bird accidentally knock the unsuspecting boy over the cliff, tumbling down to the river far below. With a flash of golden feathers, the grand eagle plucks him out of the sky and takes him on a journey he won't soon forget. Flying high over the outback, tumbling through the clouds, surfing on the water, it's the ultimate rush for our young hero. Shooting out over the edge of a mighty waterfall, Cody flies into the air on his own, landing safely back on earth with the help of his new feathered friend.
#19 - Tree Surfing
Tarzan - 1999
(c) Disney
At the end of the "Son of Man" montage, the now fully-grown Tarzan glides along the treetops, literally surfing on the moss-covered branches like a tree-bound extreme sporter. Everybody has seen Johnny Weissmuller and his ilk swinging through a Hollywood back lot jungle on a prop vine, but only in animation can an ape man actually grip the vines with his feet. The athleticism and grace displayed in the form of Tarzan is a testament to the talent of one of the leading animators of today, Glen Keane, also responsible for Ariel, the Beast, Aladdin and Pocahontas. Tree-surfing is used later in the film, most notably in the baboon chase, but it was the first appearance of this technique that made you sit up and say "Cool!"
#18 - The Sprite
Fantasia 2000 - 2000
(c) Disney
Angela Lansbury introduces this final segment of this Fantasia, Stravinsky's Firebird Suite - 1919 Version , as a "mythical story of life, death and renewal." It is winter and the great elk summons a forest sprite to return life to the snow-covered land. Wispy tendrils flowing behind her, the Sprite sweeps over the earth, abundant greenery sprouting in her wake. But within the desolation of a volcano, she inadvertently brings forth the Firebird, a towering, lava-formed behemoth that proceeds to destroy everything in it's path, reducing the landscape to ash and cinders. The elk reawakens the fallen Sprite, her tears revealing that she still has the power to create life from the lack thereof. Her triumphant rebirth is a wonder to behold.
#17- The Genie of the Lamp
Aladdin - 1992
(c) Disney
With a rub of the lamp and a burst of blue smoke, Aladdin comes face to face with the irrepressible Genie. Immediately we are treated to a frantic series of one-liners, visual puns, celebrity impressions, slights of hand, sight gags, and a full-scale, no-holds barred musical number from the pen of Ashman and Menken. Showing off all that he can do for the hapless street rat, the Genie creates a smorgasbord of Middle Eastern delights: dancing elephants, harem clad camels, a treasure trove filled with gold and jewels, not to mention "a little more Baklava." Brought to loony life by Robin Williams' gonzo performance, at that exact moment the Genie takes a firm hold on the movie with one big blue hand and never lets go. "You ain't never had a friend like me!"
#16 - "Monstro!"
Pinocchio - 1940
After a long underwater trek, Pinocchio has finally located his missing father. Unfortunately, he finds him in the belly of a whale on the bottom of the sea. And it's not just any whale, but the brutally terrifying force of nature known as Monstro. In a daring attempt to escape from within this legendary beast, they start a fire to elicit a sneeze. One very loud "a-choo!" later and they are free ... but Monstro is not to happy about it. As the huge sea creature dives over a giant wave, Geppetto and son, frantically paddling, narrowly avoid his deadly jaws, but their raft is reduced to splinters by the crashing of his immense tail. Their only hopes of survival is to make it to the faraway shore, with the monster still in pursuit ...