PODCAST · tv
Defining Disney Podcast
by Defining Disney
Podcasters in search of the ultimate truth - what is the best animated Disney movie? It's our job to find out, using objectivity and a detailed rubric unlike any other. Each episode covers one movie, distilling down into eight categories how it stacks up.
Episodes
-
Episode 5x11 - Lilo and Stitch
Finish the canon with us with our take on Lilo and Stitch, a supersized episode with eight - yes, EIGHT - guests that make up part of our podcast 'Ohana contributing their own unique perspectives to this fan favorite film. 'Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind or…
more -
Episode 5x10 - Encanto
Drawers, floors, doors - let's go! Come with us and the family Madrigal as we unpack Encanto, a magical tale of a family blessed with gifts and riddled with trauma, set in beautiful Colombia. Don't miss: The way this film's team learned from other past films to make this one the best it could...
-
Episode 5x09 - Make Mine Music
Come along on another symphonic journey as we tackle our last package film in Make Mine Music! Fair warning - this one isn't on Disney+, so you may not be able to watch it before listening. Don't miss: The short that really serves as the blueprint for discussing character development in music How...
-
Episode 5x08 - Pocahontas
As historically inaccurate and insensitive as it is, the time has come in our journey to tackle Pocahontas, Disney's very fictional retelling of historical events between the colonists of Jamestown and the Native American Powhatan tribe. Don't miss: The way the music of this film saves its bacon…
more -
Episode 5x07 - The Fox and the Hound
Get the tissues, y'all - it's time for us to take on The Fox and the Hound, one of Disney's Dark Age films that really pulls at the heartstrings. Don't miss: The reason Amos Slade is one of the scarier villains we encounter in the canon, despite his immaturity of holding a grudge against a…
more -
Episode 5x06 - Winnie the Pooh
Join us for a trip down memory lane to the Hundred Acre Wood for 2011's Winnie the Pooh, the last hand-drawn animated film at Walt Disney Animation Studios - for now. Don't miss: The surprisingly linear story for a Pooh film, which are typically episodic How cleverly the dialogue is played on to...
-
Episode 5x05 - Pinocchio
We're back for our home stretch of Disney's animated canon with our take on Pinocchio, an early Golden Age classic where Disney pushed the envelope both in content and technology. Don't miss: The meandering, episodic nature of the story - a risk for Walt Disney in only his second film How...
-
Bonus Episode 17 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
You best start believing in ghost stories, dear listeners - we're in one! We're tackling fan-favorite Disney franchise Pirates of the Caribbean for our latest bonus episode, so join us as we take our rubric to the first film, Curse of the Black Pearl. Don't miss: The sheer number of quotes the...
-
Episode 5x04 - Sleeping Beauty
Confront the Mistress of All Evil with us as we discuss Sleeping Beauty, one of Disney's most visual-forward films that unfortunately trades style for substance in some cases. Don't miss: The iconic art style of this film that makes nearly every shot a frameable masterpiece How the title misleads...
-
Episode 5x03 - Dinosaur
Travel back in time with us as we break down Dinosaur, Disney's only prehistoric adventure, which combined incredible technological advances with an excellent score and still somehow ended up lackluster. Don't miss: The strong visual elements of the film that unfortunately couldn't save its story...
-
Episode 5x02 - Raya and the Last Dragon
Take the first step with us as we break down Raya and the Last Dragon, the first post-pandemic outing for Walt Disney Animation Studios that took us all on maybe exactly the adventure we needed. Don't miss: The strong story score for the film, despite starting with two montages How the soundtrack...
-
Episode 5x01 - Beauty and the Beast
Be our guest for our Season 5 premiere - Beauty and the Beast! Join us as we tackle this evergreen Disney classic and break down exactly why it means so much to so many Disney fans, casual and hardcore. Don't miss: The punch of character development this film packs, not just for our lead and...
-
Bonus Episode 16 - Live-Action Remakes
We're tackling a controversial topic within the Disney fandom: live-action remakes! Join us as we take a walk through Disney's history of this phenomenon and decide which of these films do and do not pass the vibe check. Regular listeners be warned - this episode throws the rubric out! We are...
-
Bonus Episode 15 - DuckTales: Treasure of the Lost Lamp
Woo-hoo! We're off on an adventure with Scrooge and the boys in DuckTales: Treasure of the Lost Lamp, DisneyToon Studios's first foray into feature film that unfortunately can't hold a candle to the show it's based on. Don't miss: The way this film had a bevy of interesting, well-developed…
more -
Episode 4x08 - The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Venture deep into the Hundred Acre Wood with us as we break down The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Disney's first feature-length take on this beloved children's character. Don't miss: The surprisingly strong story structure for what is essentially a package film How this film kicks off the...
-
Episode 4x07 - Ralph Breaks the Internet
The Internet awaits! Join us for this adventure into the worldwide web as we look at Ralph Breaks the Internet, a sequel that expands the world of Wreck-It Ralph and his friends from their little hometown arcade to the entire online world. Don't miss: The conflict in the film that led to strong...
-
Episode 4x06 - Oliver and Company
Strut down Fifth Avenue with us and earn some street cred as we tackle Oliver and Company, Disney's take on the classic Oliver Twist featuring some adorable animals and memorable songs. Don't miss: The forgettable, generic villain that is Sykes - he might as well be Loan Shark #1 How this film…
more -
Episode 4x05 - Tarzan
Swing on in and pull up a vine as we break down Tarzan, the final film of Disney's Renaissance era that goes hard on both the feels factor and the music, courtesy of Phil Collins. Don't miss: The heaping helping of gut punches this film delivers in its two opening sequences How this soundtrack...
-
Episode 4x04 - Treasure Planet
Go on the adventure of a lifetime with us as we visit Treasure Planet, one of Disney's few true sci-fi genre films, and discuss why it's a strong film despite its box office faceplant. Don't miss: The complex approach this story takes to its villain and how that sets it apart within the canon How...
-
Episode 4x03 - Dumbo
Laugh with us and cry with us as we take it back to the Golden Age with Dumbo, the flying elephant! Don't miss: The highs and lows caused by this film's outrageous dream sequence, Pink Elephants on Parade How living in Florida informed our opinions of the film's opening with regard to theming A...
-
Episode 4x02 - The Sword in the Stone
Venture back to a dark age, indeed, as we take on The Sword in the Stone, Disney's adaptation of the first part of T.H. White's interpretation of Arthurian legend The Once and Future King. Don't miss: The banger of a standout on the soundtrack that is Higitus Figitus How production challenges...
-
Episode 4x01 - The Princess and the Frog
Come down to New Orleans with us as we discuss The Princess and the Frog, a new spin on a classic tale that signified a major shift in Disney's trajectory that would set the stage for a new era of prosperity that continues to this day. Don't miss: The absolute triumph that is Randy Newman's score...
-
Bonus Episode 14 - The Santa Clause
Santa Claus? Or Scott Calvin? Come along with us as we find out if there really is a difference as we take on The Santa Clause, an irreverent Disney Christmas classic starring Tim Allen as the unwitting jolly old man himself. Don't miss: The way this film capitalized on its strengths, which…
more -
Episode 3x11 - Peter Pan
Fly with us to Neverland as we tackle Peter Pan, a film in the canon that has left its fingerprints all over Disney history. We'll discuss its ups and downs, and why some of it is a product of its time, and perhaps why it didn't have to be. Don't miss: The way this movie brings a magical fantasy...
-
Episode 3x10 - Bolt
Let it begin! Join us for a rollercoaster adventure as discuss Bolt, the final film in Disney's digital age, as he discovers who he really is beneath the superpowered lies he's been told while he's been on television. Don't miss: The strong emotional value of a mostly-animal cast How the lack of…
more -
Episode 3x09 - The Rescuers Down Under
Australia awaits as we dive into The Rescuers Down Under, Disney's first canon sequel and first attempt at an action-adventure film with their own anthropomorphic animal twist on the genre. Don't miss: The contrast between the concrete, grounded villain facing Cody and the oddly indirect…
more -
Bonus Episode 13 - Hocus Pocus
The Sanderson sisters are back for blood! Join us as we delve into the fantastically festive world of Hocus Pocus and discuss just why this movie has garnered so much attention as it has aged. Don't miss: The way this film has only gotten more and more well-loved as time has gone on, despite…
more -
Bonus Episode 12 - Whoa, We're Halfway There
We're officially halfway through the Walt Disney Animation Studios canon! Join us as we recount the best films so far in all of our categories and then some, as well as evaluate our experiment so far. Don't miss: The proof we've developed that the rubric and process we created are working How…
more -
Episode 3x08 - Melody Time
Come with us on another musical journey as we dissect Melody Time, another of Disney's wartime package films, focused this time on folk stories and tall tales. Don't miss: The variety of different cultures and worlds this film spans and the good and bad of the worlds it builds How the music has...
-
Episode 3x07 - Frozen II
Return to Arendelle with us as we take on Frozen II, the sequel that brought Disney's biggest IP of the century back to the big screen. We'll discuss how it measures up to the phenomenal first film, which still sits comfortably in our Top 5, as well as the new efforts it made and issues it…
more -
Episode 3x06 - The Great Mouse Detective
Grab your coats and magnifying glasses! We're off to Baker Street as we discuss The Great Mouse Detective, a Dark Age Disney film that shows shades and elements of what would later make Disney's Renaissance the iconic era of success that it was. Don't miss: The ways this movie walked so that...
-
Episode 3x05 - Aladdin
Hop a carpet and fly with us to Agrabah as we tackle another one of Disney's heaviest hitters during its Renaissance era, Aladdin! Don't miss: The stellar character development we get for an unusually large number of characters How this movie's entire soundtrack has lasted the test of time, even...
-
Episode 3x04 - Chicken Little
We committed to scoring every single film in the canon, and that includes the duds! Come with us as we dissect Chicken Little, a film that accounts for some of Disney's strangest choices in the Digital Age. Don't miss: The way this movie tried - and failed - to emulate the success of DreamWorks's...
-
Episode 3x03 - Bambi
Welcome the Great Prince of the Forest with us as we discuss Bambi, the first of Disney's features focusing on the natural world, and how it set the tone for many more films to come. Don't miss: The way the movie's themes introduce the idea of the circle of life before the studio ever even…
more -
Episode 3x02 - Wreck-It Ralph
We're going inside the world of video games with our take on Wreck-It Ralph, the oft-overlooked Revival installment that makes a complex commentary on what it means to be a "good guy." Don't miss: The way dialogue reveals specific character choices throughout the film How the music belies what's...
-
Episode 3x01 - Cinderella
Returning to what brought him his initial success, Walt tackled another fairytale once the war was over and his animators and audience had returned. Join us as we discuss Cinderella, an all-time Disney classic, as we begin our third season! Don't miss: The overlooked elements in Cinderella's...
-
Bonus Episode 11 - Q&A
If you've heard our interviews on other podcasts, you know that we, your hosts, are both former Walt Disney World Cast Members. After two full seasons of talking about Disney films, we're finally answering your questions about our time with the Mouse. Don't miss: The things we've learned as Cast...
-
Bonus Episode 10 - A Goofy Movie
Another hardcore Disney-fan favorite hits our rubric as we tackle A Goofy Movie, the Goof Troop spinoff that was released as an afterthought but became a cult classic famous for its fantastic music and '90s nostalgia. Don't miss: The unique way this film handles its climax that sets it apart from...
-
Bonus Episode 9 - James and the Giant Peach
It's another special episode as we cross over with Oof! Right in the Childhood to tackle another Tim Burton film, James and the Giant Peach, an adaptation of a classic Roald Dahl novel that uses perhaps every different film style known to man in a fantastical tale of a young hero on a quest to…
more -
Episode 2x13 - The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Our super-sized season two finale tackles one of Disney's most ambitious and adult adaptations, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Join us as we discuss the difficult issues it takes on and how well it navigates the fine line between making a film of children and bringing a faithful film version forth...
-
Episode 2x12 - Saludos Amigos
Ever wanted to go to South America? Join us as we follow Disney artists there in Saludos Amigos, a package film with a pseudo-documentary throughline following studio animators and musicians as they use inspiration from their many destinations to create several shorts for the film. Don't miss…
more -
Episode 2x11 - Fantasia 2000
When Fantasia was first created, Walt Disney originally intended for the film to be updated every few years with new segments, new animation styles, and new compositions of music. Finally, nearly sixty years later after the original's release, his nephew and studio made good on that dream…
more -
Bonus Episode 8 - The EPCOT Expansion
We couldn't have a Disney podcast and not talk about the parks, no matter how film-focused we are. Join us as we discuss the upcoming renovations and additions to EPCOT at Walt Disney World and the way it will change the park's image and theming overall. Don't miss: The way Disney is going all in...
-
Episode 2x10 - The Jungle Book
Swing into things and take on The Jungle Book with us, as we look at the last film Walt Disney himself worked on that adapts the classic Rudyard Kipling novel with a memorable musical twist. Don't miss: The different way this film approaches its villain and why it works, both from a story and a...
-
Bonus Episode 7 - The Road to El Dorado
Gasp! We're doing our first NON-Disney film! Thanks to a commission from our Ko-fi member Gordon, we're tackling The Road to El Dorado, an early 2000s DreamWorks buddy adventure film that's become a cult classic thanks to its witty banter and quality memes. Don't miss: The reason this film was so...
-
Episode 2x09 - Home on the Range
Come along on the cattle drive with us as we go in on one of Disney's weakest outings in recent memory: Home on the Range. Fair warning! We do not pull our punches. Don't miss: The problem the uncomfortable dialogue creates for both the story at large and the audience's ability to connect to the...
-
Bonus Episode 6 - Raya and the Last Dragon
Curious about Disney's newest outing? We paid the extra $30 for Premier Access to watch Raya and the Last Dragon to help you make an informed decision about whether or not it's worth the money for you. (Spoiler alert – we think it is!) Don't miss: The way the visuals showcase the many techniques...
-
Episode 2x08 - Moana
Voyage beyond the reef with us as we take on Moana, a combination princess-adventure story that cemented Disney's Revival as the company's true new era. Don't miss: The strong positives and lesser-publicized negatives of Polynesian and Pacific Islander representation in this film How Lin-Manuel...
-
Bonus Episode 5 - International Women's Day
Join us for our very first tribute episode as we celebrate some of the most inspirational and prominent women in Disney history, both real and fictional, in celebration of International Women's Day on March 8th. Don't miss: The role women played in the earliest days of Disney animation and WED...
-
Episode 2x07 - Hercules
Go on the ultimate hero's journey with us as we dive into Hercules, another Disney Renaissance installation that shows the good and bad sides of sanitizing material for G and PG audiences. Don't miss: The endless praise we have for the music of this film, from composers to vocalists and everyone…
more
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Podcasters in search of the ultimate truth - what is the best animated Disney movie? It's our job to find out, using objectivity and a detailed rubric unlike any other. Each episode covers one movie, distilling down into eight categories how it stacks up.
HOSTED BY
Defining Disney
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Defining Disney Podcast have?
Defining Disney Podcast currently has 77 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Defining Disney Podcast about?
Podcasters in search of the ultimate truth - what is the best animated Disney movie? It's our job to find out, using objectivity and a detailed rubric unlike any other. Each episode covers one movie, distilling down into eight categories how it stacks up.
How often does Defining Disney Podcast release new episodes?
Defining Disney Podcast has 77 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Defining Disney Podcast?
You can listen to Defining Disney Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Defining Disney Podcast?
Defining Disney Podcast is created and hosted by Defining Disney.
URL copied to clipboard!