Disclaimer: This film was taken in with the Childhood Favorite Filter on so bias is in full swing.
New decade, new look, new Disney. Wow, wow, wow. Cinderella saved this company and it shows. There’s a reason why that big ol’ castle in Florida is fashioned after the one in this film. This movie did a lot for Disney. The man and the company. The dress transition scene is iconic and that’s just one part of one scene. The animation in Cinderella sets a new bar for Disney animation at this point. The characters you’re supposed to like are likable, the characters you aren’t supposed to like are still fun to watch. Come on, Lucifer is a jerk but those expressions are something gif-worthy that every sassy person should have in their arsenal.
This story is nothing new. Everyone and their mother knows the story of the girl who leaves behind a shoe because she’s gotta make curfew. Yet Disney does a fantastic job of making a compelling story that pulls at your heartstrings. Plus, the music! Catchy, clever, creative. This movie was one of my absolute favorites as a kid. I cant explain why it just captured so much of my heart. I’m so happy I decided to do this rewatch because I haven’t visited this film in at least a decade. Even if Cinderella isn’t my favorite princess, I think it may be one of my favorite princess movies. I could continue to gush but that’s incredibly boring. Cinderella easily cemented itself in line up of timeless Disney classics. The thing I will always chew on from a historic perspective is what comes next.
Will the next entry in the Disney Feature Film Animation ledger top what comes before it? That’s certainly the case now a days with studios like Pixar. At the time Cinderella was being produced, 2 other movies were also in development: Alice In Wonderland and Peter Pan. Both would wind up being made, as we know but would either of them capture the magic or emotion that Cinderella has? Will the artwork of it be as awe-inspiring? From where I’m sitting, it’s a toss up. Disney did a damn good job with Snow White but was what came next as good or better than it? *checks notes* Hmm, Pinocchio…no. Well what about after that? Dumbo. Uh, also no. Try again? Oh it’s Bambi? Yikes.
We’ll see.
