Animated Movies NOT By Disney
During the Disney Renaissance, Walt Disney Animation Studios dominated the box office with a decade of high-quality, animated super hits of the late ’80s (The Little Mermaid, 1989) through the late ’90s (Tarzan, 1999). Before computer animated sensations (the Toy Story trilogy, Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon) made Pixar Animation Studio and DreamWorks Animation household names, Disney was the only company whose name was really synonymous with animated features, although many other studios were active at the time.
Below are a number of traditionally animated features of the ’80s and ’90s which are commonly mistaken for Disney films. The films may be fairy tales and epic adventures, but they’re not animated by Disney. Which ones are you surprised to discover aren’t Disney films?
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(1982) |
Aurora Productions Don Bluth Productions Distributed by: |
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(1985) |
Nelvana Limited American Greetings Distributed by: |
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(1986) |
Amblin Entertainment Sullivan Bluth Studios Distributed by: |
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(1987) |
Hyperion Pictures The Kushner-Locke Company Wang Film Productions Distributed by: |
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(1988) |
Amblin Entertainment Sullivan Bluth Studios Distributed by: |
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(1989) |
Sullivan Bluth Studios Goldcrest Films Distributed by: |
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(1991) |
Goldcrest Films Sullivan Bluth Studios Distributed by: |
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(1992) |
Kroyer Films FAI Films Distributed by: |
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(1993) |
Amblimation Distributed by: |
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(1994) |
Turner Pictures Distributed by: |
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(1994) |
Nest Family Entertainment Rich Animation Studios Rankin/Bass Distributed by: |
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(1994) |
Don Bluth Entertainment Distributed by: |
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(1994) |
Don Bluth Entertainment Distributed by: |
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(1995) |
Amblimation Distributed by: |
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(1995) |
Don Bluth Ireland Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributed by: |
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(1997) |
Fox Animation Studios Distributed by: |
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(1998) |
DreamWorks Animation Distributed by: |
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(1998) |
Warner Bros. Feature Animation Distributed by: |
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(1999) |
Warner Bros. Feature Animation Distributed by: |
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(1999) |
Rich Animation Studios Morgan Creek Productions Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment Pentamedia Graphics Warner Bros. Animation Distributed by: |
*The rights to The Brave Little Toaster were originally bought by Walt Disney Studios in 1982. John Lasseter (now the CCO of Pixar Animation Studios) and Thomas L. Wilhite (producer) pitched the film to studio heads. Disney rejected the pitch and John Lasseter was subsequently fired. The development of the project transferred over to the new Hyperion Pictures, and as the rights owners, Disney continued to back the project and distribute it, although they did not animate the film.
The Princess and the Goblin, Watership Down, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (animated version,) The Hobbit (animated version), Little Nemo, Titan A. E., Wallace & Gromit, and Chicken Run, Joseph King of Dreams, Thomas & Friends, Dr Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas and other Dr Suess stuff, and Charlotte’s Web (animated version).
‘Cats Don’t Dance’ is another great non-Disney animated movie that I loved.
‘The Theif and the Cobbler’?
the road to el dorado !
I Love The Pebble and the Penguin, It’s the best movie musical ever, Will it be showing on broadway?……..
Oh man,looking at this list brings me back! I remember watching all of these as a kid, except The Secret of NIMH which I later saw in college. (shame shame, I know) And I also haven’t seen the Dinosaurs movie (I think), and The King and I.
I don’t care how many people hate this film but I loved Fern Gully. While every little girl wanted to be Tinkerbell, I wanted to be Crysta, lol. I (maybe shamefully) still have Thumbelina, The Swan Princess and The Prince of Egypt on VHS. Hard to let go, heh.
Even when I was younger, I knew these weren’t Disney movies. The only one I did think was Disney was The Brave Little Toaster. But then I see Disney distributed it, so that explains why the BLT trailer appeared in certain Disney movies back then.