It’s
February again, the Valentines season, and once again I find myself wanting to
put together some kind of romantic themed list to compliment the season.
A
while back, I ranked my personal favorite romantic songs from animated Disney
movies, and this year I found myself wanting to highlight the next best thing …
romantic moments from Disney animation. Yeah, for this countdown, I’ve decided
to step back from the popular song numbers, or even couples as a whole, and
just want to look at the little individual moments that have always resonated
with me. I’m not ranking these by popularity or for any objective reasoning,
these are just my own personal favorite little romantic moments from Disney
films that have always felt special to me.
#10
Spaghetti Dinner (Lady and the Tramp)
Kicking off my list is a
scene that, quiet frankly … needs no introduction. Truthfully, unlike the other
scenes on my list, this one is more out of obligation … after all, I can’t have
a romantic themed Disney list without including arguably the most famous scene
from the most celebrated Disney couple. I honestly don’t even know what to
comment on with this moment.
We all remember the iconic spaghetti dinner scene,
set to the song “Bella Notte”, as
it’s one of the all-time great romantic ballets ever put to film, Disney or
not. Still, the truth is, despite being overplayed, this sequence is still just
as sweet as I remember. I can’t say “Lady and the Tramp” ever stuck with
me as a personal favorite Disney film, but this sequence on its own is still a
classic Disney staple, and one that I couldn’t keep off this list if I tried.
#9 “It’s not
an interrogation … it’s an introduction” (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)
When a young Gypsy girl named Esmerelda is running from the law, she takes
sanctuary in Notre Dame cathedral … where she unexpectedly crosses blades with
the towns Captain of the Guard named Phoebus. Needless to say, it was love at
first … um … sword fight!
Personally, I find this the most fun “first-meeting”
of any Disney couple, as it’s not too often a pair come together through an
action sequence, or while exchanging witty remarks. Phoebus: “You almost
fight as well as a man!” Esmerelda: “Funny, I was about to say the same
about you!” Things gradually calm down, and the scene closes on a quiet and
genuinely touching exchange of names. You’ll notice that most of my favorite
romantic sequences revolve around characters meeting for the first time, and
this one for me is definitely the most “fun” of the bunch.
#8 “It’s Too
Good to be True” (Fun and Fancy Free)
After a circus bear named Bongo
escapes life in the circus, he aims to start a new life in the wild, and after
some adjusting, he finds himself winning the affection of a female bear named
Lu Lu Belle. Once again, it’s love at first sight, and the excitement of the
moment leads into a fantasy, dream-like sequence, in which the two bears are
whisked away into the clouds. Honestly, the appeal of this scene has nothing to
do with either the characters or the song … but simply the decorations and
visuals on display.
No other animated Disney sequence puts me in more of a
mind-set for Valentines then this musical dream scene. Despite not being a very
popular Disney product, I so badly want a theme park ride based on the design
of this sequence, as it features a river running through brightly colored
clouds in the sky, with decorative objects and imagery in every frame.
#7 The
Balcony Scene (Aladdin)
When it comes to popular Disney couples, few
others have the same dynamite chemistry as Aladdin and Jasmine. Of course, their
Oscar winning song “A Whole New World”
is about as great as romantic Disney songs get, but beyond that … their whole
sequence on the Balcony is perfect. Obviously, it’s a nice visual nod to “Romeo
and Juliet”, but it goes one step further, as we gradually see Jasmines
dismissive nature of Aladdin transform into feelings of loving affection all
through the course of this one scene. To put a lovely bow on the scene, the two
share an unexpected, yet warmly impassioned kiss, which is one of the most
gratifying of any Disney couple. I can’t think of another kiss from a Disney pair
that felt as “in the moment”, and rewarding as that sudden kiss shared between
the two on the balcony.
#6 First
Meeting at the Waterfall (Pocahontas)
We return to the concept of love
at first sight … and while very formulaic … it can still be done effectively in
execution. In this regard, I think Pocahontas and John Smith have one of the
most memorable. While a mixed offering from Disney, I’ve always looked back
fondly on “Pocahontas” as one of their best visual achievements. Beyond
the arresting artistry, the overall direction and transition of select moments
are beautifully shot with an artistic narrative and rhythm.
Case in point, one
of my favorite scenes is the build-up leading to when Pocahontas first meets
John Smith by the waterfall. This is a long segment with no dialogue at all,
yet the scene conveys everything beautifully through the character animation
and direction. The misty waterfall backdrop is also a nice callback to “West
Side Story”, in which the background got all hazy when the films two
romantic leads spot each-other for the first time.
#5 “Reunited
After the Storm” (Fantasia 2000)
Donald Duck and Daisy Duck get to
share the spot-light in a short Disney re-telling of Noa’s Arc, and our two
love birds tie into the story quiet effectively. In the tail, a pair of every
animal voyage on a giant wooden boat, while the rest of the world is covered in
a great flood. Unfortunately for Donald, he’s the one animal who gets separated
from his mate during the storm, and neither are aware that the other survived. It's
not until the weather clears, and the boat reaches dry land that the two
tearfully reunite.
Donald is naturally funny in this short, as he always is,
but in this moment, he also accomplished something I never thought could be
done … Donald Duck got me all choked up inside. No joke, the scene at the end
with the two reuniting is about as wholesome and touching as they get … and it
still gets to me on repeat viewings.
#4 In the
presence of a Person for the First Time (Tarzan)
Disney’s “Tarzan”
features a number of highlights, ranging from action sequences, to catchy
songs, but what I feel the film did best was its quiet moments that develop the
characters through visuals and character expressions. The titular romance
between the characters of Tarzan and Jane isn’t exactly layered, but they do
still convey a lot through their interactions, and they share some wonderful
scenes. In my view, their first meeting is one of the best sequences of the
movie, as it’s shot beautifully, and the moment takes it’s time for Tarzan to
sink-in his first interaction with another human. I love how he takes her glove
off, feels a human hand for the first time, and it’s just a genuinely sweet
moment that sets a connection between these two with very little actually being
said. It’s also one of the funniest scenes of the film, as the hummer comes
from Tarzan’s naivety of social boundaries and properly interacting with
people.
#3 “A Day at
the Park” (101 Dalmatians)
When it comes to “101 Dalmatians”,
we all remember the cute puppies, the nasty villain, and yet … watching this as
an adult, I find myself sympathizing to the dog’s owner Rodger more than any
other character, as he’s a guy caught-up in his passions, and is oblivious to
the possibilities of finding romance in another person. Lucky for him, his dog Pongo
catches the eye of another female Dalmatian with an equally lovely owner, and
instantly he begins to set-up a plan to have both owners meet in the park.
This
whole sequence with Pongo getting the two dog owners to notice one another, and
cheerfully bond over a little mis-hap is honestly my favorite scene of the
whole film, and when it wraps-up with the two becoming an item … it just puts a
big dumb smile on my face.
#2 “I Found
Where I Belong” (Hercules)
Demi-God Hercules has trouble fitting-in
with mortals, and aims to find a place where he can belong. On his path of
self-discovery, the young hero forms a bond with a young woman named Meg, who’s
current life is both figurately and literally trapped in box. Well, time for
the hero to come to the rescue, but in more ways than one. In the end, Hercules
discovers that it wasn’t about “Where” he belongs, but instead “Who” he belongs
with. I can’t make a compelling case that Hercules and Meg are one of the absolute
best Disney couples, but their story is laced with some of my favorite visuals
of any Disney pairing. Meg is initially dismissive of our young hero, but
during a romantic night out, she gradually begins falling for him … and while a
bit on the noise, I always loved her backing into a statue of Cupid. However,
the big one I always loved is initially set during the musical number “Go the Distance”. There’s a moment when
Hercules looks up at the sky and see’s a shooting star, then later the exact
same shooting star is seen when Hercules and Meg have their special evening
date, making this a visual thread tying their two stories together. It also
makes Hercules closing statement of … “I Found Where I Belong” … all the more
gratifying.
Before I
reveal my #1 favorite, here are some quick Honorable Mentions …
You are Somebody (The Black Cauldron)
Bernard Finally
Proposes (The Rescuers Downunder)
Snow Whites Revival (Snow White
and the Seven Dwarfs)
Releasing Belle (Beauty and the Beast)
Dinner Date (The Princess and the
Frog)
#1 “You had
me at … Hyuck!” (A Goofy Movie)
Goofy’s teenage son Max is developing
a crush on the popular High-school girl Roxane. Unfortunately for him, he gets
cold feet upon their first meeting, has trouble getting the words out, and much
to his embarrassment, he lets out his father’s trademark laugh … “Hyuck!” As
established in an opening nightmare sequence, resembling his dad in any way is
Max’s biggest fear, and that Goofy laugh is the embodiment of all that troubles
him. Naturally, Max tries to retaliate with any big stunt he can concoct to win
over the affection of Roxane. At the end however, Roxane reveals that she
already had feelings for him from the moment she first herd Max’s laugh …
“Hyuck!”. For all the popular, romantic Disney’s moments, from all the iconic
couples, this one little scene to me is just the cutest, sweetest, most
wholesome thing any Disney pairing has offered. It’s also a beautiful message
that, the things we doubt in ourselves or maybe find embarrassing … might just
be our greatest strengths or appeals to others. It’s a compliment that puts a
big, dumb grin on my face, and it’s personally my favorite romantic Disney
moment.
Thanks for
reading my countdown … and have a Happy Valentine’s Day!
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