All 56 Walt Disney Animated Classics: Ranked From Worst To Best

47. The Rescuers Down Under (1990)

Maybe I'm cruel, but I just don't get the appeal of The Rescuers. I certainly don't see how they managed to squeeze out a sequel, but there's no arguing with the fact that the little mice have their fans.

The production values on the sequel are a high point, but the story lacks impact and was clearly a conscious (cynical) attempt to cash in on America's short-lived obsession with Australia. It came too late, and there's something of a disconnect between the easy charm and the more problematic, adult decisions (like the villain and the violence) that doesn't quite sit well with the young audience too.

Yes, it looks pretty, but under the surface there are lots of problems.

46. The Three Caballeros (1944)

Adored more for its technical prowess than its artistry or substance, The Three Caballeros is one of Disney's weirder releases, coming once more from the Second World War period of austerity and other focuses that made Package Films the order of the day.

This is more how package films should be made, in contrast to just buckling unfinished things together, as it was a truer reflection of the studio's creative impulse. For all of the cultural ignorance (and the odd decision to make Donald Duck horny), the films are abstract delights that can be watched in wonder, even if they're pretty disposable.

The Three Caballeros is a production of ideas, and there are certainly interesting ones in there. It just doesn't really have the legs to compete for longevity with the features.