The Post-Renaissance Era: Part 2 - 2002-2008

The Post-Renaissance Era: Part 2 - 2002-2008

The time has now come to head on into the second phase of the Post-Renaissance Era.

Walt Disney Studios

Treasure Planet

Based on the novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Planet was the first Disney film to be released simultaneously in regular theaters as well in IMAX format.  Ron Clements and John Musker originally pitched the idea for Treasure Planet at the same time they pitched the idea for The Little Mermaid.  James Newton Howard composed the score and John Rzeznik wrote the songs.  The voices of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Martin Short, and Emma Thompson are featured in the film.

Walt Disney Studios

Treasure Planet follows cabin boy  Jim Hawkins and his obsession of the legendary Captain Nathaniel Flint.  Jim goes on an intergalactic treasure hunt after stumbling upon a map to Flint's secret treasure trove.  Along the way, Jim befriends several alien-like creatures that help him on his journey.

Walt Disney Studios

Despite it's critical praise, Treasure Planet was a box office flop.  Granted, it did release the same weekend as Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and The Santa Clause 2.  Despite all of that, it still holds a 70% score on Rotten Tomatoes.  Treasure Planet was released in November of 2002 with a run time of 95 minutes.

Walt Disney Studios

Brother Bear

Brother Bear was the final film to be primarily produced at Disney MGM-Studios in Florida.  After the success of the Tarzan soundtrack, Disney decided to bring back Phil Collins to compose the songs for the film.   The film premiered at the New Amsterdam Theatre where Collins performed "No Way Out" and Tina Turner sang "Great Spirits."

Walt Disney Studios

The film tells the story of Kenai, whose brother has recently been killed by a bear.  Kenai tracks down the bear and kills it, which angers the Spirits that watch over the Earth.  As a punishment, the Spirits change Kenai into a bear.  Before he can be a human again, he has to learn how to see through another's eyes and understand the meaning of brotherhood.

Walt Disney Studios

Similar to more obscure Disney films before it, Brother Bear was praised by critics for its animation but criticized for it's story line.  Brother Bear, just like Treasure Planet, also had several other top films released at the box office to compete with in November of 2003.  A direct-to-video sequel was released in 2006 called Brother Bear 2.

Walt Disney Studios

Home on the Range

Home on the Range is the 45th film from the Disney studios and the last 2D film they produced.  It features the voices of Rosanne Barr, Judi Dench, and Cuba Gooding Jr.  The music was composed by Alan Menken and featured vocals by Bonnie Raitt and k. d. lang.

Walt Disney Studios

Set in the Old West, Home on the Range focuses on a trio of mismatched dairy cows.  Maggie is super adventurous and brash to everyone she meets.  Mrs. Caloway is the prim and proper one of the group and the ditzy one is Grace.  To save their farm from foreclosure, the cows work together with the other animals to capture the cattle rustler.

Walt Disney Studios

Once again, the plot of Home on the Range was highly criticized by critics.  Other critics claimed comedy was off and wasn't appropriate for a children's movie.  Home on the Range  was  released in April 2004 with a run time of 76 minutes.

Walt Disney Studios

Chicken Little

Based on a story by Mark Dindal and Mark Kennedy, Chicken Little was the first film to be released in Disney Digital 3-D.  It was the Studios first fully computer animated film, as they only distributed Pixar's films at the time.

Walt Disney Studios

Chicken Little follows its titular character as he sends his little town into panic by claiming, repeatedly, that the sky is falling.  He's unable to find the piece of sky that hit him so they town people exile him.  Trying to redeem himself, Chicken Little tries to redeem himself by playing in and winning a crucial game for the town's baseball team.  However once another piece of the mysterious sky falls on him again, Chicken Little must convince the town he isn't crazy and an attack from a UFO is imminent.

Walt Disney Studios

When it premiered in November of 2005, Chicken Little became the first Disney animated film to debut at number one at the box office since Dinosaur.  Yet again, critics love the animation while being indifferent about the story line.  Chicken Little features music by John Debney and has a run time of 81 minutes.

Walt Disney Studios

Meet the Robinsons

Loosely based on the children's book by William Joyce titled A Day with Wilbur Robinson, Meet the Robinsons was the first film released after John Lasseter became the chief creative officer of the Studios.  The film features the 1953 short Working for Peanuts before it premiered in theaters.  Meet the Robinsons features music by Danny Elfman.

Walt Disney Studios

Meet the Robinson is about boy genius Lewis who's plans for his recent invention has been stolen by Bowler Hat Guy.  It's then a young time traveler named Wilbur Robinson appears and takes Lewis away in his time machine.  Lewis spends the day with Wilbur and his family in the future where he loves a fun secret about the Robinson family.

Walt Disney Studios

Starting to break the mold of the films before it, Meet the Robinsons was praised for it's animation as well as its deeper depth to its story.  Meet the Robinsons was released in March of 2007 with a run time of 94 minutes.

Walt Disney Studios

Bolt

Bolt is considered by many in the film industry as well as fans to be the film that helped launch the Disney Revival Era.  The film helped the Studios move into a new direction of film making which featured both amazing animation and classic Disney storytelling.  Bolt was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film, and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.

Walt Disney Studios

Bolt centers on the title character who's a famous dog on a television series.  Having spent all his life on the set, he thinks he actually possesses super powers.  When Bolt thinks its human, Penny, has been kidnapped, he jumps into gear and set upon a journey to rescue her.

Walt Disney Studios

Bolt features the voices of John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, and Malcolm McDowell.  It was released in November 2008 to mostly positive reviews.  The film featured music by John Powell and has a run time of 96 minutes.

Now that we've covered all the films in the Post-Renaissane Era of Disney Animation, it's time for you to tell us which one is your favorite!  Tweet us your favorite film to  @TMKBpodcast!

Robyn Fleenor is a contributing writer for The Mouse Knows Best Podcast. She is an avid Disney
fanatic and would rather be at Walt Disney World eating glazed almonds than anything else.  When
she isn't working to pay for her next Disney vacation, she likes to binge watch TV shows and fall in
love with fictional characters. She can be found tweeting at @rahrah6263.