Disney Renaissance
The Disney Renaissance is a time period of ten years (1989-1999) in which Disney would release many of it's most beloved animated films of all time. After the death of Walt Disney in 1966, there was a steady decline in the quality of Disney animated films. For the next couple of decades, films like The Aristocats (1970), Robin Hood (1973), The Fox and the Hound (1981), The Black Cauldron (1985), and Oliver & Company (1988) were met with mixed to negative reaction. In the 1980's films from Don Bluth were outperforming Disney films. An American Tail (1986) had outperformed The Great Mouse Detective (1986). The Land Before Time (1988) and Oliver & Company (1988) were released the same day, November 18, with The Land Before Time performing better. Eventually, Roy E. Disney convinced then-CEO Michael Eisner to let him oversee the theatrical animation division of the company.
Films
- The Little Mermaid (1989)
- The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
- Beauty and the Beast (1991)
- Aladdin (1992)
- The Lion King (1994)
- Pocahontas (1995)
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
- Hercules (1997)
- Mulan (1998)
- Tarzan (1999)
Post-Renaissance
Following the release of Tarzan in 1999, Disney would have hit-and-miss performances. Movies like The Emperor's New Groove (2000), Lilo & Stitch (2002), The Princess and the Frog (2009) would be well-received while films like Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001), Treasure Planet (2002), and Home on the Range (2004) would have a more negative reception. In recent years, however, films like Frozen (2013) seem to be signaling a sort of "Neo-Renaissance" for Disney.