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The Walt Disney Company has been through many eras. Its most famous, the so-called “Disney Renaissance,” spanned the breadth of the 1990s. This period was marked by instant classics like Hercules, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid. The studio’s animation department flourished as it produced hit after hit. What followed is informally dubbed the “post-renaissance.” These films tend to be less known and rarely fall into the beloved musical comedy niche, but they’re no less remarkable than their predecessors.

In fact, it can be argued that one of the early post-renaissance Disney works should qualify as part of the animation studio’s Renaissance lineup. Brother Bear hit theaters at the beginning of 2003’s holiday season. Like its early relatives, the film is a musical comedy with lush visuals and a compelling story. By the end of its theatrical run, Brother Bear pulled in $250 million against its $46 million budget,...

Heartbreak always hits harder in children's movies. Audiences expecting a feel-good story are sometimes shocked by unexpectedly heavy themes. But just because the content is intended for children does not always guarantee it will be a fun-filled adventure.

The sudden death of a popular character can shift the entire mood of a film. Themes such as abandonment or the loss of a friendship can turn any upbeat kids' movie into a bittersweet one. While most movies for kids have happy endings, that does not mean the characters can always avoid tragedy. From classic animated Disney films to live-action book adaptations, many movies made for children are sure to make viewers cry.

Updated on January 14, 2025, by Arthur Goyaz: Not every children's movie is completely lighthearted and laid back. There are many family-friendly stories out there that will make both kids and grown-ups burst into tears with their tragic moments. This list...

Disney has had a complicated relationship with sequels but a few stand out as the best Disney direct-to-video sequels. While the studio's most recent follow-up film, Frozen 2, became the highest-grossing animated film of all time, not every sequel has been given the same high-quality treatment. During the 1990s and 2000s in particular, Disney decided to capitalize on its most popular theatrical releases by giving them direct-to-video sequels and prequels.

Though this format led to lower production costs, it also led to films of lower quality. Because of this, many of the Disney sequels that skipped theaters feature cheaper animations, poorly fleshed-out stories, and subpar voice work. Some even cobbled together episodes of television series. Despite this, not every Disney direct-to-video sequel was bad. It's worth noting that these sequels only include films based on a theatrically released Disney animation. This means the films in franchises like Winnie the Pooh...