Every Disney Bronze Age Film, Ranked By Box Office | ScreenRant
Back in the early days of Walt Disney Animation Studios, creating animated films was a lot more tedious than it is now. Part of that is because every frame had to be hand-drawn, painted, and animated and there are thousands of frames in a full length animated feature. Since it was so painstaking, there often wasn't an animated film released every year like there is now.
In order to keep track of the art styles of the different animated films, the Walt Disney Animation Studios decided to create eras, or ages, for a certain set of films. For example, films released between 1970 and 1977 were classified as the Disney bronze Age while films released from 1981 to 1988 are considered part of the Disney Dark Age.
Some Disney films during the Bronze age fared better than others with their audiences and box office earnings.
8 The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh (1977) - N/A
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh was the third film released during the Disney Bronze Era. This particular film is interesting because there are no recorded box office numbers for it considering the film actually consists of three Winnie the Pooh shorts that had previously been released.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh contains the shorts Winnie the Pooh and the Honey tree released in 1966, Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day released in 1968, and Winnie the Pooh and Tiger Too released in 1974. While there is no recorded box office number, it's safe to assume the film performed well considering the Walt Disney Company has continued to tell Winnie the Pooh stories.
7 The Black Cauldron (1985) - $21.2 Million
The Black Cauldron was released in July of 1985 making it the second film released during Disney's Dark Ages. The film currently has a lifetime gross of over $21.2 million at the box office. The Black Cauldron follows Taren, a young boy who dreams of being a knight, who must locate the magical black cauldron in order to stop the Horned King from creating an army of undead.
The film is the first Disney animated feature to ever receive a PG rating by the MPAA. It also held the record for being the most expensive film created at the time with a $40 million budget, double what it was projected to cost.
6 Robin Hood (1973) - $32 Million
Robin Hood was released in November of 1973 making it part of the Bronze Age. Adapted from the legendary story, Disney's Robin Hood turns the characters into lovable animals as Alan-A-Dale tells the story of Robin Hood and his determination to take down Prince John.
Robin Hood makes Disney history for being the first film to be produced without the help of Walt Disney who had died before production could begin. It's also notable for its animation style which included several recycled animation scenes from previous Disney films.
5 The Great Mouse Detective (1986) - $38.6 Million
Released in 1986, The Great Mouse Detective was the third film released during the Disney Dark Age and managed to bring in $38.6 million over the course of its lifetime release. The film is based on the children's book series Basil of Baker Street and tells the story of Basil, a mouse who works as a detective, who must figure out who kidnapped London's toymaker.
While The Great Mouse Detective is often overlooked by Disney fans, the film actually saved Walt Disney Animation Studios from going bankrupt after The Black Cauldron flopped at the box office.
4 The Aristocats (1970) - $55.6 Million
The Aristocats helped kicked off the Disney Bronze Age when it was released in December of 1970. The film has gone on to earn $55.6 million against a measly $4 million budget making it a commercial success. The film follows the life of four cats who are beloved by their wealthy owner. After learning that she is willing her fortune to her cats, the butler drugs the cats and makes them disappear.
The Aristocats is one of the last films that was approved by Walt Disney himself so it holds a special place in Disney history. Though the animation doesn't really hold up today, the story is still beloved by many Disney fans around the world.
3 The Fox And The Hound (1981) - $63.4 Million
The Fox and the Hound was released in July of 1981 marking the start of the Disney Dark Age. The film originally earned $39.9 million during its initial run at the box office and has since earned $63.4 million against a $12 million budget. The Fox and the Hound center on the unlikely friendship between Tod the fox and Cooper the dog who must put their animal instinct aside in order to be best friends.
The Fox and the Hound was previously the most expensive film ever produced before being dethroned by The Black Cauldron four years later.
2 The Rescuers (1977) - $71.2 Million
Released in June of 1977, The Rescuers was the fourth and final film released during the Disney Bronze Age. The film follows two mice, who belong to the International Rescue Aid Society, who must rescue a young orphaned girl from the evil Madame Medusa. During its initial run, the film earned $29 million and has since earned a lifetime gross of $71.2 million.
Another underrated classic, The Rescuers did perform well enough that Disney released a sequel to the film in the '90s. The film also holds the record for being the most profitable of the Disney Bronze age.
1 Oliver & Company (1988) - $74.1 Million
Oliver & Company was released in November of 1988 making it the fourth and final film released during the Disney Dark Age. It also holds the record for being the most successful of the Dark age and of the Bronze age with a lifetime gross of $71.4 million.
Inspired by the Charlies Dickens novel Oliver Twist, Oliver & Company reimagines the classic story with Oliver becoming a stray kitten instead of an orphaned boy in New York City. It was the first Disney animated film to rely heavily on computer animation though several scenes were still hand-drawn.