Disney‘s “weird period” brought about some of the best and most underrated movies, but not all of them have the same strengths and impact. When Disney shifted their focus to 3D animation, they moved their attention to the Burbank studio. However, they didn’t immediately shut down Disney’s Florida Animation Studio. According to legend, between 1998 and January 2004, the studio was given free reins to create what they wanted, which heralded a period of experimentation.

Fans of Disney have coined the term the “weird period” to describe this period between Disney shifting their focus to the Burbank studio and Disney’s Florida Animation Studio shutting down. “Weird period” films were produced either solely or largely by the Florida Animation Studio. They defy the previous norms of Disney films in their animation style, narrative, and tone. However, some of these films continue to be cherished, with movies like Mulan and Lilo & Sтιтch getting Disney live-action remakes, while others have fallen to the wayside.

7

Mickey’s House of Villains (2002)

A Villainous Frame Story With Cartoons

In 2002, Disney released a film called Mickey’s House of Villains, which shows the villains following Jafar’s plan to take over the nightclub on Halloween. While the movie is entertaining and easy to watch, Mickey’s House of Villains is the worst movie from Disney’s “weird period,” as it offers nothing creative or new. It takes the format of Mickey’s House of Mouse, which shows cartoon shorts in between a frame story. Unfortunately, all the shorts were reused in House of Villains, and the frame story just isn’t very good.

Most of the villains’ characterizations don’t quite fit their original personalities, feeling slightly flatter. The film also has a whole group of princesses, princes, and heroes who could’ve gotten involved in the climax of the frame story. Instead, Mickey and the gang do everything except for Aladdin giving Daisy the magic lamp. It feels like the writers and animators could have done so much more with the characters.

However, two big things save this movie from just being middling and forgettable. Mickey’s House of Villains includes the song “It’s Our House Now,” which is as well animated as it is fun to listen to. Additionally, Jafar gets to be a great villain again after the flop that was Aladdin: The Return of Jafar.

6

Brother Bear (2003)

A Transformation Story About Love And Compᴀssion

One of the most unappreciated Disney films of all time is Brother Bear, which follows an Inuit young man named Kenai who gets transformed into a bear after he needlessly kills one. He then gets stuck helping a young bear cub named Coda. Brother Bear is a beautiful movie that deserves so much more praise and attention than it gets.

The relationship between Kenai and Coda is heartwarming and emotional. The film challenges societal atтιтudes about masculinity, showing that love and compᴀssion are masculine traits. The directors of Brother Bear also took their team to Alaska to ensure accuracy, and they consulted with a Yu’pik scholar named Angayuqaq Oscar Kawagley to get the tribal language right.

Despite all these good elements, Brother Bear does have quite a few flaws that rank it lower than other movies in the “weird period.” Even though Kenai and Coda feel fully fleshed out, the secondary characters of the film feel underdeveloped. The movie could have been better if everyone felt as three-dimensional as the lead duo. The story is also simple and predictable, while other movies from this era feel more experimental and complex. Lastly, the soundtrack isn’t nearly as compelling as Tarzan. For these reasons, it falls low on the list.

5

Tarzan (1999)

An Adventure Story About Survival And Chosen Family

In 1999, Disney released the final film of the Disney Renaissance, Tarzan. The movie follows a baby who apes adopt after his parents get killed by a leopard named Sabor. He must then figure out his place in the world when British explorers arrive to study the apes. Tarzan is often lifted up as one of the animation studios’ best movies of the era because of its gorgeous animation and the beloved Disney soundtrack by Phil Collins. The movie also deserves credit because it pushes the traditional format and narrative, making it feel fresh.

Despite these strengths, Tarzan is one of the weaker movies within Disney’s “weird period.” The movie isn’t that impressive if the soundtrack is removed from the equation. The characters are fairly two-dimensional, making it hard to connect with any of them. The relationship between Tarzan and Jane feels rushed and shallow, which makes Jane’s decision to stay in the jungle with Tarzan less impactful. Tarzan’s story also has inconsistent pacing, making some moments extremely compelling while others are boring.

Lastly, Clayton, the hunter villain, is deeply forgettable to the point that he almost never appears in the Disney Villains franchise or merchandising. He’s not even two-dimensional; he’s one-dimensional. Unlike other villains, Clayton isn’t funny, charismatic, or relatable. It’s easier to care about Sabor, the leopard who has no personality and very few scenes.

4

Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

A Sci-Fi Adventure Story About A Underwater World

The movie Atlantis: The Lost Empire is considered one of Disney’s biggest animated critical and commercial flops, failing epically at the box office. However, this film has gained a cult following since then, and it’s actually a great movie upon reflection. Like other movies in Disney’s “weird period,” Atlantis pushes the boundaries when it comes to the style and story. The animation blends together the traditional Disney style with that of comic books and anime, with the directors citing Miyazaki as a major influence.

The story also feels like a Dungeons & Dragons campaign come to life, with characters who possess contrasting personalities having to work together to achieve a goal. They bounce off one another perfectly, enhancing the humor. There’s a sense of adventure throughout the entire film. Atlantis: The Lost Empire also includes a well-developed setting, as the тιтular underwater world feels fully developed.

Despite this, Atlantis falls in the middle of the pack when it comes to Disney’s “weird period” because of the movie’s pacing issue. The story has a great set-up and builds consistently over time until the characters arrive in Atlantis. At this point, the movie plateaus for a while. It does eventually get back on track, offering a good climax and ending. However, the switch feels jarring at times. Additionally, Atlantis: The Lost Empire suffers from the same thing as Tarzan – a one-dimensional villain who is simply forgettable.

3

The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)

A Zany Transformation Comedy About Compᴀssion For Others

The Emperor’s New Groove was a great way for Disney to start off the millennium, and it exemplifies Disney’s “weird period.” The story follows a selfish emperor named Kuzco, who gets turned into a llama by Yzma – a power-hungry ex-member of his administration. He must enlist the help of Pacha, a villager who he snubbed at the start of the film, to transform back into a human. The story is funny, weird, and experimental. There’s zero focus on romance, which was unusual for Disney films up to that point.

The Emperor’s New Groove also rejected the musical movie style for which the animation studio was known, opting instead for a fun score and an original song called “My Funny Friend and Me.” The humor is top-notch. The voice actors on the project enhance the film as well, with Patrick Warburton and Eartha Kitt standing out as Kronk and Yzma.

The film has very few flaws. Perhaps the themes could’ve been given more time to feel more impactful. Ultimately, it ranks lower than Mulan and Lilo & Sтιтch not because of its weaknesses, but because of their superb strengths.

2

Mulan (1998)

A Princess Story About Honor And Acceptance Of Oneself

The movie Mulan started Disney’s “weird period,” which is obvious through the blending of tradition and innovation. The story follows a тιтular young woman who pretends to be a man so she can take the place of her father in the war, hoping to earn honor for her family. With the help of Mushu and Cricky, she helps fight off the Huns. Keeping with tradition, Mulan is a musical movie that heavily features a love story.

However, it also diverged from previous films in many ways. Although she’s considered a Disney princess, Mulan pushed the norms by including a non-royal, empowered young woman as the lead character. The story focused on Chinese culture and history rather than continuing to re-tell Euro-centric fairytales. Mulan’s character arc is also abnormal because it explores the themes of femininity, masculinity, and gender roles.

The 1998 film also excels when it comes to the supporting characters, in which many Disney films fail. Mushu, Ling, Chien-Po, Yao, the Grandfather, and even Cricky feel like well-rounded characters with unique personalities. They each add humor and emotion to the story, which elevates the central narrative. Additionally, the core message about embracing yourself for who you are stands the test of time, making Mulan relatable almost three decades later.

1

Lilo & Sтιтch (2002)

A Sci-Fi Story About Grief, Healing, And Family

Although the others are great, Lilo & Sтιтch is, without a doubt, the best movie from Disney’s “weird period.” The film follows a strange young girl named Lilo who has lost her parents to a car accident and is struggling to adapt to life with her sister/guardian, Nani. Believing him to be a dog, she adopts an evil alien named Sтιтch, who is on the run from the intergalactic court. The movie Lilo & Sтιтch is narratively and visually the perfect representation of Disney’s “weird period.”

Rather than continuing to show unrealistic body types, the movie pushes back by presenting people of all shapes and sizes. Lilo is weird and macabre, has odd interests, and thinks differently than everyone around her. This makes her highly relatable. Lilo & Sтιтch also shows that families can exist in different structures – a message that feels progressive compared to most Disney films. The narrative explores important themes, like grief and family, that resonate with both adults and children.

The creative team also put great attention to detail when depicting the Hawaiian culture and language, with the ᴀssistance of Nani’s actor, Tia Carrere (via CinemaBlend). The story and characters are also completely original, rather than pulled from a book or show. This sets it apart from other “weird period” films. Ultimately, Lilo & Sтιтch feels like a love letter to every kid who ever felt like an outcast, which is exactly the audience that the “weird period” set out to reach.