Before a warrior chose her path… Before a young lion became a king… Before a beauty tamed a beast… Before a street rat unleashed a genie… There was a little mermaid. And for a generation of ’80s and ’90s kids, there will never be a “cinematic universe” to rival the one that began on November 17, 1989: the “Disney Renaissance.”
In fact, few studios ever accomplish what Disney did in the ’90s when – for a full decade – the studio released an unbroken streak of box office blockbusters earning universal critical acclaim and literally defining a generation. The Disney Renaissance is today remembered as a high water mark for Disney (and for animation) that’s unlikely to ever be matched; a time when Disney’s heralded return to the world of fairy tales, fables, and folklore produced some of the most heart-wrenching, powerful, generation-defining, and timeless films ever.
In fairy tales, there are a few tried-and-true conventions you can count on… good triumphs over evil; villains get their comeuppance; wishes come true; love conquers death; a kiss breaks the spell… you know, real “happily ever after” stuff. But the Disney Renaissance could not have happened without the turmoil that came before. There is no dawn without the darkness before, so if you haven’t, be sure to jump back to our Disney Renaissance, Part I Special Feature – a sort of must-read prologue to the story.
After all, today, we’ll jump in right where we left off: just as a newly-assembled dream team of leaders, animators, storytellers, and songwriters prepared to take the biggest gamble in Disney’s recent history: to return to the animated fairy tale genre that Walt himself had created with Snow White fifty years earlier…
This article and hundreds more are available for Gold and Platinum Members who help support this ad-free, clickbait-free, quality-over-quantity collection with a monthly membership. Park Lore Members can access more than a hundred Member-exclusive articles, unlock rare concept art and construction photos in every story, stream audio across the site, tune into podcast exclusives, and receive an annual member card and merch in the mail!
If you choose to join Park Lore’s community of Gold and Platinum Members, you’ll instantly unlock this story (and of course, a lot more). You can learn more about joining and supporting Park Lore (and browse all the available Extras and Special Features) in the “Memberships & Perks” menu above. If you can’t afford a Pass, please contact us; we’ll make some magic happen.
Log In ​or Join Now