Disney's Dumbo is probably one of the studio's saddest animated movies ever made. Or, at least, Jumbo Jr. definitely has one of the most tragic backstories, especially considering that the movie is named after the cruel nickname given to the poor elephant.
Nevertheless, the movie was a critical and commercial success, helping Disney recover from its losses caused by Pinocchio and Fantasia. Even now, Dumbo is a beloved work of animation, but fans might also want to check out some similar Disney cartoons that feature anthropomorphic animals.
10 The Aristocats Focuses On The Importance Of Family (Both Blood And Found) Bonds (1970)
The Aristocats follows a cat named Duchess and her three kittens all of whom live with a retired opera diva. One day, they are kidnapped by the butler and left far from home. After meeting a stray cat willing to help, they set out to return back to their mistress.
The movie was a critical and commercial success, but what's particularly interesting is that The Aristocats was the last film project that was personally approved by Walt Disney himself before his death in 1966.
9 The Great Mouse Detective Is A Unique Twist On A Classic Tale (1986)
An engaging and thrilling detective adventure, The Great Mouse Detective perfectly captures the atmosphere of Sherlock Holmes stories. Based on a series of children's books, it follows a mouse detective who consciously emulates Holmes as he solves different cases.
A critical and commercial success, The Great Mouse Detective was the complete opposite of the previous Disney release of The Black Cauldron which was a failure. Moreover, this success set the scene for the next era in the studio's history - the Disney Renaissance.
8 The Fox And The Hound Is Equally Heart-Warming And Tragic (1981)
A lighthearted yet at the same time tragic story of The Fox and the Hound is the one that stays with many children because of the relationship that is at the center of the movie. A fox and a hound are expected to be enemies, yet they are friends in this movie.
Despite its mixed reviews upon release, the movie was a box office success and was notable for being the last project in which members of the Nine Old Men (Disney's core nine animators that made most of its classics) were involved. It was also a movie that gave a start to the new generation of animators such as Tim Burton, John Lasseter, and Brad Bird.
7 One Hundred And One Dalmatians Is A Fun-Filled Animal Adventure(1961)
Though a funny movie, One Hundred and One Dalmatians actually features one of the cruelest villains in Disney's history with Cruella de Vil wanting to literally use the furs of Dalmatian puppies to make coats.
Helping Disney recover from the financial losses of Sleeping Beauty, One Hundred and One Dalmatians was a critical and commercial success that eventually led to two live-action adaptations and yet another live-action spin-off coming this year.
6 Lady And The Tramp Balances Dark And Light Elements With Ease (1955)
Perhaps one of Disney's most romantic movies ever made, Lady and the Tramp tells the love story of a female American Cocker Spaniel Lady living with a refined family and a stray mutt the Tramp.
Though mostly negatively received at the time of its release, it was still a financial success and is now regarded as one of Disney's best works. In addition to that, it was also the first animated movie to be made with the CinemaScope widescreen process.
5 Bambi Is Somehow Tragic And Uplifting (1942)
By far the closest to Dumbo when it comes to tragic backstories, Bambi follows a young deer named Bambi and his friends growing up in the woods and coming of age as they encounter various challenges on their way.
Despite nowadays being viewed as one of the greatest movies ever made, Bambi initially opened to mixed reviews but went on to receive three Academy Award nominations.
4 The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh Is A Beloved Classic (1977)
Unlike other movies on this list, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is an anthology movie made up of the featurettes that were previously released by the studio. Additional footage was then created to link the stories together and create a feature film.
The animated movie has received universal critical acclaim and has developed into a media franchise with the characters appearing in different Disney works.
3 Robin Hood Is A Thrilling Adventure (1973)
Instead of simply adapting the stories of Robin Hood as they were originally, the studio used anthropomorphic animals for Robin Hood to stand for the different characters of the famous stories including Robin Hood, Little John, Prince John, and Maid Marian.
Despite being a box office success and receiving praise from critics initially, the movie's reputation has worsened over time. Yet, it is still a beloved classic with fans still watching and discussing it.
2 The Jungle Book Is A True Classic (1967)
Based on the famous book of the same name, The Jungle Book tells the story of a boy named Mowgli who grows up in the jungle and interacts with its various anthropomorphic animal inhabitants including Bagheera the panther, Baloo the bear, and Shere Khan the tiger.
The movie's soundtrack was particularly praised upon release and The Jungle Book was a huge success at the box office becoming the studio's second-highest-grossing animated movie both in the United States and in Canada.
1 The Lion King Balances Shakespeare And Family Entertainment (1994)
Perhaps Disney's most beloved and universally acclaimed movie to date, The Lion King was inspired by William Shakespeare's Hamlet and the Biblical story of Joseph and Moses and follows a lion cub named Simba who grows up and has to take on the thrown after his father's death.
The was a critical and commercial success earning two Academy Award nominations (out of four nominations) and becoming the highest-grossing animated movie at the time. It remains the highest-grossing traditionally-animated movie ever made.