During Radio Ronin a couple weeks ago I talked about Disney+ and some of the original and archive shows I am looking forward to watching. Last week I wrote about the Disney+ original content I am excited to watch. I touched upon everything from The Mandalorian to Lady and the Tramp, because there really is some good original content on day one, which will just get better over time.
But, when I made the decision to pay for Disney+ I did based solely on the Disney Vault, not on the original content. The original content is really just a bonus. I’ve wanted access to the Disney Vault for years — well, decades! The thought of having every animated feature film from Snow White to the most current Toy Story 4 at my fingertips just excites me. I’ve been reluctant for years to convert my Disney collection from VHS to DVD/Blu Ray because I always felt something better would come along and make that obsolete. I’m glad I waited because I don’t see how another service like Disney+ making it obsolete.
Now there is much more content to the Disney Vault than just their feature films. You’re going to find the original Disney Channel content, Walt Disney wildlife documentaries, all of the original movies like Flubber, Apple Dumpling Gang, Gus, etc. I am sure I am forgetting a number of things — the archived list is extensive. But, after combing through the hundreds of Disney Vault films and series — I’ve made a list of the specific ones I’m excited to binge.
And, there are some AWESOME ones.
Now, I didn’t include the animated features, because — well — I’ve excited for all of those. Well, okay, most of them — I’m looking at you Atlantis, Chicken Little and Home on the Range. So, if you’re a fan of Disney princesses, lover of animated toys or animals — I’m sorry. But, I have a list chock full of Muppets, lightsabers, Don Knotts and cartoons. You can’t go wrong with that kind of combination.
Let me be your guide of MY top ten most anticipated Disney Archive films and series on the day one schedule.
1. The Star Wars Saga
Did you really think there was anything else I was looking forward to watching? Is there a more profound saga that has affected and impacted society for the past 40+ years more than Star Wars? If you say X-Men or Marvel, I’m sorry we can’t be friends. Seriously, don’t even think it — it’s Star Wars. I have the whole saga on DVD — which is saying something because I absolutely HATE to spend money on DVDs — but, I love the thought of having even easier access to the movies through Disney+ on pretty much any device I want.
Isn’t technology great?
And, to top that all off, the fact that Disney+ will be home to a numerous spinoffs like The Manadorian and Obi Wan Kenobi makes every penny worth the expense in my book. I feel like a kid again and I can’t wait to see what Disney+ has in store for all us Star Wars fans.
2. Flight of the Navigator
I am SOOOOO excited for this movie! Which more than likely will be overlooked by many, but I absolutely loved it when I was a kid! It had a profound effect on me as a kid. It’s one of the (many) reasons I fell in love with the paranormal, specifically with UFOs. I kinda freaked me out as a kid, but I really grew to love it.
The story centers around a 12 year old kid that is abducted by aliens on the 4th of July, he is subsequently returned eight years later without aging or realizing he was abducted. The spaceship — which ended up crashing — reunites with David after both being captured by NASA and they go about trying to get him back to his own time. There’s a lot more to the story, but I don’t want to give away EVERYTHING — just watch the movie.
This will definitely be one of the first movies I watch once Disney+ launches on the 12th. It’s a fun movie for pretty much the whole family — and, heck, it even stars Sarah Jessica Parker, so there’s that. It’s worth the watch, trust me.
3. The Disney Afternoon
Being a 90s kid — I grew up on The Disney Afternoon block. It was a natural progression for me as Disney moved Adventures of the Gummi Bears, DuckTales and Chip n’ Dale Rescue Rangers moved to this new afternoon time block that aired on Fox. Other shows like TaleSpin, Darkwing Duck, Goof Troop, Aladdin and a number of other shows joined the block over the seven seasons Disney and Fox collaborated on the programming.
Among all of the shows that parked themselves during the Disney Afternoon time slot there are well over 850 episodes coming their way to Disney+ — 852 to be exact. That’s pretty much my entire childhood! Now do you see why I am excited about Disney+?
4. The Great Muppet Caper
I was bummed by the recent news of the cancelled Muppet series starring Josh Gad. I am a HUGE Muppet fan who’s eager for a Muppet project to actually stick — not just on Disney+, but in general. Muppets Tonight and The Muppets were duds compared to The Muppet Show (which aired 120 episodes over five seasons) and I am hoping that Disney+ is that vehicle that will give us more than 20 episodes before being yanked off the air. But, that’s probably a post for another day.
I am just really excited that — most — of the Muppet film library is included in the initial launch. I say, most, because it’s missing Muppets Take Manhattan, which probably has something to do more so with the failed Josh Gad project than anything else. I wouldn’t expect it to be missing for too long, because all of the other Muppet films are in the day one library.
Now, you’re probably wondering why I went with The Great Muppet Caper over other movies like The Muppet Movie, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island (which I’m not as big of a fan of as others are) or even the newer Muppet movies — well — it’s the best Muppet movie in my opinion. The movie focuses on the Muppets travelling to London to stop a jewel heist. I love everything from the plane ride to London to Happiness Hotel to the whole game of keep away in the museum between the Muppets and the thieves. Simply put, it’s pure Muppet gold.
5. The Apple Dumpling Gang
There are a number of Disney “gimmick” comedies from the 1960s/1970s that I am looking forward to watching, but probably known more than The Apple Dumpling Gang. Why — this movie? Well, like a number of the previous movies — I grew up on it. There’s a lot of nostalgic memories associated with this movie, especially since The Disney Channel played this movie a lot in their early years.
But, besides the nostalgic element, I really love the comedic duo of Don Knotts and Tim Conway. It works. Especially for two comedians who’s styles were rooted in ineptness. And, to think that Don Knotts’ character was the “smarter” of the duo is saying something — which really works in my opinion. It’s all classic Disney gimmicks and comedy which I can’t wait to introduce to my nieces and nephews.
6. Escape to Witch Mountain
I should note — this is NOT the 2009 Dwayne Johnson version of the show. This is the original and definitely one of my favorite Disney movies of its’ era. The paranormal story follows two siblings, with psychic abilities and can communicate together telepathically, who are placed in an orphanage and subsequently discover their extraterrestrial origins. The two then rendezvous to Watch Mountain where they meet up with their uncle to leave Earth on a spaceship.
I loved the movie as a kid in the same breath of Flight of the Navigator. Sure the latest remake has a lot better cinematography, explosions and The Rock, but like most movies — the originals are usually better. Which this one definitely is, sorry ladies.
7. The Shaggy Dog
Probably the granddaddy of the Disney gimmick movies. Released in 1959, Shaggy Dog stars Tommy Kirk, Fred MacMurray and Kevin Corcoran — all Disney staples during that era — and follows a young man (played by Kirk) as he is cursed by a ring that causes him to shift into an Old English sheepdog with typical Disney shenanigans before Kirk is able to break the curse. If this plot sounds familiar Disney remade it in 2006 with Tim Allen.
There isn’t anything too spectacular about The Shaggy Dog, I mean, I do really like it. But, more than anything it really is that first movie in a string of Disney comedies that defined the 1960s and 1970s. There is something very comforting to them and something I can see myself throwing on during sick days or even a slow weekend afternoon.
8. The Love Bug
Back in 1983 when Disney launched The Disney Channel they aired a lot of their original movies — much like they’re doing now with Disney+ — because they didn’t need to spend money on a lot of original content. So a lot of my early memories of The Disney Channel were watching the old Mickey Mouse Club episodes, animated feature films and the Love Bug. Yes, the Love Bug.
Why that stuck over the many other Disney movies — I wish I knew? It could have been that my mom had a Volkswagen — albeit red — just like Herbie. And, it wasn’t just The Love Bug — Disney, as Disney does, milked every ounce of sequel they could from Herbie as they also had Herbie Rides Again, Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo and Herbie Goes Bananas (not to mention the 2004 remake). Needless to say they’re all simply fun whimsical films that star a number of Disney staples like Dean Jones, Michele Lee, David Tomlinson, Buddy Hackett, Helen Hayes and Don Knotts — to name a “few.”
I will always love The Love Bug regardless of how ridiculous the premise of an anthropomorphic Volkswagen beetle might seem. The comedic geniuses throughout the series are reason enough to watch.
9. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Disney has created some controversy with Miracle on 34th Street. It’s not so much that Disney bought the rights to it with their purchase the of 20th Century Fox studios, it’s that they replaced the Fox logo with the Disney logo on the beginning of the credits of the movie. Many of complained — and argued — that Disney is rewriting history with the logo replacement. Are they or aren’t they? Eh. It’s the same movie.
Miracle on 34th Street is simply a classic — something I make a point of watching each year along with It’s A Wonderful Life, A Muppet Christmas Carol, A Charlie Brown Christmas and Home Alone. Sadly not all are included on Disney+ — not to mention don’t get me started on the Home Alone reboot that’s in the works for the platform. Gross.
But, wax me nostalgic, I’ll definitely be streaming this film within the first week or two of the launch.
10. X-Men: The Animated Series
I’m not a superhero movie fan. There are many reasons for that — namely I hate reboots and that’s all superhero movies have been for the past 10-15 years. But, of all of the superhero franchises the most I’ve — tolerated — the most has been X-Men (well except for maybe the last 3-4 movies, overkill). And, that probably has more to do with the fact that I grew up watching the animated series on Fox. I wonder if I would have more of an interest in Marvel and DC Comics if I was more into comic books at that young age — but that ship has sailed.
I love the animated series and I have many memories of sleepovers with friends where we’d watch it Saturday morning after a night of playing Mortal Kombat on the Super Nintendo (the one video game I didn’t actually suck at, thanks to playing it hours upon hours at the arcade). As a kid I love the thought about having superpowers — like I think every kid does — so I think I was naturally drawn to the animated series. There’s no doubt that I’ll be bingeing the 76 episodes sooner than later with or without my nieces and nephews.
What do you think? Did I get it right? Did I rank certain films or series too high, or too low? Which original content are you looking most forward to come November? Let me in the comments below!
