The ABC's of Disney movies, as told by me (J,K,L)

I’ve been such a slacker for my blog lately. I apologize! I’m just getting really busy with my schoolwork since the semester is winding down. I honestly believe that all the professors get together and decide to make everything due the same day, just to spite us. Anyway, to thank you all for patiently waiting, I will be doing (gasp) 3 letters today!

J –

The Jungle Book (1967)

I never really got into this movie as much as some of the others but I decided to include it since it is a Disney Classic. It has some really cute parts and my favorite character would have to be Bagheera because I think he’s a good down-to-earth character that is absolutely hilarious without even trying to be. Also, I don’t know why but I like Shere Khan’s voice. It’s really deep and commanding…it’s scary in a good way…makes him a more menacing villain.

Fun Facts:

This was the last movie to personally be supervised by Walt Disney.

The Vultures song "That's What Friends Are For" was originally written with Beatles-style beat, but Disney insisted it was changed, so as not to date it to the Sixties. It was rewritten as a barbershop quartet, to make it timeless.

Kaa the snake is a completely different character in the film than he is in the original book. In the book, he is a friend and advisor of Mowgli, and the one who rescues him from the monkeys. In the film, he is a villain bent on eating Mowgli.

Fun Quotes:

Mowgli: Oh, Baloo, I wanna stay with you.
Baloo: Certainly, you do.
Bagheera: Oh? And just how do you think he will survive?
Baloo: "How do you think he will... ” What do you mean how do you think he... He's with me, ain't he? And I'll learn him all I know.
Bagheera: Oh? That shouldn't take too long.

Bagheera: You wouldn't marry a panther, would you?
Baloo: I don't know. Come to think of it, no panther ever asked me.
Mowgli: [sees the girl] Look. What's that?
Bagheera: Oh, it's the man-village.
Mowgli: No, no. I mean that.
Baloo: Forget about those, they ain't nothing but trouble.
Mowgli: Just a minute. I've never seen one before.
Baloo: So you've seen one. So let's go.
Mowgli: I'll be right back. I want a better look.
Baloo: Mowgli, wait a minute.
Bagheera: Oh, Baloo. Let him have a better look.

K –

Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989 –Japan ,1998 – US)

This movie holds a special place in my heart. The songs are fun and it has a wonderful story line and I love that it’s full of adventure and magic. I know this may not be a “true” Disney film, but it was released in the US under the Disney company so I think it counts. It’s just a cute movie. I think I’ll go and watch it :)

Fun Facts:

During the zeppelin accident, the radio broadcaster says "Oh! the humanity". Those are the same words said in the Hindenburg disaster live broadcast by USA radio reporter Herbert Morrison in 1937.


The story takes place in an alternative 1950's Europe where WWI and WWII never happened. Miyazaki has been quoted saying that the fictional city of Kokiro has one side on the shores of the Mediterranean, and the other on the Baltic Sea.

Fun Quotes:

Jiji: [Jiji looks at his paws and around the room that is covered in flour] If you wake up tomorrow and find a white cat, it's me.

Kiki: Without even thinking about it, I used to be able to fly. Now I'm trying to look inside myself and find out how I did it.

L – There are an INSANE amount of good “L” movies! So, I’m just going to pick a couple.

The Lion King (1994)

I had had HAD to include this movie. It’s one of the most well-known and beloved Disney movies of all time. The musical score for this movie is beyond brilliant (Thank you Elton John and Tim Rice!) and the story is completely captivating. And I don’t know about anyone else, but I get so emotional just at the opening scene of “The Circle of Life.” Ahhhh I love it!

Fun Facts:

The plot-line is loosely based upon William Shakespeare's Hamlet; a story of a young prince whose uncle takes over the kingdom and marries the queen after killing the king/prince's father. After being away from home for a period of time, these events lead to the prince's plans for revenge. The prince receives some advice from his father's ghost. Also, during the scene where Zazu sings I've got a lovely bunch of Coconuts, Scar Has a skull in his hand.

Several character names are based on Swahili words: - Shenzi: Barbarous/Uncouth/Uncivilized/Savage - Pumbaa: Ignorant/Lazy/Careless - Sarabi: Mirage - Rafiki: Comrade/Friend - Simba: Lion/Courageous Warrior - Mufasa: reportedly the name of the last king of the Bagada people, who were dispersed during the English colonization of Kenya.

One of the bugs that Timon pulls out of a knothole during Hakuna Matata is wearing Mickey Mouse ears.

Fun Quotes:

Sarabi: Your son's awake.
Mufasa: Before sunrise, he's *your* son.

Banzai: Oh, Scar, it's just you.
Shenzi: We were afraid it was somebody important.
Banzai: Yeah, you know, like Mufasa.
Scar: I see.
Banzai: Now that's power.
Shenzi: Tell me about it. I just hear that name and I shudder.
Banzai: Mufasa!
Shenzi: Ooooh! Do it again!
Banzai: Mufasa!
Shenzi: Ooooh!
Banzai: Mufasa, Mufasa, Mufasa!
Shenzi: Ooooh!
[breaks into laughter]
Shenzi: And it tingles me!
Scar: I'm *surrounded* by idiots.

Timon: Let me get this straight. You know her. She knows you. But she wants to eat him. And everybody's okay with this?
[jumps up suddenly]
Timon: Did I miss something?

Runner-up
Lilo and Stitch (2002)

This movie is absolutely adorable and was really a lot different from the other movies before it since it has a realistic quality to it, aside from the fact that there are aliens and the like…I really like the message that is sent from the movie, though. It’s just a really cute movie.

Fun Facts:

There are several "hidden Mickeys" in the movie - one can be seen in the Grand Council scene, on Jumba's platform. Another can be seen as a logo on the shorts of one of Lilo's photographic subjects on the wall of her room.

All of the license plates in the film (VW, Nani's car, the fire engine, and Cobra Bubbles' car) are A113. The same as Mrs. Davis's plate number in Toy Story (1995), Mater's plate number in Cars (2006), and also used in many other Disney and Pixar films. It is a reference to a room number at California Institute of the Arts, where many of the animators at those two companies received their educations.

Fun Quotes:

Lilo: Did you lose your job because of Stitch and me?
Nani: Nah. The manager's a vampire. He wanted me to join his legion of the undead.
Lilo: I knew it!

Lilo: I got a new dog. His name is Stitch.
Myrtle Edmonds: That is the ugliest thing I have ever saw!
other girls: Yeeaahh!

Until next time,


HAVE A MAGICAL DAY!