The Rise and Fall of the Disney Renaissance

[@KazeTalks]

Here is the juggernaut of a video I've been working on this past month. It encompasses everything I love about the Disney Renaissance, but also all of its history, from its rise, to its downfall. I hope you all enjoy it ;) Also, if it's of interest to you, I have a patreon that you can support here: www.patreon.com/kazetalks Every little bit of financial support helps me a great deal in continuing to make content for this channel. I would love to do more videos like this, long form content that really dives deep down into its history and my personal journey, and so, if you want more content like this, consider supporting my channel. It's full of perks from having your name in the credits, behind the scenes content, or you can just donate 1 DOLLAR for early access to my videos in the future. But if it's not your thing, I totally understand and you can still support by liking, dropping a comment below and sharing my video / channel on social media. And you can follow me on twitter here: twitter.com/KazeTalks Thank you again to everyone for waiting this long on this video. It really is my most cherished video to date. Love you all!

[@nut4ku]

Mad respect for Howard! Disney always had "I want" songs since Snow White but it's only after The Little Mermaid and "Part of Your World" that that's been the formula ever since, thanks to Howard Ashman. The little mermaid, beauty and the beast and Aladdin's songs was written by Howard Ashman. Alan Menken is the one who composed the music. It's a shame that just few of disney fans that recognize and talked about him. He is literally the reason why disney is still exist now. Howard Ashman is a legendary lyricist who made Disney rise from its downfall and started the renaissance era of Disney, who recently returned from his huge career in musical broadway theater world that time. He is the one who directing Jodi Benson to sing Part of Your World. We all know that the original Part of Your World will always be the best "I Want" song in the entire disney universe. Not just because the nostalgia vibe but also Jodi Benson was really well and carefully directed by Howard Ashman, that even her breaths, stress and pause on each syllable are really well and gently cared for. When he directed Jodi, he always said "don't focus to the song, now you're telling a story". Howard isn't focusing of the song and what makes the song sounds good or what makes it a song but how it tells a story. That's why there are many imperfections in his song, because it's the main part of it. An important part of maintaining that type of reserved passion is also that Part of Your World does not change key. In the worlds of pop music and musical theater finishing off with a key change is a helpful tool for bringing songs to a heightened emotional level and when covering Part of Your World, some people have done exactly that but I don't really think that a key change is necessary because that wasn't the intent of the songwriters. Howard said that intensity is better than enormous in this song. In fact I think that's staying in the same key the whole time is what makes it work so well having it push and pull and eventually bring Ariel back down to where she started tells a story effectively it even ends with the same motif it began with showing the audience the life that she wants but then going back to the life that she has. You can know that Howard Ashman was a great lyricist that he can even tell a story from a song. He also made the song dynamically switching from singing to talking and vice versa but the transition between them is still unnoticeable. And it didn't happen once, literally he directed every songs in those 3 films. If you really search on youtube, there are many videos that show behind the scene of the songs making. Like in beauty and the beast, he directed Paige O'Hara the same way too. Just search "Howard Ashman demo" on youtube, you can see how may songs he sung really containt much emotion than current disney songs. Hard to believe that this beautiful song, Part of Your World, was almost cut from the movie. Jeffrey Katzenberg hated it and thought that it not only slowed down the movie but was boring. Howard fought hard to convince Katzenberg that this song belonged in the movie. And I'm glad he did. Disney renaissance is mostly known by their songs. Before the little mermaid project, Howard gathered the whole disney crew for a meeting. He tell about broadway history to all the crew and they all were impressed at him. Fun fact: Howard did much more than write the songs on this movie, he also brought on board Jodi Benson, directed her during this song, changed an English butler crab named Clarence to be a Jamaican crab named Sebastien, wrote the dialog in the scene where Triton gives Ariel her legs, and also produced the movie with John Musker. This is how Jodi's said to him kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6XEdo2bf9SkgZI After The Little Mermaid released and became a biggest success in box office, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken was going to make movie called Aladdin. They've come up with several of ideas and musical numbers but Jeffrey Katzenberg then dragging them to a new project, Beauty and The Beast. Unfortunately, Ashman passed away 6 month before beauty and the beast was released and that movie was dedicated to him that even in the credit scene you can see that they gaved him credit to honor him because of how important he was. After beauty and the beast released, Jeffrey then took away all of Ashman's idea and script, almost 99% of them. But sadly some of the songs were removed in the final film He is the one who bring the new element broadway musical to the movie. This is the bright spot where everyone started to watching to animated movies again, previously no one was at all interested in animated movies. That's why every single disney movie now has a song in it. Disney keep using this formula until now (but not as effective as in the renaissance) because it's Howard's legacy. You can tell how they respect Ashman that even in Beauty and The Beast credit scene, there's a statement to honor him "To our friend, Howard, who gave a mermaid her voice and a beast his soul, we will be forever grateful." Howard Ashman 1950-1991 No wonder why The Little Mermaid be the first disney animated classic who get an oscar nomination. Also Beauty and the Beast is Disney's 30th animated motion picture, a dedication to Howard Ashman before he had passed away and the only classic movie to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and Best Picture. He was the one who brought “I Want” song to another level! I Want song is literally every disney movies now. "In almost every musical ever written... the leading lady usually sits down on something... and sings about what she wants in life, and the audience falls in love with her and roots for her to get for the rest of the night." - Howard Ashman. He and his partner, Alan Menken, is the greatest duo that anyone have ever recognized in animated movie history. Also gain respect to Alan Menken, The little mermaid is actually his first score yet he can bring the magic with that scores. You can said that Part of Your World orchestra in the opening scene is the best choir you have ever seen and heard. Have you ever heard about the quote "There are three kinds of pianists: Jewish pianists, homosexual pianists, and bad pianists." -Vladimir Horowitz That quote actually referring to Ashman because he was Jewish and gay but still doesnt changed the fact that he really putted his care and love the the movies It's hard not to hear the parallels to his own life. To be a gay man in that day and age (and to be literally dying of AIDS) and to wrestle with that kind of longing, that kind of loneliness, that kind of confusion, that kind of self-hatred... The message comes loud and clear even when it's not sung by a mermaid. Tremendous achievement, brilliant man. RIP. I can't imagine how much more greater and better Disney would have been doing today if this great man was still alive. It hurts to actually wonder.

[@captainhowlerwilson508]

The 1990s from 1990 to 1999 was the most consistently great era for animation. The second Golden Age of not just Disney, but animation in general.

[@KazeTalks]

That is a great point. Japan was already doing it in the 80s, but the 90s had an enormous resurgence of masterful animation in the West. One of the best decades to grow up as a child.

[@captainhowlerwilson508]

@@KazeTalks I agree. Any decade post 1970s (the darkest era for animation) was mostly great with animation.

[@linesinmotion]

What an absolute BANGER of a video, my guy!!! Hope you're proud of this one!

[@KazeTalks]

Thank you so much Dani! I am indeed proud of this one 😄

[@simonang6890]

Bruh, I love the passion you put in your video. You're awesome.

[@wikiuser92]

This video is criminally underrated. And while Disney 2D animation never reached the same heights as this era, I think The Princess and the Frog was an excellent sendoff.

[@KazeTalks]

Thank you! This comment made my day 🥲

[@wikiuser92]

@@KazeTalks You're welcome, my fellow friend of Disney animation! Many of these movies contributed heavily to my childhood, with Aladdin being my favorite Disney animated movie of all time.

[@InksDoesArts]

The Hunchback disrespect broo nooo😭 In defense of Esmaralda's character, she feels alot more mature compared to other Disney Renaissance heroines. Like she's not a whimsical princess nor a quirky cottage girl (sorry Belle). She's an outcast, a member of an oppressed ethnic minority that lives on the outskirts of society, she uses her beauty to earn more money for herself and others even though she admits to Quasimodo that if she had skills like he has she wouldn't have to dance on the street. Still as she herself admits " I ask for nothing I can get by, but I know so many less lucky than I" shows that she is willing to give up anything for the safety and comfort of her people. Also her romance with Phoebus mainly serves a narrative purpose of contrast in the love.. square ig you can call it. Quasimodo sees Esmeralda as an Angel, a 'heavens light' if you will, Frollo sees her as a demon and temptation of the devil, Phoebus is the only one who sees her as an actual person. Also the argument of "there are to many songs" is just ridiculous, I'm sorryyy. The Hunchback has like one song more than Aladdin cmon. This is a musical, probably the best one out of the renaissance because all of them, because every song (with one exception) are essential to the story and move it along. There's a reason why The Bells of Notre Dame is in Alan Menkens own words: "the best opening number I've written for a film" or why Hellfire is considered to be one of the greatest villain songs in fiction. Sorry I really get frustrated when people hate on this movie, especially since it's easily the most underrated Disney renaissance movie, it seems almost forgotten sometimes. But yeah overall a great video, your view point in Esmeralda really intrigued me because I see where you're coming from. I really like hearing other people perspectives and opinions, it's quite eye opening sometimes.

[@KazeTalks]

Thanks for the words! I really like it when people defend this film, because even though I don't think it's anywhere near the best of the Renaissance films, the boldness and the potential it has outweighs many of the issues I have with it and thus is able to stand the test of time. Though, I will say this. The ending (which I mention in my video briefly) is top tier, got me pretty emotional, the soundtrack is OUTSTANDING, and I disagree with the criticism that the comic relief characters ruin this movie. I don't fully understand the criticisms of the latter. I think they are funny even and don't undo the seriousness of the film by any means. Thanks again for your insight!

[@atogon_art]

15:05 Lol, that conspiracy was really something

[@KazeTalks]

What conspiracy? I don’t know what you’re talking about… 👀 (sweats profusely)

[@tillerhandle352]

I haven’t watched the video yet, but I’d like to thank you for your hard work. Your videos have inspired me to be a better writer and artist which is something that I am forever grateful for. Your first video I watched was on A Silent Voice and it is thanks to that video that I’ve grown to love the film and anime as a whole. It is thanks to that growth as a person that I’m now able to fulfill my dream of becoming an English professor. I now teach college English as a graduate teacher and I am going to be writing my thesis on A Silent Voice next school year. So thank you for the inspiration and the hard work and thank you Kyoto Animation.

[@KazeTalks]

Wow, I’m out of words. I’m so happy I was able to influence you, truly. I really hope you get to not only achieve your dream, but also conquer it. Wish you all the best in your personal journey! 🙂

[@ferzemkhan1993]

This was an absolute banger! The research, the clip selection, the editing, it was all amazing, great job! And I feel the same way about these movies, especially the Lion King- every time i rewatch them i fear that they might not be as good but i end up loving them even more.

[@KazeTalks]

Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🙏 And yeah, The Lion King is truly goated

[@daydream_music]

this video was absolutely amazing! really love how you went in depth in talking about each movie, the aspects that made them great to you, and the visionaries behind them! this is probably the best video documentary you've made yet :)

[@KazeTalks]

Thank you so much! That really means a lot to me 🥲

[@adamrattray4954]

I haven’t even watched it yet but I know it’s going to be a banger. Thank you for all your hard work, it’s greatly appreciated.

[@KazeTalks]

Thank you! That means a lot :)

[@briannalaberge]

YES I’M SO IN LOVE WITH LION KING!! my absolute favorite, I love seeing someone else be so in love with it😌😩💗🫶🏼

[@DylanR_97]

That was amazing! I've been watching a lot of Disney renaissance content here lately and this video really stands out, great job man

[@KazeTalks]

That means a lot to me, seriously. This was a very special video to make and I’m so glad people are connecting with it 🙂

[@Aurora-Welch]

0:31 The lion king was the first film me and My twin sister saw in theaters cause it re-released.

[@TwisterTH]

18:17 & 20:26 - heck yeah for more posing, man! Honestly, love the video, every time I see a video of appreciation for animation media as an art, it just warms my heart.

[@KazeTalks]

Haha, thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed my video (and my posing) 😄

[@siddhantbagchi4131]

Amazing! Absolutely fantastic! Just no words man. I can't believe that I did this, but i just shared this video to like almost all of my friends, cuz that's just how much I feel like this deserves to be seen. I hope you find joy in knowing that I enjoyed every second of this and getting to be a part of it thru ur community posts, just makes the experience even better. Absolutely worth the wait :) ☺️

[@KazeTalks]

Omg, thank you! I’m speechless… 🙏 Hopefully your friends like it too 😄

[@lukehuber5032]

Great video!!

[@KazeTalks]

Thank you! 🙂

[@lugail46]

it's unbelievable to think how animations way before i was born were still such a big part of my childhood and how it effected me. Thanks for letting us go trough this nostalgia trip together with you and experiencing all of it again

[@KazeTalks]

For sure. I even grew up with animations that had been done 50 years prior. It all affects us in some way. Thank you for your comment and kind words 🙂

[@koro-san9662]

I was waiting for this from your community posts lol

[@KazeTalks]

Haha, tried my best to keep everyone informed. Leave a comment and lemme know what you thought 🙂

[@nicolascangele5548]

Aladdin Lion King Hunchback Hercules and Tarzan stand out

[@astrahcat1212]

33:25 What made the golden age of Disney? It was COMPETITION. Don Bluth worked with Steven Spielburg to release An American Tail and The Land Before Time, and that pushed Disney to make better films. It's kind of like how America was best when it had Soviet Russia to compete with, or how you have Intel and AMD push each other to make better CPUs, but when you have no competition, or when the competition really both aren't trying so hard (Pixar and Dreamworks both stopped trying together), you have a lowering in quality. I think of anime int he 90s and 2000s being pushed to the next level because of, for example, Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli. You could see after Studio Ghibli's films more deep foresty, emotional and spiritual series like The Vision of Escaflowne (or even games like Final Fantasy being inspired by Nausica) for example come about. It's a healthy sense of competition without a complete monopoly in entertainment that push film, games, etc... to their next level. Today, in AAA gaming and in film, we have gigantic studios that don't compete with each other but kind of just laze about and have anti-competitive practices like for example....Sony's offices I think I read once are located in the same building as IGNs, so they all know each other, hang out, have coffee and drink boos at night, and they can kind of laze about and are probably semi-nihilistic in that they don't see any reason to make quality entertainment when they can rake in tons of profit for making mediocrity.

[@IdealX-fr4eg]

When Disney still had a Soul. Great times..

[@chadhawksworth6028]

A Goofy Movie feels more like a Disney Rennisance movie than The rescuers down under . I understand why you didn't mention it

[@KazeTalks]

Agreed. Although The Rescuers Down Under was massively important due to the use of CAPS. So while not as memorable, it played a massive part in what would happen with almost all of the Disney Renaissance films

[@stevensampson5823]

@@KazeTalks, I consider The Rescuers down under the end of the dark age.

[@stevensampson5823]

The Lion King is my favorite disney movie, and my favorite movie period.

[@PrinzFifty]

awesome！

[@KazeTalks]

Thanks! 🙂

[@kennywohl1061]

The Black cauldron is the Movie that's responsible for Nearly Bankrupt the Disney Studios and the Little Mermaid is the movie that saved the animation Department

[@captainhowlerwilson508]

Why is it odd for some of these princesses in those movies to not have character arcs? They clearly didn’t need one and their development already happened off screen as shown by their surroundings. These are what you call flat character arcs, where they mostly stay the same person from beginning to end and overcome some challenges that only help them understand and be who they are.

[@DreamyDawnMusic]

Do you have a list of the music you used? :) Its amazing! Goes so well with this video

[@GhostEmblem]

I think Tarazan had plenty of musical numbers that were amazing including the I want song in "strangers like me" but it did lose them afterwards.

[@Sweat8686]

Esmeralda would be the least interesting female character of the era?! Blasphemy!

[@captainhowlerwilson508]

I have got to disagree with you on Esmeralda. She is not bland at all and has some flaws that cause her to get in some trouble, but also because she doesn’t just think for herself but for everyone else around her who are outcasted like herself and Quasimodo. She has just as much depth as Ariel, Belle and Jasmine, probably even a bit more than at least one of them. Unlike Pocahontas who has little to nothing interesting about her and feels way too mature and not flawed enough.

[@Sweat8686]

Belle and Jasmine don't have an arc because they're not the main chacters of their stories, it's as simple as that. The latter's film is named Aladdin, so that's pretty obvious!

[@KazeTalks]

I wasn't necessarily criticising, I love both Belle and Jasmine and they are great characters in the films that they show up. I was just mentioning that with Meg, even though she wasn't the main character of Hercules, she had a character arc and that was refreshing to see with a female character. And then we saw it again with Mulan, only this time with the protagonist, which was also great.

[@GabrielEmilCortez]

wow, the Hunchback of Notre Dame slander

[@Gh-mm4vi]

Why are you slandering Tarzan. That’s literally one of the best movies of the renaissance. Doesn’t matter if the characters sing or not cause they still portrayed it better than having their characters burst into song every 4 minutes.

[@nicolascangele5548]

Beauty Beast Pocahontas Mulan are okay

[@etiennejung8389]

I was 30 when I watched Lion King and I hated it!

[@astrahcat1212]

I love smaller growing channels with great content, and I'm leaving this comment here to boost your stuff. __b

[@KazeTalks]

Thank you! I really appreciate it 🙂