365+ movies in 365 Days: Day 99 - Aladdin

For today's film I revisited a Disney classic, Aladdin. Aladdin was Disney's 31st feature film and the third film in the Disney animated renaissance of the 1990's. The film is notable for featuring Robin Williams as the Genie. This is the first time Disney used a major celebrity to to star in one of their animated films. And it is William's appearance that dates the film more than any other Disney movies from this period.

Williams recorded all of his dialogue, ad-libbing much of it, and then the artist drew the scenes based on Williams performance. Williams included references to Groucho Marx, Jack Nicholson, William F. Buckley and Rodney Dangerfield. These images cause the film to be like one of those old Merry Melody cartoons where they featured stars of the day who are not as relevant any more. That being said, the Genie is the best thing in the film. The film also contains one of the most magical side kicks the folks at Disney ever invented, the flying carpet. Through the magic of animation they gave a piece of carpet expressions and movement as lively as any other character in the film. 

The animation itself is excellent and Disney used computers to assist with some of it. The songs are by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman (who died during production) and Tim Rice. Only six songs are used in the film and they work well without stopping the film in it's tracks. The film is entertaining without being up to the standard set by it's predecessors The Little Mermaid and Beauty And The Beast.