The Disney Awards

I've always been a big fan of Award Ceremonies. I go to an Oscar party every year and I USED to try and see every movie up for major nominations. Now I just can't keep up. Why, you ask? BECAUSE I spend all my time watching DISNEY movies with my kids instead! There are several award-worthy moments in Disney land that make it OK for me to spend my time there. I'll lay them out for you, as determined by ME.


Best Picture
My choice of Cinderella as the all time greatest animated Disney movie is based on the music, the characters and most of all the story. I feel like Cinderella has affected our entire culture more than any other Disney movie in history. It has been copied time and time again in modern stories. It was their first great love story to trump the theme of dreams being wishes and wishes coming true if you just believe. That has been Disney's theme ever since. Honorable mention to my runner-up, Beauty and the Beast. It's the only New Disney movie that is the same quality as Old Disney.


Best Original Screenplay
Meet the Robinsons is an extremely clever story that is absolutely stuffed with unexpected twists and lovable characters. It handles a lot of important ideals like family, perserverance and loyalty. The quote at the end of the movie says it all: "Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long.We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious... and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney
Honorable mention: Lady and the Tramp


Best Adapted Screenplay
Most of Disney's stories are taken from another source and Disnified. My favorite of these is probably The Little Mermaid. The original story, I believe, was meant to be the last straw for a suicide case. Disney managed to take the most depressing story of all time and turn it into a magical fairy tale full of warmth and hope. All the characters are relatable and delightful, the music is incredible, and the villain is one of my all time favorites. Just generally a sensational production. Honorable mention: Sleeping Beauty.


Best Original Score
James Newton Howard knocks another one out of the park with this chillingly beautiful score. If you've never heard it, you're missing something special. Honorable mention: James Newton Howard's score for Treasure Planet. What can I say? The man's brilliant!


Best Original Song
This trophy goes to the timeless classic, When You Wish Upon A Star. When I think of Disney, this is the first song that comes to mind. It embodies all the magic, hope and purity that is quintessential Disney. Honorable mention: A Whole New World, Beauty and the Beast, Kiss the Girl, Reflection, Baby Mine, A Dream is a Wish, Colors of the Wind, Two Worlds One Family, Bare Necessities and Once Upon a Dream. So much amazing music over so many years!


Hottest Princess
I know Jessica Rabbit is supposed to be the hottest Disney Chick of all time, but I've always been a little turned off by her over exaggerated features and proportions. Now, after seeing her "untooned" at Pixaloo, she is just full on freaky looking. You'll want to follow that link and see what I'm talking about. It's pretty amazing. That said, I would like to present the Hottest Princess award to Esmeralda from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Not my favorite movie, but that chick is a total sex kitten! She's about the best proportioned of them all. Combine that with her exotic coloring and the fact that the girl can rotate her hips like Carmen Electra, and you've got one maddsexy princess. Honorable mention: Pocahontas and Cinderella.


Sexiest Prince
This is difficult, to be sure. But I do believe I'll go with Captain John Smith of Pocahontas. I just love his perfect square jaw, those crystal clear blue eyes, and seriously, I wouldn't have minded a few shirtless scenes. Ymmmm. Hey, it's not JUST for kids. We mothers have to watch this crap too! Honorable mention: Li Shang of Mulan.


Scariest Villain
Shanyu from Mulan. That freaky deep voice. Those beady, glowing eyes. That über evil agenda... This dude makes me wet myself. Honorable mention: The Queen in Snow White. That old hag is FREEAKY.


Favorite Villain
Captain Hook! The villain we love to hate! He is done so well in Disney's Peter Pan. Just the right balance of mean and funny; ruthless yet incompetent. He's a real threat, for sure. But you never feel like he could win. You always know the hero will conquer. Honorable Mention: Goob from Meet the Robinsons. If you haven't seen it, go out and watch it immediately. Goob has a nasty plan designed to mame and destroy, but he's also thick as a brick and incredibly loveable. I'm laughing right now just thinking of him.


Cutest Couple
I do believe the cutest couple is Aladdin and Jasmine. They look so good together, for starters. But it's more than that. This movie does a great job capturing all the feelings of young love. Like the way the sparks fly when he sees her for the first time, the way Aladdin describes her to the genie, and the way they both fall hard when they have an honest conversation. Even more, I love the way she hates him when he puts up an act and tries to be someone he's not. It's a great life lesson. Honorable mention: Jane and Tarzan! Those two have the kind of MADD chemistry that absolutely sets the screen on fire! They don't even kiss in this movie. They don't have to. Tarzan is so flippin intense; I love how she can't handle it and has to look away blushing. They're just adorable.


Funniest Sidekick
The sidekick is usually much appreciated comic relief. Point in case, the mice in Cinderella. They're so dang cute. But I believe the best sidekick would have to be one who stood alone, rather than in a pair or a group. The genie from Aladdin was my initial choice, but I decided his humor was too dated. In 10 years kids won't have any idea what he's talking about. So I went with the timeless Mr. Smee of Peter Pan. Everything about that character makes me giggle to this day. He's a priceless asset to one of my favorite movies. Honorable mention: Timone and Pumba from the Lion King.


Greatest Character
I believe the best character ever written by Disney is Pocahontas. Many of our Disney girls are strong and independent, but she is without the selfish teenage angst that so many of the others are plagued with. She's a born leader with amazing spiritual strength and intuition. She puts the greater good over her own desires. She's a very complicated, dimensional character, but still has the simplicity that comes with purity and selflessness. I think she's a great role model. Honorable mention: Belle of Beauty and the Beast.


Best Kiss
This is VERY difficult. I do love the kiss between Belle and the Beast. It's the way he plays with her hair and cradles her face and head. I have a weakness for that move. But I can't award it the number one slot because Adam is just too fugly. I can't get past it. So I'm going to vote for the kiss between Jasmine and Aladdin. It has all the sweetness and innocence that I love about Disney with a fair dose of passion to boot. I saw this movie in the theater. When it got to the kiss, my big brother belted out in his booming loud voice, "THAT'S A PRETTY HEAVY KISS FOR A G-RATED MOVIE." I would have died of embarrassment if I wasn't laughing so hard. Honorable mention: John Smith and Pocahontas. That, too, was hot.

I am interested in who YOU would vote best kiss. In addition to Aladdin and Jasmine, we have:

Belle and Adam
Meg and Hercules
Lady and the Tramp
John Smith and Pocahontas
Aurora and Prince Phillip
Ariel and Prince Eric
Snow White and the Dwarfs
*Be honest. I'm not going to judge you*



So who gets your vote? Are there any other Disney Awards that you feel have been left out of my award ceremony? Let's hear it. Only animation, no Pixar. GO.