Mulan

Length: 88 Minutes

I've seen this one.

Is it loyal to the book? Based on a poem. And there are quite a few differences.

Best character: Mulan! Title character for the win! She is strong, clever, brave, kind, and... based off a real person? Apparently, though legend might be a better term.

But is it art? The scope of this sucker is amazing. Several sequences are outstanding, but the scene of the Huns coming over the mountain ridge is chill-inducing. And the score? Tops.

Major Flaws: The sequel. Who thought that was a good idea? Also the official soundtrack doesn't have the movie version of 'Mulan's Decision', soundtrack people... you messed up.

The Magic School Bus

Length:  20 Minute Episodes (Nearly Complete set, missing Disc 1)

I've seen this one.

Is it loyal to the book? Although the TV series and the (original) book series don't sync up perfectly the series is very definitely in the spirit of the books and is one of the better 'for TV' adaptations.

Best character: Uh, hello. Miss Frizzle, she is one of my teacher inspirations. Take Chances! Make Mistakes! Get Messy!

But is it art? Fairly high-quality animation for syndicated children's television combined with a witty script make this a show that can be enjoyed by almost anyone.

Major Flaws: Really for what this show was trying to be there are no major flaws to speak of. Being a show about science it does have a couple episodes where the ill-effects of being a couple decades old show through. (Personally I also get kind of sick of Phoebe.)

The Lorax

Length: 86 Minutes

I've seen this one.

Is it loyal to the book? Artistically, yes. Narratively, not as much.

Best character: The Once-ler. Who has shades of grey in this fairly heavy-handed story. That is until...

Neon subtlety.

But is it art? Such. Catchy. Songs. It definitely looks like a Dr. Seuss work. But the story is not entirely... Seussical.

Major Flaws: Subtlety does not exist here. Nor do moral shades of grey.

The Lion King 2

Length: 81 Minutes

I've seen this one.

Is it loyal to the book? NOOOOOOOO. After The Lion King Disney actually wrote a follow-up series. Which they proceeded to ignore for this movie.

Best character: I actually really dig newcomers Kiara and Kovu.

But is it art? Not bad for a sequel. Gives us marvelous songs (one of those came for the story but stayed for the soundtrack sort of films); in fact it includes the incredible 'He Lives in You' aka The Clean-Up Song, aka My Ringtone, aka The Best Song in the Broadway Musical...

Major Flaws: Good Lord Simba, man up. You are not the king I know you would admire.

The Lion King

Length: 97 Minutes

I've seen this one... on occasion.

Is it loyal to the book? Not based on a book per se... Influenced quite a bit by Kimba (regardless of what Disney says), Disney's own movie Bambi, and Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Best character: HFIHRBNG

But is it art? YESYESYESYESYESYESYESYES. So it turns out that this is my favorite movie. You may borrow it but if it is damaged you will be buying me a brand-new copy. Capishe? I was too young for this movie's original theatrical run, but I was first in line for the 3D re-release.

Major Flaws: ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Kung Fu Panda

What do you mean that song is from a different movie? I thought it was from ALL movies?

Length: 95 Minutes

I've seen this one.

Is it loyal to the book? No book.

Best character: Shifu, Shifu, Shifu, Shifu

But is it art? I was not expecting big things from this movie. I ignored it. Then I rolled my eyes at the previews. I scoffed at the DVDs in the stores. Then I watched it. Holy. Dreamworks, I apologize, but if you hadn't advertised the darned thing as being Panda Shrek back in the day I might have bee more eager. After all pandas are my favorite.

Major Flaws: Besides the aforementioned advertising fail? There are a few instances of crude humor that I could have easily lived without.

The Legend of Korra: Books One and Two

Length: 24 Minute Episodes

I've seen this one.

Is it loyal to the book? No book, this is a sequel series to Avatar: The Last Airbender

Best character: Tenzin and Jinora are both awesome, wonderfully subdued characters in a show full of energetic fighters.

But is it art? Just like its predecessor this show has very high production standards and gorgeous artwork. I prefer the original series, but this one is much better than I thought is would be.

Major Flaws: Must there be a new objective every season? The original show was so much more focused, but I don't suppose that the exact same formula would be exciting either... I don't know what I want.

Legend of the Guardians

Length: 97 Minutes

I've seen this one.

Is it loyal to the book? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. No. It is supposedly an adaptation of the first three books in the series, but you get an entirely different story if you want.

Best character: Ezylryb, Soren, Twilight, Gylfie, Digger, I can't decide, just like in the books!

But is it art? It is gorgeous, if they'd have stayed true to the movies I might have gotten more, but noooooo. If you missed this in theatres in 3D I feel bad for you. Even my mother, who normally is meh about effects, was oohing and awing over how gorgeous this film was in 3D. The owls are so lovely and someone obviously did their research, just look at the way they move!!! And the music - chills. There is also a lot of social commentary going on (though it was pretty heavy-handed compared to the books).

LOOK.

AT.

IT.

Major Flaws: Like I said, I could have gotten more movies if they had stayed true to the books, I'm sure of it.

The Last Unicorn

Length: 93 Minutes

I've seen this one.

Is it loyal to the book? This book is on my TBR pile.

Best character: Molly Grue and that cat that I'm not sure had a name, but he is the most realistic cat portrayal in film, I'm certain.

But is it art? YES! Just look at that animation, inspired by medieval art and tapestries it looks exactly the way something set in that era should look. Also this may be animated but it is waaaaaaay darker than your average kids film. Hint: it isn't meant to be for kids. A word of caution, NOT for the immature audience there is a) a naked lady (but with the bits covered), b) an anthropomorphic tree with uncomfortably large breasts, and c) a harpy - a female harpy with three breasts. I mean I totally watched this as a little kid, probably through 5th or 6th grade even, and never noticed part c (granted the harpy terrified me and I usually made excuses to not be watching that part). Then in college I watched it again and, well, noticed. Three of them, just being anatomically all there and not afraid of the world.

Major Flaws: The song Now That I'm a Woman. It. Is. Grating.

Kung Fu Panda 2

Length: 90 minutes

I've seen this one.

Is it loyal to the book? No book.

Best character: It has been a while since I've seen this one, but I do like several characters including the newly introduced villain.  Shifu was my favorite in the first film and he still rocks, but Mr. Ping and Po are great as well.

But is it art? The fight sequences are stellar and the father-son moments are among the best that film has to offer. The backgrounds call Chinese art to mind quite well and if you know anything about Eastern architecture you won't be disappointed.

Major Flaws: Not enough Shifu. He's seriously one of my favorite animated characters ever, and the only one I ever wanted to just pick up and give a big hug.

Just look at him, he's so cute.

Kimba the Lion

Length: Haven't a clue Minutes

I've seen this one.

Is it loyal to the book? I don't think there are books.

Best character: Kimba.

But is it art? Consider this the unofficial inspiration for The Lion King. Disney will deny it until the company goes belly-up... but everyone knows it is true. Just look at these pictures and tell me any different.

There is a scene with a river that you can almost match up perfectly... but for some reason no one posts that.

Major Flaws: Certainly is early Japanese animation. Not really quite its own thing yet.

The Jungle Book

Length: 78 Minutes

I've seen this one.

Is it loyal to the book? No. Disney famously had people that hadn't read the book write the script after he didn't like the first one.

Best character: Bagheera is my favorite in both the book and the movie. In fact pretty much every incarnation of Bagheera rocks.

But is it art? It hardly gets any more classic than this. The backgrounds are gorgeous, the characters are memorable, and if you hear the songs and forget them forever you are an atonal robot.

Major Flaws: Not enough Shere Khan? Although maybe he is made more menacing by being the non-present.

Joseph King of Dreams

Length: 74 Minutes

I've seen this one.

Is it loyal to the book? Fairly loyal to the source material in the book of Genesis.

Best character: Joseph - I do love it when the title character turns out to be awesome.

But is it art? The animation is gorgeous in this film. The story is a great one and well executed - the songs are sometimes unnecessary though.

Major Flaws: Tried to be the Prince of Egypt but missed. Too bad, because I feel if it had done a little better maybe Dreamworks would put out more hand-drawn animation they had an amazing style.

Ice Age: Continental Drift

Length: 94 Minutes

I've seen this one.

Is it loyal to the book? No book.

Best character: I like Diego, because he is a saber-toothed cat and I dig those.

But is it art? None of the Ice Age films are going to be candidates for films to send out on deep space probes. But as sequels go (even compared to preceding sequels) it isn't bad.

Major Flaws: You spend a good chunk of the film wondering how many of these they're going to make.

Hotel Transylvania

Length: 92 Minutes

I haven't seen this one.

Is it loyal to the book? No book.

Best character: ?

But is it art? ?

Major Flaws: ?

Horton Hears a Who

Length: 86 Minutes

I've seen this one.

Is it loyal to the book? They've embellished a bit to make enough for a feature film.

Best character: I think the mayor is hilarious. But Morton the mouse is awesome as well. Ohmigosh I forgot about that vulture!!! Igor? Ivan? Somin' like that.

But is it art? Certainly went to prove that animated Dr. Seuss will always be better than live action *shudder*. Still has some really goofy moments that comes from having full-length movie based of a picture book.

Major Flaws: Nothing terribly major stands out as awful. I do think that the city council was a little unkind.

Hoodwinked Too! Hood Vs. Evil

Length: 87 Minutes

I've seen this one.

Is it loyal to the book? No book.

Best character: Probably Wolf. I guess... I don't really even know why I'm holding onto this one...

But is it art? It lacks the quirky charm that made the first one so utterly watchable.

Major Flaws: They tried to repeat the formula from the first film and failed. We aren't given any real reason to like this film...

Gnomeo and Juliet

Length: 84 Minutes

I've seen this one.

Is it loyal to the book? It is inspired by Romeo and Juliet... if you hadn't figured that out then you need a lesson in wordplay. Anyhow it somehow manages to not be entirely faithful. Weird.

Best character: Featherstone the lovesick flamingo. He is the funniest and the most sentimental character in the whole movie.

But is it art? This movie was a labor of love from Elton John and it shows. While not as technically polished as movies from the big name companies it has all the heart.

Major Flaws: That gnome in a g-string or whatever it is called will never cease to be painful.

An Easter Carol

Length:  49 Minutes

I've seen this one.

Is it loyal to the book? No book.

Best character: This one is a toss-up. I have a soft spot for almost any Scrooge incarnation, in this case Ebenezer Nezzer; I'm also quite fond of Bob the Tomato, taking on the role of Cavis in this film. 

But is it art? I like VeggieTales. They aren't high art. The animation isn't even particularly fine. They are fun though, and this film isn't short on the fun. But it still delivers on the serious side of things. This is my favorite Easter film, and the song at the climax packs an emotional wallop. 

Major Flaws: Tiny Tim stand-ins are almost always annoying. 

Ducktales

You sang it, didn't you?

Length:  22 Minute Episodes (Three Volumes)

I've seen this one.

Is it loyal to the book? Definitely in the spirit of the comics.

Best character: Gotta love the miser with a heart of gold - Scrooge McDuck.

But is it art? As far as I'm concerned this is among the pinnacle of anything an animated TV show can obtain.

Major Flaws: Doofus and Webby are two characters I'd rather forget.