Each era ofDisneyhas a selection of gems that stand out among its catalog and the 2000s are no different. It was also Disney’s last foray into 2D animation for its feature-length movies, with the company beginning to experiment with 3D, which would then become the norm in the 2010s onwards.
Related:Best ’90s Disney Movies
Each movie from this era is distinctive from one another, with varying animation styles, messages, and tones. A lot of memorable characters were introduced, including a brand-new Disney Princess in Tiana from The Princess and the Frog, and Stitch from Lilo and Stitch, who has since become a popular Disney mascot. If you’re looking for some nostalgia, these are the best Disney movies of the 2000s.
6Meet The Robinsons
Meet the Robinsons’ main character is Lewis, a young inventor who lives in an orphanage. After numerous failed interviews with potential adoptive parents, Lewis begins working on a machine that will enable him to locate his birth mother.
Wilbur Robinson arrives from the future to enlist Lewis’ help, and takes him in his time machine, where Lewis meets the bizarre Robinson family. A key message that the movie discusses is to “keep moving forward” and not dwell on the past, and it also has a positive adoption message as Lewis finds a family where he belongs.
5The Emperor’s New Groove
When conceited emperor Kuzco is accidentally turned into a llama by Yzma and Kronk, he meets Pacha, who helps Kuzco to find his way back to the palace, with the condition that Kuzco doesn’t go forward with the plan of building Kuzcotopia on Pacha’s village.
Having been isolated in his palace, Kuzco is indifferent to the needs of his people, but by meeting Pacha and his family, he learns to take others into account. By the end of the movie, he matures, though he is still his playful self. The movie has a strong message, eccentric characters, and great humor that makes it one of the 2000s best.
4The Princess And The Frog
Disney’s last feature-length adventure into 2D, The Princess and the Frog follows Tiana, a hardworking young woman with a dream of owning a restaurant of her own. When Prince Naveen is transformed into a frog by Dr. Facilier, he asks Tiana to kiss him, under the impression that she’s a princess.
Related:Best Animated Disney Characters
Unfortunately, as Tiana isn’t a princess, she is cursed tobecome a frog too, and the two set off on a journey together, hoping to become human again. One of the movie’s highlights is seeing the relationship between Tiana and Naveen develop as they try to find Mama Odie, with their differing personalities complementing one another. Keith David’s performance as the evil Dr. Facilier is memorable, particularly during the song “Friends on the Other Side,” and makes the characterone of Disney’s best villains.
3Treasure Planet
When Jim Hawkins finds himself in possession of a mysterious map that shows the location of Treasure Planet, he boards the RLS Legacy ship alongside Dr. Doppler to seek out Captain Flint’s hidden treasure. Unfortunately,the hired pirate crewhave their own plans, hoping to swipe the treasure for themselves.
Treasure Planet has an excellent cast of characters, including the no-nonsense cat-like captain Amelia and John Silver, a cyborg with conflicting motivations who becomes like a father to Jim over the course of the movie. Silver’s speech to Jim about how “you got to take the helm and chart your own course” is a poignant message that you’ll remember, and it’s made all the more exciting with its backdrop of aliens and pirates.
2Atlantis: The Lost Empire
Atlantis: The Lost Empire follows Milo Thatch, who has always dreamed of discovering the ancient city of Atlantis and is finally able to when he joins an expedition to find it. The crew seems to align with Milo’s plans at first, but Milo soon learns that they have nefarious intentions, hoping to covet Atlantis’ precious crystal and sell it for profit.
While exploring the city, Milo meets Kida, a princess who lived there thousands of years ago. Together, they protect the city, and Milo decides to stay with her once Kida’s people are safe. The movie leans more mature than most other Disney titles, as it is notably not a musical, and also explores heavier themes like anti-capitalism. Atlantis is one of the more underrated Disney movies, but deserves recognition for its intriguing new direction.
1Lilo & Stitch
When Experiment 626 escapes Dr. Jumba Jookiba’s captivity, he finds himself in Hawaii, where he is eventually adopted by Lilo and her big sister Nani, the two believing him to be a strange dog.
Lilo quickly becomes attached to Stitch, though Nani struggles to maintain custody of Lilo, as Stitch causes trouble at her job while the United Galactic Federation attempts to capture him. The movie has a heartwarming story about family that resonated with a lot of people, as Stitch finds a place to belong with Lilo and Nani, even though he originally felt lost and sad. Stitch himself has also become a beloved mascot, thanks to his endearing appearance and character arc.
