Non-Disney Musicals

Some of the best nostalgic songs that aren't Disney.

Being in this world, Disney is considered one of the best and most famous animation companies. It's still going decently, strong is an overstatement for the present. Also, I'm a '90s kid who grew up on a lot of Disney. What about other animated musicals from other studios? Even movies that just have one song in them but aren't musicals? If it's not Disney it tends to be easily forgotten by most or mistakened for Disney. So, here are some great songs from animated movies, not all are musicals that aren't Disney.

This is not a top 10 list and these are categorized by type. The categories are: ballads, villian songs, dance/chorus numbers and end credits. It's one per film and I had to limit myself to two max per category. Also, the more obscure ones get picked first. Here goes!

-Ballads-

Soon You'll Come Home-- All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989)

This song is touching and beautiful. The music in this movie wasn't always the best ever. This song is deffonitely one of the best in the long since discontinued movie soundtrack. Also, the solo by the child caracter is not always done well. Sometimes when characters who are children sing they either sound like adults or have annoying, breathy voices. This song makes Anne-Marie sound like the little girl she is flawlessly. (Judith Barsi, Anne-Marie's voice actor didn't sing this song)

Tell Me Lies-- Cats Don't Dance (1997)

This is a jazz ballad un-like most carahter female solos. That jazz flare to it makes it less generic. Still, this whole movie tends to be unfortunately easily forgotten. It's a strong musical with an interesting plot line. (sorry for the crappy video quality I couldn't find the movie clip and this was the only original cast version I could find on youtube)

-Villan Songs-

Toxic Love-- Ferngully (1992)

This song isn't particularly threatening but deffonitely entertaining. Hexxus is such an over the top villian that you can't help but just be drawn to him. Tim Curry has a perfect voice for this caracter.

In the Dark of the Night-- Anastasia (1997)

This is one of the best villian songs of all time. I know Anastasia isn't particularly easily forgotten but it's not Disney. There are arguably better animated villians than Rasputin but this is a pretty fantastic song either way.

-Dance and Chorus Numbers-

Heaven's Eyes-- the Prince of Egypt (1998)

This song is truly inspiring and the only song in this movie besides "Playing with the Big Boys" that won't make anyone cry. It's more of a solo but it's a dance number and montage at the same time. The hebrew chorus in this song and almost every other song in this movie is a nice, unique feature.

the Wishing Star-- Wakko's Wish (1999)

This is the only direct-to-video full length Anamaniacs movie. It's truly easily forgotten and great for any Anamaniacs fan. Most people just think of the fantastic TV show when they consider Yakko, Wakko, or Dot. Also, this is a musical with some really good numbers.

-Miscelanious-

Bright Eyes-- Watership Down (1978)

Besides that this song is truly depressing, it's an interesting way to illustrate all the death in the movie. This song was performed by Art Garfunkel and it fits perfectly in this beautifully animated movie.

the Spark Inside Us-- the Princess and the Goblin (1994)

This song gets credit because Curtie is a little boy, he sings like one too and not badly. It's also a simple song with simple ideas. It's done well.

-End Credits-

If We Hold On Together-- the Land Before Time (1988)

This is considered by some to be the saddest song in animated history. It's deffointely inspirational and touching. Either way, it fits the story really well and Diana Ross has the perfect voice for it.

Flying Dreams-- the Secret of NIMH (1982)

This is one of the best songs of all time in an animated movie. Not only the credits are pretty to look at, the music just makes it beautiful.

Honorable Mentions (any other non-Disney animated movie with at least one memorable song in it)
-Raggedy Anne and Andy: a Musical Adventure (1977)
-the Last Unicorn (1982)
-An American Tail (1986)
-Rock-a-Doodle (1992)
-Once Upon a Forest (1993)
-Thumbelina (1994)
-the Swan Princess (1994)
-a Troll in Central Park (1994)
-the Theif and the Cobbler (1995)
-the Pebble and the Penguin (1995)

So, I hope I didn't forget anything and I hope you liked this. For more music I reccomend my Top 10 Sad Songs list.

Comments

thank you! I'm glad you don't mind.

But it was kinda funny to read "deffonitely" as unintentional as it was. That's how it must sound in a hip-hop song, def, def.. ~lol Youngins today seem to spell words like how they sound in songs. Well we're all here to connect with the good old retro days, so though correct spelling is appreciated it still does not lessen the meaning of the experiences of the one who wrote it to me anyway.

It's not so bad like people are saying. You talked about a good deal of movies. Any way Retro Jerk has never posted an article so no one can critique his style. Maybe he just gets his jollies being the Jerk of retro junk.

I've never heard of that. I think I'll check it out. Thanks for being nice.

The anime movie version from the 70s of "Jack and the Beanstalk" has lots of awesome songs, I would recommend you check out that movie, it's for sure a twist away from Disney's regular stuff.

Well this artcile could have used better spelling and structure but I won't be hard like others, keep trying and improving, before you know it, you'll be doing fine.

Also, RetroJerk, what I meant about singing like a little boy in that one song post. Sometimes songs sang by characters that are meant to be children are actually sang by adults or by un-trained children. That's what I meant and I know I could'ave explained that better.

I make no excuses and give no reasons that could be mistaken as excuses. That is, unless they want to be heard. Either way, thanks for being tactful. That is all I have to say.

I'm in total agreement with RetroJerk above me; the spelling, grammar and sentence structure is absolutely deplorable. The Animaniacs sentence had me scratching my head and re-reading it to make sure that was the way it was actually and not my Dyslexia getting the better of me. Another gripe is that you use "this" or "this song" to refer to an entry far too often, usually to start sentences. In fact you used a variant of the above in every entry. Any sixth grade English teacher worth their salt would tell you that is a major no-no in writing.

In the future use spell-check and try reading it out loud to yourself before submitting. I would expect far better from a 19 year old and if your article were presented to me for grading I would give you an F and assign you a tutor.

I'm amazed that the score isn't in the negative.

Im sorry, but this article is horrible. Not only does it echo every other bad list article by not saying much at all about the entries, you manage to make what little you DID say excruciating to read. Here's an example "It's truly easily forgotten and great for any Anamaniacs fan." What does that even mean? And that's just one example, each entry seems to have a confusing statement or two. "This song gets credit because Curtie is a little boy, he sings like one too and not badly." So the song is only good because the character is a child? And you like it because the child sounds like a child? So confusing. But the worst part about this article is the atrocious spelling. Did you even bother to proofread this before submitting it for the world to see? But then again, if you've gone 19 years on this planet thinking that "deffointely" is a word then maybe you did proofread it.

Ah, Hexxus! Possibly one of the scariest animated villains of all time! And I agree, Tim Currey has a great voice. Furngully was based on a series of children's books by a lady Austrailian author, and so it takes place in Austrailia. It also teaches us a lesson about taking care of our only home planet and not letting greed get the better of us. That's why I like the message at the end: "To our children and our children's children". "Toxic Love" is a pretty cool song though. And thanks for adding The Secret of NIMH, one of my favorite animated movies, based on one of my favorite books. I'll have to see Cats Don't Dance and Wakko's Wish some time. And the little girl who sung the song for ADGTH has a beautiful voice, very touching song too.

I limited myself to one per film for a reason, trust me Anastasia was a tough decision. Also, yes, I know I can't spell. Believe me I was trying.

Good list, but I think one of the songs from Anastasia should've made the list too...

Great list, but spell check. There are many time were you spelt "definitely" and "character" wrong.

HELL YES XD

Oh yes, Toxic Love is hypnotizing. I guess that's the power of Tim Curry.

that was spelled wrong??? hell, i guess u live and learn.......

I can't get over the fact that you typed "deffonitely"...

Man I loved the Anastasia song. Did you know that its actually not Christopher Lloyd singing? I cant exactly remember the details tho

thank you! I'm glad you liked it, even though you don't like musicals. XD

It's a good article, I'm not a fan of musicals but that's beside the point. Also you mention Watership Down; one of my favorites from a long time ago. Anyway, what I like is that you've got good descriptions broken up with videos.