We Calculated the Best Animated Disney Musical Soundtrack Ever
We Did the Math, and The Answer Might Surprise You
UPDATE 2022 — Added Encanto!
Frozen II, the 58th animated feature released by Walt Disney Animation Studios, was one of the biggest hits of 2019. By our calculations, it is the 35th film from the Disney Animation catalog that qualifies as a musical. And that got us thinking…which animated musical is the best?
But what qualifies as “best”? Heck — what qualifies as a “musical”? Or a “song” for that matter? And who are we?
We’re Daniel and Rachel, two siblings who live in Los Angeles & Orlando, (each keeping an eye on one of our Disney parks). We both were intrigued by the prospect of finding an answer to this question, so we put aside all the other unimportant things we have to do in life to take The Journey to discover the best Disney animated album.
You’re Welcome.
First, we decided upon a rating system.
THE RATINGS
After playing around with different numbers, we decided to rate each song from each Disney Animated Film on a 1–7 scale. We then averaged these points to figure out the film’s score. We made the tiebreaker total points because more good songs equals a better album, don’t you think?
Ratings are based on overall song quality — music, performance, and lyrics^, as well as catchiness, originality, and something we’ll call “re-listenability”.
If you want to take a listen and judge for yourself, just click on the movie title of each film below & it’ll take you to its soundtrack on YouTube! If you want to take a break from the article to take a listen, Be Our Guest!
THE POINT SYSTEM
[7] Timeless Classic
[6] Excellent
[5] Catchy
[4] Enjoyable Enough
[3] Just Okay
[2] Forgettable
[1] Should Have Been Left Off The Album
Films are sorted by their average song score, with the tiebreaker being total points. After all — the more songs the better!
Next, we had to clarify which movies & songs were eligible for our list.
THE QUALIFICATIONS — MOVIES
*Must be 100% Animation (Disqualified: Mary Poppins, Enchanted)
*Must be under the Walt Disney Animation Studios label. (DQ’d: Coco, A Goofy Movie, Nightmare Before Christmas, Return to Neverland) Click here for more information on sub-studios.
*Must Have Had a Theatrical Release (DQ’s: Pocahontas II, The Return of Jafar, almost all sequels)
*Must be a Narrative Feature. We have excluded Anthology/Package films. (DQ’d: Saludos Amigos, Fantasia, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh — which was a group of already-released shorts strung together)
*Must have at Least 3 Songs (DQ’d: Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmatians, Bolt)
THE QUALIFICATIONS — SONGS
(1) Must have Lyrics. Score is not included.
(2) Songs sung by characters with non-words/gibberish are fair game. (OK: “Trashin’ the Camp” from Tarzan, “Whistle Stop” from Robin Hood)
(3) Must be longer than 30 seconds (DQ’d: “The Clown Song” from Dumbo, “I’m Late” from Alice in Wonderland)
(4) Must be featured in the film. What does this mean?
(4a) Songs in the credits do count. (OK: “True to Your Heart”, “If I Never Knew You”).
(4b) Songs on the soundtrack only or in the trailer only do not count. (DQ’d: “Never Smile at a Crocodile” from Peter Pan)
(4c) Covers made after the film’s release do not count. (DQ’d: Disneymania Songs)
(5) Must be an original song created for the film. (DQ’d: “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” from Chicken Little — written in 1966, “Reindeers Are Better Than People” from Frozen II — was created for the original Frozen, “Kids of the Future” from Meet the Robinsons — a cover of “Kids in America”).
(6) Songs sung by an offscreen entity / narrator are fair game (OK: all Tarzan songs, all Brother Bear songs, “Circle of Life”, “The Aristocats”.)
(7) Reprises do not count as a new song, but will be merged with the original song. These are denoted by an asterisk (*). If a song from the film is “reprised” in the credits, we will only judge the original version as sung by characters (Hercules’ version of “Go the Distance” rather than Michael Bolton’s.)
DISCLAIMERS
^Many of the older songs on this list contain lyrics that may be considered to be culturally insensitive (such as “The Siamese Cat Song”, “What Makes the Red Man Red”). Commentary on these lyrics is an interesting topic, but is best saved for another blog. For our purposes, songs with culturally insensitive lyrics will be judged musically only.
*Again, these ratings are the result of the authors’ personal opinions. Feel free to debate in the comments! That’s part of the fun!
GOT IT?
It’s time to go Into the Unknown and see which albums belong Fathoms Below, which have Something There and which can Go the Distance!
THE RANKINGS
34. BAMBI (1942) — 1.25 / 5
Music by Frank Churchill & Edward H. Plumb
- Love Is a Song [1]
- Little April Shower [2]
- Let’s Sing a Gay Little Spring Song [1]
- Looking for Romance (I Bring You a Song)[1]
Consensus: Just because we can doesn’t mean we should. (Translated: Just because a movie is animated, doesn’t mean it should be musical.) The songs in Bambi are absolute garbage. Avoid this album at all costs.
33. THE RESCUERS (1977) — 2.00 / 8
Music by Carol Connors, Ayn Robbins & Sammy Fain
- The Journey [2]
- The Rescue Aid Society [1]
- Tomorrow Is Another Day [1]
- Someone’s Waiting for You [4]
Consensus: This collection of bleak ballads (and one off-key marching tune) fits with this extremely dark movie, but a good listen this is not. This isn’t even cover-worthy material. Lana del Rey maybe.
32. CHICKEN LITTLE (2005) — 2.33 / 7
Music by Various
- All I Know [3]
- One Little Slip [2]
- Stir It Up [2]
Consensus: Disney’s answer to Shrek was a film with a soundtrack that relied too heavily on recycled pop hits, all of which were disqualified from this list. The three remaining original songs are atrocious.
31. WINNIE THE POOH (2011) — 2.38 / 19
Music by Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez & Zooey Deschanel
- The Tummy Song [4]
- A Very Important Thing to Do [2]
- The Backson Song [3]
- It’s Gonna Be Great [2]
- Everything Is Honey [3]
- Pooh’s Finale [2]
- So Long [2]
- The Winner Song [1]
Consensus: The genre and instruments feel right, but the songs just feel wrong. It’s a disastrous first outing for the Lopezes, who would later impress with the Frozen films.
30. THE FOX AND THE HOUND (1981) — 2.67 / 8
Music by Stan Fidel, Jim Stafford & Jeffrey Patch
- Best of Friends [4]
- Appreciate the Lady [3]
- Goodbye May Seem Forever [1]
Consensus: Giving an animated musical a Southern vibe is a great idea, but unlike Home on the Range, the three songs that qualify (two are too short), are all slow ballads, making a slow-paced film even duller.
29. OLIVER & COMPANY (1988) — 2.80 / 14
Music by Various
- Once Upon a Time In New York City [1]
- Why Should I Worry [5]
- Streets of Gold [2]
- Perfect Isn’t Easy [3]
- Good Company [3]
Consensus: An all-star group of songwriters is a good idea in theory, but most seem to phone it in for Oliver & Company. Billy Joel’s Why Should I Worry is the standout here, but the song structure is way too complicated to become a catchy earworm, especially for kids.
28. MEET THE ROBINSONS (2007) — 3.00 / 18
Music by Various
- Another Believer [2]
- The Future Has Arrived [2]
- Where Is Your Heart At? [2]
- The Motion Waltz (Emotional Commotion) [3]
- Give Me the Simple Life [4]
- Little Wonders [5]
Consensus: This soundtrack bizarrely elected to go the “smooth jazz” route, making this a dull and sleepy listen, with only a slightly-above-average Rob Thomas song as a reward at the end.
27. THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE (1986) — 3.33 / 10
Music by Various
- The World’s Greatest Criminal Mind [3]
- Let Me Be Good to You [3]
- Goodbye, So Soon [4]
Consensus: I don’t think anyone remembers this as a musical, but it just makes the cut with 3 songs. They’re listenable but nothing to write home about.
26. PETER PAN (1953) — 3.43 / 24
Music by Various
- The Second Star to the Right [4]
- You Can Fly! [6]
- A Pirate’s Life [5]
- Following the Leader [5]
- What Made the Red Man Red? [2]
- Your Mother and Mine [1]
- The Elegant Captain Hook [1]
Consensus: One of the most beloved Disney movies ranks surprisingly low in terms of song quality. One of its best songs, Never Smile at a Crocodile, was surprisingly cut from the film, leaving us with only one “hit” — You Can Fly!
25. THE SWORD IN THE STONE (1963) — 3.60 / 18
Music by George Bruns
- The Legend of the Sword [4]
- Higgitus Figgitus [6]
- That’s What Makes the World Go Round [6]
- A Most Befuddling Thing [1]
- Mad Madame Mim [1]
Consensus: Higgitus Figgitus is one of our personal favorites, and is perhaps the goofiest song in the Disney library. But two duds severely bring down the score of what otherwise is a solid 5.3.
24. BROTHER BEAR (2003) — 3.83 / 23
Music by Phil Collins & Mark Mancina
- Look Through My Eyes [6]
- Great Spirits [1]
- Welcome [6]
- No Way Out [3]
- Transformation [2]
- On My Way [5]
Consensus: Disney was clearly trying to duplicate the success of a certain 1999 film…but the soundtrack to Brother Bear is no Tarzan. Still, there are two “6” songs, so still some stuff to like.
23. LADY AND THE TRAMP (1955) — 3.86 / 27
Music by Sonny Burke & Peggy Lee
- Peace on Earth [2]
- What is a Baby [2]
- La La Lu [4]
- The Siamese Cat Song [5]
- Bella Notte [7]
- Home Sweet Home [1]
- He’s a Tramp [6]
Consensus: Bella Notte and He’s a Tramp are instant classics, but other poor below-average songs bring down the score.
22. ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1996) — 3.89 / 35
Music by Various
- Alice in Wonderland [5]
- In a World of My Own [4]
- The Sailor’s Hornpipe [3]
- The Caucus Race [2]
- Very Good Advice [4]
- The Walrus and the Carpenter [2]
- All in the Golden Afternoon [5]
- ’Twas Brillig [3]
- The Unbirthday Song [7]
Consensus: It’s a fun film, but Alice in Wonderland is a one-hit-wonder. Off with its head!
21. DUMBO (1941) — 4.00 / 24
Music by Frank Churchill & Oliver Wallace
-Look Out For Mister Stork [2]
-Casey Junior [5]
-Song of the Roustabouts [1]
-Baby Mine [5]
-Pink Elephants on Parade [4]
-When I See An Elephant Fly [7]
Consensus: There’s been some controversy regarding the crows in Dumbo, but regardless of who’s singing, the tune When I See an Elephant Fly is undeniably a classic.
20 (tie). POCAHONTAS (1995) — 4.00 / 32
Music by Alan Menken
- Virginia Company [2]
- Steady as the Beating Drum [3]
- Just Around the Riverbend [6]
- Listen With Your Heart [2]
- Mine Mine Mine [4]
- Savages [3]
- If I Never Knew You [5]
- Colors of the Wind [7]
Consensus: Colors of the Wind is beautiful, but Pocahontas is largely full of misses, making it the lowest-ranked “princess movie” on our list & the lowest-ranked Menken film (of his 8). Also, considering their track record, it was probably a bad idea to give not one but three songs to the villains.
20 (tie). SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937) — 4.00 / 32
Songs by Frank Chuchill, Larry Morey & Leigh Haline
- I’m Wishing / One Song [2]
- With a Smile and a Song [2]
- Whistle While You Work [6]
- Heigh Ho [7]
- Bluddle-Uddle-Um-Dum (The Washing Song) [3]
- The Silly Song (The Dwarf’s Yodel Song) [4]
- Someday My Prince Will Come [7]
- Love’s First Kiss [1]
Consensus: It’s incredible how well Disney’s first animated feature holds up. Kids 100 years from now will still be singing some of these songs. (Keyword: “some”.)
19. ENCANTO (2021) — 4.13 / 33
Songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda
- The Family Madrigal [4]
- Waiting on a Miracle [3]
- Surface Pressure [5]
- We Don’t Talk About Bruno [7]
- What Else Can I Do? [3]
- Does Oruguitas [3]
- All of You [3]
- Colombia, Mi Encanto [5]
Consensus: Miranda’s second go-around as Disney songwriter is less successful than his first (Moana), but the unique music is bring a breath of fresh air in the animated space. Surface Pressure is a hip-hop song, The Family Madrigal is a fun tongue twister that gets faster & faster, & We Don’t Talk About Bruno is unlike anything we’ve seen since, well, Belle. But the other songs feel generic, sleepy & overall unmemorable, especially Academy Award nominee Dos Oruguitas.
18. ROBIN HOOD (1973) — 4.20 / 21
Music by George Bruns
- Whistle Stop [6]
- Oo-de-Lally [5]
- Love [4]
- The Phony King of England [3]
- Not in Nottingham [3]
Consensus: Slightly above average. We wish we could award bonus points to Whistle Stop for inspiring The Hamsterdance. (It’s true!)
17. CINDERELLA (1950) — 4.33 / 26
Music by Oliver Wallace & Paul J. Smith
- Cinderella [1]
- A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes [7]
- Sing Sweet Nightingale [3]
- The Work Song [5]
- Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo [6]
- So This Is Love [4]
Consensus: This ranked a lot lower than we expected. We went back and forth on whether A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes deserves a 6 or 7, but despite its slow & lethargic melody, it’s perhaps one of the most recognizable Disney songs after When You Wish Upon A Star.
16. FROZEN (2013) — 4.38 / 35
Music by Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez
-Frozen Heart [2]
-Do You Want to Build a Snowman? [5]
-For the First Time in Forever [5]
-Love is an Open Door [6]
-Let It Go [7]
-Reindeers are Better than People [2]
-In Summer [4]
-Fixer Upper [4]
Consensus: Let it Go remains an instant classic both musically and thematically. But any song not involving Anna & Elsa is a dud.
15. THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG (2009) — 4.63 / 37
Music by Randy Newman
- Never Knew I Needed [6]
- Down in New Orleans* [6]
- Almost There [7]
- Friends on the Other Side [3]
- When We’re Human [5]
- Gonna Take You There [2]
- Ma Belle Evangeline [3]
- Dig a Little Deeper [5]
Consensus: The only song on this list that feels like it was written post-2004 is the opener to Disney’s last 2-D princess adventure. While it’s jarring at first to hear Ne-Yo in a Disney film, it sets the tone of the film and tells you “this one’s different.” And speaking of Almost There, only 15 films left to go (there’s a tie involved)!
14. THE LITTLE MERMAID (1989) — 4.71 / 33
Songs by Alan Menken
- Fathoms Below [1]
- Daughters of Triton [2]
- Part of Your World [7]
- Under the Sea [7]
- Poor Unfortunate Souls [6]
- Les Poissons [3]
- Kiss the Girl [7]
Consensus: With three “7” songs, how did this drop so low? We’ll tell you: because of all the bad songs you forgot about. Can you sing Fathoms Below by heart? How about Les Poissons? Didn’t think so.
13. FROZEN II (2019) — 4.86 / 34
Music by Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez
- All Is Found* [5]
- Some Things Never Change [6]
- Into the Unknown* [4]
- When I Am Older [5]
- Lost in the Woods* [5]
- Show Yourself [6]
- The Next Right Thing [3]
Consensus: There’s no song here on the level of Let it Go, but compared to Frozen, it’s a better album overall, making this the most-successful Anderson-Lopez soundtrack of their 3 entries.
12. THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1994) — 4.89 / 44
Music by Alan Menken
- The Bells of Notre Dame [6]
- Out There [7]
- Topsy Turvey [4]
- God Help Outcasts [7]
- Heaven’s Light [2]
- Hellfire [3]
- A Guy Like You [6]
- The Court of Miracles [4]
- Someday [5]
Consensus: One of the more serious musicals on our list, The Hunchback of Notre Dame was a Broadway musical waiting to happen. And happen it did.
11. THE ARISTOCATS (1970) — 5.00/20
Songs by George Bruns
- The Aristocats [4]
- Scales and Arpeggios [5]
- Thomas O’Malley Cat [4]
- Ev’rybody Wants to Be a Cat [7]
Consensus: Before Alan Menken came along it was George Bruns who was Disney’s go-to songwriter. We think Aristocats is his best work on this list with four catchy tunes, especially jazz masterpiece Ev’rybody Wants to Be a Cat.
10 (tie).TARZAN (1999) — 5.00 / 25
Songs by Phil Collins
- Two Worlds [4]
- You’ll Be in My Heart [7]
- Son of Man [4]
- Trashin’ the Camp [5]
- Strangers Like Me [5]
Consensus: Tarzan departed from Disney tradition and hired a famous singer-songwriter to not only compose but sing almost the entire album. And it worked! Collins’ distinct voice and style carries an otherwise mediocre film.
10 (tie). PINOCCHIO (1940) — 5.00 / 25
Songs by Leigh Harline & Ned Washington
- When You Wish Upon a Star [7]
- Little Wooden Head [5]
- Give a Little Whistle [4]
- Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee (An Actor’s Life for Me) [4]
- I’ve Got No Strings [5]
Consensus: Many people think it’s Snow White or Cinderella, but When You Wish Upon a Star, Disney’s go-to original song, is sung by Jiminy Cricket in 1940’s Pinocchio. In fact, the cue is now used at the beginning of almost every Disney film.
9. THE JUNGLE BOOK (1967) — 5.00 / 30
Songs by George Bruns
- Col. Hatchi’s March [5]
- The Bare Necessities [7]
- I Wan’na Be Like You [7]
- Trust In Me [2]
- That’s What Friends Are For [6]
- My Own Home [3]
Consensus: You can’t even say the words “The Bare Necessities” without singing them. I Wan’na Be Like You is the highest-rated villain song on our list!
8. MOANA (2016) — 5.00 / 50
Songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina & Opetaia Foa’i
- Tulou Tagaloa [3]
- An Innocent Warrior [3]
- Where You Are [6]
- How Far I’ll Go [7]
- We Know the Way [5]
- You’re Welcome [7]
- Shiny [3]
- Logo Te Pate [5]
- I Am Moana (Song of the Ancestors) [6]
- Know Who You Are [5]
Consensus: The newest entry in our Top Ten, Moana is a worthy addition to the Disney music catalog. We predict its Samoan-inspired soundtrack will stand the test of time.
7. HOME ON THE RANGE (2004) — 5.17 / 31
Songs by Alan Menken
- You Ain’t Home on the Range [6]
- Little Patch of Heaven [5]
- Will the Sun Ever Shine Again? [5]
- Yodel-Adle-Eedle-Idle-Oo [3]
- Wherever the Trail May Lead [6]
- Anytime You Need a Friend [6]
Consensus: Perhaps the highest-ranked film that no one remembers, Home on the Range may not be a timeless movie but it’s got a more-than-worthy soundtrack from Mr.Reliable, Alan Menken. Give it a listen.
6. TANGLED (2010) — 5.20 /26
Songs by Alan Menken
- When Will My Life Begin [6]
- Mother Knows Best [4]
- Healing Incantation* [4]
- I See the Light [7]
- I’ve Got a Dream [5]
Consensus: It was not the mega-hit that Frozen was, but it has a far superior soundtrack, showing that Menken’s still got it, even 21 years after The Little Mermaid.
5. HERCULES (1997) — 5.67 / 34
Songs by Alan Menken
- The Gospel Truth* [5]
- Go the Distance [7]
- One Last Hope [4]
- Zero to Hero [7]
- I Won’t Say (I’m in Love) [6]
- A Star is Born [5]
Consensus: From the opening song to the finale, Hercules is a fast-paced wild musical adventure anchored by an electric gospel choir. Even its two slower ballads are exciting and powerful.
4. ALADDIN (1992) — 5.80 / 29
Songs by Alan Menken
- Arabian Nights [5]
- One Jump Ahead [4]
- Friend Like Me [7]
- Prince Ali [6]
- Whole New World [7]
Consensus: Aladdin has to hold the record for most karaoke-friendly soundtrack — perhaps of all time. But we do feel One Jump Ahead is multiple jumps behind the other songs on this album.
3. THE LION KING (1994) — 6.00 / 30
Songs by Elton John & Tim Rice
- Circle of Life [7]
- Just Can’t Wait To Be King [7]
- Can You Feel the Love Tonight [6]
- Hakuna Matata [7]
- Be Prepared [3]
Consensus: The Lion King would have easily won this contest if not for its mediocre villain song. We bet it’s the only song from this film you can’t sing the verses to. It is the only film on this list besides The Little Mermaid with three “7” songs.
2. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991) — 6.00 / 36
Songs by Alan Menken
- Belle [6]
- Gaston [6]
- Be Our Guest [7]
- Something There [5]
- Beauty and the Beast [7]
- The Mob Song [5]
Consensus: Disney knocked it out of the park with Beauty & the Beast, which remains the only animated musical to ever be nominated for Best Picture. It’s got our vote for one of the best soundtracks out there.
1. MULAN (1998) — 6.20 / 31
Songs by Matthew Wilder & David Zippel
- Honor to Us All [6]
- Reflection [7]
- I’ll Make a Man Out of You [7]
- Girl Worth Fighting For [5]
- True to Your Heart [6]
Consensus: Step aside, Alan Menken! The soundtrack to 1998’s Mulan is comprised of 5 musical masterpieces — all the more impressive when you realize actor/singer Eddie Murphy wasn’t even given a song.
So! How’d we do? Were our results a Reflection of your own personal opinions? Or did you lose your Trust in Me?
Let us know in the comments!
