I confess that I'm a huge fan of Disney movies. So today's DVD release of The Little Mermaid got me thinking about which Disney movies are the "all-time greatest." This list includes the ten best feature-length Disney animated films (not including the Pixar films).

10. Cinderella (1950)

Cinderella is one of the most cherished Disney classics, albeit the most flawed film on this list. The characters and plot aren't fleshed out particularly well, nor is the animation spectacular by any standard. Still, most of us have fond memories of the Royal Ball and the glass slipper and "Bippity-boppity-boo," so this film deserves it's spot on this list.

9. Aladdin (1992)

Aladdin is a great film with great music, great characters, and a great story. The humor is also great, but therein lies the reason that Aladdin isn't higher up on the list. Unlike other Disney movies where the humor has more of a timeless appeal, many of the jokes in Aladdin reference the pop-culture of the day (1992), delivered from the brilliantly-voiced Genie (Robin Williams). Even though our kids won't get many of the jokes, they'll probably laugh anyway because of the enthusiasm Robin Williams and Gilbert Gottfried bring to their parts. This was my favorite movie when I was a kid, and still is one of my favorites today.

8. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

This was the first-ever feature length animated film, and it's just as fun to watch today. For being the first, the animation was simply fantastic. Colors were vivid, the animation was fluid, and it included some advanced special effects such as smoke and reflections in the water. Walt Disney struck gold with this film; without question it's an important staple in film history.

7. Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Another extremely solid outing from Disney, Sleeping Beauty has the all-time scariest Disney villain, the dark and creepy Maleficent. That was one scary lady. Otherwise, Sleeping Beauty had a great storyline and awesome animation. It was a little darker than most Disney films at that time, which made it even better.

6. Pinocchio (1940)

Walt's second big film, Pinocchio, has one of the most timeless stories of any Disney movie. We can all relate to the young wooden boy's adventurous spirit and hard lessons he had to learn along the way. The Blue Fairy, Jiminy Cricket, the giant whale, and that nose that grows all bring back fond memories of Pinocchio's tale. Always remember, as Jiminy Cricket said, to "let your conscience be your guide!"

5. Lady and the Tramp (1955)

This movie is adorable beyond all reason. If you're a dog lover, it's impossible to not gush when Jim first unwraps Lady, or feel bad for those poor dogs that live in the pound. Trusty, the dog who'd lost his ability to smell, is one of the coolest Disney characters ever. But most of all, Lady and the Tramp works extremely well as a love story. Eating spaghetti has never seemed so romantic.

4. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

This is the most under-appreciated Disney movie of all time, and without a doubt 99% of you wonder why I even have this on the list. I'd suggest you go rent this movie and watch it again; you may actually find yourself agreeing with me. The Hunchback of Notre Dame is much darker and more serious than any other Disney movie (perhaps the darkest G-rated film ever), which is why few parents took their kids to see it (hence its lack of popularity). But the truth is that The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of the best stories ever put to film, has some of the best music of any Disney film, and has THE best animation of any Disney film. Trust me, go see it again.

3. The Little Mermaid (1989)

The Little Mermaid kicked off what I call the "golden age of Disney animation," the stretch of Disney movies from The Little Mermaid to the Lion King (and arguable all the way through 1998's Mulan). This was the first movie to feature Disney’s "modern" animation style (a style which I much prefer over computer animation), and the story, music, and characters also set a new standard for the House of Mouse. "Sha la la la the time is right! You’ve got to…kiss the girl." Purchasing today’s DVD release is a no-brainer.

2. The Lion King (1994)

What a great movie. Taking pages from Old Testament Bible stories as well as Shakespeare's Hamlet, and placing them in Africa turned out to be brilliant move on Disney's part. The story is powerful and the characters are believable and fun to watch. Not to mention that Scar may well be the baddest Disney villain of them all. Mufassa's death scene sets The Lion King apart from most other Disney movies (many of you still cry every time you watch it). The soundtrack is also one of Disney's best.

1. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

What can really be said about this movie to describe its greatness? Its story is transcendent, the music is fantastic, and the characters are brilliant. If you're going to put a fairy tale to film, this is the way to do it. Plus, the ballroom scene is one of the most memorable scenes in Disney movie history. It's difficult to explain what makes Beauty and the Beast so good, it speaks so well on its own. Ladies and gentlemen, Beauty and the Beast is the greatest animated film ever.

Photo Credit: http://disney.satarma.com/zimages/clipart/ariel02.gif