Disney's 1994 animated feature, <em>The Lion King</em>, was a huge smash in cinemas and continues to enjoy life in an acclaimed stage production. The story finds a lion cub, son of a king, sent into exile after his father is deposed by a jealous uncle. The little hero finds his way into the"circle of life" with some new friends and eventually comes back to reclaim his proper place. Characters are very strong, vocal performances by the likes of Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane and Whoopi Goldberg are terrific, the jokes are aimed as much (if not more) at adults than kids, the animation is sometimes breathtaking and the songs from Tim Rice and Elton John, accompanied by a colourful score, are more palatable than in many recent Disney features. --<em>Tom Keogh</em>

Disney's 1992 animated feature is a triumph of wit and skill. The high-tech artwork and graphics look great, the characters are strong, the familiar story is nicely augmented with an interesting villain (Jafar, voiced by Jonathan Freeman) and there's an incredible hook atop the whole thing: Robin Williams's frantically hilarious vocal performance as Aladdin's genie. Even if one isn't particularly moved by the love story between the title character (Scott Weinger) and his girlfriend Jasmine (Linda Larkin), you can easily get lost in Williams's improvisational energy and the equally entertaining performances of Freeman and Gilbert Gottfried (as Jafar's parrot). -- Tom Keogh

The creative minds behind Disney/Pixar's groundbreaking animated blockbusters invite you back inside the toy box for a heartwarming and hilarious movie experience you'll never forget. In Toy Story 3, Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen) and the rest of the Toy Story gang return for an all-new adventure, along with a few new faces - some plastic, some plush - including Barbie's counterpart Ken (voiced by Michael Keaton), a thespian hedgehog named Mr. Pricklepants (voiced by Timothy Dalton) and a strawberry-scented bear named Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear (voiced by Ned Beatty). As Andy prepares to depart for college, Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the rest of Andy's faithful toys wonder what will become of them. But, when a mix-up lands them at Sunnyside Daycare, they meet a host of new toys and soon discover a wild new adventure is just beginning. Buzzing with hours of bonus features, including the Pixar short film Day & Night, Toy Story 3 goes to infinity and beyond!

One of the very best animated films that the Walt Disney Studio has ever released (and the last to be produced by Walt Disney himself), and as downright brilliant as it was on its debut in 1967, The Jungle Book makes a very welcome return to DVD in this excellent 40th anniversary double-disc set.

Based loosely on the Rudyard Kipling’s book of the same name, the film tells the story of man-cub Mowgli, and the friends he makes in the jungle. And it’s these friends who ignite the film, with some of the most memorable characters and songs that Disney has ever put on the screen. Kings of The Jungle Book are the likes of Baloo the Bear, King Louie the villainous Shere Khan the Tiger, while supporting characters such as Colonel Hathi are just as memorable. It’s astonishing that it packs so much and so many into its relatively short running time.

It’s an amazing achievement too that The Jungle Book bristles with such energy and fun, and that it’s just as likely to enthral the current generation of youngsters as well as those of us who saw it first time round. And when those songs start playing--from Bare Necessities through to I Wanna Be Like You--it'll take some effort to not start tapping your feet. A brilliant, brilliant film, and as vintage as the Disney back catalogue gets. -- Simon Brew

Disney's 50th full-length animated feature film, <em>Tangled</em> is a visually appealing, music-filled adventure full of romance and humor. The film focuses on Rapunzel, a girl with long magical hair who's lived her entire life imprisoned in a tower by her greedy mother. Naturally optimistic and acquiescent, Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) rarely complains about her circumstances, but for her 18th birthday she longs to leave the tower to see the floating lights that appear every year on her birthday. Her mother (Donna Murphy) refuses her request, but when thief Flynn Ryder (Zachary Levi) climbs the tower to escape his pursuers, Rapunzel (once she's conked him on the head with a frying pan multiple times) impulsively decides to trust the young man and convinces him to help her escape to see the floating lights. Thus begins a journey that alternates quite schizophrenically between optimistic excitement and guilty remorse that will ultimately change Rapunzel's and Flynn's lives forever. <em>Tangled</em> is a masterful blend of humour, adventure, passion and drama combined with a great musical score and top-notch animation. The 3-D effects add to the experience but probably won't be missed in other formats. Best of all, Disney presents a princess who matures from a meek and compliant girl into a spunky young woman who's not afraid to pursue her dreams and risk it all for love--now that's a Disney princess worth emulating. (Ages 6 and older) <em>--Tami Horiuchi</em>

Worry not, Disney fans--this special edition DVD of the beloved Cinderella won't turn into a pumpkin at the strike of midnight. One of the most enduring animated films of all time, the Disney-fied adaptation of the gory Brothers Grimm fairy tale became a classic in its own right, thanks to some memorable tunes (including"A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes,""Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo," and the title song) and some endearingly cute comic relief.

We all know the story--the wicked stepmother and stepsisters simply won't have it, this uppity Cinderella thinking she's going to a ball designed to find the handsome prince an appropriate sweetheart, but perseverance, animal buddies, and a well-timed entrance by a fairy godmother make sure things turn out all right. There are a few striking sequences of pure animation--for example, Cinderella is reflected in bubbles drifting through the air--and the design is rich and evocative throughout. It's a simple story padded here agreeably with comic business, particularly Cinderella's rodent pals (dressed up conspicuously like the dwarf sidekicks of another famous Disney heroine) and their misadventures with a wretched cat named Lucifer. There's also much harrumphing and exposition spouting by the King and the Grand Duke. It's a much simpler and more graceful work than the more frenetically paced animated films of today, which makes it simultaneously quaint and highly gratifying. --David Kronke, Amazon.com

brand new sealed official disney dvd. dispatch within 24hrs mon-fri

Suspicions were in no short supply when it was announced that director Tim Burton was updating his wonderful short film, Frankenweenie , to feature length. But the news got more interesting: he was utilising stop motion animation, producing the film in black and white, and the end result would have plenty of nods to classic monster movies. The most impressive thing of all though is that Tim Burton pulled it off: Frankenweenie is one of the boldest and most ambitious animated movies of recent times.

Unwilling to talk down to its audience, Frankenweenie is also willing to address issues that other films of its ilk don't get near. Burton's film touches on death and loss in a really accessible way, channelled through the story of a boy who brings his dog back to life. Glorious and detailed to look at, it's an engrossing, warm tale, with memorable characters and a superb score from Danny Elfman.

Frankenweenie isn't a film for the very young, but its appeal is nonetheless broad, especially for those looking for something just a little deeper in their animated movies. As a double bill with Henry Selick's wonderful Coraline movie, it's pretty much perfect. -- Jon Foster

Peter Pan has a special place in the realm of classic animated Disney films: it instills an element of childlike wonder. The 1953 version of James M. Barrie's story is colourfully told and keeps on the straight and narrow of the book. Barrie's wondrous focus on child's play is the key to its longevity: kids who don't grow up, shadows that run away from their owners, pirates, a fairy, and the magic ability to fly. In short, you can't help wishing the adventure would happen to you. Fueled by a few memorable songs (the stunner being"You Can Fly") and the strong impression of the pixie fairy Tinkerbell and the goofy Captain Hook, Disney's version of this story neither supplants nor lessens the Broadway version with Mary Martin that was produced for television the same decade. Unlike some classics, Peter Pan never ages along the way. --Doug Thomas

A delightful undersea world unfolds in Pixar's animated adventure Finding Nemo . When his son Nemo is captured by a scuba diver, a nervous clownfish named Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) sets off into the vast--and astonishingly detailed--ocean to find him. Along the way he hooks up with a scatterbrained blue tang fish named Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), who's both a help and a hindrance, sometimes at the same time. Faced with sharks, deep-sea anglers, fields of poisonous jellyfish, sea turtles, pelicans and much more, Marlin rises above his neuroses in this wonderfully funny and thrilling ride--rarely do more than 10 minutes pass without a sequence appearing that's destined to become a theme-park attraction. Pixar continues its run of impeccable artistic and economic successes ( Toy Story , A Bug's Life , Monsters, Inc ). Supporting voices here include Willem Dafoe, Geoffrey Rush and Allison Janney. --Bret Fetzer

A delightful undersea world unfolds in Pixar's animated adventure Finding Nemo . When his son Nemo is captured by a scuba diver, a nervous clownfish named Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) sets off into the vast--and astonishingly detailed--ocean to find him. Along the way he hooks up with a scatterbrained blue tang fish named Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), who's both a help and a hindrance, sometimes at the same time. Faced with sharks, deep-sea anglers, fields of poisonous jellyfish, sea turtles, pelicans and much more, Marlin rises above his neuroses in this wonderfully funny and thrilling ride--rarely do more than 10 minutes pass without a sequence appearing that's destined to become a theme-park attraction. Pixar continues its run of impeccable artistic and economic successes ( Toy Story , A Bug's Life , Monsters, Inc ). Supporting voices here include Willem Dafoe, Geoffrey Rush and Allison Janney. --Bret Fetzer

At a time when too many animated films consist of anthropomorphized animals cracking sitcom one-liners and flatulence jokes, the warmth, originality, humor, and unflagging imagination of <em>Up</em> feel as welcome as rain in a desert. Carl Fredericksen (voice by Ed Asner) ranks among the most unlikely heroes in recent animation history. A 78-year-old curmudgeon, he enjoyed his modest life as a balloon seller because he shared it with his adventurous wife Ellie (Ellie Docter). But she died, leaving him with memories and the awareness that they never made their dream journey to Paradise Falls in South America. When well-meaning officials consign Carl to Shady Oaks Retirement Home, he rigs thousands of helium balloons to his house and floats to South America. The journey's scarcely begun when he discovers a stowaway: Russell (Jordan Nagai), a chubby, maladroit Wilderness Explorer Scout who's out to earn his Elderly Assistance Badge. In the tropical jungle, Carl and Russell find more than they bargained for: Charles Muntz (Christopher Plummer), a crazed explorer whose newsreels once inspired Carl and Ellie; Kevin, an exotic bird with a weakness for chocolate; and Dug (Bob Peterson), an endearingly dim golden retriever fitted with a voice box. More importantly, the travelers discover they need each other: Russell needs a (grand)father figure; Carl needs someone to enliven his life without Ellie. Together, they learn that sharing ice-cream cones and counting the passing cars can be more meaningful than feats of daring-do and distant horizons. Pete Docter (<em>Monsters, Inc.</em>) and Bob Peterson direct the film with consummate skill and taste, allowing the poignant moments to unfold without dialogue to Michael Giacchnio's vibrant score. Building on their work in <em>The Incredibles</em> and <em>Ratatouille</em>, the Pixar crew offers nuanced animation of the stylized characters. Even by Pixar's elevated standards, Up is an exceptional film that will appeal of audiences of all ages. Rated PG for some peril and action. <em>--Charles Solomon</em>

Toy Story: Before Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc. and Cars, the creative minds of Disney/Pixar invited you into an astonishing world where toys happily play while their owners are away. Enjoy all the fun and excitement with Woody, Buzz Lightyear and all their friends in a movie that goes to infinity and beyond!

• New! Sneak Peek"The Story"
• New! Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs: Blast Off
• New! Three Animated Studio Stories
• New! Buzz Takes Manhattan

Toy Story 2: Experience the groundbreaking computer-generated hit that earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Picture. Rediscover the humour and heart of this hilarious family film, and join Woody and Buzz as they meet some wonderful new friends on the adventure of a lifetime!

• New! Sneak Peek"The Characters"
• New! Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs: International Space Station
• New! 3 Animated Studio Stories
• New! Pixar's Zoetrope

Toy Story 3: The creators of Disney/Pixar's celebrated Toy Story films reopen the toy box and invite you back inside a magical world for a story you'll never forget. Take an amazing journey with some of the most beloved characters in movie history and discover what being a friend is truly all about.

• "Day & Night" Theatrical Short
• Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs: The Science Of Adventure
• The Gang's All Here - A Look At Returning Voice Talent
• 3 Studio Stories

• <strong>Actors </strong>Tim Allen, Tom Hanks, Estelle Harris, Annie Potts, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Wallace Shawn, Jim Varney, Don Rickles, R.Lee Ermey & Laurie Metcalf
• <strong>Director</strong> John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich & Ash Brannon