Waking Sleeping Beauty (2011)

Among a batch of fascinating (if sycophantic) documentaries recounting the behind-the-scenes development of the Disney animation studio (see Frank and Ollie and The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story) comes this 90 minute summary of the most fascinating few decades of private enterprise which shaped the face of popular culture. Following the death of Walt Disney this film recounts the fall and rise of the studio as it passed into outsider hands, with deaths, power-struggles and politics this story is fascinating enough to fill a book (Disney War.) This film also makes a compelling prequel to the slightly more lauded The Pixar Story.

Newsies (1992)

In spite of an initial negative reception, Newsies gained a passionate following upon its home release. Newsies is 90’s Disney’s answer to the likes of Oliver!, to Mary Poppins, to West Side Story with spacious sets and huge, choreographed set pieces. It follows in grand Broadway tradition by focussing on a story of social revolution, like Les Mis and Hamilton before, but stays true to its subject matter, the young newspaper-sellers of New York, by keeping all of the dancing and singing distinctly unpolished and gritty. Starring a fresh-faced Christian Bale, the film is the directorial debut of choreographer Kenny Ortega who would go on to direct other musical hits such as the High School Musical trilogy. The care taken by Ortega to showcase the physical talents of its cast makes it stand out from other contemporary musicals who appear to go out of their way to conceal their natural talents from the audience through ADHD editing and C(ats)GI. The film also features songs by an Alan Menkin during his prime Disney years, written right after Beauty and the Beast.

Moaning Lisa (1990)

30 series of the Simpsons are available to stream on Disney+ but don’t let that put you off. If you need reminding of the show’s immense power look no further than this first series episode which showcases the Simpson’s elder daughter Lisa. The reason this episode stands out is not because of the jokes but because of the drama. The episode wistfully captures the emotional turmoil of the big fish in the small pond, the tragedy of possessing a high emotional intelligence and being surrounded by small minds. We can’t get over the moving moment when Marge and her daughter as they reconcile at the denouement of the episode. Also, the music is really good.

Gravity Falls (2012 - 2016)

As good as long-form episodic science-fiction storytelling gets. Rather like a junior version of Rick and Morty, the show hilariously explores high concept fantasy in twenty-minute, bite-sized portions all told with a distinct, manic glee and an unquenchable optimism. The show is even produced by Alex Hirsh, a close friend of R&M co-creator Justin Roiland. Gravity Falls has an edge in that it links its adventures into a complex overarching plot, the series ended at the creators’ behest despite the studio’s requests for more episodes. It also stands as a very touching testament to the value of close brother-sister bonds with the main characters being inspired by Hirsh and his relationship with his own twin sister.

Cosmetics - The World According to Jeff Goldblum (2020)

If you’ve ever lost a few hours to the YouTube rabbit hole which is Jeff Goldblum doing interviews - with puppies, with Taika Waititi, with a wide-eyed veneer of faux-ignorance - as I have, then the news that Goldblum was going to be spearheading the National Geographic’s flagship Disney+ documentary series must have been an enticing one. Goldblum is entertaining no one more than himself in his old age which makes this investigative series a rather binge-able watch. In Cosmetics, Jeff grapples with his own vanity and explores the effects of makeup on performance, self-esteem and modern art all with an offbeat peculiarity which sets his series apart from the rest.

Free Solo (2018)

Significant not only for its Academy Award win but also for its nail-bitingly complex and daring production process, Free Solo did the rounds on the festival circuit picking up accolades along the way. To appreciate the full breadth of the tension here you might want to stream this one on the smart-tv as opposed to the smart-phone.

Freaky Friday (2003)

Following on from her criminally under recognised double-performance as rambunctious twins Hallie Parker and Annie James in the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap Lindsay Lohan turned her skills to another remake of a Disney classic, Freaky Friday. The body-swap is a mainstay of high-concept family comedies, but Freaky Friday does it best finding endless inspiration in the premise. The standout in an impeccable ensemble is Jamie Lee Curtis playing a reckless teenage girl, trapped in the body of her high-maintenance, therapist mother. (I hope one of Disney’s content warnings for racial insensitivity is included for the absurd Chinese-American characters. At least they’re not played by Mickey Rooney.)

Float (2020)

Pixar continue to innovate and entertain with their short films. Float is the latest in a series of Disney+ exclusives under the Sparkshorts banner, which are being used as a tool for the studio to diversify their upper management and develop new technological capabilities to enhance their features. Following on from the Oscar win of Bao which saw Domee Shi promoted as director of her own feature film project in 2019, Float was released to coincide with the UK launch of the Disney+ service. It features a Hispanic father trying to raise a young son on his own, his struggles are amplified by the boy’s ability to fly. Like the best Pixar films, it contains messages for adults and children alike while remaining entertaining to all.

The Clone Wars (2008 - )

If you’ve ever watched the Star Wars prequels and wondered why anyone trusted or even liked that whiny Anakin in the first place, the answer can be found in the Clone Wars saga. Frequently directed by The Mandalorian’s own Dave Filoni the series goes some way to realising the potential of all the innovative design work that went into George Lucas’ much maligned trilogy. Famously slow to start, The Clone Wars developed as it went along and upon its cancellation had accrued a vast and loyal fanbase. Now, as Disney+ original content Series 7 continues the saga.

Black Panther (2018)

Nationalism in the time of Corona… Black Panther was self-isolating before it was cool. Following hot on the heels of Taika Waititi’s Thor Ragnarok, Black Panther was the culmination of Kevin Feige’s creator-centric (with a heavy producer influence) production style. Following on from his work on Fruitvale Station and Creed, director Ryan Coogler shows his impeccable skills for crafting tension in scenes which could stand as their own short films, and exploring complex issues relating to race relations in a mainstream blockbuster. Black Panther also stands as a success for diversity, not only bringing together some of the best African Diasporic actors working today but also featuring a diverse array of strong female leads whose strengths do not just derive from being able to shoot a bow and arrow effectively.