When you think Disney, Princesses instantly come to mind, right? Damsels in distress that either save themselves or wait for their charming prince to save them. However, there are quite a few Disney movies that have a little more to them than a princess that needs saving. There was a time is Disney history where they chose to retell old legends such as the story of King Arthur (The Sword in the Stone) and the tale of Robin Hood.
Disney's Robin Hood is one of my favorite Disney movies. I've listed a few reasons why it's one of the best Disney movies still and why it's timeless.
1. The Story
It's one of many different tellings of the legendary Robin Hood. He "robs the rich to feed the poor!" Honestly, if you don't know at least the name Robin Hood, you've been living under a rock for who knows how long. It's a classic story that everyone has some familiarity with and Disney made minimal changes to the story-line to make it child-friendly. It's something all generations can enjoy for years and years to come.
2. The Characters
In a classic Disney movie, the characters are all anthropomorphic animals (animals that walk and talk like humans). They're all animals you'd find in England, where the story originates and is set. Each character's animal depiction says something about their personality. Robin Hood is a sly man, therefore he is drawn as a fox. His love interest, Maid Marion, is of the same species, obviously meant for one another. The Sheriff of Nottingham, one of the main villains of the story, is a wolf, usually thought of as a vicious and unfavorable animal. Prince John is a male lion cub while his brother, King Richard, has a full mane - obviously meant to be King of the pride.
Unlike other Disney movies, since the characters are animals, the concept of age is mostly left out. Yes, there are elderly characters depicted, such as Friar Tuck, but Robin and Maid Marion's ages can only be thought of as "young adult." While there is a romantic storyline, there is no talk of children marrying unlike movies such as The Little Mermaid, where Ariel and Prince Eric wed when she is only 16 years of age, or Snow White, where it has been said the princess is only 14 years of age (I always thought she was quite young even before I read that; she plays house with the dwarves like a child would with dolls).
3. The Music
How can you not want to bounce along to the opening credits? The theme song really sets the tone for both the classic story being told and the silliness that Disney always adds to their animations.
4. The Nostalgia
This movie means the world to me. Why? It was both my mom and her mom's favorite Disney movie. Mom and I would watch it together all the time; she loved hearing the music in the background and I can still see her dancing to it as she folds laundry at the kitchen table. My Grammy would put it on in the background, too, when I was at her house while we did many different arts and crafts. Either Robin Hood or Bob Ross or Antique Roadshow. It brings back many wonderful childhood memories, sometimes even making me tear up a bit. I'll watch it to fall asleep or when I'm feeling especially sick and just wrap myself up in a quilt and feel instantly comforted.
And, let's face it, I'll always be my mommy's hair-twirling, finger-sucking leech... much like Prince John, but a bit less tyrannical (usually).
