8 Lesser-Known Disney Animated Movies to Watch With Your Kids, Ranked by IMDb

When it comes to watching animated movies with kids, timeless Disney hits like The Lion King and The Little Mermaid immediately come to mind.

These classic stories certainly deserve their fame, but the studio's treasure trove contains many other lesser-known films that are equally wonderful and cozy.

8. 'The Black Cauldron', 1985

IMDb Score: 6.3/10

Today, it's hard to imagine Disney creating an animated fantasy movie that would frighten children more than entertain them.

The Black Cauldron tells the story of a young shepherd boy who dreams of defending his homeland from the terrifying Horned King, who wants to resurrect an army of the undead and use it to enslave the world.

The movie is important not only as a reflection of an era when Disney could afford to be bold but also because Tim Burton worked on it as an artist just starting out.

7. 'The Rescuers', 1977

IMDb Score: 6.9/10

The story centers on a secret society of mice dedicated to saving their own kind. One day, they receive a letter from an eight-year-old orphan named Penny. She was kidnapped from an orphanage by the villainous Madame Medusa, who ordered her to sneak into a narrow grotto and steal a huge diamond.

Of the four animated movies Disney released in the 1970s, The Rescuers is the least well-known. However, it is an important film for the studio because it received its first-ever sequel.

6. 'Brother Bear', 2003

IMDb Score: 6.9/10

Kenai lives in a tribe that worships spirits. When they reach a certain age, each person receives a personal totem from a seer that is associated with a particular animal. Kenai is disappointed that his totem is a bear, a symbol of love, because he finds it too sentimental.

After a tragic accident, Kenai is transformed into a bear and is hunted by his own brother. Hoping to regain his human form, Kenai heads to the special mountain.

Along the way, he meets Koda, a talkative bear cub who has lost his mother and desperately craves companionship.

5. 'Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin', 1997

IMDb Score: 7.0/10

Summer is over, and Winnie the Pooh wakes up to find an armful of yellow leaves on his bed – the first day of fall has arrived. His happiness is marred only by the unexpected disappearance of his best friend, Christopher Robin.

Christopher Robin left Winnie a barrel of honey with a note, but Winnie and his friends misinterpret the message and believe that Christopher urgently needs help. The friends set off on a dangerous journey to a terrifying cliff.

4. 'The Great Mouse Detective', 1986

IMDb Score: 7.1/10

The Great Mouse Detective is an obvious parody of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Yet, it is so high-quality that it rivals the more serious adaptations of Conan Doyle's works.

In the movie, a mouse named Olivia turns to Basil of Baker Street for help. She asks him to find her missing father. Basil, his friend Dr. Dawson, and his dog, undertake the investigation. The trail leads to Professor Ratigan, a major criminal whom Basil must confront.

3. 'The Fox and the Hound', 1981

IMDb Score: 7.2/10

In a small Appalachian village, a young fox cub is left alone. A caring owl notices the helpless creature and decides to help the orphaned fox cub find a new home. The cub ends up with an old woman named Tweed, who names him Tod.

Meanwhile, Tweed's neighbor, hunter Amos, has a puppy named Copper. The fox and the dog become friends, playing together in the forest and promising to be friends forever. But when the cold weather sets in, Copper goes hunting with his owner and another dog.

Months later, Copper and Tod are reunited. However, the grown friends, who were supposed to be enemies, find it difficult to maintain their former bond.

2. 'The Princess and the Frog', 2009

IMDb Score: 7.2/10

The story centers on Tiana, a girl living in the French Quarter of New Orleans during the Jazz Age. We all know what happens when a prince kisses an enchanted princess. But what happens when a waitress dressed as a princess kisses a frog prince?

The Princess and the Frog has everything New Orleans is known for: jazz, swamps, and, most importantly, a voodoo villain.

1. 'The Emperor's New Groove', 2000

IMDb Score: 7.4/10

The movie tells the story of Emperor Kuzco, a boastful ruler who decides to build a water park for his birthday by destroying one of his villages.

However, the emperor's advisor, Yzma, tries to assassinate Kuzco to take the throne for herself. As a result, Kuzco is transformed into a llama and ends up in the care of a shepherd named Pacha, whose home is scheduled for demolition to make way for the park.

After learning the llama's true identity, Pacha offers to restore Kuzco to the throne in exchange for a promise to move the park to another location.