Disney might have made their name from the constant creation of popular princesses, fairytales, and infectious musical numbers, but that doesn't mean they don't know how to show a little edge when they need to. The studio is responsible for some of the most amazing scenes ever animated, but they also know how to use action and drama to create a good story.
Disney has created a world of monsters, heroes, and villains with no shortage of epic battles, some even going on into movie history. But the undisputed fact of the matter is that Disney knows how to make an exciting fight sequence, no matter who comes out on top.
The Wizards' Duel (The Sword In The Stone)
Might not be as dynamic as some of the other characters found in Disney, but there's no denying that the wizards' duel between Merlin and Madam Mim isn't one of the most creative fight scenes Disney ever designed. It's a battle between wizards with purple dragons and biological warfare, practically everything the concept needs.
It's a mix of humor, slapstick, and animated antics that's equal parts epic and comic, the perfect recipe for Disney cartoon combat. While Mim's transformations might be more bombastic, Merlin's wit and brains definitely give him the upper hand in the end. Either way, both spellcasters put on a good show.
Crashing The Casino (The Nightmare Before Christmas)
If judged on aesthetics alone, Jack's confrontation with Oogie Boogie at the end of The Nightmare Before Christmas. Oogie has one of the coolest villain lairs in all of Disney, but watching Jack nimbly dance around his traps and killer casino games is nothing short of satisfying.
Not even a giant sawblade can keep the Pumpkin King down, and the gross-out defeat of the overgrown bag of bugs is one of the most memorable villain moments out there. It's certainly one that fans of Tim Burton's work still fondly remember.
Philip And The Dragon (Sleeping Beauty)
At the time, Sleeping Beauty was a return to form for Disney, coming back full-force with the fairytale motif to bring viewers this fantasy-fueled finale. The results were unquestionably epic.
A tooth-and-nail battle between popular Prince Philip and Maleficent's fire-breathing dragon form in a forest of thorns ended with a sword shot straight through her heart. This was a hardcore move for Disney in 1952, but it definitely paid off with some seriously impressive visuals. There's even a small amount of gore to further seal the deal.
Battling In Big Ben (The Great Mouse Detective)
For a film made before Pixar was even conceived, The Great Mouse Detective had some pretty impressive CGI considering it was released in 1986. And that factor is especially evident in the clocktower scene where Basil of Baker Street dukes it out with the fiendish Professor Ratigan.
Not only is Basil putting up a scrap with a hulked-out Ratigan, but Big Ben itself is practically a character in this visual and surprisingly violent display. It's easily one of the crunchiest fight scenes for pre-renaissance Disney, but it's impressive to say the very least.
Battling Hydra (Hercules)
Part boss fight, part roller coaster ride, part kaiju film, there are multiple reasons the fight with the Hydra is easily the coolest battle in Herc's career. Again, the early CGI has aged surprisingly well for its age (although not perfectly), and the ensuing battle is a wild and twisted ride through a sea of serpentine heads.
There's even a small dose of body horror when Hercules gets gulped and has to slice his way out of the monster's neck. It's not every day Disney includes so much viscera in one scene, but they hit the nail right on the head when they do.
Monster Mayhem (Frankenweenie)
Frankenweenie is an underrated gem by Tim Burton that deserves more attention, but the final act is where an all-out beastly battle royale takes place. The film itself is a quirky stop-motion tribute to classic monster movies of yesteryear, but the final fight scene puts all of the pets-turned-predators against one another in true B-movie fashion.
References to classics like The Mummy, Dracula, Gremlins, Godzilla, and Gamera are shown off in a way only Burton could proudly deliver. The final confrontation between Sparky and the monsterfied Mr. Whiskers is particularly brutal by Disney standards, but one that shouldn't be missed.
Introducing The Omnidroid (The Incredibles)
Every good superhero movie needs some intense action to be truly successful, and The Incredibles delivers on that in spades. While the final confrontation against Syndrome's technological terrors in the city is certainly impressive, the first appearance of the Omnidroid on the island is arguably a much better fight.
Granted, the scene in the city features more lives at stake, but the first encounter is more stylish, confrontational, and visually impressive than the one shown in the film's third act. A giant evil robot in a city is one thing, but a molten one in the heart of a volcano is another.
The Battle For Pride Rock (The Lion King)
Simba's battle with Scar before the end of The Lion King is a duel that will forever be cemented in Disney history. With its use of fangs, flames, and ferocity, fierce is only one way used to describe this powerful fight for the crown. It's practically a near-perfect way to create a masterful mono-a-mono.
The scene between Simba and Scar is a hard-hitting grudge match that has all the action of a title bout in a Rocky movie. The claws truly come out in this display of leonine combat, complete with slow-motion and even a little blood splatter. It's just another reason why the film remains king of the Disney Renaissance.
Facing The Leviathan (Atlantis: The Lost Empire)
If there is one creature viewers remember from this forgotten sci-fi epic, it's the Leviathan. Watching a steampunk-esque submarine and other aquatic craft take on a giant robotic sea monster was something ahead of its time, and it's one of the most stand-out moments from the film as a whole.
The Leviathan itself is truly a triumph of Disney animation, and every moment in this monster encounter is dripping with nail-biting intensity. Jules Verne himself couldn't have done better.
The War On Notre Dame (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)
The final battle in The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of Disney's most memorable scenes. The attention to detail the Disney artists gave Notre Dame was nothing short of immaculate, and to see Frollo and his soldiers lay siege to the famous house of God is one of the most striking and gripping scenes from the studio.
Phoebus said it best, Frollo practically declares war on Notre Dame herself to capture Esmerelda, and the way Quasimodo fights back earns him a seat of honor at the Disney heroes table. Seeing molten lead fall from the mouths of gargoyles and grotesques to ward off intruders is a scene few Disney fans will ever forget.