Disney has been the king of animation for over 80 years, with beloved classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Lion King, and more in its past. Pixar is much younger, with its first movie Toy Story hitting in 1995. However, it has developed a reputation as the best animated movie studio operating today.

Disney purchased Pixar and together the two continue to put out some of the best animated movies every year. However, both studios have movies that are underappreciated, underrated, and many fans on Reddit believe deserve more attention.

UPDATE: 2022/11/29 16:05 EST BY SHAWN S. LEALOS

Disney Animation Studios had a tough year in 2022. Strange World was the most recent release, and it not only received the lowest critical scores for the studio in ages, but it also looks like it will end up as a box office bomb. Pixar had two releases in 2022. The first, Turning Red, went straight to Disney+, mired in controversy. The second, Lightyear, was a theatrical release that bombed. Nothing has matched the success of Encanto in 2021, and Pixar hasn’t released a movie in theaters since 2020. As a result, it almost looks like Disney Animation is going through another slump, although there is a chance some of the movies bombing right now might end up being talked about more highly in years to come.

Brother Bear (2003)

A still from the Disney animated film Brother Bear.

Brother Bear hit in an era where Disney Animation was at a low point. It arrived in 2003 between the renaissance of the 1990s but before the rise of the studio again, thanks to movies like Wreck it Ralph and Frozen. The movie was about a young Alaskan boy who hunted and killed a bear, but then the spirits turned him into a bear as punishment.

One Reddit user said that Brother Bear deserves a lot more attention. They pointed out the “amazing animation,” “good music,” and the “genuinely clever set up” that led to the brothers facing off. There was a sequel in 2006, but few Disney fans talk about this movie anymore.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

Atlantis: The Lost Empire poster image.

Atlantis: The Last Empire arrived in 2001 as Disney’s 41st animated movie. It was also the first animated science fiction movie for the studio, and it ended up a lackluster release, barely making back its budget and mostly flopping in the United States.

Redditor jebifica said the movie was “always my favorite” and they were not alone. The Redditor went on to say that it might deserve a reevaluation by fans because it is “more mature than a standard Disney film,” while admitting that is maybe “why kids don’t connect with it.”

The Princess and the Frog (2009)

Princess Tiana holding Prince Naveen in The Princess And The Frog

The Princess and the Frog retold the classic tale of a prince turned into a frog. However, Disney transplanted the story to 1920s New Orleans and made the woman who kissed the frog turn into a frog herself. This was also the first Disney movie to present the classic Disney Princess as a Black woman.

The movie was a box office success and picked up three Oscar nominations, but it has slipped into obscurity since its release. HorribleGBlob knows it was critically acclaimed but still feels it deserves more discussion today. They called Randy Newman a genius and said, “the songs he wrote for the soundtrack to that movie were some of his best work.”

The Good Dinosaur (2015)

A boy touching a dinosaur in The Good Dinosaur

Pixar hit a slump in the early 2000s. Most people complained about the constant sequels for a company known for its originality. However, there were some original movies that left viewers flat, with The Good Dinosaur as one of the least appreciated.

One Redditor said they thought the movie was good, with MysteriousPlatypus responding, “It’s still a great movie- not in their top tier, but by no means is it a bad movie.” The movie, about a young dinosaur who meets a human boy, remains both heartfelt and earnest, two traits Pixar is best known for.

Inside Out (2015)

Joy and Sadness in Inside Out

It seems strange to hear Inside Out called underappreciated or underrated. The movie remains one of the best that Pixar ever made. Taking place entirely inside the brain of a pre-teen girl, Inside Out perfectly shows the inner battles and conflicts that kids face every day of their lives. It is also bittersweet and shows the sadness of memories lost.

However, some Redditors consider it a highly underrated movie. Block-Busted wrote that “I would even say that ‘Inside Out’ is actually on par with ‘Citizen Kane’ overall.” There were a lot of people who agreed with their sentiment, some believing that the movie should have received a Best Picture nomination on top of the animation award.

Cars 2 (2011)

Tow Mater and Lightning McQueen talking in Cars 2.

Out of all the franchises in Pixar history, the one that remains the least praised is Cars. The first movie was a love story to the small towns along Route 66 that were cut off thanks to the interstate system. The third movie is often considered the best of the three, with Lightning McQueen's character progression spotlighted.

However, Cars 2 is typically called one of the worst Pixar movies. Reddit user mkebrewers27 disagrees, calling the film an "emotional masterpiece." They also said, "Cars 2 is a complicated spy thriller about lemon cars starting an alternative fuel conspiracy to drive more business into the oil and gas car industry," believing it is better than the beloved Wall-E.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

The Hunchback of Notre Dame celebrating in his tower.

Disney released The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1996, a few years after the company's revival with The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. By the time the movie came out, the Disney Animated revival had ended, and fans rarely discuss it among the company's best.

According to TheBauhausCure, this is a mistake. "In my opinion, it has some of the best art, some of the best music, and some of the most complex, daring themes of ANY Disney movie," they wrote. They also said this is the movie he will "show to my kids one day before 'Little Mermaid'."

Brave (2012)

Merida from Brave smiling.

In 2012, Pixar made its first Disney princess movie with Brave. Because this is Pixar, the company turned the entire genre on its head. There was no prince that needed to save Princess Merida and the story was more about a girl and her mother saving themselves.

While many fans consider Brave to be lesser Pixar, Selezenka disagreed on Reddit. They claim that Brave was one of Pixar's most underrated movies, writing, "Brave is a wonderful, moving story and a lovely piece of world-painting."

Treasure Planet (2002)

Jim Hawkins In Treasure Planet

When looking at Disney animated movies, one that almost no one talks about is the 2002 release Treasure Planet. Based on Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel, Treasure Island, the story was transplanted to outer space, and it ended up as a box office flop.

There was one Reddit user who called it their favorite forgotten Disney animated movie. They called it their favorite overall Disney movie, writing that they loved "the concept behind it, the artwork and animation, the beautiful settings and vivid detail." They also called Jim Hawkins "one of the better protagonists to come out of the Disney think-tank."

Monsters University (2013)

Monsters University cast posing together

When looking at the best Pixar movies of all time, Monsters, Inc is a perennial favorite. However, while people fell in love with that movie, the reception for the Monster's Inc. prequel was not as great. Monsters University showed how Mike and Sully met in college and became friends.

The movie sits on SeymourStabfellow's list of better Pixar movies, one they call underrated. They wrote, "not only are the characters and humor great, but it probably has one of the most mature themes in a Pixar movie."

The Great Mouse Detective (1986)

Felicia the cat eating Bartholomew in The Great Mouse Detective.

Three years before Disney Animation began its renaissance with The Little Mermaid, the company released The Great Mouse Detective. The movie was a clever Sherlock Holmes-styled adventure based on the children's book series, Basil of Baker Street.

Fans barely speak of the movie now, but Reddit user NLLumi wrote that it is one of their favorites. They wrote, "It’s a cute farcical romp of a detective movie that straddles the line between kid-friendly and adult-engaging" while also praising the voice casting of Vincent Price.

Onward (2020)

Ian and Barley Lightfoot sitting on a car in Onward

Pixar's Onward suffered a bad break when it was released in 2020. The movie came out right before the pandemic hit, and it was only in theaters for a short time before every one closed by mandates. As a result, it remained mostly forgotten and dismissed.

User MarvelKenneth believes the movie deserves a better reputation. They wrote on Reddit that they believe it is "up there with Pixar masterpieces like Wall-E and The Incredibles." They also guessed that "if Illumination made Onward instead of Pixar, it would be getting WAY better reviews and reception."

Robin Hood (1973)

Robin holding his bow in Disney's Robin Hood

Robin Hood hit theaters in 1973, but fans never talk about the movie as much as they do its contemporaries like The Jungle Book and The Rescuers. The movie retold the story of Robin Hood as a fox as he met Little John and began his journey to steal from the rich and give to the poor.

Reddit user grumpymeatball wrote that it deserves more credit than it receives. They wrote, "The love story between Robin Hood and Maid Marian is so beautiful" and Disney "took the time to bring these characters to life and you feel it throughout the film."

Ratatouille (2007)

Remy cooking in Ratatouille.

One Pixar movie that is not underrated, but is not discussed enough either, is the movie Ratatouille. The film is about a small rat in Paris that wants to become a chef. He finally achieves his dream while helping a young man become a celebrated chef.

While Ratatouille is not talked about as much as other Pixar masterpieces, one Reddit user wrote that they were "so blown away by how well-animated the food was, and then we get to all the poignant dialogue." They also wrote that it "blows my mind to hear people who claim to be artists who don't like this movie at all."

A Bug's Life (1998)

The bugs in A Bug's Life looking at something.

Arguably the most underappreciated Pixar movie of them all is A Bug's Life. The movie did the impossible as it followed up the critically beloved Toy Story and improved on it when it comes to the visual style of the animation. However, because Toy Story reached such high acclaim, A Bug's Life never had a chance.

Reddit user ButterliesAreCute wrote that the movie deserved a sequel and its own franchise. "If I could pick any Pixar movie to get a sequel that otherwise didn't, it would be A Bug's Life, hands down," they wrote. "I feel A Bug's Life was worthy of a sequel since the 1998 film was really good."

NEXT: The 10 Best Pixar Movies, According To Screen Rant