Top 10 Disney Mothers

One element that has always been a topic of conversation amongst movie buffs and Disney buffs in particular, is Walt Disney's lack of a mother in his films. Of course the common theory is that as a result of Walt's relationship with his mother Flora, and the fact that her death resulted from a furnace leak at the house he had recently purchased for them in the 1940s, was directly to blame for his lack of mother roles or deaths of mothers in his pictures. However I really don't put much faith in this theory, Dumbo has a very endearing relationship with his mother, Wendy and her little brothers have a great mother and the movie features a song purely dedicated to what it means to have a mother. Therefore I really think the point of Disney's lack of mother figures is sort of baloney. There were and always have been several very important and dedicated mother characters in Disney history and this list is dedicated to some of the best ones (in my opinion of course!)

10. Kala (Tarzan 1998)

As I've previously talked about in a blog post, the opening of the underrated Tarzan where both a baby gorilla and a pair of human parents are brutally killed is such a heartbreaking and intense Disney sequence. Kala, the mother Gorilla is a true example of Altruism. She rescues our baby protagonist and raises him to the best of her ability, which it turns out is pretty darn impressive. Her sweet and very motherly disposition make you completely forget that she and Tarzan are a different species, and their scene together where she explains how alike they really are is one of the most tender moments ever on screen.

9. Momma (The Good Dinosaur 2015)

Speaking of underrated Disney films. In 2015 my boyfriend and I went to see Inside Out, and while we thought it was obviously a fantastic animated movie, several months later we went to say The Good Dinosaur and for us it was by far a better, sadder, funnier and more enjoyable experience. This is probably an unpopular opinion but at the end of the day it's all subjective really! When young Dinosaur Arlo goes missing, the love and respect he has for his family and his mother in particular becomes particularly evident when he talks to his new friend Spot about being seperated from them. Frances McDormand is one of my favourite actresses so add to it that she voices the character of Momma, and you've got a truly wonderful Disney mother character.

8. Mrs. Darling (Peter Pan 1953)

If anybody wanted to see what a classic Disney princess would be like as a mother, well here you have it. She may not have the royal title, but Mrs. Darling is animated, has the personality, mannerisms and lovely speaking voice of a classic Disney Princess. I adore the opening scenes of the movie in which she and Mr. Darling are getting ready to attend a party. It's so reminiscent of all of our childhoods, watching our parents get ready to go out while we play around with our toys and siblings. I particularly enjoy the dry humour Mrs. Darling shows while she remains calm as her husband, the "animated" Mr. Darling loses his patience with the children and the adorable Nana. She must be a good Mother to her kids, as they dedicate an entire song to just what a good mother is, I'm guessing they have had a lot of experience with one!

7. Helen Parr (The Incredibles, 2004)

What a super mom! As Elastigirl, Helen Parr has the ability to reach broad distances and stop criminals in their tracks. As a mom she had the ability to reach across the kitchen to catch a glass of orange juice before it hit the floor. A lot of mothers would say how truly heroic both of these abilities are on a hectic day. I love The Incredibles, the premise is so original and fun and as the matriarch of the Parr family, Helen really shines as a woman trying to keep her heroic family safe. She also has some truly funny moments, like the one where she realizes how her figure has changed since having kids, now I don't know many mothers that can't relate to that experience.

6. Eudora (The Princess and the Frog, 2009) 

With the warm voice talent of Oprah Winfrey and the realistic mixed feelings about her daughter's need for success and lack of a social life. Eudora is one of the most loving and real life mothers of all of Disney's movies. She has a very sweet and tender way with her daughter and despite being widowed young, she raised her daughter to have a strong work ethic and to never give up on her dreams. She is a real role model for all single mothers out there.

5. Mrs. Banks (Mary Poppins, 1964)

This is probably a controversial decision, because she is not the most "hands on" mother. But Mrs. Banks is a true example of a mother of her time. She may have required a nanny to look after her children, but to be honest back in those days most mothers probably did. And, there are several times throughout the movie that we see Mrs. Banks really show her affection towards her children and how she will humour them with what they have to say, particularly during the scene in which they tell her and Mr. Banks about their advertisement for a new Nanny. She is also a wonderful example of a working mother as she is so devoted to the good cause of Votes for Women!

4. Bambi's mother (Bambi 1942)

The ultimate heartbreaking moment for many a Disney person, is of course, the death of Bambi's mother by the hands of hunters. I really think this moment hits a nerve with so many people because it involves a little boy scared and alone without his only guardian and that is just a gut wrenching image. However I think it's also so strong because Bambi's mother was portrayed as the ultimate in knowing, loving and protective mothers. Her instant instinct to tell Bambi to run out of the meadow as soon as she sensed the hunters nearby was a real example of altruism and a truly protective Mother.

3. Mrs. Potts (Beauty and the Beast 1991)

What's more comforting that a mother who wants to sing you a soothing song while she offers you a hot cup of tea and a biscuit? Mrs. Potts is one of the best Disney mothers because even though she and her son Chip were turned into inanimate objects, she never let that stop her from taking the best care of him and raising him well while making the most of a tough situation. Which, lets face it is what many moms out there have to do. Plus she's voiced by Angela Lansbury, you can't get more motherly than that!

2. Duchess (The Aristocats 1970)

She's beautiful, she's protective and she teaches good lessons to her kids. The Aristocats is one of my favourite ever animated movies and I absolutely adore the stunning Duchess and her little kittens. When she and the kittens are kidnapped by the conniving Edgar, her first instinct is to gather her kids in the morning and try to get home. Luckily she meets up with the King of the Highway, Thomas O'Malley (the alley cat!) and the two take the kittens home. What I think is so great about Duchess as a single mom is that although she does fall for O'Malley, it's completely clear that she wouldn't bother with him at all unless she thought he would make an excellent Dad for her kittens, which thankfully, he really does. 

1. Sarabi (The Lion King 1994)

Well basically, I can relate to Sarabi, she was the mother of a Simba, I was the mother of a Simba. But seriously, watching The Lion King 2 the other day really made me want to do this list, I love the portrayal of Sarabi and Nala as mothers. I think Sarabi in particular is such a regal character, and her and Mufasa's love and devotion to each other and their son is such a beautiful part of the story. I also love the strength she exhibits when confronting Scar and her reaction to realizing her son is still living is a really emotional and heartwarming moment. Also I think she is animated just beautifully. She is my favourite portrayal of a Disney mother. 

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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 Review

In 2009 Walt Disney Studios basically purchased Marvel Studios for $4 Billion. I can completely understand why they did it. Marvel movies are arguably the most lucrative movies in the world right now and in my own humble opinion, that's not always with good reason. Don't get me wrong, I can sit through and usually enjoy a popcorn superhero flick. That said, some of the most recent ones such as Dr. Strange and Ant-Man have been so predictable and at times boring that I find myself waiting for the movie to be over and the hero to either win or win out for the time being until the next sequel is rolled out. This is why, in 2014 when I went with a friend to see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.1 I was so unbelievably pleasantly surprised. The humour, the chemistry between the characters, how diverse the characters are, the great use of special effects and the truly amazing soundtrack (I still can't get "Come and Get Your Love" out of my head!) combined so well to make a perfectly entertaining box office smash.


With all that being said, when I heard they were releasing the sequel in summer 2017 I was extremely excited. For most sequels of superhero movies I am always apprehensive that it will not live up to the first, however for some reason before seeing it, I just knew with this one they would get it right. And thank Walt Disney, they did not let me down. From start to finish this film was a wonderfully entertaining experience. The plot revolves around the rag tag group we first met in Volume 1 which is of course lead by sitcom supporting star turned full blown movie star Chris Pratt. This time the gang is being hunted by the leaders of a planet known as The Sovereign for stealing something they consider precious from them. While being chased down and having a western in space style shoot out with this nation's ships, the group are helped along by a mysterious man in a white space pod, who we discover is (and this isn't a spoiler) Peter Quill's father. I won't say anymore for fear of giving the plot twists and turns away. Suffice to say, action and excitement ensues. For me, the real shining characters in this sequel are the Vin Diesel voiced Baby Groot who is quite possibly one of the most adorable characters in movie history, as well as Michael Rooker's Yondu. He has some of the most hilarious moments in the movie (in particular a Mary Poppins reference that will be quoted by my boyfriend and I for years to come) and surprisingly, he also had some of the most emotionally effective moments. Kurt Russell was perfectly cast as Star Lord's celestial and charismatic Dad and there is an enjoyable cameo appearance from the one and only Sylvester Stallone. All of the supporting players are excellent in their roles and the true chemistry among the cast is fantastic. There are some touching moment's involving the Bradley Cooper voiced Rocket, as well as the "unspoken" romance between Quill and Gamora's characters which isn't overplayed. The battle and action sequences are very enjoyable and unlike with other Marvel productions, I never once found myself getting bored during them or finding those parts tedious to get through. The effects are marvelously done (see what I did there), I mean being completely honest I don't know much about special effects or CGI but I do know when I'm impressed by it, which I definitely was.

I think the reason I find these Guardians movies much more enjoyable than the other Marvel films such as the Avengers, is that they don't take themselves to seriously. These movies have real, non forced humour, great witty dialogue, and what I feel is a really nostalgic feel to them, helped along of course by their awesome soundtracks. I have to say, as my boyfriend mentioned it to me on our way out of the screening, the songs in this sequel aren't as memorable as the ones in the first film, but that could just be us talking, it's a completely subjective point but I personally did agree with him on that. All in all, this picture was insanely enjoyable and I think well worth a watch. It accomplished for me what so many other superhero movies have tried to but failed, a funny raucous adventure with some really touching moments, I hope the people at DC take note, that's how a great popcorn movie is done.

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The Art of Mary Blair

When I was a teenager, probably about 14 my sister was living in Cardiff in Wales to get her degree. One of the perks of this situation was that she lived very close to the city's Disney store! I had never been to a Disney store before and the one in Dublin would not open up for another 6 years. With that being said you can imagine my excitement at the thought of her living so close and my extreme delight when she would arrive back for a visit with gifts from the store for me! On one of these visits she brought me home a Special Edition 2 Disc DVD of Cinderella. A movie that always reminds me of her as it was her favourite Disney classic growing up, she wouldn't always watch Disney with me as she was 5 years older than me but whenever Cinderella was on she was more than happy to, which I loved.

I had gotten really into the animation of Disney around that time, especially people like the Nine Old Men and how they came up with the fantastic characters and masterpiece background designs they created over the years. So, I was so happy when I discovered that there was a Behind the Scenes documentary on Mary Blair. A lady I had never heard of but immediately upon seeing the Disney work she did, I realized I may not have known her face but I was more than familiar with her legacy. The documentary went on to tell of her influence on the animation of such 1950s Disney classics as Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty and of course Cinderella and of the lasting impression she would have on all future animators and imagineers and the stories they would work on in the years to come.

Mary Blair was born in 1911 in McAlester Oklahoma U.S. As a child she showed an immense interest in art, drawing her own little comic books while at school to entertain her family and fellow classmates. At the age of 20 Mary won a scholarship to the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles where she moved to and attended the institute alongside her brother-in-law Preston Blair. In the early 1930's, Mary began working as a colourist and animator at MGM for a short period, she became well known among her fellow animators for her wonderful use of colour in her work. Following her few years at MGM, Mary interviewed at and landed (luckily for all of us) a job in the animation department at The Walt Disney Company in 1940 and thus her fairy tale began. Walt is said to have adored her innovative style and use of bright dramatic colours and so he decided she should take part in the animation of the studios "good will" South America inspired productions of Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros as an art supervisor. She then went on to do some of her best and most inspiring work on the concept artwork for several of the company's best features including, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan. Towards the mid 1950's Mary left her work at Disney and became an artist, graphic designer, and illustrator for the advertisements of many major companies including Maxwell House and Nabisco during the height of 1960's advertising. Several years after Disneyland had opened, Walt Disney wanted to create a ride in which visitors to his magical land would be able to be treated to a whimsical and magical trip through several of the world's countries including Japan, Sweden and Brazil. He of course recruited the help and artistry of Mary Blair to achieve this dream. She created murals representing each country in a colourful and exciting way as well as animatronic puppets that donned garments representational of their respective country. Each country was unique and had that signature Mary Blair touch. The ride went on to be called "It's a Small World After all" and it featured a song of the same name that is etched into the memory of all visitors of the ride. Mary then moved back to California where she continued to work on her art and had a gallery. She passed away in 1978 at the age of 66 from a cerebral hemorrhage. In 1991 she was more than deservedly made a Disney Legend and her work was celebrated and has been since her passing by the studio.

Mary Blair's work for me is so important because it signifies a change in the type of animation Disney did and it completely represents the studios innovative ways of adopting new styles and ideas. Her use of colour and very modernist styles particularly in concept art for Alice in Wonderland is beautiful to look at. One scene that was mentioned in the Cinderella documentary I referred to before was the scene in which the stepsisters rip Cinderella's pink dress from her when she tries to attend the ball with them. The colour of the background of the scene changes gradually to a wild jungle red as the sister's behaviour becomes more violent. This was described in the documentary as "pure Mary Blair". Only a fantastic story teller and imaginative animator would come up with such a fantastic approach to art and colour in a scene, which is why she was so important to Walt. I believe he saw in Mary another person who believed that animation could be seen as a real form of high art.

You can see more about Mary and her work at this website: http://magicofmaryblair.com/

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Disney Rabbits and Why We Love Them

What with Easter happening yesterday, I was inspired to do a little post about some of the fantastically fluffy Disney bunnies that have featured in some of our favourite movies and shows throughout the years. This is a list of my personal favourites and some reasons why I adore them so much.

Judy Hopps

Last year, along with Findy Dory and Moana, I saw the wonderful and Oscar Winning Zootopia/Zootropolis and I fell in love with the charming leading character Judy Hopps.Her postive spirit and can do attitude makes her a really great example for all little kids seeing the movie. 

Favourite Quote: "Life's a little bit messy. We all make mistakes. No matter what type of animal you are, change starts with you."

White Rabbit

To clarify, the White Rabbit I'm referring to is the original from the far superior 1951 movie not the 2010 Tim Burton "production" (which I am not a fan of at all). Inspired by the character from the Lewis Carroll children's classic, he is one of the more unusual and charming little characters from the movie. We can all relate to being flustered and late for something important whether it be work, an appointment, a date which is probably why we can relate to this little befuddled guy so well

Favourite Quote: "Oh my fur and Whiskers! I'm Late I'm Late I'm Late!"

Mother, Sis, Skippy, Tagalong and Family

I love Robin Hood, I think it's a little gem of a film with truly comedic moments between Robin Hood and Little John, real romance between he and Maid Marion and some excellent supporting characters. Several of which belong to the rabbit family of the film, consisting of the hard done by Mother Rabbit and her adorable kids. From the little toddler Tagalong with her cute teddy bear and speech impediment to Skippy the boisterous little tike who's ideal is of course Robin Hood, they are a lovely little bunch.

Favourite Quote (by Sis): "Oh he's so handsome, just like his reward posters"

Rabbit 

This fella is part of one of the best and most famous Disney groups ever, The Winnie the Pooh Gang! He's probably the most highly strung of the bunch but he's also one of the most lovable because behind all of his annoyance with Pooh bear wanting all of his honey and his frustration with Tigger's garden wrecking bouncing, he's a goodhearted little soul who's glad to have all of his friends in the Hundred Acre Woods

Favourite Quote: "Never trust that thing between your ears. Brains will get you nowhere dears. Why look at me, I haven't used mine in years"

Thumper

If I were a betting woman I'd be willing to wager that most people would immediately think of this talkative little fella when you ask them about Disney bunnies. Of course he was one of the very first in Disney film and one of the most memorable characters they had ever produced. He's Bambi's best friend and one of the trio that becomes twitterpated and falls for the an adorable little blonde bunny which makes for one of the funniest and cutest moments in Disney history.

Favourite Quote: "If you can't say nothin nice, don't say nothin at all"

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit

Walt Disney's predecessor to the Iconic Mickey, he may not be as well known and he may have been taken away from Walt during a bad time in his early career, but that doesn't take away from the influence the little guy had on Disney history. I recently checked out some of his shorts on Youtube and I genuinely thought they were sweet and had a real charm to them. The history behind how the character was created and how he ended up being taken away from Walt and his fellow animators is really fascinating and I'd really recommend anybody interested in Walt's life to look it up. Truly engaging stuff and really shows that just because your down, doesn't always mean you're out. 

Favourite Quote: "Gosh, Ya Think?! I'm Oswald, I run the Cartoon Wasteland, or I used to before that....I used to be popular....a star!"

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Review of As Old As Time: A Twisted Tale by Liz Braswell

Ever since reading Fairest of All by Serena Valentino, I had longed to read a similar type of book but that was better written and with a more interesting story So, thankfully, I came across Liz Braswell's Twisted Tale Disney series on amazon. The premise of the books looked very interesting and they seemed to be more aimed for teenagers on up (even though I'm 26 that didn't stop me!) I immediately decided to purchase the third book in the series first as it's the one with the premise I was most interested in. That book is As Old As time, which as you can probably guess is about the Beast and Belle, and of course, with a little twist in the tale. The book cost me €8.00 including delivery which was excellent! Not only because it would be very difficult to find in a book shop near me, but also because even if I did, it would probably cost between €15-20.00! The cover of the book is paperback, and I really do like the design and font used for the title. There is a hardback one available which has an amazing cover so if anybody is getting this as a collector's item, I would highly recommend splashing out and hunting for that one. The condition of the book was brand new and it even came with a little paperback book mark. It is a good long read at about 485 pages, however the text is medium sized as are most young adult books so it doesn't take too long to get through.

Now, onto the book itself. The premise of the story as it states on the front cover is "What if Belle's mother cursed the Beast?". When I first saw that it really intrigued me. The story itself begins on the night that the Enchantress (now whom we know as Belle's mother) places the curse on the Beast and all the people in his castle. We are then taken back to when Belle's father Maurice met the enchantress and how they came to fall in love and give birth to their daughter. We also get to see how Belle's mother came to curse the young prince and all of the lovable objects in his castle. This part of the book, part one, is probably my least favourite of the entire story. Ironically, the aspect that I found so intriguing in the premise, i.e. Belle's mother being the enchantress, was actually not all that interesting to read about. That is, her back story is just a bit too long and wishy washy for me.

The second part of the book which I would consider to have a sort of mystery vibe to it was my favourite and the most enjoyable to read. I won't give too much away but mainly it focuses on the Beast and Belle and how they came to get to know each other. It is also the section in which what I consider to be the real twist occurs. As a side note, I read this book out loud to my boyfriend as he played a video game and he found this to be the best section of the story also, so there's second opinion for you! I really was fond of how Belle's character was portrayed in this also. She was given a bit more of a realistic personality while still having the same sweetness and likability as she had in the animated classic. The Beast is also given a more multidimensional personality. The lovely way in which he behaves in the ballroom scene of the film and his sweetness is brought out more as well as the darker more beastly sides to his curse.

The third section of this book is also quite good but I have to say, not at all suitable for younger kids to read. There are elements of torture, violence, mental health issues etc... very heavy stuff for anybody younger than at least 15 to be ready in my opinion. I did appreciate the way they took the story and the ending that is what given, although I do really wish the author would have tightened it up just a touch as it did feel, as the beginning did, a little drawn out.

Ultimately this was an extremely enjoyable read for me as a Disney fan and actually I have to say as a lover of Mystery/Thriller novels. As I previously said there are some elements of violence and slightly adult oriented subject matters so I wouldn't exactly be rushing to purchase this for a child as a gift or anything but maybe that's just my age showing and I'm being a bit too Mrs. Potts like about it! There are two other books in this series, one is about Sleeping Beauty and the other Aladdin. I actually cannot wait to settle down with a cup of tea and get stuck into those two soon, because as Walt said, "There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on treasure island".

Valentine's Dates inspired by Disney moments

Some of the moments in Disney film History are so unforgettably iconic that immediately they are recognizable, and none more so than those heart warming romantic moments. Seeing as how I have already posted a list of my favourite of those moments, I decided to do a post about potential Dates couples could share together that are inspired by Disney. I thought it would be a very appropriate post considering what Day tomorrow is! So here they are 💗💗💗💗

Mary Poppins (1964) Jolly Holiday in the Park

One of the most loved scenes in Mary Poppins is the one in which Bert and Mary, along with Jane and Michael step into the chalk drawing together. This would be an excellent idea for a date for couples with children in particular. Why not do as Bert and Mary did and go for a lovely stroll in the park followed by some cakes and tea (unfortunately you can order what we will, as they penguins say, but there will be a bill this time!). Follow that up if you can with a ride on the amusements or merry go round. I couldn't think of a more pleasant and picturesque thing to do on a Valentine's afternoon.

The Aristocats (1970) Jazz music with some cool cats

Everybody wants to be a cat and almost everybody would enjoy boogieing away in a swanky jazz bar/club listening to a fantastic band of musicians play. So, anyone who is lucky enough to live near a jazz place, should try taking their Duchess or O'Malley along to one for a relaxed fun Valentine's night. You could even end up busting a few moves together.

Lady and the Tramp (1955) Spaghetti on a Bella Notte

If you ask anyone what is one of the most romantic movie moments of all time, a good percentage will tell you that the spaghetti and meatballs scene in Lady and the Tramp is their number one. I think it is the perfect idea for any date but in particular for every Disney fan. It's the classic romantic evening with some delicious food, flirtation and beautiful music. How could you go wrong? I don't recommend the nosing of the meatball to each other if you're wearing some good or new clothes though!

The Princess and the Frog (2009) Cooking some tasty grub together

In Disney's extremely fun 2009 animation that is very reminiscent of the renaissance movies, Tiana teaches Prince Naveen to cook her father's gumbo. A fantastic way of bonding with your loved one or a new person in your life is to cook a delicious meal together. Afterall, there must be a reason why they say couples who cook together stay together. I think it's a lovely (and cost efficient) way to spend your Valentine's day together, going grocery shopping then setting a romantic table together while having fun and enjoying one of your favourite meals or something new and different with one another.

One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) Evening walk with the pups

If you're lucky enough to have a canine companion in your life and/or your partner happens to be that lucky too, a wonderful idea is to break out the leash and head for a leisurely romantic stroll on a Valentine's evening just like Roger and Anita did with Pongo and Perdita in 101 Dalmations. You could also make a day of it by bringing the dogs along while you have a picnic in a park or your favourite scenic location in the afternoon. Just don't get too distracted by the romance and forget to keep an eye on the dogs so you don't end up with 101 puppies at your house!

The Little Mermaid (1989) Seeing the sites around town 

When Eric decides to take Ariel out for a fun filled day of site seeing and excitement, it makes you wish you could be on such a perfect first date. It has everything! A romantic ride through the country, shopping at the market, dancing, and an intimate evening boat ride. It would be the ideal date for a couple just getting to know one another as there are lots of opportunities to talk and learn new things together. Although, hopefully your date unlike poor Ariel's will end in true love's kiss.

So as you can see, there are lots of options and Disney inspiration for a perfect Valentine's time for you and the one you care for, but at the end of the day, as long as you are with that person and happy together, it really doesn't matter what you're doing, because being together is the most important part.

Top 10 Most Romantic Disney Moments

This list is a combination of what I consider to be the most heartwarming, beautiful and romantic Disney moments ever. The list is made up of moments from both Disney classics and Disney Pixar features. Obviously, every fan will have their own personal favourites but I'll do my best to include ones that every fan will appreciate. So here are my most loved ones <3

10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

The very final scene of Disney's original classic in which Snow White is awakened by true love's first kiss by her Prince. This is Disney's first ever full length animated feature and it contains all of the things we have come to expect and adore in Disney features, including romance.The sweet way in which the Prince places a kiss upon his true love and her reaction of pure happiness and delight to see him as she awakens is so charming to see. This, combined with her bitter sweet farewell to each of the dwarfs and the building reprise of the song "Someday My Prince Will Come" makes this an unforgettable moment in movie history

9. Tarzan (1999)

This movie is really underrated in my opinion. The opening scene in particular is so emotional and I think Phil Collins soundtrack is tremendously good. The part of this film, that is so romantic, is the scene in which Tarzan meets Jane. Of course, everybody will know the term "Me Tarzan, you Jane" and how they integrated this famous line into this lovely scene was terrific. The most touching bit for me as a viewer, was when Tarzan removes Jane's now ruined glove and holds his hand against hers, showcasing his unique way of introducing himself to her.

8. The Aristocats (1970)

This movie is one of the cutest movies ever made. Firstly, it's about a family of cats, so automatically, if you're an animal lover you'll adore it. I love the character of Thomas O'Malley in particular, he reminds me of a 17 year old cat that lives between my mother and aunt's houses called Sparky. Lets face it, with that swagger, charm and velvety voice, Duchess didn't have any chance to resist him. The scene that follows the infamous "Everybody Wants to be A Cat" sequence in which Thomas and Duchess discuss the possibility of him become part of her family and he offers himself up as Papa to her kittens is such a lovely moment. The cherry on top of this scene is when Thomas affectionately curls his tale around Duchess's tail and they place their heads side by side. What a suitably romantic moment for such a purrrrfect couple!

7. Wall-E (2008)

I saw this film with a friend and her little sister and her friend when I was 17 in the cinema. I'm not sure whether it was the sentimentality we had from being somewhat older or what but that movie really made my friend and I very emotional and teary eyed, and definitely didn't have the same effect on the younger girls. I guess, the subtly of this film and quietness of it is harder for pre teen girls to appreciate but I think it is really effective. The scene I consider to be so romantic is when Wall-E and Eve meet. I find this scene so wonderful because of how flipping adorable they are together. The fact that Wall-E has been alone for so long and all he wants is someone to spend time with just breaks my heart and the opening of this movie makes it one of the hardest for me to watch due to how emotional I get, but somehow when Wall-E meets his Eve for the first time, you get this feeling that you know everything is going to be okay and they are meant to be together. Plus his attempt to say "Eve" without the aaaaaa at the end, is so cute and funny, beautiful moment. 

6. Sleeping Beauty (1958)

Disney's 1958 "Damsel in Distress" classic is kind of controversial in how much it splits audiences opinions. I personally think it's really good, not brilliant like Cinderella or Beauty and the Beast, but still a solid and entertaining animated movie and a must see for all Disney lovers. The moment in particular that I found so lovely and romantic in this film was is the "Once Upon A Dream" where Aurora and Phillip first encounter each other. The elements of how infatuated they clearly are with each  other, the beautiful song and the sweetness of the animals dancing and messing around with Aurora before she meets Phillip are all wonderful and enjoyable to watch. As a side note, Prince Phillip was the first Disney character I had a crush on......Yes, I'm woman enough to admit it, this probably added to my liking this scene so much 

5. Tangled (2008)

Tangled is the kind of predecessor to Frozen as it has similar animation, and a similar style of story telling, I don't think it was as successful as Frozen, but it was still a really lovely movie. For me, one scene stands out in particular and that is the "I See the Light" scene where Rapunzel and Flynn are in the row boat watching the lanterns in the sky. That song is so magical and it really hits such a romantic note. I feel Mandy Moore's voice was the perfect choice for Rapunzel and it gave us a reminder of how she was one of the few late 90s teen queens who could actually sing. The phrase in the song that is particularly touching is "All at once everything is different, now that I'm with you" I mean, that is a perfect sentiment for a moment like that.

4. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

With all the hype over the new remake of Beauty and the Beast, I had to recently rewatch it and as per usual, I enjoyed every second of it. The remake will unfortunately never surpass the "Tale As Old As Time" scene, as it is truly tender and romantic and that isn't something that can be easily said in most films. My favourite part of this scene is when Belle gently rests her head on Beast's shoulder, his reaction is so cute and genuine. Angela Lansbury's rendition of the timeless song works so well when combined with the groundbreaking animation is so wonderful, you can see why this film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture and why it has some of movie history's most romantic on screen moments

3. Aladdin (1992)

The magic carpet ride scene in Aladdin works so well because of the chemistry between the two characters, how they were able to convey such amazing chemistry between two animated characters is outstanding. They genuinely come across like they are falling for one another and the setting of the two flying on the magic carpet through all of these exotic places as well as the classic song "A Whole New World" are all so beloved by all Disney fans. I would recommend anybody who hasn't seen it to watch the singing voices of Aladdin and Jasmine, Brad Kane and Lea Salonga perform the song over 20 years later on Good Morning America. They still sing it beautifully and it completely recreates the moment for all of the movie's fans.

2. Lady and the Tramp (1955)

This is officially one of the most adorable movies ever made. It is a love story of course between a Lady (a cocker spaniel dog who lives in a nice home with a well to do young couple) and a Tramp (a mixed breed street dog who gets his meals between different homes and restaurants around the neighbourhood). I personally love dogs and other animals so much, so a Disney movie about two dogs in love feels like it was tailor made for me and I'm sure many other's feel that way too! The infamous spaghetti and meatballs moment in the movie is probably on everyone's list of great romantic moments, it's so tender and affectionate. Lady and Tramp going for a meal at Tony's italian restaurant where they serve up their tasty grub to the dogs and they serenade them with the lovely "Bella Notte". It would make the perfect date for anybody and I'm sure many a couple has recreated that spaghetti string moment on a lovely bella notte together

1. The Little Mermaid (1989)

My all time ultimate favourite Disney romantic moment has got to be "Kiss The Girl" in The Little Mermaid. The song is one of the best Disney songs ever written from one of the greatest Disney scores ever composed. I love every song in The Little Mermaid and often walk around my apartment singing them for no particular reason. The setting of this whole scene, the back up singing of the other animals, Sebastian's voice encouraging the other animals and the audience to "Sing with me now" and the way the animators made the characters of Ariel and Eric look so infatuated with each other is so great to watch. 

My Disney Purchases This Month

This post is just a short one to talk about some of the lovely Disney purchases I made this month so far. It's kind of a very small mini haul as there are only three things involved! But they're just so nice I had to talk about them.

The first Disney thing I got this month was in a store called Dealz, which is kind of like a convenience store/pound shop. They are these adorable little emery boards, with Minnie Mouse details and design on them, I've come to find that most of these kind of shops can be amazing for little Disney bits and bobs, in particular Beauty type products and stationary, they may be cheap but that doesn't change the fact that they are still Disney and still great little thingamabobs to add to your collection. I haven't actually used them yet, I might just keep them as decoration from my Vanity table. They cost about €1.50, absolute bargain!

The next thing I got was a wonderful and really unique thing that I have wanted for a long time. A Cinderella Musical ornament. It's from the Disney Enchanting Collection (Musical figurine's edition) and I love it so much. I had been passing by the same shop in which I bought my Jim Shore figures and I saw they had these musical ones with Belle, Snow White and Cinderella in the window. So, I decided to put by €10 a week for 5 weeks so I could get the Cinderella one, I'm not sure why that one caught my eye the most but it just did. I would lovely to purchase the other two eventually, but I'll give my purse strings a break for a while until then. I went for a nice lunch with my cousin the week before last and decided to call in, pay my last bit of cash and pick up Cinderella. Something, which I didn't know when I initially wanted to get this figure is that, each one of them plays it's one individual song from their movie. So Cinderella of course plays "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes". I'm not too cool (obviously) to admit that I was extra excited to get it when I realized this, it had never crossed my mind they would put the effort into doing that and I just assumed they would play a generic music box tune. I think it's such a special part of owning one of these collectibles though and it added to my excitement. As previously mentioned, the item cost €50.00 for me, although as usual, the prices most likely vary in other places/countries, I wouldn't expect to get it for much less than that though as it is a fabulous collector's item. As a side note, the Belle one plays "Tale As Old As Time" and the Snow White one plays "Someday My Prince Will Come" how sweet is that? <3 

The final thing I got this month was on Saturday. I was up the main street of my town running some errands and I spotted in the window of a charity shop, an Ariel doll. I had seen the doll in the Disney Store in Dublin on Valentine's Day last year and I really liked it, but because it was €30 and a little smaller than the one I chose (My Marie from The Aristocats) I decided to leave it, so you can probably imagine how thrilled I was when I came across this great find in the Jack and Jill shop window! The doll itself is in great condition, there are one or two frayed parts on her skirt, but other than that she is great nick and so pretty. When I went into the shop I asked the lady at the counter how much she cost and she gave her to me for €4! the label said 5 but as I was routing around my purse for the extra euro she said it was no problem and I was so happy with her. I think people should really pay more attention to trying charity and thrift shops for Disney finds. This is the second thing I've gotten from that shop (the first being my Fairest of All book) and I will definitely be popping in and out of there in the future to see if I can discover any more treasures. Another plus of trying those shops is that any money you spend in them not only gets you a great or a few great Disney things, but they money also goes towards a good cause so that's pretty wonderful too.