Last week, we shared suggestions of five classic Disney movies that parents could introduce to kids for a break from their current favorites. Because there are so many great Disney animated films, and lots of our readers agree with that, we decided to share another five classic Disney movie suggestions.

Bambi

Released in 1942, Bambi was one of Disney’s earliest full-length movies and helped establish some of their oft-used story elements. It starts when Bambi, a fawn, is born and learns that one day he’ll guard the woods as the Great Prince of the Forest. As Bambi grows, he gets very close to his mother and befriends other woodland creatures.

But, tragedy strikes when Bambi’s mother is killed by a hunter. His father, the current Great Prince, takes over raising the fawn as he matures to adolescence. Bambi’s life continues to have ups and downs as he falls in love, stands up to a romantic rival, and must also avoid the dangers of hunters.

Bambi has one of the saddest moments in any Disney movie with the death of his mother, which became a plot device found in many of their movies. Despite this, it’s a hopeful, sweet movie about innocence, growing up, and the power of friendship. Having the animals as the main characters gave kids a peek into their world, and the magic it could hold became another regular element of Disney movies.  

Cinderella

Cinderella, one of Disney’s most beloved princesses, was introduced in 1950. Cinderella is a sweet young lady whose parents died when she was young, forcing her to live with her cruel stepmother and nasty stepsisters. Despite the fact that they make Cinderella do all of the housework and treat her terribly, she remains kind and gentle, befriending mice and birds that live in the house.

Her fortunes take a dramatic turn when the king announces that the palace will host a ball for the discontent prince to find his future wife. After Cinderella’s stepsisters destroy the dress she was going to wear to the ball, her Fairy Godmother shows up to give her a night of wonder and beauty (with the help of some glass slippers).

Cinderella was the triumph of goodness over nastiness told as a romantic fairy tale that made many little girls imagine their own prince. It’s a story that has been retold and borrowed from many times, giving kids the hope that better times will prevail.

Alice in Wonderland

Through Alice in Wonderland, Disney released one of their zaniest movies. In the 1951 film Alice, a restless girl, escapes her regular life when she falls down a rabbit hole into a magical world.

First, she is put through a confusing series of exercises that drastically change her size. Once in the strange world, she meets a host of odd characters, such as the neurotic White Rabbit, the cunning Cheshire Cat, and the silly Mad Hatter. Alice’s adventure isn’t all mad tea parties for unbirthdays, however, and she ends up on trial for mistakenly playing a trick on the tyrannical Queen of Hearts.

Alice in Wonderland is one of Disney’s most imaginative movies, filled with oddities and adventure. With its litany of strange characters and increasingly silly activities, it captivates children into a world of, well, wonder.

One Hundred and One Dalmatians

Disney went to the dogs for 1961’s One Hundred and One Dalmatians. It starts as a love story, pairing humans Roger and Anita, and dalmatians Pongo and Perdita. Soon the pair of pooches have a litter of 15 puppies who catch the eye of Anita’s former schoolmate Cruella De Vil.

Because Roger and Anita refuse to sell the puppies to Cruella, she sends a pair of hapless henchmen to steal the dogs. When the police are unable to find the puppies, Pongo and Perdita send word through the canine wire. Once the dogs are found and they learn that Cruella wants to turn the puppies into coats, Perdita and Pongo head out on an adventure to save their children.

The animals take front and center in this tale of chases and excitement. It has a pretty dark storyline, but is told in a way that establishes Cruella’s evilness without being too frightening for young viewers. There’s plenty of laughs, suspense, and sweetness in this classic film.

The Jungle Book

In 1967, viewers learned about “The Bare Necessities” in The Jungle Book. Mixing humans and talking animals, the movie introduces Mowgli an orphan boy who is found deep in the jungle by Bagheera, a black panther. He is turned over to a wolf family to be raised with their cubs and is perfectly happy until the family learns that the dangerous Bengal tiger Shere Khan has returned.

The pack decides that Mowgli should return to the “Man Village” for his own safety, but the boy wants to stay in the jungle with his friends. Mowgli goes on a journey, trying to join an elephant patrol, befriends a bear named Baloo, even holds court with King Louie the orangutan while trying to avoid Shere Khan.

The Jungle Book is a lighthearted movie with catchy tunes and silly jokes. It’s the rare instance when humans and animals interact as equals and lets children dream about playing in the dirt and swinging from the trees with a cast of singing, exotic animals.