Love is an Open Door! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Aladdin

"Aladdin" was released in 1992, the 31st full-length feature film and at a time where the Disney animated movies were amazing. It told the story of a young lad, a street urchin who was actually a 'diamond in the rough', of a rebellious princess, of a wacky genie, and of an evil advisor to the sultan. The primary song that the movie was known for was "A Whole New World". In the movie the song was sung by the actors, Lea Salonga and Brad Kane, but, in the end credits it was covered by Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle. This second version reached #1 on the Billboard top 40.

"Friend Like Me" is another song from "Aladdin". When the genie meets Aladdin for the first time, he lists the many ways that he could be of service to him in a very comedic way. This song was nominated for an Oscar, but ultimately lost to "A Whole New World".

Answer: Beauty and the Beast

"Beauty and the Beast" was released in 1991 and became an instant hit. It tells the story of a prince-turned-beast who has nearly forgotten his humanity, and a gentle woman, Belle, who discovers that she is stronger than people give her credit for. They fall in love, but, is love ever easy? The main song from the movie was also called "Beauty and the Beast" and it was performed in the movie by Angela Lansbury. However, in the end credits it was performed as a duet by Céline Dion and Peabo Bryson. This was the first time that Disney re-released one of their songs as a pop cover. It reached #9 on the Billboard top-100 list.

"Be Our Guest" was another song from the movie. It is a fun and catchy tune that is sung as Belle is introduced to the characters in the castle as she eats her first meal there. It was nominated for an Oscar but ultimately lost to "Beauty and the Beast".

Answer: The Lion King

When Disney released "The Lion King" in 1994, it was just after three very awesome movies ("Aladdin", "Beauty and the Beast", and "The Little Mermaid"). Could they do better? Yes, they certainly did! With Elton John working with Tim Rice to write the songs, the soundtrack was amazing. In fact, it was the first to be certified Diamond by the RIAA.

There were a number of hit songs from the movie, but "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" didn't really get all the credit it deserved. Hearing how young Simba just wants to grow up should have resonated with all kids who just wanted to be older so that they could do more things. The main song from the movie, however, was "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" which won the Academy Award for Best Song.

Answer: The Little Mermaid

If you compare the movie "The Little Mermaid" with the story by Hans Christian Andersen, you will find many places where the movie diverges. However, the Disney movie, released in 1989, was widely loved by audiences young and old and really revived the stagnating animated movie genre that had grown, well, a bit boring and formulaic at that time.

Although the award for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards was won by "Under the Sea", while "Part of Your World" became an instant hit as a power ballad, "Kiss the Girl" was well-received as well because of its fun calypso beat and its catchy message. You almost want to believe that the film would be over if Prince Eric had just kissed Ariel right there on the boat while the song was being sung. However, it's never that easy...

Answer: Pocahontas

"Pocahontas" was released in 1995 as a much-fictionalized account of the story of Pocahontas and her first encounter with the English settlers who came to Jamestown. It received praise for its music though many criticized the lack of clarity of the story, the divergence from the true account, and the racial undertones.

Although "Colors of the Wind" was the winner of the Academy Award that year for Best Original Song, "Just Around the Riverbend" was a hit in its own right. Stating that the main character, Pocahontas, is looking forward and expecting there to be more adventures in her life was a positive message and shows that the heroine is not just looking for a husband. The soundtrack was a collaboration between composer Alan Menken and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, their first, seeing as it was right after the passing of Howard Ashman, Menken's previous partner.

Answer: Tangled

"Tangled" is the Disney version of the story of Rapunzel, somewhat based on the fairy-tale story by the Brothers Grimm. The movie was stuck in the production process for almost six years and it is estimated that the costs added up and made it, at the time of its release, the most expensive animated film ever made, and the second most expensive, ever.

"When Will My Life Begin?" was the main song from the movie and it was also covered by Mandy Moore as a pop version. "I See the Light" was acclaimed at the 83rd Academy Awards, but did not win. "Mother Knows Best", however, was retrospectively very well-liked even though it was sung by a villain and was meant to make Rapunzel second-guess her choices.

Answer: Frozen II

With the amazing meteoric success of "Frozen", of course Disney was going to make a sequel. "Frozen II", in my eyes, did not disappoint. It told a story of finding roots in order to face the future, and that doing the right thing, no matter how hard it is, will always be the right choice. Audiences around the world loved the movie and, while it wasn't as huge a success as "Frozen", it still was a big hit.

The main single from the movie was "Into the Unknown", Elsa's power ballad that was nominated for an Academy Award. My favourite song from the film is definitely "Lost in the Woods". Audiences complained that Jonathan Groff did not get a chance to show off his singing chops in the first movie, so, the writers gave him a very interesting song to sing in "Frozen II". The song is done in the style of an '80s ballad, and the movie supports this. It's sort of like Queen meets Journey meets Bryan Adams meets Michael Bolton, and I think that people of my generation really got that message.

Answer: Tarzan

The release of "Tarzan" in 1999 is considered to be the end of the "Renaissance Era" of Disney animated films. After a period of stagnation, there were ten releases that really rekindled for many the love of animation. Taking the plot from the novel "Tarzan of the Apes" by Edgar Rice Burroughs, it was the first animated movie based on the story.

Phil Collins was called in to help with the soundtrack and his hit "You'll Be in My Heart" was the winner of the Academy Award for Best Original Song. "Strangers Like Me" was also written and performed by Phil Collins and talks of being different and trying to fit in.

Answer: Pinocchio

Walt Disney Studios debuted their animated feature films with "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" in 1937. They followed up with "Pinocchio" in 1940. It tells the story of a carved puppet being given life as an animated doll, and his quest to become a real boy if he can be "brave, truthful, and unselfish". Despite a few hiccups along the way, Pinocchio shows that he is worthy by working hard and not taking any shortcuts.

The song "When You Wish Upon a Star" was the winner of the Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song that year. This award, along with Best Music, Original Score made "Pinocchio" the first animated film to win an Oscar. "Give A Little Whistle" was another pleasant ditty from the film where Jiminy Cricket tells his pal Pinocchio that help will always be near at hand.

Answer: Hercules

"Hercules" was released in 1997 and was somewhat based on the Greek myth of Heracles and his legendary twelve trials. It tells the story of a boy who finds out he is actually descended of the gods from Olympus, and how he relies on himself rather than on divine intervention to carve out his own fate and to save the Olympians from a hostile takeover.

The music in "Hercules" was composed by Alan Menken and the lyrics were by David Zippel. The hit from the movie was "Go the Distance", a song telling that despite not knowing where he fits in, Hercules will work hard in order to achieve his goals. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song (which it lost to "My Heart Will Go On"). "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" is sung by Meg, a woman who is sent to thwart Hercules but actually ends up falling in love with him.