For decades, Disney's produced projects have been staples for families everywhere, most specifically, their animated motion pictures. Some of their earliest works, starting in the 1920s and 1930s, are still held in quite high regard by audiences of all ages. From animated shorts like Alice's Wonderland (1923), which years later got film adaptations, to Disney's first ever animated feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938), the groundwork for Disney's success in the animated film industry was created. Disney would then go on to produce countless more timeless classics, with Dumbo (1941), Robin Hood (1973), and The Little Mermaid (1989) being only a few more examples of their most popular releases.

Disney has certainly become a proven commodity in the animated film industry, but the company has also produced numerous live-action films. Some of the most desired happen to be remakes of titles from their vast catalog of animated movies. With these reimagined projects becoming much more frequent and somewhat expected, fans and audiences can be sure to relish in more live-action adaptations of timeless classics, as well as new hits, in the future.

With adored films having been adapted into live-action with such success, such as The Jungle Book (2016), Lady and the Tramp (2019), and Pete's Dragon (2016), Disney stans are counting the days until some of the more outlying, but equally amazing, animated films will be coming to live-action. Speculation and theories fly around at an insane rate among hardcore Disney and movie fans alike, with the goal of generating buzz for potential live-action adaptions that could make their way to theaters in the quickest, most efficient time possible for our viewing pleasure. While we wait to see which remake will be next for Disney, let us speculate a bit and dive into a list of Disney classics that need to get their own live-action adaptations!

7 Pocahontas (1995)

Pocahontas
Buena Vista Pictures

It is true that Disney has somewhat of a dark past and history. Misogynism, classism, sexism, and even racism have been shown to be recurring themes in many decades-old films from Disney-owned studios. With many people having pushed Disney to rectify their shortcomings, some even going as far as to attempt boycotts of Disney as a whole, Disney has taken the approach of apologizing for and highlighting their wrongdoings in some of their films in order to keep them up with little outcry.

Disney has owned up to its faults and has attempted to do right by all the diversity in the world by making their recent projects that star "minority" people much more sincere and credible. Mulan (2020) is an example of not only a remake of an old animated classic; it also serves as a meaningful film that depicts ethnic groups and races much more properly and dignifyingly. Why shouldn't a movie such as Pocahontas follow suit? While the historical account of Pocahontas is quite unethical and saddening, the animated film from 1995 was a much more relatable and heartwarming depiction of the true story.

Related : Mulan First Reactions Call It One of Disney's Best Live-Action Remakes

6 Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

A scene from Atlantis: The Lost Empire
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Atlantis: The Lost Empire is such an underrated feature film, and is forgotten by the majority of the general audience. This animated sci-fi adventure-comedy is much more than just that. This film has action, romance, drama, and much more. The movie follows Milo, a bright young man with an affinity for the lost city of Atlantis (much like his grandfather), and a team of explorers who search for Atlantis. Milo and the crew encounter many dangers as they uncover the truth of Atlantis' demise, and they have to band together incredibly well in order to make it through their quest with minimal hiccups. This movie shows a great number of different characters and character types, which would be interesting to see on the big screen in live action, and the mission they go on would be undoubtedly visually amazing.

5 Treasure Planet

Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Treasure Planet
Buena Vista Pictures 

With a very similar feel in animation style, story points, and its overall underratedness to Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Treasure Planet is a film about a quest to find a different kind of treasure than that of the former. The mission is to find a hidden treasure, a sort of pirate's booty, that has been hidden away by a pirate legend from the past. A rebellious teenage boy is the main character in this film. With the help of a map he received from a pirate who was dying, a crew of untrustworthy pirates, and a robot or two, the lot ends up tracking down the treasure. However, it is by no means easy, and they have many shortcomings along the way. With their epic odyssey and foes at every corner, this ragtag group of individuals will need to learn how to work as a unit in order to not only find the treasure, but escape with all their limps still attached to their bodies.

4 James and The Giant Peach (1996)

James and the Giant Peach
Buena Vista Pictures 

James and the Giant Peach is definitely a more obscure film, produced by the one and only Tim Burton and directed by Henry Selick, that follows a boy and his talking giant insect companions who are traveling in a giant peach. With Tim Burton being known for his more odd films with unique characters, many of which are live-action films, James and the Giant Peach would be one that works with the transition from animation to live-action. James is a boy who, after tragedy strikes down his parents, moves to live with two aunts who are absolutely intolerable.

While he could only dream of an escape, he comes into possession of some sort of magic and ends up finding his opportunity when a giant peach begins to grow in his garden. When he goes to investigate the amazing fruit, he befriends its inhabitants: a spider, a ladybug, and a centipede. Together, they hatch a plan to get him back home to New York. This quirky film would be amazing to see in a live-action adaptation, and frankly, it deserves more love.

Related: Best Roald Dahl Movie Adaptations, Ranked

3 Brother Bear (2003)

A scene from Brother Bear
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Brother Bear is an incredibly touching animated film about a young hunter who hates bears, who is turned into a bear, and is accompanied by a chatty cub without a family. The man who was magically changed into a bear is then visited by his brother's spirit, who explains how he will be able to change back to a human and make it the northern lights. On his adventure, he and the cub encounter many other animals and even a young woman who can seemingly communicate with wildlife. With the help of his new friends, Kenai, the man who is now a bear, goes on a mission to change back into his human self.

This film is hugely entertaining, with great comedy and just enough emotion to bring tears to the viewers' eyes. With Disney having had much success in adapting animated films revolving around wildlife into live-action, Brother Bear would surely follow suit. The live-action adaptation would most likely need some changes or additions to the plot and story, but most of these kinds of movie adaptations do.

2 Bolt (2008)

Bolt
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Sticking to Disney animated films starring animals, though, instead of a wild bear, this film stars a dog who, is actually a movie star in the world of the film. Bolt is a film that the entire family will enjoy, and it would be amazing to see how it transitions into live action. Bolt is a dog who stars in superpower action movies in the film, but he is not an actual superhero. The plot of this film revolves around Bolt's attempt to return to Hollywood and his family after being mistakenly shipped to the East Coast, all while grappling with the realization that he is not a super-dog. Bolt is accompanied by a stray cat who suggests she knows a way to get back to Hollywood, and a pet hamster who is a mega fan of Bolt's movies. The trio get into some fairly hilarious adventures and have some great interactions in the world of this film, as they hitchhike their way from New York to Los Angeles.

1 The Fox and the Hound (1981)

The Fox and The Hound
Buena Vista Pictures 

For the final entry on this list, we have The Fox and the Hound, another movie that is all about animals. However, this classic Disney film offers much more emotion and a deeper sorrow to it, compared to the likes of Bolt. This film is about a fox who is taken in by a family, befriends a neighbor's dog, and grows a great attachment to his domesticated life. Only then to have his owner be forced to be set free into the wild by the owner of his dog friend. If letting the fox go free into the wild wasn't sad enough, try having the hound's owner then track and attempt to kill the fox on multiple occasions.

This film shows how, through propaganda and mistreatment, even the purest of friendships can turn into the deadliest of enemies. The hound and the fox have a sort of heartbroken hatred for one another, though deep down inside themselves they still hold onto each other with their close past. This movie, with a competent director and worthwhile acting, would make for a film that sits between The Lady and the Tramp (2019) and The Jungle Book (2016) in terms of emotional impact and overarching message.