The output of Walt Disney Animation Studios–currently totaling 54 full-length films–has been cherished by audiences young and old for almost 80 years. In this weekly online feature, arts and entertainment editor Nathan Tucker will review and rank each of them.

Disney capped its set of package films by pairing a British children’s classic with an American short story, slapping the narration of Basil Rathbone and Bing Crosby on top, and calling the final product The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. After suffering through five collections of mediocre to atrocious cartoons, Adventures is a welcome relief. But it is a good thing that the two half-hour shorts were released together, because neither is quite stable enough to stand apart on their own.

“Mr. Toad” is a prime example of how Disney typically adapted British stories: give them more action, quicken the pace, make it more shouty. In isolation, “Mr. Toad” is a delightful romp, topped off by a chase sequence stuffed with fun gags. But it pales in comparison to the subtler source material, sacrificing all the characters except Toad to minor supporting roles as it zips through the story as fast as possible. The final result feels somewhat slight, as if the viewer was handed an incomplete cut of a longer film.

“Ichabod” is also a bit of a mess–albeit, a pleasurable one. There are no likeable characters and the plot spins its wheels for most of the runtime, sure. But all that is easily forgiven in light of the brilliantly atmospheric sequence where Ichabod is chased by the Headless Horseman, a set-up that deftly balances the nightmarish terror of the rider with some expertly deployed slapstick. Best of all, “Ichabod” sees Disney clearly moving forward for the first time since Bambi. The Mary Blair backdrops and some of the essential character designs will be carried over to the more famous Cinderella.

Adventures finally combines two worthwhile cartoons into something that is more than the sum of its parts. While neither is Disney at its best, both are an obvious advance over the studio’s last five films.

The List:

1. Bambi
2. Fantasia
3. Pinocchio
4. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
5. Dumbo
6. Melody Time
7. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
8. Fun and Fancy Free
9. Saludos Amigos
10. Make Mine Music
11. The Three Caballeros