First of all, if you don't like Disney animated films, fair enough. But many of them are iconic, groundbreaking, stunningly animated landmarks of cinema history, and as per my list, I love many of them. We can agree to disagree, but that said, if you refuse to see Bambi, I can't help but feel sorry for you. It is probably my all-time favourite Disney film, and one of the greatest animated films ever made.

I certainly don't consider Watership Down "anthropomorphic nonsense" either. It's a profound, vivid, beautifully written novel with a lot of uncompromisingly dark edges that had a huge impact on me when I first read it as a nine year old. I wasn't the same person afterwards. It deeply moved me and made me think about deep questions concerning the nature of freedom and how it is worth fighting for (among other things). It also proved a gateway drug to George Orwell.

I love The Wind in the Willows too, for other reasons.

Regarding The Little Mermaid: One principle I stand by is that one can reinvent source material for one reason only: To replace it with something that works just as well in its own right. I think Disney's take on The Little Mermaid does this. I love the original Andersen version, but I also love the Disney version. Both are excellent for different reasons (incidentally, I'd love to see Guillermo Del Toro do for The Little Mermaid what he did for Pinocchio in stop motion, as I daresay his reinvention would be remarkable).

The same principle applies to Disney's take on The Hunchback of Notre Dame (though I know that one was less popular).

Finally, yes, I love Coraline and The Nightmare Before Christmas too. I can't speak for all the children I know, but growing up, I'd say my children enjoyed Disney animations and those darker features equally. Besides, lets not forget The Nightmare Before Christmas is, technically, a Disney film (released under their Touchstone label). :)