Five Things to Watch on Disney+ During Lockdown

A lot of people (myself included) have a lot more time on their hands at the moment, for obvious reasons. The well-timed release of Disney+ has helped keep me sane, so I want to recommend some light-hearted entertainment to take your mind off the real world. The platform covers Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel and National Geographic, so I’ve included one property from each.

Steamboat Willie

Unsurprisingly, there’s a lot of Disney on Disney+. It’s quite hard to recommend one specific thing from this vast library, I decided to start at the beginning.

Premiering in 1928, Steamboat Willie was the first Disney cartoon to feature Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and a synchronised soundtrack.

It has held up so well for something over 90 years old and features some stunning animation and charming visual comedy. At only 9 minutes, it’s absolutely a must-watch for anyone with the streaming service.

Toy Story

There’s not much to say about this except “it’s perfect!” It may not have the emotional gut-punches of its sequels, but the original Toy Story is an absolute blast. At only 81 minutes long, it has an incredibly tight screenplay - every line of dialogue is either hilarious or advances the plot (and a lot of them do both).

The animation is obviously a tad dated, as it was the first feature length computer animation, but the strength of the character designs mean it still holds up.

All of the Toy Story films are impressive, but why not go back and watch the one that started it all and introduced us to these wonderful characters - I promise you won’t regret it.

The Mandalorian

Despite being a huge Star Wars fan, I was actually somewhat nervous about The Mandalorian. I was worried the franchise’s first live-action series would feel like a fan-film- a badass dude doing badass stuff, with no substance. Luckily, I was wrong, the substance arrives very quickly in the form of Baby Yoda and the moral dilemma that he brings. Season One was a very strong start, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next.

Deborah Chow directing Chapter 7. The show has pushed boundaries for storytelling on television. The show’s visuals, action and music have also been some of the best I’ve seen on the small screen.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

There’s a lot of Marvel on the service, but if I had to pick one you should revisit, it’d be this. James Gunn proved with the original film just how unique MCU films can be. With an unrelentingly hilarious script, a moving emotional core, a killer soundtrack and a gorgeous visual style, it’s pretty difficult to find anything Guardians 2 doesn’t do even better.

After a string of films with a dull, greyish colour-palette, the Marvel Cinematic Universe took its first huge step in the right direction with the colour grading for Guardians Vol. 2, and introduced a vibrance that has carried through into Thor Ragnarok, Infinity War and Endgame.

This is the perfect movie to watch during quarantine, I guarantee it’ll put a huge smile on your face and a tear in your eye.

The World According to Jeff Goldblum

“I’m always on the lookout for the unexpected. I think when you explore the ordinary, sometimes you might just discover the extraordinary”, Jeff Goldblum kicks off the first episode with a statement that’s right at the heart of the series.

Each episode dives into an everyday topic (sneakers, gaming etc) and reveals some obscure and fascinating details about them. Jeff Goldblum’s unique personality makes him such a delightful on-screen presence, and he has an infectious fascination for everything he looks at.

This show won’t change your life, but it is a joyous and hilarious way to spend 30 minutes and I think it’s exactly what we need right now.