Critics were lukewarm on this back in the day—that 58% on Rotten Tomatoes is basically a shrug—but they were looking at the wrong things. They saw the recycled animation, where characters literally mirror movements from previous Disney hits, as a sign of a studio in decline. But for us, that shortcuts the movie straight into a specific kind of cozy familiarity. It doesn't feel like a polished, corporate product; it feels like a group of animators having a blast with a legendary story.
The "hangout" movie
Most modern animated films are exhausting. They’re built on high-octane "save the world" stakes and frantic pacing. Robin Hood is a vibe. It’s essentially a 1970s folk-country heist movie that happens to feature a fox and a bear. The pacing is loose and shaggy, giving you room to breathe. We don't get many "hangout" movies for kids anymore, where the plot matters less than the company.
Because it’s so low-stress, it’s a premier candidate for 3 and 7: The Sibling Movie Sweet Spot. It’s slapstick enough to keep a preschooler giggling at Prince John’s tantrums, but the "lovable rogue" energy of the main crew keeps it from feeling like "baby stuff" to an elementary-age kid. It’s one of those rare titles that bridges the gap without making anyone in the room feel patronized.
Real stakes in a cartoon world
While the movie is mostly a romp, it doesn't shy away from the reality of its world. The Sheriff of Nottingham isn't just a bumbling fool; he's a persistent bully. There is a specific sequence where the tone shifts into a bluesy, somber look at the citizens in jail that might catch a modern kid off guard. It’s not "scary" in the traditional sense, but it’s heavy.
This is the stuff that sticks. It’s a great entry point for talking about why the heroes are technically "breaking the law." In most kids' media, the rules are the rules. Here, the law is being used to hurt people, and the "bad guys" are the ones wearing the crowns. It’s a surprisingly sophisticated moral setup for a movie where a snake wears a cape.
Why it still works
If you’re used to the hyper-realism of 2020s animation, the 1973 aesthetic might look a bit grainy at first. Stick with it. The character design is some of the most expressive in the Disney vault. You can see the pencil lines. You can feel the hand-drawn personality. It’s the antithesis of the "uncanny valley" look that plagues modern CGI. It’s warm, it’s a little bit messy, and it’s a perfect Sunday afternoon pick.
