Film ► The Messages in Disney Films

[BufferAqua]

This conversation began with me and my best friend discussing it, so I figured it was worth discussing it here. Disney movies are powerful, and have impacted the lives of many people around the world. I can say for sure that The Princess and The Frog has impacted me as a human being. Instead of having a traditional Disney "If you wish it, it will come true" kind of message, it's instead realistic and grounded. Tiana's motto is that you must work for your dreams to make it happen. But at the same, it's okay to relax, and see what happens next. Toy Story has also made me feel better about growing up, by emphasizing childhood innocence, and reliving those times again. Not that I play toys anymore, I still keep a box of my old dolls because I just can't bring myself to part with them. But I also understand it's okay to grow up, so hey why not pass them down to my little cousin?

But has anyone ever argued against a message in a Disney film? For me, Chicken Little is an obvious one. This movie is weirdly mean spirited, with characters constantly belittling and bullying Chickens Little for being crazy and deluded. The bullying has gotten to such a level in the movie that a year later, people are still talking about it and making a film ridiculing him. Even Chicken Little’s own father (who I despise) treats him like complete shit. Why do I hate this message, you ask? Well there isn't one. Chickens Little saves the entire world, and everyone thinks of him like a hero. No sorry, no consideration of the psychological damage put on this 12-year-old, just that he's a hero now because he saved y'all. Sad.

Another message I disagree with heavily was Raya and the Last Dragon's. I don't want to bring up my issues with how the movie handles Southeast Asian culture, YouTuber Xiran Jay Zhao has an amazing multi-video analysis on the issues that movie has concerning that. Check it out, it's so well done. I'll put spoilers since the movie is still recent (edit: since I'm having difficulties lol I'll just put a bold warning while I fix this. Spoilers for Raya below)

Spoiler Show

But as for the message, I absolutely despise how the film shames Raya for distrusting Namaari. She has every right to! The girl betrayed her twice. Once, where it led to the entire destruction of the world and the technical death of Raya's father. Two, Raya tried listening to Sisu and actively gave Namaari a chance, only for the latter to pull a crossbow out in their faces. Of course Raya is going to retaliate in self-defense. She has absolutely no reason to trust this person after the psychological damage she has put her through. I wanted to yell at my scream the moment Namaari had the audacity to say Raya was at fault. And Raya finally trusting Namaari at the end? Just felt like trusting her out of circumstance. The situation literally required her to trust Namaari or else the world would be doomed.

These are, of course, my own opinions on these messages and I do not mind if anyone disagrees with me. Because, again, everyone can interpret a movie's messages differently and it can have various impacts on a person.

So how about y'all? Any Disney messages you love or hate?

 

[Willow A113]

The 2022 Pinocchio. Not the original, the remake. Sure, lots of remakes are bad but the ending of this one sucks. The original had its problems, as all old movies do, but at least the moral was good and straightforward; "Be a good person/ do good things, and you'll be rewarded with a bright and happy future" (sure lots of good people don't have that but it's still a good moral). The movie completely changes this. First, Jiminy has no purpose. Pinocchio already has a conscious, and because of this, he doesn't learn anything. He knows the same amount of right and wrong from beginning to end. Another problem I have is that the kids on paradise island don't drink or smoke. I get it, Disney doesn't want to show that stuff. But the original showed this in a very negative way, saying to its audience "kids, don't drink and smoke". All this version tells kids is not to drink rootbeer even though there's nothing wrong with rootbeer. I am also slightly bothered with their reluctance to use the word "jackass" (but Jiminy saying "h-e-double-hockey-sticks" was really funny). Anyway, as I said before, part of the moral is that Pinocchio was rewarded for being good. That didn't happen in this version. He never became a real boy.
In conclusion, this movie has no moral. Pinocchio was not rewarded for being good and he didn't learn anything other than not to drink a harmless beverage.

 

[LoneFox]

Three Little Pigs. I understand why they don't want to show the wolf eating the two other pigs. But, letting them survive by hiding in the third pig's house turns the morale of the original story completely upside down. Basically, it is saying that it's OK to do a poor job and rely on someone else doing things right...

 

[BufferAqua]

Yep that story could've helped tell a lesson of basic architecture lol

I'll add another: I HAAAATE the message of Pocahontas. I'm not sure if this one counts, though, as it has to do with how disrespectful the film is to Native Americans. The movie is enjoyable, and its songs do contain some good lessons (Colors of the Wind). But in the end, all of this is overshadowed by the movie's attempt to persuade me that both the colonizers and the Natives are wrong in the conflict. I apologize, movie, but I'm not having any sympathy for white colonizers. And yes, the colonizers tooootally left the Natives alone *sad face*.

 

[Sonofjafar]

I think the most terrible lesson to learn comes from the history behind all of Disney’s filmography. That lesson being “only do what is expected of you and you will succeed”. The 2 most infamous example of this are the dark age and the original release of Fantasia. Everytime Disney veers away from their fairy tale motifs, the box office and the public opinion always veers them back to what people expect them to do.

 

[BufferAqua]

I think the most terrible lesson to learn comes from the history behind all of Disney’s filmography. That lesson being “only do what is expected of you and you will succeed”. The 2 most infamous example of this are the dark age and the original release of Fantasia. Everytime Disney veers away from their fairy tale motifs, the box office and the public opinion always veers them back to what people expect them to do.

Agreed on the dark age. But I thought Fantasia's failure was because of WWII?

 

[Willow A113]

Agreed on the dark age. But I thought Fantasia's failure was because of WWII?

It was. But also, I'd actually call Fantasia a success. Maybe not when it premiered, but these days everyone knows the Sorcerors Apprentice and Cherabog segments.

 

[BufferAqua]

Yep, Fantasia is still fairly iconic. It must've received a buttload of recognition after WWII ended, especially once Cinderella restored Disney's reputation.

OH and Cinderella is another message I love. Despite being an old film and Cinderella is considered to be a weak female protagonist (I disagree with that). I never felt that Cinderella was weak. Sure, it was Jaq and Gus that saved her during the climax, but I thought Cinderella earned everything she got. She was a kind and gentle soul, and that gave her the Fairy Godmother. It was her kind personality that won the prince. Despite being abused all of her life, Cinderella never became vain and cruel. She stuck to her parents' values towards the end.

 

[Face My Fears]

Yep that story could've helped tell a lesson of basic architecture lol

I'll add another: I HAAAATE the message of Pocahontas. I'm not sure if this one counts, though, as it has to do with how disrespectful the film is to Native Americans. The movie is enjoyable, and its songs do contain some good lessons (Colors of the Wind). But in the end, all of this is overshadowed by the movie's attempt to persuade me that both the colonizers and the Natives are wrong in the conflict. I apologize, movie, but I'm not having any sympathy for white colonizers. And yes, the colonizers tooootally left the Natives alone *sad face*.

I actually liked the morals behind Pocahontas, if you strip away that it's based on real people and events.

If they had transferred the moral onto something fictional, I'm sure it would be beloved now. I liked that it showed the "simpler" life as having more knowledge and understanding of the world compared to the "advanced" people being blinded by wealth. Also, showing completely different people falling in love and embracing that love against their cultural beliefs was powerful.

But since all of that is based on real people and events, it is problematic.

 

[BufferAqua]

I actually liked the morals behind Pocahontas, if you strip away that it's based on real people and events.

If they had transferred the moral onto something fictional, I'm sure it would be beloved now. I liked that it showed the "simpler" life as having more knowledge and understanding of the world compared to the "advanced" people being blinded by wealth. Also, showing completely different people falling in love and embracing that love against their cultural beliefs was powerful.

But since all of that is based on real people and events, it is problematic.

My issue with the movie has nothing to do with the nature-related message. I love Colors of the Wind, it's my all-time favorite Disney princess song. My issue was the movie acting like the Natives and the colonizers were BOTH wrong about what happened. The Natives were not in the wrong, they weren't in history and they weren't in that movie.

 

[WaltK]

It always irks me when I see the "Cinderella should have saved herself" argument pop up, because it's peak victim blaming.

 

[BufferAqua]

Exactly. Both of her parents are dead and her financial stability is entirely reliant on her step-mother. She's a kind soul so she wants to help with the house anyways, and once she gets what she wants, she gets nearly physically abused and her dress tarnished. She DID save herself by essentially being a wonderful woman the Prince fell in love with, and got out of her situation with the other slipper.

And sure, Jaq, Gus, and Bruno helped her. But they're her friends. Disney animal friends have always helped their princesses without removing their independence.

All in all, Cinderella is a beautiful character and one of my role models growing up.

 

[Face My Fears]

My issue with the movie has nothing to do with the nature-related message. I love Colors of the Wind, it's my all-time favorite Disney princess song. My issue was the movie acting like the Natives and the colonizers were BOTH wrong about what happened. The Natives were not in the wrong, they weren't in history and they weren't in that movie.

Again, I'm taking out the historical fact in the movie and talking about the story itself of foreigners finding new land and claiming it.

I think if they had used a fictional situation, they could have explored the way that we interact with each other. The fear of outsiders and also the foreign entity assuming they can claim whatever they want. Having the Pocahontas and John characters (whatever their fictionalized versions would be) as the representatives of each of those groups realizing that this is not the right way for both parties to interact with each other and realizing that we all are from the same place and just need to understand each other would have been a better message.

Using the actual Pocahontas story to tell that was definitely not the smartest choice.

 

[BufferAqua]

Having the Pocahontas and John characters (whatever their fictionalized versions would be) as the representatives of each of those groups realizing that this is not the right way for both parties to interact with each other and realizing that we all are from the same place and just need to understand each other would have been a better message.

Isn't that basically Avatar? lol

 

[Face My Fears]

Isn't that basically Avatar? lol

Well yeah lol. I was trying to think if DISNEY had redone the storyline, then forgot that it was AVATAR (which I guess is DISNEY now).

 

[WaltK]

Another message I disagree with heavily was Raya and the Last Dragon's. I don't want to bring up my issues with how the movie handles Southeast Asian culture, YouTuber Xiran Jay Zhao has an amazing multi-video analysis on the issues that movie has concerning that.

Forgot to acknowledge this before but YES. I love their channel. Their analysis of the Mulan movies were really fun and interesting.

Speaking of which, the live action Mulan’s message is especially crap. They literally changed the message from "anyone can be a hero" to "you need to be born special".