3) Important Messages
Like any decent material for children (we’re using a pretty broad understanding of the word ‘decent’ here – Disney ruined their entitlement to the official definition a long time ago), Disney movies have almost always included important lessons alongside their more obvious job of providing entertainment. Snow White focussed on kindness (and also contains a pretty critical warning about stranger-danger). Pinocchio emphasized telling the the truth, while Cinderella showed grace and forgiveness.
Dumbo proved that differences can be our greatest asset (and The Fox and the Hound proved that sometimes they just can’t be overcome, but let’s not talk about that). Mulan and Hercules encouraged the search for who you really are. Old Yeller and Bambi taught us that terrible, awful, traumatic things happen in the world. Sleeping Beauty strongly advised that just to be on the safe side it’s best to just invite everyone when hosting social events. The Incredibles and Frozen proved that family comes first. Oliver and Company showed that that family can be anyone. The Lion King taught us to face responsibility. Pocahontas and Wall-E dealt with environmental concerns – etc. etc.
Not only are the number of life principles covered by Disney during their 91 years in the industry too many to list, but the values that shaped us as children are more of those things that become a lot more significant once we’ve grown up – given that by that point we’ve had a brief look at the real world and realised that Disney weren’t just making these rules up for the sake of it.
But actually, Disney didn’t just stop at the wholesome and the lovely. Because Disney had also realized that that day was going to come when we started to venture into the real world….and unlike our cheerful, optimistic, early grown-up selves, Disney knew what we were going to find. And it wasn’t just a case of life involving a little bit more than just feeding the birds or wishing upon a star. Knowing that in all honesty life is complicated, difficult, and for an overwhelming proportion of it just plain screwed up, Disney knew that we would need some appropriate guidance for all of that aswell. And so – generously and selflessly flouting what we know to be their infinitely flawless moral code (ahem) – Disney worked tirelessly to make sure that the following advice was also included….
- Smoking a hash pipe is perfectly acceptable, and leads to abject wisdom (Alice in Wonderland).
- The way for women to secure their men is to give up every last iota of identity and family (The Little Mermaid).
- Logical solutions to problems, such as writing things down if you have lost your voice, are completely overrated (also The Little Mermaid).
- Slavery can be a lot of fun (The Song of the South).
- Bestiality is acceptable (Beauty and the Beast).
- Always cover up your mistakes, even if it requires you having to roofie every last person in your country (Sleeping Beauty).
- Don’t get engaged to someone you’ve only known a few hours (Frozen – which actually did a much better job with this message than The Hangover did).
- All women should leave their hair loose and wear make up – otherwise everyone will think they’re a man (Mulan).
- Poverty and domestic abuse can be completely overcome, as long as one has new clothes (Cinderella).
- Disability may well actually mean that your dreams don’t come true (The Hunchback of Notre Dame).
- If you’re a poor criminal living on the streets, everything will be ok as long as you look more Caucasian than everyone else around you (Aladdin).
- A woman’s wrist – and preferably waist – size should not exceed that of her eyes (list broke character limit); theft is fine as long as you’re wearing some painfully cool shades (Oliver and Company).
- Men need to be suave and buff unless they want to be the comic relief (Hercules, Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame).
- And lastly – and perhaps most importantly – never underestimate the power of a good drinking session (Dumbo).
How any of us have ever failed at anything in our lives is a mystery.