By Alyssa Mertes Serio
Thread 15
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Disney is a huge movie studio responsible for beloved films like Cinderella, Aladdin, Moana, and Frozen. Kids and adults wear their mouse ears with pride and enjoy these movies for their beautiful stories of love and triumph. For the most part, Disney's animated films are wholesome entertainment. However, there are some scenes in these movies that have sparked controversy.
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Even though the studio is known for being family-friendly, Disney has offered movie moments that are offensive to some audiences. Some of these controversial Disney scenes are more shocking than others, but no matter what, they seem strangely out of place when revisiting their respective movies.
10 A Handsome Prince Kisses Snow White Without Consent
Released 1937
- Metascore: 96
- IMDb: 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Stepmothers tend to be evil in Disney movies, especially the one in Snow White. She is jealous of Snow White's beauty, so she offers her a poisonous apple at a cabin in the woods. As a result, Snow White falls into a deep sleep and can only be awoken by true love's kiss.
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The 20 Most Criticized Disney Princesses, Ranked
While princesses are a source of happiness, magic, and grace in Disney's animated movies, some of them are widely disliked by fans.
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Because Snow White is a fairy tale, it's hard to outright say it's implying anything nefarious with this kiss. For that reason, it's lower in the ranking of controversial scenes. However, it does stand to reason that it's never okay for a man to make advances on a woman without her consent, especially when she's unconscious. The prince may have woken Snow White up from her wicked stepmother's spell, but he never got the go-ahead.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Approved
Musical
Fantasy
Adventure
Animation
Exiled into the dangerous forest by her wicked stepmother, a princess is rescued by seven dwarf miners who make her part of their household.
- Director
- David Hand , William Cottrell , Wilfred Jackson
- Release Date
- December 21, 1937
- Cast
- Adriana Caselotti
- Writers
- Jacob Grimm , Wilhelm Grimm , Ted Sears
- Runtime
- 1 hour 23 minutes
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Production Company
- Walt Disney Animation Studios
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9 Ariel Gives Up Her Voice to Get a Man in The Little Mermaid
Released 1989
- Metascore: 88
- IMDb: 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Young viewers love the beautiful Disney princesses. Girls, in particular, look up to them as role models, including the redheaded mermaid, Ariel. In The Little Mermaid, viewers follow her journey under the sea to above water where she marries a handsome prince named Eric.
When revisiting Disney's The Little Mermaid, there may be a lot to criticize when it comes to the portrayal of Ariel. The film has been condemned for the controversial scene where Ariel sacrifices her voice to Ursula just so she has the chance to go on land to marry Eric. It's concerning to feminist viewers to see a young woman who's more than willing to give up her life and family just to pursue a handsome suitor.
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The Little Mermaid
G
Animation
Adventure
Family
A mermaid princess makes a Faustian bargain in an attempt to become human and win a prince's love.
- Director
- Ron Clements , John Musker
- Release Date
- November 17, 1989
- Studio
- Cast
- Jodi Benson , Samuel E. Wright , Rene Auberjonois , christopher daniel barnes , Pat Carroll , Jason Marin
- Writers
- John Musker , Ron Clements
- Runtime
- 63 Minutes
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Budget
- $40 Million
- Studio(s)
- Disney
- Distributor(s)
- Disney
- Franchise(s)
- The Little Mermaid
8 Pinocchio's Trip to Pleasure Island Is Controversial
Released 1940
- Metascore: 99
- IMDb: 7.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Pinocchio is a wooden puppet, but he wants nothing more than to be a real boy. A blue fairy with a magic wand grants him his wish, and throughout the rest of the Disney animated film, he faces trials designed to prove his worthiness of being human. He must be "brave, truthful, and unselfish."
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One scene in Pinocchio stands out as being controversial. The titular puppet joins a carriage full of rowdy boys at an amusement park called Pleasure Island. It all seems fun at first, but it quickly turns nefarious when the boys are kept captive and turned into donkeys (referred to as jackasses). While this Disney scene isn't as controversial as others, it did raise some red flags with the viewing audience for hinting at child abduction.
Pinocchio
PG
Animation
Adventure
Drama
Family
Fantasy
A living puppet, with the help of a cricket as his conscience, must prove himself worthy to become a real boy.
- Director
- Hamilton Luske , Ben Sharpsteen
- Release Date
- February 23, 1940
- Cast
- Mel Blanc , Don Brodie , Walter Catlett , Marion Darlington , Frankie Darro , Cliff Edwards
- Writers
- Carlo Collodi , Ted Sears , Otto Englander , Webb Smith , William Cottrell , Joseph Sabo
- Runtime
- 88 minutes
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Characters By
- Carlo Collodi
- Cinematographer
- Don Burgess
- Producer
- Derek Hogue, Andrew Miano, Chris Weitz, Robert Zemeckis
- Production Company
- Depth of Field, Image Movers, Walt Disney Pictures
7 Esmeralda Is Sexualized in The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Released 1996
- Metascore: 74
- IMDb: 7.0/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 72%
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Disney movies tend to value beautiful characters. This isn't exactly the case in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The film follows a man living with a deformity named Quasimodo who is responsible for ringing the bells in the town's cathedral. He befriends a free spirit named Esmeralda and promises to help her escape Notre Dame, much to the chagrin of the powerful judge Claude Frollo.
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Controversial Disney films like Peter Pan and Pocahontas should be reimagined to avoid the problematic stereotypes and storylines.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame remains one of the more underrated Disney films. The movie is a bit scary for a younger audience, and there's also the controversial issue of Esmeralda. Not only is her character demonized for being a gypsy, but she's also sexualized in one scene. The evil villain Frollo sings a song called "Hellfire" describing his lust for Esmeralda as he imagines her figure seductively dancing in the fire. It's a scandalous moment.
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6 Disney Featured a Hookah-Smoking Caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland
Released 1951
- Metascore: 68
- IMDb: 7.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
Based on the novel by Lewis Carroll, Disney's Alice in Wonderland follows a curious girl named Alice down the rabbit hole. She enters an alternate universe called Wonderland where everything is topsy-turvy. There's a creepy grinning magenta cat, singing flowers, a mad hatter, and a vicious queen of hearts who frequently demands beheadings.
Alice in Wonderland has largely sparked controversy due to its connection to drug use. There is also the matter of the hookah-smoking caterpillar who speaks in riddles and blows smoke rings shaped like vowels. This character is found in Lewis Carroll's novel, but he seems more radical when seeing him in a colorful Disney movie. Drug use is always taboo and with references to not only smoking hookah but also psychedelic drug use, Alice in Wonderland is definitely risqué for a younger audience.
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Alice In Wonderland (1951)
G
Family
Fantasy
Adventure
Comedy
Alice stumbles into the world of Wonderland. Will she get home? Not if the Queen of Hearts has her way.
- Director
- Ben Sharpsteen , Clyde Geronimi , Wilfred Jackson , Hamilton Luske
- Release Date
- July 28, 1951
- Cast
- Kathryn Beaumont , Ed Wynn , Richard Haydn , Sterling Holloway , Verna Felton , Jerry Colonna , Bill Thompson
- Runtime
- 75 minutes
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Characters By
- Lewis Carroll
- Production Company
- Walt Disney Animation Studios
- Distributor(s)
- RKO Radio Pictures
5 Aladdin's Opening Song Has Insensitive Lyrics
Released 1992
- Metascore: 86
- IMDb: 8.0/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Aladdin is described as nothing more than a "street rat" living a life of thievery with his pet monkey, Abu. Princess Jasmine, meanwhile, is living a life of luxury, but she's tired of being confined to her castle. Sparks fly higher than a magic carpet when the two meet in the marketplace, so Aladdin poses as a prince to be able to spend more time with Jasmine.
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No racist depiction or offensive stereotype should rank higher than the other. However, when it comes to Aladdin, it's hard not to put the song of "Arabian Nights" somewhere on the list. After all, the lyrics describe the Middle East as "barbaric" and side characters threaten to cut off a person's ear simply for not liking their face. Some argue that these lyrics provide a brutal generalization of this nation and that everyone from this area is evil and violent.
Aladdin
G
Animation
Adventure
Comedy
Fantasy
A kind-hearted street urchin and a power-hungry Grand Vizier vie for a magic lamp that has the power to make their deepest wishes come true.
- Director
- Ron Clements , John Musker
- Release Date
- November 25, 1992
- Cast
- Scott Weinger , Robin Williams , Linda Larkin , Jonathan Freeman , Frank Welker , Gilbert Gottfried , Brad Kane , Lea Salonga
- Runtime
- 1 hour 30 minutes
4 The Siamese Cats Were Stereotyped in Lady and the Tramp
Released 1955
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- Metascore: 78
- IMDb: 7.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Dogs like Lady are well-loved by their owners. She's been pampered and doted upon by her owners Jim Dear and Darling. Aunt Sarah, however, doesn't feel as fondly towards dogs. She puts a muzzle on Lady after accusing her of injuring her Siamese cats, Si and Am. This causes Lady to panic and flee into the streets where she's reunited with Tramp.
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One could argue that Lady and the Tramp was released at a different time in history. Putting that aside, it still doesn't excuse the offensive Asian stereotypes of the Siamese cats. The feline pair saunter onto the screen as villains with bucked teeth, slanted eyes, and thick accents. Some older animated Disney movies tend to depict minorities as villains, and Lady and the Tramp is no exception.
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Lady and the Tramp (1955)
G
Animation
Adventure
Comedy
This Disney animated classic follows Lady, a refined Cocker Spaniel, and Tramp, a street-smart mutt. Their adventure-filled romance bridges their different worlds, culminating in the iconic spaghetti dinner scene. The film celebrates love, loyalty, and the joys of life’s unexpected connections.
- Director
- Clyde Geronimi , Wilfred Jackson , Hamilton Luske
- Release Date
- June 22, 1955
- Cast
- Barbara Luddy , Larry Roberts , Bill Thompson , Dallas McKennon , Bill Baucom , Verna Felton , Peggy Lee
- Writers
- Ward Greene , Erdman Penner , Joe Rinaldi , Ralph Wright , Don DaGradi
- Runtime
- 76 Minutes
- Main Genre
- Animation
3 Pocahontas Refers to Indigenous People as Savages
Released 1995
- Metascore: 59
- IMDb: 6.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 53%
Disney fans have a special place in their hearts for Pocahontas. The animated film has a beautiful soundtrack and tells the eternal story of finding true love. The titular princess is the Algonquin chief's daughter who finds herself enamored with Captain John Smith, a white man who arrived with the settlers.
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Pocahontas is often regarded as the most controversial Disney princess movie. Critics of the film condemn the historical inaccuracies and the insensitive depiction of indigenous people. In one scene, the villainous settlers sing a song called "Savages," which refers to Indigenous people as "vermin" and a "disgusting race." Granted, the settlers come across as villains, but that still doesn't excuse the blasphemous lyrics.
Pocahontas
G
Animation
Adventure
Drama
Musical
An English soldier and the daughter of an Algonquin chief share a romance when English colonists invade seventeenth century Virginia.
- Director
- Mike Gabriel , Eric Goldberg
- Release Date
- June 23, 1995
- Cast
- Irene Bedard , Mel Gibson , Linda Hunt , Judy Kuhn , Russell Means , David Ogden Stiers
- Runtime
- 1 hour 21 minutes
2 Indigenous People Were Depicted in an Unflattering Light in Peter Pan
Released 1953
- Metascore: 76
- IMDb: 7.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 78%
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Kids dream of being transported into the world of their stories. That wish comes true for Wendy and her brothers in the Disney classic, Peter Pan. While in Neverland, they meet a ton of colorful characters, including the sparkly pixie Tinker Bell and the vicious Captain Hook. In the end, they return home excited about their adventures.
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Peter Pan is a cute movie, but it unfortunately boasts offensive stereotypes of indigenous people. This is most apparent in the inappropriately named song, "What Made the Red Man Red." Indigenous people carry hatchets and animal carcasses while the lyrics depict them as unintelligent by using incorrect verb tenses and referring to them as "Injuns." It's wildly degrading, which is why Peter Pan's brand of racism is ranked higher on the list of offensive Disney scenes.
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Peter Pan
G
Wendy and her brothers are whisked away to the magical world of Neverland with the hero of their stories, Peter Pan.
- Director
- Clyde Geronimi , Wilfred Jackson , Hamilton Luske
- Release Date
- February 5, 1953
- Cast
- Bobby Driscoll , Kathryn Beaumont , Hans Conried
- Runtime
- 1 hour 17 minutes
- Main Genre
- Fantasy
1 The Singing Crows in Dumbo Were Regarded as Racist
Released 1941
- Metascore: 96
- IMDb: 7.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Dumbo is essentially the same tale as The Ugly Duckling, only with an adorable elephant as the central character. He is ostracized and bullied at the circus due to his jumbo ears, and he only has a tiny mouse as his friend. When Dumbo finally learns how to fly at the end, he becomes the star of the show.
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Perhaps no scene in Disney history is more controversial than the singing crows in Dumbo. This moment tops the list of controversial Disney scenes because of the extremely insensitive depiction of Black people. There are several tasteless nods to racism in America, even going as far as naming the leader Jim Crow. Even worse, white actors do the voice-overs, using their version of "jive talk." Strangely enough, this scene was not edited for the version released on Disney+.
Dumbo (1941)
G
Animation
Adventure
Drama
One in a series of live-action remakes for classic animated Disney films, Tim Burton's Dumbo premiered in 2019 with a cast that included Danny DeVito, Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, and Eva Green. Farrell and DeVito star as the proprietors of a failing circus, who get an unexpected windfall in the form of Dumbo, a baby elephant with unusually large ears who has the ability to fly. When Keaton's corrupt businessman V. A. Vandevere attempts to use Dumbo and his mother for his own personal gain, the elephants' allies must concoct a plan to get them to safety.
- Director
- Samuel Armstrong , Norman Ferguson , Wilfred Jackson
- Release Date
- October 31, 1941
- Cast
- Edward Brophy , Verna Felton , Cliff Edwards , Herman Bing , Sterling Holloway , Margaret Wright , Hall Johnson Choir
- Writers
- Joe Grant , Dick Huemer , Otto Englander
- Runtime
- 130 Minutes
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- Movies
- Disney
- Walt Disney
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