the evolution of the princess formula and the girl basification of Disney no matter what age you are or what country you come from you've probably watched a Disney movie at one point in your life and chances are it was animated generations of us grew up watching these singing princesses animal Sidekicks and dastardly villains and they're likely what first come to mind when you think of the Disney brand although they reign supreme over the box office today Disney's animation Department had Fairly humble beginnings coming close to bankruptcy on more than one occasion often categorized into seven different eras the Golden Age the wartime era the Silver age the Bronze Age The Renaissance the post Renaissance and most recently the Revival Disney's animated films are an obvious product of their time with their tone message and Inspirations differing wildly over the decades when watching all of these animated films back to back these differences are most clearly expressed through their female characters whose personalities and contributions to the story reflected women's role in society in today's video we're going to be taking a look at the history of these now iconic animated Disney films and examine how the Disney Princesses Have Changed For Better or For Worse over the last 90 years let's get into it having struggled as a Cartoonist for many years Walter Elias Disney found eventual success with his character Mickey Mouse in the late 192 20s and the worldwide popularity of the character allowed him to create his own Animation Studio which would be called Walt Disney Productions in 1929 although they produced an array of successful animated shorts Walt found himself dissatisfied with the lack of on genuity and creativity presented in these formula cartoons and in the hopes of pushing the boundaries of the animation industry even further he began development on the company's first fulllength animated feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarves in 1934 after experence encing several hiccups that delayed the project for years with the film being referred to as Disney's Folly in Hollywood the movie was eventually released in 1937 to immense critical and Commercial Success although the story of Snow White had existed since the 1800s with its most well-known variant being the German version by the brothers Grim Disney's take on the tale reflected Contemporary American issues and misfortunes the Great Depression which had begun in 1929 greatly affected not just the nation but the entire world and these economic hardships had a huge effect on the type of content that was being released by Hollywood with films about overcoming adversity and defying the odds being overwhelmingly popular at the box office it was a time period when the public needed to see the hero win because everyone in real life was losing and this type of film was best exemplified by the rise of child actress Shirley Temple who was seen as a beacon of light and hope during an otherwise dark time her most popular films from the 1930s followed the same simple formula she would play a down on her luck orphan whose cuteness could melt the heart of the grumpiest old man and because of her goodness she was able to metaphorically defeat anyone that stood in her way having proved successful time and time again Shirley's child with a heart of gold formula was incorporated into Walt Disney's animated project with the character of Snow White taking on the role of the pure and innocent youth who triumphs over evil and brings joy to others on the surface Snow White and the Seven Dwarves acted as an escape from the pressures and stresses that came with the Great Depression but it could also be seen as a subtle commentary on contemporary gender roles and a recent shift in societal Norms recent criticisms towards the film are often directed at Snow White and her role within the story saying that the character is lacking in personality and is nothing more than a damsel in distress who has to rely on a man to save her I'm not saying that those critiques are invalid but they ignore the nuances of the time period Snow White is a standin for your average Homemaker cooking and cleaning with a smile on her face while she's looked after by the Seven Dwarves who represented the quintessential Working Man Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was by no mean a way to show women where their proper place in society was it was instead an Ode to a bygone era when things were seemingly simpler and easier Snow White's story was intended to signify stability a call back to a time when women had the option to stay at home while their husbands went to work instead of the harsh reality of the 1930s because of the Great Depression many women had no choice but to join the workforce as those fields were less affected by the stock market crash and subsequent economic turmoil and this change left many men of the time feeling as though they were unable to fill their role as the head of the house the Newfound Independence that women began to see economically was in and of itself reflective of feminist movements of the time period known as first W feminism which began at the end of the 19th century and continued on into the 1920s the movement focused on women's legal rights particularly the right to vote as well as reforms in education and Healthcare while you could make the argument that men disliked the shift in gender roles because they felt as though they were losing power and control it also has to be acknowledged that Society had always told them that that was what they were supposed to do leaving many men feeling ashamed of the fact that they were no longer able to provide for their families in an article for the Los Angeles times from 1938 a family of six were interviewed about the movie with the family's 20-some year-old daughter saying of the film quote many Housewives painful memories of the dirty dishes will vanish as she visualizes herself as Snow White and all very sophisticated young ladies like myself will sleep tonight forgetting tedious jobs and odious studies and remember only that they too like Snow White will someday meet their prince charming and live happily ever after the mother and the family had similarly positive remarks saying quote it's all unbelievably beautiful and a remembrance of times past and so refreshing and entirely ining with the other abstractions we accept when the world gets too real as you can see Snow White in the seven doors was a form of escapism and idealism women of the time period aspired to be Snow White a person who was rewarded for their hard work and sacrifice with something that was even harder to find stability meanwhile men who watched the film were able to reminisce about a time when they too were able to go off to work like the Seven Dwarves while taking care of the women they loved this Nuance is often lost on more modern viewers as exemplified by a review of the film by Janet Mason for the New York Times in 1987 quote aside from her great daintiness and her credentials as a fervent housekeeper Snow White has no distinct personality she exists only to be victimized by her wicked stepmother a far more interesting character Snow White allows herself to be swept up by the handsome prince deposited on horseback and led away to the prince's castle where there is undoubtedly more cleaning to be done Snow White will always make scrubbing and scouring seem the pleasantest of chores she will always make marriage seem like a girl's only option as we'll discuss later in this video this is a common critique of the character and others like her in the name of feminism when the reality is that writing Snow White Off is nothing more than the dwarf's made would be a great disservice to her role in the story and a gross oversimplification of her impact on audiences children were never intended to watch Snow White and aspire to clean houses and get married in fact Walt Disney set out to make the film for adults and as such its themes and messages aren't as glaringly obvious as the company's more recent films that are created for children following the success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves Walt Disney Productions released Pinocchio and Fantasia in 1940 Dumbo in 1941 and Bambi in 1942 similar to Snow White these films were created with contemporary audiences in mind but with the start of World War II in 1939 Disney's innocent and idealistic message changed Pinocchio Dumbo and Bambi all featured storylines about young boys who were down on their luck and had to overcome overwhelming odds to become the hero and find their way back home hardly a subtle wartime allegory characters like Jiminy Cricut and Timothy Q Mouse offered guidance and support becoming stand-ins for absent father figures with the Focus being placed on these male characters the few women featured in these Tales often had maternal roles reminding men of their own childhoods a time when they had yet to see so Much Death and despair in some of these stories like Bambi her death serves as a defining moment in the character's path to self-discovery revealing that at this time in Disney's history women were nothing more than a stepping stone in a male character's Journey villains like the hunter the ring master and The Coachman were unique to this era of Disney having little motivations for their actions besides generic wickedness mirroring the sentiments that many wartime soldiers felt towards their enemies this was a step backward when it came to Disney's character building considering the evil queen had a reason for her cruelty even if it was something as simple as vanity and envy the films that were released during the latter part of the Golden Age received mixed reviews from critics and aside from Dumbo they were all considered box office disappointments failing to recoup what it cost to make them which nearly bankrupted the company although they remain undeniable technological and artistic achievements you'd be hard pressed to find a child today who's familiar with the films released during this era aside from Snow White and the Seven dwares that isn't to say that the films themselves are bad but watching them back today it's obvious that Disney hadn't quite figured out their winning formula a rather forgettable period in Disney's history the wartime era of the 1940s saw a stark shift when it came to their animated films which had to be shortened and simplified for economic reasons besides being deeply in debt due to their previous failed projects the company was also negatively affected by the second world war with the studio losing many of their key animators to the draft and their films being frequently banned from release in Europe the few projects that they were working on during this time were also delayed as a result of an animator strike which Disney responded to by firing several of their employees further hindering production through a deal with the US government Disney was contracted to make civilian propaganda shorts with the intention of boosting morale as well as educating and encouraging citizens to do their part for the war effort Donald Duck was famously incorporated into these cartoons and his continued presence in war rated work strengthened public perception of the brand and soon enough Disney was near synonymous with the United States itself as part of this government contract the company was also tasked with creating a series of films that would strengthen ties between the us and South America resulting in the creation of saludos Amigos in 1943 and the three caberos in 1945 both of which featured self-contained stories in an anthology format similar to that of 1940s Fantasia Disney continued producing these cheaper anthological films throughout the decade releasing make m music in 1946 fun and fancy free in 1947 Melody time in 1948 and the adventures of kabad and Mr Toad in 1949 all of these films received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike with a newfound criticism being placed on the Studio's emphasis on female sexuality unlike their previous films which featured motherly types and innocent yous the female characters in these Anthology films whether they were animated or not were hypersexualized in both appearance and demeanor in a review for the New Yorker in 1945 Walcott Gibbs wrote quote a somewhat physical romance between a twoot duck and a full-sized woman is one of those things that might disconcert less squeamish authorities in the hay office it might even be said that a sequence involving the duck the young lady and a long alley of animated cactus plants would probably be considered suggestive in a less innocent medium this provocative shift was in and of itself a reflection of how women were depicted in media during this time period with tropes like the Fatal and dum blonde becoming increasingly popular following in the footsteps of the latter half of the Golden Age the wartime films explored male heroism and lessons in Boyhood and as a result we saw female characters grow less and less important to the story line often reduced to nothing more than romantic conquests although it predated the war by several decades pinup modeling was used as a way of raising soldiers morale during wartime and this sexually charged imagery was present in all sorts of advertising from war bonds to movie posters and unsurprisingly it wound up finding its way into the Disney Universe intended to remind men what they were fighting for the female characters introduced during this time period were now busty babes who did nothing besides bat their eyelashes if modern-day critics are upset about how Snow White was depicted in her film they should watch The Adventures of kabad and Mr Toad because Katrina Van Tassel is treated as nothing more than eye candy all the while never uttering a single word besides being of notably worse quality than Disney's other work these shorts and films have aged in incredibly poorly and it's no surprise that as the years have passed the company has distanced themselves from these projects with the money made from the cheaply produced films of the prior decade Disney was finally able to revert back to narrative style storytelling giving them the opportunity to perfect the tried andrue fairy tale formula that they continue to be known for the project that first marked this return to form was Cinderella in 1950 which featured Disney's first princess since Snow White the Seven Dwarves back in 1937 similar to how the Great Depression influenced audience's perception of Snow White World War II affected those watching Cinderella based on the French tale by Charles perau from 1697 the film featured a rags to Rich's storyline that spoke to a post where audience who had spent years rooting for the underdog and praying for their own happily ever after Cinderella Begins the film as the well-to-do daughter of a lord but is forced to work as a Skol maid for her Wicked step family after her father's untimely death incredibly obvious villains lady Tain and her daughters are the only hindrances in Cinderella's otherwise idolic life but she takes their abuse and stride and is a happy and hardworking young girl who was eventually rewarded for her behavior Cinderella's hardships material or otherwise were something many men and women of the time period could relate to as they themselves had spent the last few years making similar sacrifices and the film was effectively a reflection of their own situation compared to Snow White Cinderella's character had more of a defined personality besides being kind and caring traits that practically all Disney princesses possess she was also strong willed and surprisingly sarcastic regularly poking fun at her step Family behind their backs and joking around with her animal friends although she initially lets her step family mistreat her unable to stand up for herself even when they tear her clothes apart she's ly able to secure her own happy ending in Snow White's time people were still looking to the Past for Hope but in a post-war America they had already gotten accustomed to solving their problems on their own and this change in mindset was exemplified by Cinderella taking her future into her own hands however some contemporary critics found issue with the character's obedience with Muriel Lawrence writing for the Cumberland evening times in 1950 quote just look at this girl Cinderella is she entitled to the name of her why she passively submits to family tyranny and solves the problem of getting a ball gown by passing the puck to a fairy godmother heroins are traditionally supposed to solve their problems themselves in my opinion criticisms of this sort totally invalidate the character's resilience and fortitude a large part of Disney's marketing for the film pushed the idea that Cinderella could be anyone and that if the Modern Woman worked hard enough she too would be rewarded with her own Prince Charming this is perfectly exemplified by a poem entitled for every Cinderella written by Mary Carolyn Davies in 1951 which expressed many young women's desires for a simpler more domestic life after years of adversity in today's day and age telling children that marriage is the solution to their problems probably wouldn't go over well but that's because of the undeniable fact that women have more opportunities now than they had in the past it would be unfair to judge Cinderella and the young women of the 1950s who identified with her for believing that marriage could be a way of finding happiness and security many people also misinterpret Cinderella's Journey her marriage to the prince isn't about obeying gender rules but it is instead a symbol of her finally gaining Freedom Power and agency over her life because the studio was still in an unsteady Place financially many of their films during the Silver age promoted post-war consumerism and Cinderella's Story was a not so subtle encouragement to the public to return to luxury and Leisure after all she only wins the prince's heart after she spends a night out on the town in a fancy dress to reiterate this point Disney turned Cinderella into a mid-century influencer with the popular character appearing in an assortment of advertisements that implied that you too could have a happily ever after as long as you bought the same things that Cinderella did these Cinderella approved ads aranged from engagement rings that could help men become Prince Charming to taxi services that were a modern-day magic coach Fit For A Princess to bank accounts that were better than a fairy godmother can you even imagine what they'd have done with her if Instagram existed back then while Snow White's appearance took notes from actresses of the 1930s and Katrina Von tassel from pinup girls of the 1940s Cinderella resembled High fashion models from Europe with the character's iconic ball gown taking inspiration from Christian dior's New Look besides taking notes from contemporary Fashions Cinderella also set a few Trends herself with dresses and shoes inspired by the character becoming popular after the film success following a decade of wartime rationing and restrictions young women were desperate for opportunities to dress fashionably and extravagantly which was epitomized in Cinderella's physical transformation she starts off not quite in rags like Snow White but in something very simple and practical before finally getting the opportunity to wear her incredibly on Tren ball gown this transformation sequence complete with the ostentatious dress and magical Sparkles has become a staple of Disney Princess films however it's also led to one of the Brand's newer criticisms that the princesses are promoting vanity narcissism and materialism something that might not be a stretch when you consider how prevalent they are in Disney's advertising following Cinderella Disney released Allison Wonderland in 1951 Peter Pan in 1953 and in the in 1955 with the films receiving mixed reviews from critics but being fairly successful at the box office of these films only lady in the had a clear romantic subplot although you could argue that Peter Pan was a fairly accurate depiction of young love and this lack of romance revealed that Disney had yet to commit to the happily ever after Trope that they would eventually become known for all three of these films use their female characters to explore adolescent issues with Lady feeling neglected by her parents and acting out in response Wendy being fearful of growing up and Alice attempting to understand the meaning of life up until this point they had only been willing to venture into this sort of subject matter with their male leads and this marked a turning point for the studio when it came to female representation released in 1959 the Sleeping Beauty film is an undeniable artistic achievement having a unique style that combines medieval imagery with the art deco movement and it continues to stand out in the Disney lineup to this day however the title character AKA Aurora AKA Brier Rose almost feels like a step backwards when it comes to female representation in Disney films especially when compared to other leads from the Silver age with only 18 minutes of screen time the majority of which she's unconscious for Aurora is hardly the main character instead the film focuses on Prince Phillip who was the first male romantic interest given a personality and storyline of his own leaving Aurora as nothing more than a damsel in distress that he has to heroically defend while this formula had worked for Disney 22 years earlier many contemporary critics compared the film unfavorably to Snow White in the Seven Dwarves drawing parallels between the good fairies and the dwarves Maleficent and the evil queen and both film's usage of true love's kiss failing to evolve with the times audiences were disinterested in what they saw as a dated and played out story and Sleeping Beauty wound up becoming a box office bomb once again putting the viability of the company into question one constant when it comes to all three of the Disney Princesses we've discussed thus far is the development of their romantic relationships or more accurately the lack of development in all three cases the princesses only meet their princes a single time before they get together with Philip and Aurora conversing the most out of the bunch which isn't saying much as a result it's hard to believe that their attraction to one another is anything more than physical leaving the true love aspect of these stories questionable at best despite having other commendable qualities like kindness or compassion the princesses are lotted first and foremost by their peers for their appearance inadvertently fostering the idea that beauty a very specific type of beauty is important Above All Else and is the only way you'll be able to achieve your happily ever after this focus on beauty would go on to become one of the biggest critiques of the Disney brand something that isn't helped by the fact that in the majority of their films ug ug less is often associated with wickedness while you might think that this is an overreaction to the situation it should be noted that following the release of these films beauty contest looking for real life Cinderellas and Snow Whites took place all over the country meaning that there were hundreds of women who were told that they weren't pretty enough to be a princess as is often the case when Disney found themselves struggling financially and creatively the late Silver age focused on male driven adventure stories and with the release of 100 101 Dalmations in 1961 The Sword and the stone in 1963 and The Jungle Book in 1967 the company was able to recuperate its losses this would be the final era of films that Walt Disney would personally be involved with as he would unexpectedly pass away in December 1966 following the death of Walt Disney the animation division of the Walt Disney Company struggled to find its footing resulting in several failed projects that nearly brought the company to ruin inspiring the 's alternate name Disney's Dark Age besides lackluster Stories the animation itself was noticeably worse than it had been in the past with many films being made via rotoscoping the process of tracing over old footage to create new scenes 1973's Robin Hood was the most egregious example of this featuring recycled footage from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves The Jungle Book and The Aristocrats as they had near the end of the Silver age Disney continued to Market itself towards boys and families with the majority of their films focusing on adventure and friendship as opposed to Fantasy and romance they also avoided straightforward Recreations of classic and familiar Tales instead reimagining them in different contexts besides the shift in tone marking the financial and creative struggles the company was going through it also reflected the tumultuous times at this point the United States had been involved in Vietnam for several years and much like they had during the wartime era of the 1940s Disney wanted to cater to the situation releasing films like Robin Hood The Rescuers The Fox and the Hound Oliver in company and The Black Cauldron which all had darker subject matter than their prior films as well as political themes and social commentary with these films highlighting male heroism with their action adventure story lines the female characters were similarly adjusted to be feistier this was largely due to the company wanting to appeal to their young male audiences but it's safe to say that they were also inspired by The Surge of independent female characters like Samantha Stevens and an Marie that had grown popular as a result of second wave feminism beginning in the 1960s this wave of feminism was defined by the women's Liberation movement which focused on sexuality family the workplace and Reproductive Rights this movement also critiqued the role of the patriarchy within society and how it affected different aspects of our culture and many feminists fought for realistic representation of women in media although romance was still included in these films the female characters introduced during this period weren't relegated to being stereotypical sex pots narcissistic villains virtuous mothers or loving wives instead they had their own interests and desires developing over the course of the film just as much as their male counterparts in a progressive flip of the script some of the female characters even did the rescuing in these films finally giving them the opportunity to stand on equal footing as the male characters besides the time period being marred with some of Disney's biggest commercial failures souring The public's perception of the brand the company itself was struggling with internal conflicts and turmoil this included Disney animator Don Bluth leaving the company in 1979 to start his own taking 11 other animators with him and they would eventually become one of Disney's biggest competitors Disney also underwent major organizational changes inating Michael Eisner as CEO Frank Wells as president and Jeffrey kenberg as chairman of the film division this corporate restructuring led to the eventual renaming of the company with the animation studio being called Walt Disney feature animation in 1986 in order to differentiate it from Disney's other divisions with the animation studio constantly in Jeopardy Michael Eisner considered shutting down the division in order to prioritize the company's live action TV and theme park Ventures but he was convinced by Roy E Disney Walt's nephew to give him one more chance to Bree some life back into the department while all of these changes were definitely caused for worry they were also the necessary shakeup that the company needed and marked the beginning of something magical the Disney Renaissance although Disney had initially begun developing a Project based on Hans Christian Anderson's fairy tale all the way back in the 1930s the fishy film didn't come to fruition until 5 decades later then animator Ron Clemens first brought the idea of a mermaid turned human to Jeffrey katzenberg's attention in 1985 and was initially rejected with kenberg saying it was too similar to 1984 Splash which the studio was developing a sequel for but the then chairman changed his mind the following day by 1986 The Little Mermaid had officially entered production becoming one of the most expensive Disney projects in history as well as one of its most successful surprising many of the company's higher ups who predicted the film would make less money as a girls film released in 1989 the movie followed a 16-year-old mermaid named Ariel The Adventurous and rebellious daughter of the king of the sea Triton in typical teen fashion she frequently defied her father's orders with the two often arguing about her fasination with land and humans after a particularly explosive argument Ariel makes an agreement with the sea witch Ursula trading her beautiful voice for a pair of legs giving her 3 days on land to get Prince Eric to fall in love with her although romance undoubtedly makes up a large part of the plot the film also covers adolescence and family Dynamics often called Disney's return to Greatness this was the company's first official princess movie since Sleeping Beauty all the way back in 1959 and with three decades between them the two women couldn't be more different Aurora comes across as mature Beyond her years a picture perfect princess willing to sacrifice her own happiness for the greater good meanwhile Ariel is a painfully accurate depiction of adolescence complete with stubbornness naive curiosity and selfishness making her one of the more three-dimensional characters Disney had put to screen Ariel had an active role in the film fighting a shark saving a prince disobeying her father and battling Ursula comparatively the earlier princesses were passive things happened to them and they had little to no control over it whereas Ariel made her own decisions sure trading her voice for legs probably wasn't a great choice in hindsight but mistakes are a part of growing up and that's what her story is about at the end of the day according to Disney more than half of the film's audience were made up of adults and teenagers proving that the film's subject matter and themes inherently appealed to older audiences it also reflected the company's ethos at the time with Jeffrey kenberg once saying quote they're great stories and they're made for the kid inside every one of us as opposed to made for children there's a real distinction there this is an important differentiation as it mirrored the intention Walt Disney had when he made Snow White and the Seven Dwarves all those years ago while parental until figures in past Disney films were non-existent or Worse neglectful Triton obviously loved and cared for his child but like many parents he was unable to express it in a way that Ariel could understand in her mind he was controlling and strict when in actuality he was just attempting to protect her from a world that she knew nothing about in contrast Triton sees Ariel as immature and difficult when she's simply becoming her own person and exerting her independence this wasn't the first time that Disney explored the comp LIC ated feelings that came with adolescence as seen with 1953's Peter Pan but The Little Mermaid felt like the first time the company was able to express it to the fullest extent the complex relationship depicted in the movie was something both parents and children could identify with and you could argue that the story is about familial love just as much as it's about romantic love something which comes full circle when Triton finally accepts Ariel's decision to be on land a metaphor for parents letting go of their children as they get older criticisms of the character are often directed at her willingness to abandon her family for a man but many forget that Ariel was fascinated by the land long before she meets Eric he's just the reason she finally has the strength to take the plunge despite being voiceless it's clear that she and Eric genuinely had things in common with one another and enjoyed each other's company and had Ursula not interfered I don't doubt that he would have eventually fallen in love with Ariel of his own accord this is a major Improvement compared to the relationships between previous princesses and Prin who despite having the physical ability to speak to one another seemed less naturally compatible following the success of The Little Mermaid faith in Disney's animation Department was restored and other projects were quickly put into production the company released Beauty and the Beast in 1991 which became their most critically acclaimed film earning a nomination for best picture at the Oscars touted as the most modern princess thus far Belle was the unabashed black sheep of her Village unlike Cinderella or Snow White her dreams didn't include a man or marriage instead she was on the lookout for adventure and education hoping to find a place where she belonged and could be understood of course she did wind up in a relationship regardless although she was recognized for her beauty she was appreciated for her intelligence a trait that Disney had yet to bestow upon one of its female characters while Ariel was the quintessential angsty teen Belle was the modern young woman self- assured eccentric passionate Progressive I and courageous she's vocal about what she wants and is willing to fight for it even when there were obstacles standing in her way screenwriter of the film Linda Wolverton also identified Belle as a feminist saying in an interview quote I wanted a woman of the 9s someone who wanted to do something other than wait for a prince to come bookish brainy and beautiful Belle is the one who eventually breaks the curse not the prince a welcome subversion of the Trope that Disney had started decades earlier even her romantic relationships introduce a new Dynamic with Gaston who looks the part of a classic Disney prince being the villain his vanity and cruelty outweighing his handsomeness showing the company's Evolution from earlier years when attractiveness automatically equated to goodness the physical manifestation of the patriarchy and misogynistic ideals Gaston treats Bell as nothing more than a sexual Conquest with bell not only rejecting his advances but even highlighting why his behavior is unacceptable which if we compare it to Disney's wartime era of the 1940s shows how far the company had come when it came to female representation as if to make up for all of the instantaneous romances they'd featured in the past Belle and the Beast relationship slowly evolves over the course of the film starting off in a place of hatred they eventually grow to respect and then love one another giving them the most realistic relationship progression of any Disney couple so far the fact that she was initially imprisoned by the Beast is a valid criticism of their romantic relationship but I personally think it comes across more like the good girl fixing the bad boy than it does full-blown Stockholm syndrome along with other characters introduced during this era it's clear that third wve feminism greatly affected this generation of Disney films influenced by post-modernist movements third wve feminism sought to write the wrongs of past feminist ideologies which had excluded and discriminated against women based on their race class and sexual orientation this intention to rectify past mistakes was mirrored by Disney who hoped to address address the growing criticisms they had received over the years with their newer films one of these criticisms was their worrying lack of diversity and representation and over the course of the 9s the company released multiple films that featured characters of color in order to appeal to their growing audience this first began with 1992's Aladdin which was based on the Arabic folk tale of the same name taking place in the fictional city of agraba which took inspiration from the Middle East the film follows a mischievous Thief named Aladdin who finds a magical lamp with a wish granting Genie as the name would suggest the protagonist of the film is Aladdin not Jasmine and as such she isn't given as much attention as Ariel or Belle but she's still a step in the right direction with the character fighting for her independence and challenging Antiquated gender roles however there were a few glaring issues that Disney didn't account for after the film was released many expressed concerns about the film's representation of Arabs with Roger eert writing in his review quote one distraction during the film was it odd use of ethnic stereotypes most of the Arab characters have exaggerated facial characteristics hooked noses glowering brows thick lips but Aladdin and the princess look like white American teenagers wouldn't it be reasonable that if all the characters in this movie come from the same genetic stock they should resemble one another the American Arab anti-discrimination committee brought up this complaint as well questioning why the film's heroes were light-skinned with angelized features while the greedier and more villainous characters were given ethnic features and thicker Accents in an article written by Evelyn Peterson in 1993 she compiled several hundred letters from parents and summarize their biggest concerns with the company quote Disney film should reflect ethnic diversity and not equate bad or evil with physical traits such as skin color obesity and unattractiveness Disney should take the lead against stereotyping and dare the industry to use average looking less physically perfect Heroes and heroins this criticism isn't completely unfound Ed as Disney had a decades old habit of giving their villains larger body types curly hair and hooked noses thereby equating those facial features to ugliness and wickedness a message that is as incorrect as it is insulting it's also to be noted that compared to the other princesses released up until that point Jasmine was extremely hypersexualized if we're being technical she's more covered up than Ariel was in her mermaid form whose outfit also received criticism when she was first introduced but to say that there isn't a sexual element to Jasmine's character would be naive after all she's the only princess who has to kiss the villain in order to help her prince and with her red outfit and chains I can't help but draw comparisons to Princess Leia's provocative job of the Hut moment in Western media Middle Eastern women are often objectified and othered and as such Jasmine being the first princess who is depicted in this manner is undoubtedly concerning especially when it isn't of her own free will following this backlash you'd think that Disney would have gotten the message but it was actually just the start of a disturbing Trend in their film throughout the decade with several other female characters being given more of a sexual and adult appearance 1995's Pocahontas received mixed reviews for this very reason besides being a gross misrepresentation of her life and her relationship with John Smith the film also objectifies and sexualizes Pocahontas something that mirrors the horrendous treatment indigenous women have endured over the years considering Disney had already come under Fire for for their problematic depiction of indigenous people in 1953's Peter Pan it's appalling that they were still attempting to profit off of that culture without making attempts to do more research when reading reviews following the film's release whether they're positive or negative almost every single one talks about Pocahontas's appearance in a lascivious manner I even stumbled upon some reviews that talked about her breasts while yes it's Disney's fault to an extent after all they drew her I also think that the Public's reaction was a touch excessive and honestly pretty inappropriate in defense of the character's appearance Linda Wolverton said quote I don't think that there's anything wrong with being beautiful if she's bright and busty then that's breaking The Stereotype what's wrong with that considering people still have trouble believing that beautiful women can be smart maybe she was on to something while the plot of the film itself is questionable fabricating a romance between Pocahontas and a man who intends to colonize her people there's no denying that that the character herself is remarkable unlike the other princesses who come across as endorsi types she has a physicality to her jumping off of waterfalls climbing trees and Rowing down raging Rapids she's in no way shape or form a damsel in distress although she and Ariel share many similarities like their headstrong and curious Natures Pocahontas's wit patience and resolve help her appear more mature and as a result her actions feel Justified instead of being the rashes of a disobedient teenager besides the increased complaints of stereotyping and sexualization over the years the company was also criticized for promoting unhealthy unnatural and unrealistic body types Brad liler wrote in 1993 quote these movies contain characters whom Studio producers claim are modern role models for young women I find it disturbing that these role models are all drawn as real thin perfect skinned long-haired cover of a magazine super models this sentiment was humor echoed in 1994 by Ellen Rosen quote Belle is too thin and would do well to get some nutrition counseling Ariel lacks upper body strength and Jasmine is at risk of lower back problems this was again reiterated in 1995 by April ozac quote there are subliminal messages in this movie as well first and foremost is the girl with the biggest bust smallest waist and tightest dress gets the guy this obviously signified a growing problem that the public was having with the company but we wouldn't see Disney attempt to to address this lack of body diversity until several years later something that's a little odd when you think about the fact that they had no problem drawing larger body types when they were villains it just became an impossible task when people wanted the princesses to be bigger something that's important to note about these criticisms is that they were primarily raised by parents with children and teenagers often disagreeing with the sentiment when asked about the boycott of The Little Mermaid because of Ariel seashell bra a 17-year-old girl responded by saying quote what I think is those people don't have enough to do and in a few letters to the editor several children came to the defense of the company with a 13-year-old saying quote Disney's flicks are fantasy and in fantasies everyone wants to look perfect besides you never know the prince might have kissed Sleeping Beauty if she was fat pimply and ugly because beauty is in the eye of the beholder following criticisms that their female characters were too boy crazy Disney released their first film where her relationship status is left somewhat ambiguous 1998's Mulan based on the Chinese Legend follows a young woman who disguises herself as a man in order to join the Army in her father's place with its allegories for misogyny sexism and Conformity the film had the most modern message of the bunch allowing it to endear itself to women of all ages as mentioned this era was heavily influenced by Third wave feminism and mulan's character exemplified the '90s girl power movement which encouraged and celebrated women's empowerment Independence confidence and strength while Mulan is courageous and selfless she's also unsure of herself grounding the character in reality unlike many of the other princesses who seem impossibly perfect Mulan is constantly making mistakes and she voices that she doesn't feel like a perfect bride or a perfect daughter directly contradicting the characterization of Disney's other princesses like many women she struggles to live up to society's expectations feeling as though no matter how hard she tries she'll be considered a disappointment she's only able to come to terms with who she is when she Embraces both her masculinity and femininity like Belle intelligence is one of her defining characteristics and instead of relying on physical strength to help her get the upper hand she uses her brains allowing her to out with the men who've underestimated her on multiple occasions it's also to be noted that the male characters are only able to succeed themselves when they let go of their toxic masculinity and learn to respect her as a human being although it likely wasn't the company's intent the film has also been commended for exploring gender identity and sexual orientation mulan's struggles throughout the film share parallels to the experience of living in the closet while Shang who is clearly attracted to Mulan before he finds out she's a woman is often head cannoned as being bisexual whether or not you believe that to be true it's fascinating to see how far Disney had evolved since Snow White and the Seven Dwarves Once Upon a Time the princesses wouldn't even speak to their princes before getting whisked off to their happily ever afters but 60 years later they they might not even share a kiss while there's no denying that all of the male characters introduced during the Disney Renaissance are three-dimensional with their motivations going Beyond I need to be a hero Shang feels the most realistic out of the bunch and honestly the healthiest he isn't a pathological liar like Aladdin or a hotthead like the Beast most importantly his love for Mulan grows from a place of friendship and respect instead of physical attraction during the Renaissance Era Disney made films that span a wide range of genres from fantasy to Adventure to drama and each of these successes solidified the company's reputation as a master at their craft while it's remembered as a time period that introduced many of their iconic princesses they also had male driven Tales of heroism like The Lion King in 1994 The Hunchback of Notre in 1996 Hercules in 1997 and Tarzan in 1999 although these films focused on male characters women were still given prominent and Progressive roles within the story Nala is spunk and spirited risking her own safety to try and help the pride Esmeralda is kind-hearted and fearless Desiring nothing more than for her people to be accepted mea is tough and jaded on the outside but only as a form of protection after years of abuse Jane is eccentric and outspoken having developed interests outside the norm for a woman of her background their romantic relationships aren't as cut and dry as they had been in the past with Meg betraying Hercules Esmeralda winding up with febus and set of Quasimoto and Nala berting Simba for his abandonment however Disney's habit of sexualization was also present with megra and Esmeralda not only being depicted as flirtacious but receiving UNT advances from male characters as well comparing this generation of female characters to past ones would be like comparing apples and mushrooms near impossible while Cinderella Snow White and Aurora were domestic washing floors making pies and fetching berries Ariel Mulan and Pocahontas ventured outside of the home and were rebellious relatable and realistic reflecting '90s youth culture and the girl power movement products of their time the princesses from this era rejected Conformity and societal expectations often challenging the patriarchy directly with their actions with Ariel leaving the land for water Bell rejecting Gaston's advances Jasmine turning down her suitors Pocahontas standing up to her father and Mulan becoming a soldier the villains also changed during this era like because the company hoped to distance themselves from any criticisms that they were sexist despite the Disney brand basically being created around evil stepmothers and wicked witches throughout the 9s men were the antagonists these villains also served as metaphors for sociopolitical issues with Radcliffe and Clayton representing colonialism geston sexism and frolo religious intolerance this was a significant Evolution from the early days of Disney where villains had simpler motivations like greed or vanity although they adjusted their characters and themes to better appeal to contemporary audiences in many aspects this era was a return to the company's Roots besides adapting classic fairy tales they also reintroduced music and prioritize the film's aesthetic as such it's widely considered the greatest Disney era and the films released during the Disney Renaissance have been some of the company's most memorable and successful Works besides solidifying the company's Revival it also marked the creation of their now iconic Disney princess lineup an official franchise and toy line the classification was created by Disney who selected the characters based off of who they believed would sell best because capitalism the idea was conceived by Andy Mooney chairman of Disney consumer products worldwide after he saw Disney on Ice performance where attendees were dressed up as different princesses in handmade gowns realizing that the company was missing out they quickly packaged several of their most popular female characters together and began selling themed merchandise like dresses dolls and Tiaras and and within 3 years the franchise had made a billion dollars in Revenue prior to this point Disney characters were advertised and sold within their respective universes because the company didn't want the characters to mingle and weaken their individual mythologies the very first Disney Princess lineup in 2000 included Snow White Cinderella Tinkerbell Aurora Ariel Bell Pocahontas as morala and Mulan as you can tell despite being named the princess line some of the characters included weren't technically princesses something the company actually argued about during the franchise's Inception Tinkerbell and Esmeralda were eventually removed from the lineup leaving seven official Disney Princesses and this lineup would remain unchanged for several years now a multi-billion dollar franchise Disney's heavy marketing of their princesses has resulted in criticism from both parents and psychologists with some insinuating that the popularity of the princesses and of Disney themselves would lead young girls to embrace gender stereotypes have unrealistic expectations about their lives and develop narcissistic Tendencies with Jean twen an associate professor of psychology at San Diego State saying quote why be obsessed with being a princess when you're never going to be one you can only postpone reality for so long kind of harsh if you ask me while Disney had managed to regain critical and Commercial Success during the '90s they found themselves in another slump in the 2000s primarily because of the increased amount of competition from other Studios one of them being DreamWorks which was founded by Jeffrey kenberg after he left the company in 1994 with the popularity of CGI traditional animation was growing more and more costly and Disney was forced to downsize reducing its staff by over a thousand in 2002 with projects like Fantasia 2000 the tiger movie The Emperor's New Groove and Atlantis the Lost Empire performing below the Studio's expectations there was a growing sentiment within the company that handdrawn animation was becoming outdated and as a result computer animation was given priority resulting in the eventual Disney buyout of Pixar in 2006 influenced by the popularity of films like the Matrix Men In Black and the Star Wars prequels many of Disney's projects during this era featured sci-fi elements and had male protagonists with female characters often being depicted in a sexual manner that was typical of that genre the exception to this was 2002's Lilo and Stitch which was one of the company's most successful handdrawn films during this time period besides being significantly younger than most of Disney's female protagonists leelo was also a realistic depiction of a child perfectly expressing the awkwardness and loneliness of Youth while on the surface it was just another movie where the protagonist parents are dead the film explored non-traditional family Dynamics through lilo's relationship with her sister Nani's struggle with being both a parent and a child and the concept of a chosen hanai family with Stitch this created a heartfelt narrative that appealed to audiences and due to the film's popularity the company pivoted its direction and many other films from this era like Brother Bear and Meet the Robinsons shared similar themes of family personal growth and the search for one's own identity it was around this time period that Disney began to release lowbudget sequels to their earlier films something which was criticized by both their animation staff and fans of the original movies in these sequels the characters were often portrayed in a more Progressive manner reconning anything that might have been scene as problematic something we would see again when the company would begin to adapt their movies into live action in the 2010s but we'll get to that later examples of the company attempting to modernize their prior work included expanding upon characters romantic relationships with Mulan and Shang nearly breaking up and Quasimoto successfully finding love many characters were aged up and given children allowing the company to appeal to both older and younger Generations by exploring those family Dynamics with Ariel and Simba taking on the overbearing role their fathers had in their original films they also retconed some of the villains to be more relatable and likable with one of Cinderella's stepsister is being given a Redemption Arc this could be interpreted as a trial run with a company determining how intense audience outrage would be if they made changes to their original films and a decade later these sorts of updates would be all too common with many of these sequels directly contradicting classic Disney tropes the direction of their next princess film hard came as a surprise especially when you considered the popularity of the Shrek franchise which had openly mocked Disney and its characters for years released in 2007 Enchanted was a combination of all things Disney and featured live action computer animation and handdrawn animation part homage and part parody Enchanted heavily referenced Disney's previous films and used the character of Gizelle to poke fun at past Disney princesses with a character eating a poisonous Apple befriending ice and fighting a dragon starting off the film as a one-dimensional Danel in distress whose only interest is romance jaizelle was quote about 80% Snow White with some traits borrowed from Cinderella and Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty although her spunkiness comes from Ariel from The Little Mermaid by incorporating familiar traits and tropes into the film Enchanted highlighted how far the company had come since 1937 especially in regard to its female characters with Gizelle being the one who saves the prince while many don't consider Jazelle an official princess Disney had originally planned to add her to the lineup but decided against it when they realized they would have to pay lifelong rights to actress Amy Adams for her image jelle's introduction was a clear indication that the company was not only looking to expand their repertoire of princesses but also modernize them to appeal to contemporary audiences although many of the films released during the post Renaissance are retroactively considered masterpieces the numerous box office disappointments greatly Ed the company's confidence in the department and the studio once again was at risk of being shut down as it tends to do history repeated itself and the company underwent another corporate upheaval with Bob Iger taking over a CEO in 2005 and John Lasser being named the chief creative officer of both Pixar and Walt Disney feature animation in 2006 the latter of which was eventually renamed to Walt Disney Animation Studios just as it had in the '90s these changes allowed for new voices and ideas to come to fruition and Disney was on the verge of their greatest comeback yet Disney's most recent era the Revival is considered to have begun with the release of The Princess and the Frog in December 2009 which marked the company's return to traditional animation and it's tried in true fairy tale formula taking place in New Orleans in 1926 the film follows a young woman named Tiana who is turned into a frog and has to find a way to become human again the company's first film featuring a black princess coincidentally lining up up with the country's first black president Tiana's story is heavily influenced by her ethnic background something which received both positive and negative reactions from viewers on the positive side of things the character was applauded for her ambition principles maturity and hardworking nature traits that were appreciated by an audience who had recently seen the devastation of a hurricane and were struggling through economic hardships while many of the earlier Disney Princesses resigned themselves to a life of Domesticity following their marriages Tiana achieves her happily ever after by running her own business making her a recession era success story unlike the other princesses who never had to work for a living and wound up marrying into well-to-do families Tiana is a self-made woman who owes her success to no one but herself her story feels like an updated take on the you'll be rewarded for your hard work message that was present in Snow White and Cinderella but instead of Tiana's stability coming from Marriage something that was aspirational back in those days she finds fulfillment by becoming financially independent of her own accord a message that any Modern Woman would find inspiring all three of these princesses were introduced during periods of economic hardship and as such they share similarities like their perseverance in the face of hardship and adversity but it's in their differences that you're able to see how much things have changed for women in society over the last 70 years heavily marketed as Disney's first black protagonist some criticisms were directed at the amount of time the character spends as a frog with some saying that this was proof that Disney's attempts at diversity were disingenuous the Trope of transforming someone into an animal is one that Disney uses often and in many instances like Cusco in 2000's Emperor New Groove Kenai in 2003's brotherbear or Joe in 2020 Soul this is used for characters of color there are of course exceptions but it is something that Disney has done on enough occasions that you might not call it a coincidence in the case of Tiana even in her human State she still has more screen time than Aurora did in 1959 Sleeping Beauty and even in her frog state her personality still shines through the Princess and the Frog was also criticized for misrepresenting the time period with the racial dynamics of the American South being sugarcoated in the film I personally think that if no one BS an eye at a flying elephant or a talking Mouse then it shouldn't be necessary for Tiana and the children who identify with her to endure violent racism these films are a work of fiction and fantasy and I didn't see anyone complain about the fact that Bell didn't get beheaded or that Aurora didn't die of the Black Death other compl complains about the film was that it played into African-American stereotypes in its attempt to highlight the culture this included the emphasis on foods like beet and gumbo the character's obsession with jazz and the film's negative depiction of voodoo you may recall that similar criticisms were also made when Disney released Aladdin in 1992 revealing that the company still hadn't learned how to represent cultures it wasn't familiar with ahead of its time Tiana's storyline could be seen as an early example of Disney girl basification something that would plague the company's characterization of women throughout the 2010s popularized in 2014 the term was coined by Nasty Gal founder Sophia Amorosa and was used to describe an ambitious woman who was unapologetically herself and refused to settle for anything less than what she deserved coinciding with fourth wve feminism which sought for gender equality and empowerment by focusing on gender norms and marginalization in society # girl boss was an entire movement during the 2010s but its popularity eventually dwindled As Time passed to the point that it's now used as an ironic criticism of shallow capitalistic feminism while Tiana's story is by no means superficial with the character dealing with both gender and racial inequality the concept of a goals focused young woman who doesn't need a man to succeed is something that made frequent appearances in films from the Disney Revival this girl boss sentiment was similarly evoked in Disney's live action Allison Wonderland in 2010 like the original film IT addresses the comple complexities of growing up and the meaning of life but adds an element of gender inequality struggling with society's expectations of her as a woman Alice finds herself back in underland which is significantly darker than the Wonderland she remembered visiting as a child a Coming of Age adventure story Alice is told by the residents of underland that she is a Fearless hero who's destined to save them from the Jabberwocky something she initially is in disbelief of it's only once she rids herself of these doubts and takes control of the narrative herself that she's able to van the monster and return to the real world finally having the confidence and courage to speak her mind while it's obvious that the character's story is meant to be empowering it inadvertently comes across as condescending and patronizing largely because the character's strength is displayed in a way that is stereotypically masculine with Alice rejecting her femininity and relying on physical strength to win dressing up as a literal night in shining armor to differentiate herself from the Damsel in Distress while there's no denying that this archetype should be left in the past the idea that a woman can only be empowered if she acts like a man is a slap in the face to characters like Mulan whose entire story arc was about embracing her femininity this is all the more insulting when you realize other female characters in the film are framed in a negative light with traits like ditziness and vanity being their defining characteristics this happened to be a common theme in media throughout the 2010s with traditional femininity being demonized and belittled resulting in the popularity of the not like other girls Trope which was rejection of stereotypically feminine attributes as a result of internalized misogyny it's also to be noted that Tiana's friend lahi who is by no means a villain is depicted as spoiled and shallow not only giving Disney the opportunity to admonish the behavior that they had been criticized by parents for promoting but also allowing them to incorporate modern feminist sentiments that condemned privilege and Domesticity Disney's Next animated Adventure was 2010's Tangled which was a loose adaptation of the German fairy tale of Rapunzel beginning the film as a docile and lonely young woman Rapunzel is desperate for her independence and freedom setting out on an adventure in the hopes of finding herself her love interest and the film's secondary protagonist is Flynn Ryder SL Eugene Fitz Herbert a man who is as selfish as he is arrogant something that turns out to be a cover for his kind heart and sensitivity in the early days of Disney both the princesses and their prince were perfect making them an ideal match for that reason alone and during the Disney Renaissance the men were fixer ERS allowing the female characters to come across as even greater role models in the case of Tiana and navine and Rapunzel and Eugene both couples learn valuable lessons from one another and these differences are what allow them to become better people and eventually achieve their dreams besides being a more realistic and relatable depiction of love this also mirrored fourth wve feminist sentiments about modern relationships which called for an equal balance of power although the film's original title was Rapunzel it was later changed to tangle in order to appeal to a wider range of audiences this was owed to the Princess and the Frog whose lackluster box office returns were attributed to its title having the word princess in it former Disney animator Floyd Norman said of the blatant marketing strategy quote the idea of changing the title of a classic like Rapunzel to Tangled is beyond stupid I'm convinced they'll gain nothing from this except the public seeing Disney is desperately trying to find an audience writing for the San Francisco Chronicle Margo mgan accused the company of sexism stating quote qu can you imagine if Disney switched a movie title so it wouldn't risk highlighting a male star it's awful that this kind of radical gender discrimination exists for our smallest people little kids who come into this world with huge imaginations and aspirations Big Dreams that get squashed by a bunch of billionaire guys who run massive entertainment franchises Disney rebuked these statements by insisting that the title change wasn't a marketing decision but instead a reflection of the fact that Rapunzel isn't the main character of the film so I guess Sleeping Beauty should have been titled Prince Phillip while it's true that Eugene and Rapunzel share near equal amounts of screen time and they both undergo a hero's journey the idea that a film can't be successful if it has a feminine title feels regressive Disney continued with this genderless branding with 2012's Brave and 2013's Frozen both of which featured women as their protagonists these films included themes of Independence acceptance and family with brave following the relationship between a mother and a daughter while Frozen detailed the love between siblings while earlier films like The Little Mermaid also dove into complicated family Dynamics Brave and Frozen prioritized it and both films relied on the audience's familiarity with the Disney brand in order to subvert expectations Merida rejects all of her suitors out of the desire to remain independent making the film unique as it was the first of Disney's films where the female character was the sole protagonist no male sidekick or eventual love interest needed although she shared certain traits with other princesses her story highlighted the effect feminism had on female driven story lines during the 2010s with a character remaining happily single at the end of her film having been criticized for encouraging gender roles over the years this film along with others from the era sought to redefine what a Disney princess was by allowing her to embrace what made her unique Frozen was an interesting addition to the Disney catalog as it marched the first time a love interest wound up being the villain one of the best plot twists in Disney history this was not only a clever way of referencing Disney's previous films that had characters fall in love at first sight but it was also realistic showing that the villain isn't always who you think it is and that you don't know what someone's true intentions are a lesson many of us unfortunately learn the hard way the film sisters before mis's message while on the nose was a reflection of the feminist Mantra that women are more powerful in numbers something which had yet to be explored by the Disney brand as they often relied on male female pairings you'll also notice that despite these characters being attracted their story lines no longer revolved around their beauty the way Snow White Aurora and bells did mirroring the modern sentiment that what was truly important was what was on the inside the most recent addition to Disney's Princess lineup was 2016's Moana which ventured into familiar territory by exploring themes of identity and self-discovery accomplished capable and self-reliant Moana is yet another princess who isn't given a romantic interest instead she's accompanied on her journey by Maui an arrogant demigod who grows to respect moana's bravery inspiring him to sacrifice himself for the greater good Moana like Merida Pocahontas and Mulan had a physicality to her making the character's strength as literal as it is metaphorical a common theme throughout the Revival era besides beautifully showcasing Polynesian culture a first for the company Moana was also a step in the right direction when it came to body positivity with the character having a more athletic build than the other princesses while this is an undeniable Improvement it's to be noted that Disney has only given characters of color like Lilo Nani and Louisa these diverse body types when it comes to their white protagonists the ones who've been around from the very beginning they continue to remain conventionally attractive you'll also notice that during this time period the sexualization that was so prevalent during the 9s and 2000s had essentially become non-existent something owed to Modern movements that protested against the objectification of women although it isn't a princess film 2016 zootopia is perhaps the most obvious example of Disney's capitalization of the feminist movement with Judy Hop's girl bossing her way into our hearts the only rabbit police officer she endures the Discrimination that every woman working in a male-dominated field has experienced she works twice as hard as everyone else but her efforts go unappreciated she deals with harassment from both her co-workers and the public and she is constantly told that she lacks a physical and emotional strength to do her job properly being told to go back to the carrot Farm a phrase that is all too similar to get back in the kitchen the character's struggles and eventual success were intended to highlight the very real societal issues of bias prejudice and discrimination with Disney emphasizing the message that you can be anything that you want to be with children from the '90s reaching adulthood Disney saw a boom in interest due to Nostalgia which combined with the virality of social media led to a huge spike in Disney related content on YouTube you could watch parodies of your favorite characters on in you'd see Disney themed swimsuits and lingerie on Tumblr you'd see fan Theory after fan Theory and on BuzzFeed you could find out which Disney Princess you were based on your Starbucks order during the 2010s media companies capitalized off of growing political discourse and many sites began to create clickbait content under the guise of feminism while some of the criticisms directed at Disney had been raised before like the company's lack of racial diversity or body inclusivity there were also more outlandish critiques that were intended to cause outrage like the comp's supposed promotion of sexual assault pedophilia and beastiality this lack of media literacy and superficial criticism ran rampant and coincided with white feminism a term used to describe feminists of the modern era who failed to address forms of Oppression that didn't directly affect them this type of reactionary content was incredibly popular and although their validity was questioned it was enough to affect the direction of Disney's films following the success of 2010's Alison Wonderland Disney began to release more live-action remakes of their original films especially those that featured their princesses who had since become pop culture icons first came Maleficent which was released in 2014 as the name implies Aurora isn't the protagonist of this film instead it follows the Powerful fairy who cursed her living in a magical forest realm Maleficent falls in love with a human boy who betrays her on his quest for power seeking Revenge she curses his newborn daughter who she grows to care for as the years pass when Aurora eventually Falls victim to the Unstoppable curse Maleficent is distraught but her love for the girl is able to awaken her and the two live happily ever after together a prominent element of fourth wve feminism was its stance against sexual violence and rape culture as seen with the rise of the meoo movement and Maleficent story alludes to this issue with the character's betrayal being an allegory for sexual assault while the animated Maleficent's reaction to not being invited to a party comes off as Petty this version is someone that that audiences can empathize with compelling them to understand the reasoning behind her actions from its Inception Disney had always made it clear who was the hero and who was the villain and Maleficent marched the first instance where they allowed a character to be morally gray and she was torn between Vengeance and forgiveness this wouldn't be the only time Disney would attempt to reform its villains with carella DeVille who previously stopped at nothing until she got her hands on a spotted puppy coat getting the girl boss treatment in 2021 Disney released Cinderella in 2015 Beauty and the Beast in 2017 Aladdin in 2019 and Mulan in 2020 these films were on the noos remakes of their Source material with the biggest differences being the characterization of the female characters of the bunch Cinderella is probably the most realized with its changes actually contributing to the story Ella is more assertive in this film with her resilience and compassion being depicted as a strength instead of a weakness and unlike her animated counterpart she's able to defy lady Tain directly addressing one of the biggest criticisms of the original film Ella and the prince meet before the ball and he takes an interest in her not because of her beauty but because of her kindness and he takes it upon himself to find her the biggest difference between the films is Lady Tain whose motivations are expanded upon having lost the love of her life years earlier she lashes out at Ella because of her own unhappiness and insecurities but unlike Maleficent this isn't intended to redeem her character instead her coldness and cruelty is used to highlight how trauma canect affect people in different ways with lady traine making the world a darker place while Ella seeks to make it a better one comparatively Disney's other liveaction films come across as Half Bake attempts to appear politically correct and socially aware we'll just touch on a few examples because boy oh boy there are a lot despite the original character already being a progressive feminist in the remake of Beauty and the Beast they felt as though Belle's intelligence had to be more clearly expressed so they made her an inventor the one and only thing she invents a in machine at no point does Belle start her own printing press or create something to help everyone around the castle she doesn't even get the opportunity to free herself from captivity this shallow feminist rhetoric is also present in Mulan with the character being given the ability to use Chi a power that within the film can only be harnessed by men thereby equating her strength to masculinity unlike the original film where her femininity is the reason she succeeds even Princess Jasmine who spends the film fighting against the idea of marriage still Ls up marrying Aladdin at the end with the character's only differences being her desire to become Sultan and a not so great musical number the company's performative activism is best expressed by their recent push for lgbtq plus representation which comes off as disingenuous at best while many of their characters have been queer coded over the years with Ursula taking inspiration from drag queen Divine Disney didn't start openly addressing their characters as such until the 2010s over the years the company has announced their first queer character on multiple occasions a mistake that they likely make due to the fact that the sexuality of these supposedly queer characters is only implied often reduced to a throwaway line that could be easily edited out of any country that didn't approve of the relationship Disney's refusal to commit to lgbtq plus representation is made most obvious in 2020s Mulan and 2021s Rya and the last dragon in the live action Mulan Lee Shang is removed from the story who as we mentioned is considered a bisexual icon and Mulan is instead given a different love interest this decision was explained by one of The film's Producers as being a product of the me too movement quote having a commanding officer that is also the sexual love interest was very uncomfortable and we didn't think it was appropriate this reasoning feels like a classic case of a company weaponizing a political movement in order to create a scapegoat to excuse themselves from any wrongdoing the characters of Rya and namari have undeniable chemistry and actress Kelly Marie Tran who voices the character of Rya even stated that she interpreted the characters as having romantic feelings for one another despite this the character's sexuality has never been acknowledged by Disney raising the question if the company was queer baiting Their audience obviously Disney is going to prioritize making money but at this point in their Monopoly over the film industry would having a queer storyline in an animated film actually hurt their bottom line when you consider the fact that they've been comfortable showing heterosexual love for years whether it's between humans dogs or foxes you have to wonder why they're so afraid of introducing real lgbtq plus representation compared to where the company was just 30 years ago we've seen a significant Improvement when it comes to representation with Moana Ryan The Last Dragon The Princess and the Frog and in kto celebrating groups of people who aren't often depicted in mainstream media but that doesn't mean we shouldn't expect more after all if people hadn't complained decades ago we might not even have the films we do today instead of trying to drag their films from the past into the present resulting in forced messages that come off as pandering I think Disney would be better off telling entirely new stories that are truly dedicated to diversity and inclusion the era of girl boss feminism coming to an end I have to wonder what direction the company's headed in next while they've been prioritizing Tales of Adventure I wouldn't mind a return to fairy tale fantasy especially if it was traditionally animated what would you like to see Disney make a movie about next I hope you enjoyed this video don't forget to like And subscribe and I'll see you soon bye [Music] [Music]