We all know and love Disney. It is a crucial part of millions of people’s childhoods; from Snow White to The Lion King, this company has shaped the minds and hearts of many.
Lately, however, this love for Disney has slowly faded. Many wonder what caused the lapse of quality in Disney films. Some point to the remake of The Little Mermaid, with Halle Bailey, a Black woman, cast as Ariel, a white character in the 1989 original.
While representation is essential, it has to be done correctly, or its purpose is lost. Changing beloved classics to appeal to a modern audience is lazy because it can make people of color feel like an afterthought. When a character is changed because the actor is a different race from the original story, but nothing new is added to the story, least of all their cultural background, the character lacks depth and authenticity.
This laziness in creating stories for diverse, modern audiences can also be seen with the upcoming live-action remake of Snow White and the Evil Queen. In an interview with Rachel Zegler, the actress who plays Snow White, she says, “It is no longer 1937 and … she is not gonna be saved by the prince, and she’s not gonna be dreaming about true love. She’s dreaming about becoming the ruler she knows she can be.”
However, Disney has taken the love out of a love story by making a new narrative that strays far from the original. Snow White has timeless values of love, honesty, and powerful themes highlighting even strong people being able to make mistakes. It is disheartening for a classic film to be bent and twisted so far from its core values.
Being an independent woman is impressive; however, not every woman wants to be a CEO or the ruler of a kingdom. Some still want to fall in love and have a “happy ever after.” The old movie was not perfect, but that made it human and relatable. In the future, I’d like to see some films where a woman is a company’s CEO, and some where princesses are saved by a prince and fall in love—a harmony of different stories, so all can enjoy some stories made by Disney.
If Disney realizes their movies aren’t succeeding because they attempt to appeal to critics and not kids, Disney can be what it used to be: a household name of entertainment for all. Walt Disney built his company with a pioneering imaginative mindset and a mission to bring joy to all; the company now would put him to shame.