Disney is celebrating its 100th anniversary, reflecting on the unforgettable mark on global entertainment with nearly 800 films and the infamous Disney Parks in California, Florida, Paris, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. The Disney Company’s vast influence extends beyond films to shape pop culture and childhood experiences. Their objectives are to entertain, inform, and inspire future generations through their storytelling in more ways than one.
While Disney intends to be inclusive, they also see the heavy profit they could make off creating diverse stories once they realized how much the media were calling Disney out for mainly having all-white female main and side characters like Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and more. Disney makes sure that they are doing the right things to avoid getting canceled for not showcasing those of different ethnicities and cultures.
Earlier this year, Disney released The Little Mermaid, casting Halle Bailey, a woman of color, as Ariel. They received backlash from the media because they decided to make Ariel a black woman, who in the 1989 film was white. I do not believe that Disney intentionally casted a person of color as lead; instead, they were amazed when encountering Halle Bailey. In an interview, she believes she landed the role after bringing the directors to tears with her delicate voice. Additionally Disney believes casting a woman of color is a great money-making opportunity. However, when children had their first look at the trailer, it brought tears to their eyes seeing someone like them shown as a princess.
As someone who has loved Disney their whole life, it is vital to recognize that Disney is still a company that seeks to generate profit. If they do not cater to their fanbase, they run the risk of losing money. Even if their reasons for making these films more inclusive are not ethical, children will grow up seeing themselves on screens. Growing up, I had never seen any princesses who looked like me. I am so excited for future generations to be lucky to say that they grew up with films like this.
