Today’s adults have fond memories of watching Disney movies like Peter Pan, Dumbo, or The Jungle Book. These timeless animated films continue to be beloved by both children and adults, even years after they were first released.
In recent years, there has been a growing demand for these films from the past to take responsibility for their portrayal of racist stereotypes and culturally insensitive content, as stories in the future should be approached differently. The calls for accountability have become louder in the US and Europe, and Disney has been compelled to acknowledge the perpetuation of negative stereotypes in these films despite their continued popularity.
Upon the debut of Disney+’s streaming platform in 2019, a disclaimer cautioning against “obsolete cultural portrayals” was introduced to numerous films within its collection. Additionally, the wording of the disclaimer was revised in October 2020.
Presently, incorporate a 12-second textual representation in the initial credits that states: “This production contains unfavorable portrayals and/or mistreatment of individuals or cultures. These clichés were incorrect in the past and are still inaccurate at present.” Peter Pan, Dumbo, Lady and the Tramp, The Aristocats, and The Jungle Book, among various others, at this moment.
On Tuesday, the company took it a step further by eliminating the movies from children’s profiles on their Disney+ streaming platform.
According to the information accessible on the Disney+ website, the elimination resulted in instances of content that exhibit stereotypical depictions of Native individuals in Peter Pan, which “fails to represent the variedness of Native peoples or their genuine cultural customs” as stated by Disney, and employs derogatory language to characterize them.
Chance to talk to children about racism and negative stereotypes creates a welcoming and much better classification for films, rather than simply showing them without any improvement anymore.
The future of Disney animated movies
Disney also removed children’s films from its in-house video-on-demand platform at the end of January, specifically for viewers who are under the age of 12.
This fact was a sign of the time back then, and it was wrong. She says that it’s not the solution if you don’t consciously deal with the problematic points and keep blocking the works. It’s not about showing films, she says. It is critical to understand that there are some things that are wrong and it is difficult to find what I am not allowing children to understand. Fürst works as a research associate at the Institute for Social Innovation and Education in Bonn.
Presently, autonomous filmmakers and authors, along with the realm of theater, raise the subject. This is an inquiry that numerous individuals engaged in arts and culture in the United States and Europe have been pondering for quite some time. Therefore, how can actions be executed in a contrasting and improved manner?
‘Pocahontas’ as a favorable illustration
Fürst, the leader of racism awareness workshops at European universities, perceives the message in the opening credits of Disney films as a constructive initial measure. This holds significant significance as it notifies parents about potentially troublesome material that they might have to address with their children.
Fürst suggests that additional measures should be implemented. To illustrate, Disney has the potential to generate additional material that tackles challenging inquiries, such as producing films that explore the inappropriate aspects of their traditional animations. These films could subsequently be accessible on their platform. By focusing on problematic elements in costumes and screenplays, such movies could initiate a discussion about the ethical dilemmas raised by a series or a film.
“For children, it effectively depicts colonization as a detrimental phenomenon because, being a Disney film, it succeeds in doing so. However, as a parody of the historical character, Pocahontas, which was made available in 1995, Fürst identifies it as an instance of a Disney movie that is more forward-thinking.”
Narratives influence our perception of the world
The creators of the Disney film Moana are responsible for it. The film was released on March 5 in Germany on Disney+, while it premiered on March 4 in the US. According to the company, Raya and the Last Dragon, the newest 3D animated Disney movie, strives to approach things in a unique manner.
It is important to be aware of the responsibility she said. Disney owns an incredible number of media franchises, which means that the stories we consume shape how we see the world because they are extremely powerful. If it continues like this, it’s a good way to go. In the story, the heroine is not in search of a man but rather her own identity. The actresses and actors were appropriately chosen. She said that the Disney film Moana told the story of a strong-willed daughter of a chief from a Polynesian village. Although Eva hasn’t seen Raya and the Last Dragon yet.
The statement “You have grown more mature” primarily signifies one crucial aspect: when an individual evaluates a children’s movie from an adult perspective, it implies that society has advanced. This notion is further supported by films such as Moana and Raya and the Last Dragon, which chart a fresh course for children’s cinema, distinct from The Jungle Book and Peter Pan. Eva Fürst asserts this viewpoint.