Top 10 Things Only Adults Understand About Disney Movies
#10: Substance Use “Alice in Wonderland” (1951)
You only need to look as far as the phrase “chasing the white rabbit” to realize just how enmeshed drug use has become with Lewis Carroll’s original story. Once you grow up and have some experiences, it’s hard not to see this 1951 adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland” as an extension of that. Alice drinks and eats random substances that alter her reality. She experiences this other world where surrealistic imagery is the norm. The jokes write themselves. In the early 70s, Disney picked up on this, and even advertised the re-release by highlighting its psychedelic appeal.
#9: Emotions Are Always Complicated “Inside Out” (2015)
Although it’s about some pretty big ideas, the way “Inside Out” manages to personify complicated emotions is just more proof that nobody does it like Disney. It helps kids reckon with negative emotions like sadness in a way that’s pretty heavy but fully accessible. Still, just how well it presents emotional complexity probably isn’t immediately clear to everyone. For a Disney movie, “Inside Out” is a thought-provoker. It doesn’t necessarily come right out and tell its audience everything. The full scope of the movie’s emotional depth is probably something that will only deepen as the generation who saw it as kids gets older.
#8: Scar Is a Fascist “The Lion King” (1994)
When you’re a kid, it’s easy to hate Scar. He’s the guy who killed Mufasa and ruined his nephew’s life. But Scar’s viciousness and similarities to actual historical leaders is something that only a seasoned viewer might see. They might also realize just how striking and familiar its imagery is, particularly in the scenes where Scar reveals his evil master plan. The robotic marching of his dutiful hyena army evokes Nazi Germany, and the true evil of his reign as king leads to fear and droughts for the entire kingdom, all so he can have power.
#7: Losing a Parent “Bambi” (1942)
When the young fawn Bambi loses his mother to a hunter’s gun, it’s sudden and shocking. This tragic event serves as a catalyst for the character’s coming of age. His mother’s death is a rite of passage he must complete on his quest to become an adult. This is mostly metaphorical for young viewers. Most kids, if they’re lucky, wouldn’t know the pain of grieving for a parent yet. The scene takes on even more meaning for people who have suffered the same loss. It’s only once time passes that it becomes an inevitable but nonetheless heartbreaking reality of being a full-fledged adult.
#6: It’s More Than Just the Toys “Toy Story 3” (2010)
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At the end of Pixar’s third installment in the beloved series, young Andy ages out of his toys and passes them along to their new owner, a girl named Bonnie. They have one last play session together before Andy leaves them behind. If that gave you a lump in your throat just thinking about it, it’s probably because you know it’s not just the toys Andy’s leaving behind. It’s his entire childhood. Letting go of them means letting go of an entire time of his life. Kids may still have that particular milestone to look forward to, but those of us who are old enough to have grown up with those movies feel that one right in the gut.
#5: Carl’s Grief “Up” (2009)
Here’s another time Pixar hammered home some hard truths. In the first ten minutes of “Up,” Carl Fredricksen meets, falls in love with, and loses his wife, Ellie. Shown in montage, the two live an entire life before our eyes. While it’s probably clear to anyone just how sad the scene is, it also takes a lot more life experience and a little more exposure to love and loss to truly grasp the pain of it. Again, it’s one of those movies that weaves this deeply emotional narrative through a high-flying adventure story. Even if you don’t necessarily understand the complexity of it, there’s still plenty to enjoy. But if you do, it’s a special kind of devastating.
#4: History Was a Lot More Complicated “Pocahontas” (1995)
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While it’s fair to say Disney wasn’t going to show the real horrors of colonialism to children, “Pocahontas” is a pretty sterile retelling of a real life story. Depicting the largely fictionalized meeting between real life soldier John Smith and the Native American Pocahontas, this movie has been criticized for romanticizing colonialism. Even contemporary reviews seemed unconvinced that its telling was respectful or responsible. Kids may be charmed by the animal creatures and the songs, but the movie doesn’t shy away from showing some of the tensions between the colonists and the indigenous characters. However, when you know more about the actual history, some of the movie’s more romantic elements start to feel a little tasteless.
#3: The Blatant Racism Various
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Once the company launched its streaming service, Disney+, inclusion of many of its classic titles revived conversations about outdated or offensive content. Movies such as “The Aristocats,” “Peter Pan,” and “Dumbo” may be made for children, but they’ve got some shockingly inappropriate racist stereotypes. That’s to say nothing of “Song of the South,” the movie so racist Disney won’t even release it now. This compelled the company to include a warning before many of these archival titles. There are many people who first saw these movies as kids and defend these depictions or accept them in the context of the eras in which they were made. Still, the racism is a lot more apparent when you have more time and cultural awareness under your belt.
#2: “Mary Poppins” Is About Absent Fathers “Mary Poppins” (1964)
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If you haven’t seen Disney’s Oscar winning magical nanny movie in a while, you might be surprised to pick up on some of its more depressing undertones. Dancing chimney sweeps and Julie Andrews flying in on an umbrella can only disguise some harrowing themes of family strife for so long. According to the behind-the-scenes biopic, “Saving Mr. Banks,” that was one of author P.L. Travers’ reasons for writing the original book. Mr. Banks spends most of the movie more concerned with fiduciary matters than being an engaged father. In hiring Mary Poppins, he’s able to learn just how precious this time with his children is.
#1: Happily Ever After Is a Myth Various
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For kids, watching a princess go absolutely through the wringer and then marry a nice prince is enough. For adults, we know marriage is only the beginning. Fairy tales always leave out the real endings. Cinderella and Prince Charming are gonna argue over how to renovate the east wing or which private school to send the kids to. That’s not even mentioning all that evil stepmother baggage she’s got. And what about his parents? What if they’re weird and like to show up to the castle unannounced? Hopefully, these movies teach kids that struggle and conflict is a normal part of life that makes all the good stuff worth it, and not that marriage and procreation is the end-all goal. What do you notice about your Disney favorites as you get older? Tell us in the comments.
