Recent Disney Films Criticized for Prioritizing Messages
John Musker, a legendary Disney filmmaker known for classics like The Little Mermaid and Moana, has voiced his concerns about the current state of Disney Animation. In a recent interview with Spanish outlet El País, he stated that Disney needs to perform a course correction to refocus on entertainment and compelling story, rather than prioritizing political messages.I think they need to do a course correction a bit in terms of putting the message secondary, behind entertainment and compelling story and engaging characters.
Shift in Storytelling Focus
Musker’s critique comes in light of recent Disney films that have faced backlash for their perceived ‘woke agenda’. This backlash includes criticisms of movies like The Princess and The Frog, where viewers took issue with Tiana’s portrayal as a frog for most of the movie.
A Disney representative admitted, Instances where we have faced backlash is when we have perhaps been too liberal with the woke agenda
.
Financial Struggles Complicate Matters
The Walt Disney Company has also encountered financial struggles recently. Massive layoffs and box office disappointments, such as 2022’s Lightyear, which included a controversial same-sex kiss scene, further fueled debates on cultural representation in animated films.
Fixing Past Challenges
Disney CEO Bob Iger has been vocal about his efforts to rectify past mistakes. Highlighting the company’s shift from entertainment to messaging, Bob Iger mentioned adjusting strategies:
I’ve been fixing a lot of problems that the company has had and dealing with a lot of challenges. Decisions that were made by my predecessor,
Iger commented.
Cultural Sensitivity Meets Creativity
John Musker reminisced about his own experiences and challenges during his time at Disney. For instance, while working on Aladdin, the city’s name was changed due to real-world political conflicts. He explained, Because of the war, we couldn’t even go there to do research. Our big research took place at the Saudi Arabian expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
An Appeal for Character-Centric Stories
Criticizing certain storytelling decisions in recent Disney endeavors, Musker pointed out what he deems as missteps in character development and emotional depth.
The former Disney director emphasized creating engaging characters who resonate with audiences: You don’t have to exclude agendas, but you have to first create characters who you sympathize with and who are compelling.
Follow Us
