Disney

might be famous for narrating happily-ever-after stories about lovely princesses and talking animals, but beneath this fairytale world lies something far more profound. Many of the films we grew up with delve into more complex themes than the company’s brand would suggest. Despite being marketed towards a younger demographic, Disney has found a way to speak to different generations across time with a visionary approach. Sometimes, a mystic monkey teaching the importance of the past speaks louder than written words in a school book.

The most hard-hitting messages in the best animated Disney movies touch upon themes of idenтιтy, life purpose, and justice, often allowing children, for the first time, to come across the nuances of human nature and the world around us. With whimsical symbolism, courageous heroes, and stories of witchcraft, Disney, ever since the beginning, has been able to tackle difficult topics in a way that is both entertaining and provocative.

10

We All Grow Up

Inside Out (2015)

Disney Pixar’s Inside Out is praised for its empathetic portrayal of the complexities of growing up. Through Riley’s character, the movie explores the contrasting sentiments that characterize human beings, especially the journey from childhood to the teenage years. However, one moment in particular captures the bitter nature of maturing and changing: the disappearance of Bing Bong.

Bing Bong is Riley’s imaginary childhood friend, who Joy and Sadness find wandering in her subconscious. The creature accidentally ends up in the section “Memory Dump” with Joy but decides to sacrifice himself to save the former, and fades from Riley’s memory forever. The sad Pixar moment hit hard not because of the weight of the sacrifice, but because it symbolizes the painful reality of growing up. It is inevitable, and, eventually, you’ll have to leave behind parts of yourself, sometimes even the best ones.

9

Found Family & Acceptance

Tarzan (1999)

Tarzan is a poignant coming-of-age story about the meaning of family and the importance of finding acceptance. Orphaned as a child and abandoned in the jungle, Tarzan is rescued and adopted by Kala, a female gorilla who recently lost her son. Regardless of the doubts raised due to his origins, Kala brings him up as her own, behaving as any mother would with her child.

However, throughout the movie, Tarzan’s sense of belonging and idenтιтy is challenged by his human origin. His insecurities are fueled by Kerchack’s refusal to accept him and his meeting with Jane, the first person he encounters who resembles him. In the end, however, it does not matter whether he is a man or a gorilla. His family is defined by the love he receives, not by biology, and the things that make him different from others are far less important than what brings them together.

8

The Many vs. The Few In Power

A Bug’s Life (1998)

Perhaps more than any other Disney movie, A Bug’s Life offers a sharp social and political critique. Pixar’s sophomore movie explores power dynamics and oppression, focusing on the struggle between the many and the few. The story follows Flik, a misfit ant who challenges the tyrannical system built on fear and intimidation by the grᴀsshoppers, who take advantage of the hard work of Flick’s colony simply because they are in the position to do so.

Flick spends the movie attempting to rally up the ants, and all they have to do is realize their strength lies in their collective force. The message is straightforward: There might always be bullies who try to control the mᴀsses, but they are no match for the many once they come together. This is a timeless lesson about the power of unity and challenging oppressors. A Bug’s Life proves that, for change to occur, those at the bottom must acknowledge their strength and disband the system that only benefits the few.

7

Family Love Can Be As Strong As Romantic Love

Frozen (2013)

Perhaps it might not hit everyone the same, especially the people who didn’t grow up with siblings, but Frozen‘s message about family bonds and affection is still universal. Throughout Disney’s long and enchanted history, we have primarily seen romantic love as the ultimate force that saves the princess from the evil curse of the wicked witch. Frozen subverted the trope.

Not only does the curse that threatens to kill Anna come from her sister, who accidentally strikes her with her magic, but their love for one another is what ends up saving the young princess’ life. When Anna sacrifices herself to protect Elsa, it seems like nothing more can be done for her. However, that very act of selflessness turns out to be the true love needed to break the curse. Instead of a kiss from the Prince Charming, Frozen shows that true love is not limited to romance.

6

The Burden of Family Expectations

Encanto (2021)

Encanto is a sharp and emotionally aware movie that resonates with people from different generations and cultures, exploring the negative impact of societal pressures. In particular, the story delves into the struggle to live up to impossible family expectations. The main character, Mirabel, is the only member of the Madrigal lineage who does not receive a magical gift on her fifth birthday, thus becoming an outcast.

Through Mirabel’s sense of isolation and the treatment she is subject to, the movie explores how family expectations, while driven by love, can be heavily suffocating and often constricting. Mirabel’s journey of self-discovery teaches us that true worth isn’t defined by living up to other people’s ideas of who you should be, even if these people are your parents or relatives. Encanto‘s message of self-acceptance against the pressures of perfection hits hard, especially in a world where external and shallow achievements are prioritized.

5

Environmental Destruction

WALL-E (2008)

WALL-E is a beautifully written love story set against a disturbing background. The тιтular character is a lonely, albeit aware, robot tasked with cleaning up the garbage on an inhabitable and polluted Earth in the year 2805. The hero ends up falling for a fellow android, EVE. From WALL-E’s initially solitary existence to his romantic quest to conquer the heart of their beloved, the story welcomes the viewer to a terrifying setting. The most alarming part of the world portrayed is that it does not seem so far from reality.

WALL-E’s Earth is almost fully devoid of life, and the factors that led to it are said to have been hyper-consumerism and corporate greed. Although the movie’s message is dramatic, there is also a glimmer of hope that hits differently. The endearing story of Wall-E, his ability to find pleasure in small things, and his resilience are a reminder that there is always potential for change, even in the worst situations. The Disney movie is a hard-hitting sci-fi masterpiece.

4

The Meaning Of Life & Purpose

Soul (2020)

Soul is a poignant exploration of the meaning of life and our role in it. Joe Gardner is a dissatisfied middle school music teacher and aspiring jazz musician, who accidentally falls to his death on the same day his dream comes true. However, he is mistakenly sent to the “Great Before.” There, he meets 22, an ancient pre-existing soul with no interest in living on Earth. Joe and 22’s journey is relatable from an existential perspective, as they are forced to confront their preconceptions about life and their place in it.

Soul does not give definite answers but invites the viewer to question humanity’s obsession with finding a sole purpose — the idea of a “spark” as the ultimate reason to be alive. Joe refuses to die, believing he still has to accomplish his goal of becoming a successful jazz player. 22, on the other hand, struggles to find appeal in existence. However, as the story unfolds, the characters realize that life is not about having one destination; what truly matters is the journey.

3

Human capability for cruelty and discrimination

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996)

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of the darkest, albeit realistic, portrayals of humans’ capability for cruelty, hatred, and discrimination. The characters of Quasimodo and Minister of Justice Claude Frollo represent two contrasting figures that society fails to recognize and understand for who they are because of their deceiving appearance. Despite his kind heart, Quasimodo is seen as the “monster” of Notre Dame. Frollo hides his vile heart beneath his religious fanaticism.

However, as the opening song reveals, the true monster of the cathedral is not what might appear. But it is difficult for the world to see it. The society depicted seems more forgiving of Frollo, who was ready to slaughter a child for his physical deformities, rather than a man whose only “fault” is his appearance. In one of Disney’s hardest scenes, Quasimodo is shown being publically bullied and abused by people. The message of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is not hopeless, but it also warns the viewer of what humanity is sometimes capable of.

2

Don’t Run Away From The Past

The Lion King (1994)

Rafiki is one of the cleverest talking animals in Disney history, and his pearls of wisdom can impart lessons to children and adults alike. The Lion King is a story of growth and legacy. After the death of his father, Simba spends a significant part of the story attempting to run away from his past, plagued by an unjustified sense of guilt. In doing so, however, he is also rejecting the future that awaits him.

Rafiki reminds Simba of the importance of embracing the past regardless of the pain it might cause. As he puts it in one Disney’s most hard-hitting quotes, after striking the Lion King on the head with his staff, the past might still hurt, but the choice is between running or learning from it. When the monkey is about to hit Simba again, he successfully dodges it. The moment, although hilarious and brief, is a reminder of the film’s core message: The only way to move forward is to make peace with what lies behind us.

1

You Are Not Defined By What You Are, But Who You Choose To Be

Zootopia (2016)

Zootopia is one of Disney’s most socially aware films. Although the story is set in a world inhabited by anthropomorphic animals, the lessons taught are still relevant to people. The protagonists of the movie are Judy Hopps, the first rabbit to become a police officer in Zootopia, and Nick Wilde, a fox who, on the contrary, decides to embrace the negative stereotypes concerning his species.

Although they deal with it in opposite ways, the characters are victims of discrimination throughout the Disney movie. The prejudice they suffer, however, is primarily the consequence of what they are as animals, not their personality or actions. Luckily, Judy and Nick successfully manage to build their own destiny, challenging the preconceptions against them. Zootopia reminds us there is more to who we are than what the world expects us to become.