Disney Themes

I am, and always have been, a huge fan of Disney movies. The stories, the characters, the music.
I actually used to believe that the way to anyone's heart is with music, and that people would just randomly break out in song in the middle of a forest (or anywhere for that matter) and be revered.

Okay so maybe I liked them a little too much.

Disney movies have always been a source for controversy. There is this very common theme of there being a tragedy, usually in the very beginning. Then there are the signs of the times - especially socially - that can now be seen as quite racist, sexist, or even dangerous.
With that said, though, that is not at all what was ever at the forefront of my mind as a child.
There has been some criticism, as of late, about the message we are sending to young children (particularly young women) with some of the classic Disney movies and Disney princesses. While I can see that side of the discussion, I want to add my own perspective simply for conversation.

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Take Beauty and The Beast for instance.
This has always been a favourite of mine. Always. The music is impeccable, the characters are wonderful, and the most inpactful message in this movie is KINDNESS. That showing kindness is vital - kindness to everyone, open to anyone who may be different than us in several ways. Being kind reaps its own marvelous rewards, and being unkind can cause us (and others) irreparable harm. The resounding theme, in my opinion, is about being kind, learning to be kind, and that in doing so, we become worthy of love.

Sure, there is the interpretation of this movie being about Stockholm Syndrome, but this movie was never anything more than a beautiful story about kindness and its value in life to me.

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Now let's take a look at The Little Mermaid.
Another absolute favourite, especially for a young singer. What an iconic character. Ariel, the strong-willed talented mermaid who falls in love with a human.
As a child, this was all about how important one's voice is, but that communication is so much more than just speaking. I was enthralled with this movie because it centered around a character who was known for her beautiful voice. I mean, come on, the prince essentially falls in love at first sight because she saves him and then sings to him. Talk about drawing me in!

The criticism that has been brought up is that she gave away her voice - her talent and way to communicate - for a man.
This I don't actually agree with. It is very clear from the beginning that she had always wanted to be a human, that she felt human. The iconic song: "Part of Your World" actually occurs before she even meets prince Eric. Her entire collection of human paraphernalia had been building long before ever becoming infatuated with any human being.
With that said, of course, the villain capitalizes on her sudden infatuation AND her already existing longing to be human to entrap her into giving away her voice - temporarily - so that she could experience what it was like to be human and fall in love.
This movie, to me, was always simply about music, family, love, and friendship. As always, a resounding theme was, again, kindness.

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Cinderella is another movie that has endured quite a bit of criticism.
When I was a child, Cinderella was the epitome of rags-to-riches. For the third time, the main theme was kindness (in my eyes). It always seems to be kindness. She endures her abuse with grace, she is patient, she works hard, and she is kind to every person, every creature, every living thing. She also has this unending faith that kindness will win out in the end - and it does, in nearly every version of this classic tale once Disney put out its movie.

While the complaint is of complacency, and that she continues to take the abuse instead of marching out on her own and standing up for herself, all I saw was this evident goodness in her character. A trait that is both lovable and overwhelmingly hopeful.

Aladdin = honesty
The Fox and the Hound = the importance of friendship and tackling outdated beliefs.
Peter Pan = cherishing childhood.
Dumbo = family and hope.
Thumbellina = size isn't everything.
The Lion King = standing up for what is right even when it is frightening.
Pinocchio = honesty and family.
Sleeping Beauty = faith in others to help.
Snow White = be wary of strangers and you cannot run from your problems. Also that beauty can create resentments.
The Rescuers Down Under = bravery
Bambi = bravery, grief, and the importance of family.
Alice in Wonderland = imagination and be careful what you eat in strange places.
Lady and the Tramp = don't judge others just because of where they came from.

(I could go on but I would be here all day!)

What I learned from these films is that kindness, goodness, hope, and honesty are all traits to strive for. I learned that being kind is far more important, and will be more beneficial to you in life, than being rude. These movies taught me that kindness is not weakness, and that others are more inclined to help or cherish you when you treat others well. I learned that having a successful life is more about how you treat people than what you own or what your title is.

As an adult, of course we see things differently. We catch the shocking racism, we can see the gender disparity, the stereotypical characterizations. As a child, it was all about the message, and the message (for me) was nearly always about being kind to everyone - no matter how different.

I also learned amazing songs - and that is already worth it!