essays about disney movies

24 Mulan (1998)

Difference, Power, and Discrimination in Mulan (1998)

By Andrew Arnold

Disney films are notorious for a repetitive and consistent outline and plot line for their animated films. Most often we see some characters have difficulties at home, and often at odds with their parent(s) or guardian(s), they strike it out on their own to prove themselves, and oftentimes, save the place or the people they love from certain demise. From the get-go, Mulan (1998), seems no different. Yet this movie, more fluidly and elegantly than any other Disney flick I’ve seen, captures that same idea but also captures a respect for the way things are, even if they’re not the way our protagonist wants them to be. It’s in this dichotomy of progression and respect that Mulan dictates a commanding and virtuous display of representing, interpreting, and championing issues of difference, power, and discrimination that the western world faced at the time of its creation, and even still today. The character Mulan displays an effort to recognize major areas of societal difference in gender roles, change the perspective of what power means, and challenge the forms of societally-based discrimination faced by women, and non-cisgendered people.

The story of Fa Mulan in the film Mulan is based upon actual Chinese legend. Film critic Roger Ebert, in his review of “Mulan,” writes, “The story this time isn’t a retread of a familiar Western children’s classic, but based on a Chinese folk tale about a plucky Chinese teenage girl who disguises herself as a boy to fight the invading Huns.” Lan Dong in his book entitled, Mulan’s Legend and Legacy in China and the United States , describes how our beloved animated Mulan stems from, “The Ballad of Mulan” in popular folklore. Disney was at the crossroads of upholding Chinese culture and meaning but westernizing the film to be digestible for the American family, and the expectations of a typical Disney movie.

With the Disney Revolution of the 1990s, and growing political processes to support minority group representation, this is especially true. How could Mulan follow this trend and also be a beloved children and family flick? Ebert said it best, “The outcome manages somehow to be true simultaneously to feminist dogma and romantic convention.” Mulan’s journey of taking her life into her hands, stepping into places she should not go, avoiding the traditional matchmaking process, and yet still falling for the charming, heroic, masculine man. Mulan does give the best of both worlds.

In terms of labeling differences of roles, gender, norms, and capability, Mulan hits all the boxes. In, “How Disney’s Mulan Brazenly Challenges Gender and Sexuality,” Soren Hough details this relationship, stating, “We saw non-traditional families, people of color in lead roles and a general break from the norms of Disney princess storytelling. This new art was an essential part of growth for a generation that is more fluid.” Mulan, as a Chinese woman, brings to the picture a different cultural system from what the western world understands and allows Mulan to challenge this culture. Yet, Mulan does not altogether reject this culture. She still respects and honors those who came before and those who are not her. Lan Dong writes, “Instead of being miserable victims or unusual radicals these women are agents ‘who embraced certain aspects of official norms while resisting others.’” This method of acceptant rejection is a new trope to Disney films, and a new trope in many ways to our own society. There is beauty in the past and tradition, but also courage and belonging in the brand new.

The symbolism of power within the film is uniquely displayed not only in its literary aspects, but also in the cinematography of key scenes. Mulan herself sought out power: to be seen as a man, strong and capable, and to bring honor. Even this concept of masculinity is challenged. Masculinity as a marker is redefined by Li Shang, her commanding officer of war, during the famous “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” track and montage. Shang transforms the burly, aggressive, “masculine” men into disciplined warriors: people willing to fight with honor and die for their people. Late in the film, however, Mulan once again adjusts this concept. Hough discusses this transition of power tropes by stating how Mulan used wit rather than raw might. She found power in herself, rather than the standards of power placed ahead of her. At the end of the film, Mulan concocts a plan that involves the raw, masculine warriors dressing femininely to outwit the opposition. This is clearly a bit of a reversal of roles in a comedic manner, but it works to perfection. There is no lost honor in this gender-blurring act, and no less power within femininity.

The most pivotal of scenes comes in the revealing of Mulan’s true identity. She is dragged out of her tent and cast aside by the consular. She is shamed and disregarded. As it is explained, the penalty for her actions is death. Herein lies the biggest moment of power transition. The camera completely flips from a very frontal, level, and bright atmosphere and focus, to a very dark, depth extending, angled picture. We see Shang tower over Mulan in a larger-than-life pose. In most frames we see Mulan huddled under the blanket and her own shame, with a slightly out-of-focus Shang, his back turned, and his respect and trust for her lost. The music transitions to dramatic, rhythmic, cadence. This all builds to the climactic moment of Shang casting down his sword before her rather than striking her down as would have been his duty. Whilst clearly he lost his respect for her as a liar, he respected her, still, as a human, and as a human, he was indebted to: “A life for a life.” We find Mulan has, even in her weakness, accessed power due to her courage and bravery. She has earned her life.

Discrimination is the most key social point to the film. In the final scenes, Mulan returns to Shang in the Chinese capital to warn him of the surviving Huns. This holds key dialogue for the nature of discrimination, not just diegetically, but non-diegetically too. Shang tells Mulan, “You don’t belong here.”

“Shang, I saw them in the mountains. You have to believe me.” Mulan replies. “Why should I?”

“Why else would I come back? You said you trust Ping, why is Mulan any different?” This is the major point Mulan and the film as a whole are making. Mulan stepped out of her place, even crossing gender lines, tradition, and literal Chinese law to do what’s right. Here she is once again doing her best to serve the people she cares about and is once more cast aside. How is she regarded differently than a man? Why should this be so?

Ultimately this comes full circle by the very end of the film. Mulan returns to her father with the emblem of the emperor and Shan Yu’s sword. These are the highest symbols of the highest accomplishments. These surely would bring her father honor as she so desperately desired to do. But he casts them aside with the closing line, “The greatest gift and honor, is having you for a daughter.” Finally, her value is seen. Not for being a man, not for her accomplishments, but for her value as a daughter. Simply someone who deserves to be loved. This is where the conjunction of Chinese tradition and honor, and western ideas and focuses find their meeting ground. Mulan has pushed these boundaries but ultimately finds her way back home once more. Even Shang returns to pursue her as a love interest. Now she is not only the progressive, independent, butt-kicking, woman, but the traditional romantic who still gets the guy in the end.

The messages and themes of Mulan did not strike so resonantly with every viewer, however. Johnson Cheu’s book,  an anthology with many other authors, entitled, Diversity in Disney Films: Critical Essays on Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexuality and Disability , discusses DPD issues and how they are portrayed in many Disney films. The section regarding Mulan is co-authored by Gwendolyn Limbach. An excerpt reads, “Rather than blurring the boundaries between genders, Disney’s Mulan continually differentiates men and women through ‘axiomatic’ concepts of what is female and what is male.” Cheu and Limbach felt that in an attempt to generate an acceptance for gender progression and non-traditionality, they inadvertently further deepened these defining lines. They go on to argue that a true blurring of these defined lines would not be layered in conjunction with several scenes: strictly defining man, woman, and their expected roles. In fact, in each moment of gender “swapping,” it is clear that this is a dramatic shift from one side to the other, and not a spectrum-esque leaning between. This does bring the perspective that in accordance with gender roles, the film does well to progressively adjust, but in gender-binary focused thinking, the film further solidifies more traditional ideas.

Mulan has always been a personal favorite Disney Princess movie. It avoids a lot of the sickly-sweet blind romance tropes of films like Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella . Instead, Mulan offers a look into an interesting and new culture. While it is westernized in plot, there is very tangible and meaningful respect given to the origins of the film and the traditional Chinese culture it represents. While we might have a negative reaction to non-western themes like matchmaking, and conscription, Mulan challenges these themes but does not disgrace these ideas. In fact, it teaches that there is honor in these traditions, not shame. Mulan does not put disgrace on its origins. This is so refreshing for Disney. There are few things better than an action-packed, but character-focused, plotline with climax and meaning, not to mention some of the catchiest Disney tracks you’ll ever hear.

While Mulan is a family film, understandable and simplistic enough for the youngest of viewers, there is depth and meaning in the story. There is a harmonious intertwining of cultural and societal ideas. We see traditional Chinese culture meet modern, western romanticism. We see tradition and honor meet progression and courage. We see power in oneself and power in unity. Most of all we see truth, beauty, and meaning in the simplest of stories, and the most complex of moralities. Mulan offers the grand yet subtle displays of difference, power, and discrimination, through one character’s hard decision. How can you bring honor to who you are? How can we truly see who we are? How can who we are meet who we are meant to be? Fa Mulan has plenty to show us.

Cheu, Johnson. Diversity in Disney Films: Critical Essays on Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexuality and Disability . McFarland & Co., 2013.

Dong, Lan. Mulan’s Legend and Legacy in China and the United States . Temple University Press, 2011.

Ebert, Roger. “Mulan Movie Review & Film Summary (1998).” Roger Ebert.com, 19 June 1998, https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mulan-1998.

Failes, Ian. “The CG Side of the Animated ‘Mulan’.” Befores & Afters , 29 Sept. 2020, https://beforesandafters.com/2020/09/26/the-cg-side-of-the-animated-mulan/#:~:text=The %20film%20was%20animated%20in,the%20free%20open%2Dsource%20software.

Hough, Soren. “How Disney’s ‘Mulan’ Brazenly Challenges Gender and Sexuality: Features.” Roger Ebert.com, 28 Dec. 2016, https://www.rogerebert.com/features/how-disneys-mulan-brazenly-challenges-gender-and-sexuality.

Rowney, Jo-Anne. “Is Disney’s Mulan Based on a True Story? Meet Hua Mulan, the Chinese Warrior.” Is Mulan Based on a True Story? Real History behind Disney’s Movie | Radio Times, Radio Times, 21 Sept. 2021, https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/mulan-disney-true-story-hua-ballad/.

Difference, Power, and Discrimination in Film and Media: Student Essays Copyright © by Students at Linn-Benton Community College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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The 20 movies that made Walt Disney Pictures

Posted: April 23, 2024 | Last updated: April 23, 2024

Walt Disney Studios are officially a century old. Other studios reached the same milestone, but Disney has done something more impressive than just continuing to exist. They've turned their films into a media empire that practically has its own genre: the Disney movie. It's a genre that stands as the apex of family entertainment. The best Disney movies are lighthearted, colorful, and amusing for kids but just as enthralling, vivid, and even entertaining for the grownups in the theater. These are the movies that paved the way for Disney's 100 years of the iconic movie-making empire. 

'Steamboat Willie'

Studio founder and namesake Walt Disney created Mickey Mouse in 1928 on a train ride from Manhattan to Hollywood when he and his brother Roy's studio were one big project away from bankruptcy. The duo lost control of their first successful cartoon character, Oswald, and needed a surefire hit to rebuild their animation studio. You know the rest. Mickey Mouse became a financial success and an iconic character that's recognized all over the world. The rubber hose cartoon short "Steamboat Willie" was the third cartoon to star Disney's leading character, but it opened the gates for the Disney Studio's skyrocketing success. According to the Walt Disney Family Museum , the short was one of the first short animated features to use synchronized sound and became such a success that it outshined and received more buzz and press than the films for which it was supposed to open. 

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'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'

Disney Studios spent the next decade perfecting its animation art with short films series featuring its now iconic characters. A noticeable number of these shorts, such as "The Three Little Pigs," "The Old Mill," "The Tortoise and the Hare," and "Ferdinand the Bull," would even get Oscar nominations — earning Disney 13 Oscar nominations and seven Oscar wins from 1932-38. These were just a way to warm up for the studio's biggest achievement. 

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is the first full-length animated feature in cinematic history. The film saw a preview release in 1937 and a wide release the following year to wild acclaim. The film's release wasn't its only achievement. Disney's animators created characters who moved in realistic ways that enhanced their personalities and felt more like realized people than just cartoonish blobs of animated ink. The Academy Awards honored Disney Studios with a special achievement award the following year. 

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'Fantasia'

The release of Snow White transformed Disney Studios into a powerhouse of artistic endeavors, and Fantasia is the clearest example of the standard the mouse house could set even in its infancy. 

That means Disney could pursue artistic endeavors without worrying about the bottom line. Fantasia , however, would become one of the studios' most famous and ambitious works of animation. The scenes are combined with classic compositions like Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite" and Beethoven's "Symphony No. 6" with cartoonish visions that range from delightful to downright dark. The most famous segment is "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," starring Mickey Mouse, set to the tune of Paul Dukas' orchestral masterpiece of the same name, in which Mickey dons a wizard's cap that quickly becomes too powerful for him to handle. 

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'Pinocchio'

There are a lot of very good reasons why Disney's live-action remake of this classic animated fairy-tale failed at the box office, but the biggest one is the expectation it would have to live up to set by its predecessor. 

Disney's 1940 retelling of another classic children's story also features its now-trademark mix of cartoonish humor mixed with the deep emotional well of its characters. The scenery is enveloping and feels like worlds that extend beyond the boundaries of the screen. The animators also employed new technology, such as the multiplane camera that could present three dimensions to a scene on a flat screen to get a sense of depth and realism. Characters like Jiminy Cricket, Figaro the Cat, and Cleo the Goldfish also helped develop the formula for future Disney film successors. 

'Dumbo'

The golden years of Walt Disney Studios weren't smooth sailing. Despite being the first studio to make an animated feature and the studio with the most Oscar nominations, they were still running short on funds. So they rushed this project into production, and it became another Disney classic. 

The touching story of an elephant with abnormally large ears who uses them to fly and glide with the grace of a bird is about as perfect as a classic film can get. The film gave Disney the money it needed to operate and became the studio's first original feature, proving that it could create great animated stories as well as adapted ones in the past. 

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'Bambi'

The money and critical success of Dumbo paved the way for one of the studio's most beloved and successful films in the history of its medium. 

The story of Bambi comes from a German writer named Felix Salten , who used the story of an innocent baby doe forced to grow up too fast in a cruel world of violence is meant to be an allegorical tale of oppressive regimes. The German Nazi Party noticed the parallels and banned the book in 1935. The Disney-fied version doesn't follow the novel exactly, but it presents some of its chief themes about the power of love and the fragility of life and the Earth. Bambi also received high praise for its animatic achievements, which seemed to get better with every film. Even its use of new Foley sounds paved the way for new sound achievements in movies. 

'The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad'

Disney scores two back-to-back hits, giving them the financial means to take bigger risks. This time, the studio attempts its first anthology film since Fantasia .

This double feature includes two stories based on "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving and "The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame. Both meet the high standard of Disney excellence but in very different ways. The Mr. Toad story is more eccentric as the cartoonish main character. The Ichabod Crane story presents some very new territory for Disney as the studio's first attempt at a horror film. Both continue to show Disney's unique ability to capture the spirit of its source material while mining its own identity and legacy. 

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'Cinderella'

The anticipation for Disney's adaptation of this classic tale could not be higher, which meant the pressure could not be more intense. It not only had to live up to the standards set by classics like Snow White  and Bambi , but it could also break Disney's studio if it failed. 

The advent of World War II caused economic hardships across the entire film industry in almost every major film production and studio. Disney bet a lot on Cinderella being the film that could pull his company out of the slump. Fortunately for Disney, the bet put his studio back in the green. A tale of adversity balanced with genuine humor was just what audiences needed after a decade of conflict, and the music set a new standard of excellence for Disney's films. The score and the iconic song "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo" both received Academy Award nominations. 

'Treasure Island'

Animated films may have built Disney's studio, but they can be an expensive prospect. Disney knew he needed to move his studio toward live-action productions, and he started with this iconic adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's timeless adventure. 

Another reason the Disney brothers decided to make its first live-action film had to do with the profits their films made in England. Disney's films made over $1 million in profits, but the money they made there could only be spent there. So Disney and RKO Radio Picture commissioned a production of Treasure Island . Stevenson's story was a perfect choice since it presented a rollicking adventure with colorful characters. It also helped establish a studio on British soil that could increase Disney's production and bottom line. 

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'Alice in Wonderland'

Disney spent many years trying to adapt Lewis Carroll's whimsical, absurdist story into an animated film. Almost every great writer tried to adapt the story for film for Disney's studio. Aldous Huxley ( Brave New World ) even tried writing a script for Disney at one point. 

By the time Disney settled on a script he liked, it still took five years and $3 million to produce a feature-length film for theaters. Like every new Disney animated film, the stakes were raised higher and higher, and believe it or not, the final release was considered a critical failure for the studio. So, how does a failure fit into Disney's foundation? For starters, its achievements in character and scene design showed how both could be leveraged to make engaging stories that jumped off the screen. 

'Peter Pan'

The story of Peter Pan is another one of those classic children's tales that seemed destined to become a Disney animated feature. The studio's adaptation of J.M. Barrie's timeless story about a high-flying boy who refuses to grow up in a mystic playland of mermaids and pirates would turn the corner on what animated films could do on a big screen. 

Peter Pan made full use of its colorful settings thanks to breathtaking paintings and ingenious lighting designs. Building on the goofy character designs of Alice in Wonderland , the film's cast featured a mix of lifelike human characters and cartoony creations like the wily Captain Hook and the tick-tocking Croc that ate Hook's hand. The most stunning achievement was the shimmering design of Tinker Bell, animated by prominent artist Marc Davis, who made the character move like a human performer that could make audiences forget they were just looking at a series of ink paintings on celluloid. 

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'20,000 Leagues Under the Sea'

Jules Verne's classic novel is one of those fantastic epics that Hollywood seemingly could not truly replicate on the big screen, but Disney was established and well-funded enough to take on the task. 

Disney's adaptation of 20,000 Leagues Under the Seat was the first live-action film produced entirely under his studio's banner. It was also the first Disney film to use the groundbreaking CinemaScope lens that could capture the film's biggest moments on an even bigger screen. The special effects budget needed to recreate the famed Nautilus submarine and the epic battle with a 40-foot-long giant squid that required two expensive shots made it one of the most anticipated films of the decade. It also became one of the most ambitious cinematic projects of its time that built its own word of mouth and made it a critical and financial juggernaut. 

'Lady and The Tramp'

The successful use of CinemaScope wasn't limited to Disney's live-action pictures. This romantic comedy about two dogs from different sides of the streets was the first of Disney's animated films to bring this massive cinematic technology to the big screen. 

The story for Lady and the Tramp  marked a departure from its usual use of fairytales as source material. The original story came from a story called "Happy Dan, the Whistling Dog," written by Ward Greene that ran in Cosmopolitan . The designs for the dogs came from animator Joe Grant, who first drew sketches of his springer spaniel named Lady in the 1930s when Disney was just starting to build his film empire. Both of these sources were combined to create Lady and the Tramp . The emotional depth of its animal characters made it an endearing story that would inspire filmmakers for generations to come. 

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'Mary Poppins'

P.L. Travers, the author of the Mary Poppins books, was notoriously stingy about giving away the rights to her beloved novel about a magical British nanny. Walt Disney himself had to woo the author to prove that he not only understood the material but would do it justice if he made a film based on it. The story of its making is so legendary that it has its own film with 2013's Saving Mr. Banks . 

Disney's Mary Poppins is the definition of a film iconoclast, even if Travers didn't like the film. She's in a very small minority. The film was one of the first to mix live-action with animation as Mary, played by Julie Andrews, and Burt, played by Dıck Van Dyke, travel through one of his chalk paintings. The film became an artistic and technical marvel. It also became the studio's most successful film at the time of its box office release as the year's highest-grossing film. It was a hit among critics — earning 13 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Oscar wins for Andrews for Best Actress, Best Film Editing, Best Effects, and two of the three Best Music categories. 

'The Jungle Book'

This classic tale based on the works of Rudyard Kipling may be a masterpiece of storytelling, but it carries a sad distinction as the final film overseen by Walt Disney before his passing in 1966. 

The production behind Disney's Jungle Book feature is one of the most challenging in the studio's history. The scripts went through several rewrites because they had to meet the high bar set by Kipling's work and Disney himself. The struggle to find the right tone between meeting Disney's expectations and paying homage to Kipling's iconic work almost derailed the movie. The music ended up saving the whole project. Songs like "The Bare Necessities" and "I Wanna Be Like You," sung by jazz great Louis Prima, gave the film its sense of whimsy and comedy and breathed life into characters like Baloo the Bear and King Louie while the storyline stuck with Kipling's original vision. It's become one of Disney's most beloved and successful films. 

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'TRON'

The loss of Walt Disney, mixed with audiences' changing tastes, created a bit of a slump throughout the '70s and early '80s. There were some notable hits, like Robin Hood , but none of them were big enough to pull them out of its rut. 

Once again, the studio needed to pivot to something new to bring people back into the theaters. So, in 1982, the studio turned to the burgeoning world of computer animation to create a completely original adventure film. Tron starred Jeff Bridges as a renegade computer hacker who gets sucked into the computer of a multinational corporation run by an evil AI hellbent on controlling all of the world's computer systems. The film mixed live-action special effects with awesome-looking computer-generated scenery and action scenes. CGI may be in every other movie, but back then, audiences had never seen anything like it, and they flocked to the theaters to be the first to witness this new transition into cinematic technology. 

'Beauty and the Beast'

The Walt Disney Studios set another huge record with this stunning and timeless classic. 

The Academy Awards granted a Best Picture Oscar to its first animated feature ever in 1992 with Disney's Beauty and the Beast based on the classic 18th-century fairytale. The film worked brilliantly on every level. The animators utilized computer technology to create the stunning ballroom dance scene. The songs written by Oscar-winner Alan Menken make the story pop with vibrant sounds and colors. The characters are voiced by the likes of Angela Lansbury, David Ogden Stiers, and Jerry Orbach, but they get so deep into their characters that you don't recognize them. It is unquestionably the culmination of Disney's vision for his studios and the medium of film. 

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'Toy Story'

Making a feature film entirely on a computer may be commonplace in today's industry, but Pixar's first attempt with  Toy Story  was no small feet. However, the hundreds of thousands of hours dedicated to making it would launch Pixar and Disney to a status never seen before in the film industry. 

Toy Story was a technological achievement. It was also a trendsetter in storytelling. The tale of Andy's toys is familiar to kids and adults who had a favorite plaything when they were children, and the humor and emotion could reach anyone of any age in the audience. How many kids' movies can say they are just as entertaining to the adults who took them to the theater? Toy Story 's success created a whole new medium for animation and storytelling. 

'Pirates at the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl'

When Disney Studios announced it would start adapting its theme park rides into feature films, a lot of people thought it must've meant the movie idea well had run dry. Instead, the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie turned out to be one of the studios' most successful and beloved films, live-action or otherwise. 

The trailer showed Jerry Bruckheimer's name attached to the project, a filmmaker known for focusing more on special effects than story. The storyline seemed to be repeating the scenes from the iconic boat ride. The film, however, turned out to be a clever, well-written, and fantastic journey into a genre of movie everyone thought had run out of original ideas long ago. It not only spawned a new Disney franchise but one of its most beloved characters, the sly and wily Captain Jack Sparrow, played to perfection by Johnny Depp. Sparrow is so beloved that Disney worked his animatronic character into the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in both parks and built an impressive attraction based on the film franchise in Shanghai Disneyland. 

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'The Princess and The Frog'

Even though Disney Studios has been churning out movies for decades, none of its feature films offered proper representation to its viewers until this 2009 Oscar-nominated hit. 

The Princess and the Frog was the first of Disney's animated features to include a person of color as its lead character. It also updated the classic story of "The Frog Princess" to a New Orleans tale that beautifully recreated the iconic town's preserved buildings and signature style and wasn't afraid to take risks by making its lead prince character into an egotistical buffoon who has much growing up to do as other characters. It also paved the way for future roles like Halle Bailey's performance as Ariel in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid . 

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Disney Princesses and Women in Media & Society Essay

Isabelle Gill’s thesis states that women’s prejudiced or gendered demonstrations are common in numerous forms of media. Moreover, these misrepresentations have significant social consequences (such as supporting out-of-date gender roles and lessening the awareness of women’s influence on society and humanity). In this essay, the thesis is indicated towards the end of the first paragraph and at the beginning of the second paragraph.

Gill provides practical support for her conclusion (that these Disney movie reviews contribute to the misunderstanding of women in the media/society). Two instances of this are that movie assessors still tend to label Disney princesses with feminine terminology, compared to more typically masculine phrases (Gill 99). Another example is that reviewers focus on female characters’ physical appearance, but as for male characters, they never mention physical appearance (Gill 99). It shows that women are criticized more often for their physical appearance because society links women’s value to how they look.

I think Gill chose to analyze Disney films’ reviews to examine how the movie assessments could impact the societal opinion on how effective the Disney princesses were as role models. I am persuaded by Gill’s argument that Disney movies have become less sexist over time, but Disney movie reviews have not. It is because modern Disney films tend to have tougher female leads than older or “traditional” ones. Again, even if Disney has become less sexist over time, there is no reason for movie reviews to change. Movie critics can still be biased and sexist – because reviews are all opinions.

I think the tables Gill uses throughout her essay to help present information are useful in passing her point across because they give a nice visual of how extreme the differences are in movie reviews. Another visual/design feature she could have used would be pie charts. I like pie charts because they present the information she was trying to convey in a more visually easy way to highlight the reviews’ significant biases.

Isabelle Gill presents substantive arguments in the essay. Her findings are both insightful and intriguing. Disney princesses are unquestionably significant figures regarding gender roles. The influence they have on the perceptions of children cannot be undermined. The princesses have, nevertheless, been critically misrepresented in the past. Gill has managed to present a valuable, and insightful argument into this. Therefore, Disney movie reviews are to blame for such a misrepresentation of these princesses, not the films.

Gill, Isabelle. “Feminist Figures or Damsels in Distress? The Media’s Gendered Misrepresentation of Disney Princesses.” Young Scholars in Writing , vol. 13, 2016, pp. 96-111.

• Chicago (A-D)
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IvyPanda. (2023, November 1). Disney Princesses and Women in Media & Society. https://ivypanda.com/essays/disney-princesses-and-women-in-media-amp-society/

"Disney Princesses and Women in Media & Society." IvyPanda , 1 Nov. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/disney-princesses-and-women-in-media-amp-society/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Disney Princesses and Women in Media & Society'. 1 November.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Disney Princesses and Women in Media & Society." November 1, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/disney-princesses-and-women-in-media-amp-society/.

1. IvyPanda . "Disney Princesses and Women in Media & Society." November 1, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/disney-princesses-and-women-in-media-amp-society/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Disney Princesses and Women in Media & Society." November 1, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/disney-princesses-and-women-in-media-amp-society/.

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32 Disney Company Movies We Don't Talk About Nearly As Much

Let's talk about these Disney films for once.

What’s the first thing you think of when it comes to Disney movies? Whether it’s the best Pixar films out there, or the best animated films, or maybe even the Star Wars universe, there are a lot of movies that have truly made the Disney name as big as it is.

But what about the movies that don’t get talked about? The ones from earlier on in the days of Disney, or long-forgotten Disney films that the public doesn’t bring up, or maybe even films that might have been big at the time, but have lost their steam? Today, we are going to go over some Walt Disney Company movies that we don’t talk about as much as we probably should. 

The Shaggy Dog (1959)

While The Shaggy Dog was quite successful at the time of its release – so much so that it spawned a franchise – I feel like no one ever talks about the original movie which was released at the end of the 1950s. It follows a teenager who is able to turn into an Old English Sheepdog because of an enchanted ring, and yes, it’s just as wacky as you would expect it to be. 

The Black Cauldron (1985)

There are many reasons why The Black Cauldron has sort of been forgotten in the world of Disney. It was a huge financial failure for the company when it was released, and featured a heavy fantasy plotline that was the first to receive a PG rating at Disney. The Disney Renaissance-era of films came after this, which saved the animation studio at Disney. But the film itself is very good and filled with some awesome stories. 

Newsies (1992)

While there are plenty of great modern musicals now , Newsies came before the Broadway adaptation. The film stars a young Christian Bale and tells the story of newspaper boys in 1899. The film was a box office bomb and got mixed reviews, but the music and the film became successful enough in later years to earn a Broadway adaptation. 

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010)

Released in 2010, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is a live-action Disney film that I feel has long been forgotten about. Starring Nicolas Cage and Jay Baruchel , the film takes place in New York City and follows a young man who reluctantly works as an apprentice to receive the powers of Merlin. The film itself is very creative and has some great music, but was basically forgotten about. 

A Goofy Movie (1995)

A Goofy Movie is exactly what you think it is – a film about Goofy, except this one revolves around him and his son taking a road trip across the country to bond and spend time with him when his son, Max, would literally rather do anything else, even trick his dad into going to a concert. The film features one of the best uplifting Disney songs ever , if we’re being honest. Such a great movie. 

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20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1954)

Released in the early 1950s, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is one of those films that you can’t help but enjoy when you watch it. Based on the novel of the same name, the film mainly follows three men who travel on a submarine in order to find a giant sea monster. The film itself was a huge hit for Disney but nowadays, we never really talk about it. 

The Tigger Movie (2000)

While I think everyone loves the characters from Winnie the Pooh , I think we all forget that Tigger had his own film – The Tigger Movie, of course. The film follows Tigger trying to search for his family tree and find people just like him. As someone who loved Tigger as a child, I also forgot this movie existed even now – and it still brings me happiness. 

The Aristocats (1970)

The Aristocats came out during a time when there was a lull in the animation department of Disney. Nothing was really becoming a huge success at that time, but The Aristocats is one of those films that I think has improved with age. The film is cute and a great rom-com for kids to enjoy, but through all of Disney’s best animated films, this one is forgotten about. 

The Mighty Ducks (1992)

Disney has actually produced and distributed plenty of sports movies, and one that I always think about is The Mighty Ducks. The movie, which tells the story of an attorney coaching a pee-wee hockey team for community service, was a success and spawned a franchise, but as a Gen Z-er, I don’t think anyone talks about this movie. I only knew about it from the Disney+ series – and even then, it wasn’t as good as the original movie. 

The Princess Diaries (2001)

I know, I know, many of us are still waiting for The Princess Diaries 3 , but let’s talk for a bit about the first The Princess Diaries. The film, based on the book series of the same name, is all about a girl suddenly finding out that she hails from a line of royals and has to learn how to become a princess. Isn’t that what we all want in life? But truthfully, this is one of Anne Hathaway’s best movies and it needs to be in the public way more. 

Race To Witch Mountain (2009)

While Race to Witch Mountain is part of a bigger franchise, I think everyone forgets about this film for a few reasons. While the cast is great – Dwayne Johnson , AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig , and more – there’s nothing super original about it. I will say though, I do enjoy the action immensely, and think it’s a great example of the Rock’s earlier movies. 

The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003)

This is what dreams are made of, my friends. The Lizzie McGuire Movie is a masterpiece and I stand by that. 

Okay, so maybe not a masterpiece but you can’t sit there and tell me you don’t love this film. Considered a film to end the TV series, Lizzie McGuire, the film tells the story of Lizzie’s journey in Rome, Italy, and is cliche in the best ways. And personally, I think it needs to be talked about way more. 

The Sword In The Stone (1963)

Based on the novel of the same name and also based on the legends of King Arthur, The Sword in the Stone is a classic Disney film that follows the story of an unlikely hero becoming a true leader, and while the film itself received mixed reviews, it was a commercial success. It’s a fun movie with lots of old animation that makes it stand out. 

The Haunted Mansion (2003)

While there was a 2023 film version, I actually rewatched Eddie Murphy’s The Haunted Mansion and laughed my head off. Based on the Disney theme park ride of the same name, the film follows two real estate agents who, in an attempt to sell an older mansion, end up staying the night there with their family – and it turns their lives upside down when they discover it’s haunted. It’s a fun film, no matter what the critics say. 

Bridge To Terabithia (2007)

Believe it or not, this depressing but hopeful film was released by the Disney company and it’s still just as sad as you remember it to be. Bridge to Terabithia follows two children who become friends and escape to the woods together to build their own fantasy world in order to escape the harsh realities of their lives. And of course, it takes a turn for the worse at some point. 

Miracle (2004)

Based on a true story, Miracle tells the story of the U.S. men’s ice hockey team that won the gold medal over the Soviets at the 1980 Winter Olympics. The film had it all, a great cast, an inspiring story, and so much more, but in the grand scheme of things, the film has mainly been forgotten. 

The Parent Trap (1961)

While I think everyone knows The Parent Trap for the Lindsay Lohan version, do you know that there’s a film from the 1960s that it’s based on? The original follows the same premise – two teenagers reunited as twins who plot to get their parents back together, and yes, it’s just as cute as you expect.

The Black Hole (1979)

A sci-fi film, The Black Hole follows a vessel that finds a missing ship with a strange scientist who has been sitting on the edge of a Black Hole for years, raising plenty of suspicion about the intentions of the scientist. The film itself had good visual effects but it’s been pretty much forgotten about. 

James And The Giant Peach (1996)

Directed by Henry Selick, James and the Giant Peach is based on the novel of the same name, and follows a young boy named James who finds happiness in a magic peach when he has lost everything. I’m not sure why this film, out of all the amazing stop-motion films I have seen, escaped my memory for so long. But it’s a great movie – it’s not talked about nearly enough. 

Angels In The Outfield (1994)

Out of every film on this list, I remembered Angels in the Outfield the most because it was always promoted before any Disney film I watched on a DVD or VHS. The film follows a boy who prays for a family if a baseball team wins the pennant – and angels are literally sent down from above to achieve it. It’s a sweet film – and one that makes me smile each time I’ve watched it. 

Holes (2003)

For some reason, I distinctly remember seeing Holes on The Disney Channel as a kid and fearing it, but now I realize no one ever talks about it. Starring Shia LaBeouf , Holes follows the story of several young boys in a juvenile detention camp, and how they are forced to dig holes in the desert daily. It’s actually a great film – one that never gets talked about and is a fantastic adaptation. 

Ice Princess (2005)

Ice Princess was a teen dramedy from the early 2000s that follows a young woman pursuing her dream of becoming a figure skater after rediscovering her love for the sport in her teen years, and all the hurdles she runs into. The film didn’t do well at the box office, but years later, people my age still think back on it fondly – even if most of the public doesn’t talk about it. 

The Castaway Cowboy (1974)

This film, starring James Garner, is a great example of a Western comedy and came out when those kinds of movies were huge. The Castaway Cowboy is exactly what you would expect – a rancher who washes up on the shores of Hawaii after getting kidnapped and has to somehow make it back home. The film never gets talked about now but is still a ton of fun if you’re into westerns.

Sky High (2005)

Look, we need to talk about how underrated Sky High is . The film follows kids who go to a high school in the literal sky and are told if they’ll be a hero or a sidekick based on their powers. The cast is stellar, the idea is original, and there’s so much more to love about it. I need a sequel now. 

Third Man On The Mountain (1959)

Released in 1959, Third Man on the Mountain is a family adventure that actually has a great premise – it’s all about a young man who has one goal: to climb the mountain that killed his father years ago and conquer his fear. There are decent effects, funny comedy, and a heartwarming ending. I would openly recommend it if you haven’t seen it yet. 

My Favorite Martian (1999)

Based on the television series of the same name, My Favorite Martian came out at the very end of the 1990s, and follows a Martian who crash-lands on Earth and has to find a way home with the help of a human. It stars Christopher Lloyd as the Martian because of course it does, and is actually hilarious. 

The Game Plan (2007)

Okay, so truth be told, I’ve never forgotten to talk about this movie because The Game Plan is a guilty pleasure of mine. Starring Dwayne Johnson, the movie follows a football player who has to suddenly take care of a daughter that he never knew he had, and the love that grows between them. It’s so heartwarming and while I know that it didn’t get the best reviews from critics it has my heart. 

The Watcher In The Woods (1980)

Believe it or not, the Disney Company released a horror movie back in 1980, called The Watcher in the Woods, but it’s certainly not on any of the best horror movies list out there. The film follows a teenager and her little sister who move to a new home in the country but are entwined in a mystery of a missing girl from where they now live. It’s a fun movie, with good suspense, but hasn’t been talked about that much. 

Oz The Great And Powerful (2013)

Directed by Sam Raimi, Oz, The Great and Powerful is considered a spiritual prequel to The Wizard of Oz, and tells the origin story of the Wizard of Oz. It had an all-star cast and plenty of great effects, but nowadays I never hear anyone talk about it. I still enjoy the movie though. 

Honey, I Shrunk The Kids (1989)

Released in 1989, this sci-fi comedy was everywhere for a time. Honey, I Shrunk The Kids follows an inventor who accidentally shrinks his children and his neighbors’ children, and the kids have to work together to somehow survive in their own backyard when everything wants to kill them. I don’t think anyone really talks about the movie that much now but it’s so funny. 

Fantasia 2000 (1999)

Fantasia 2000 was a sequel to the original Fantasia and had several animated segments that went together with classical music. But it didn’t perform well at the box office. However, the film received great reviews despite that. I think it deserves a little more praise. 

Bolt (2009)

In the early years of Disney’s CGI films, Bolt was a standout. The film told the story of a dog who worked as an actor and always believed that he had superpowers. However, he gets separated from his owner and must find a way back to her with new companions – only to realize that he doesn’t actually have powers. It’s a great movie – and will probably make you tear up a little. 

With all these great movies, I think it’s time for a Disney marathon. Time to rewatch some oldies but goodies. 

A self-proclaimed nerd and lover of Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire, Alexandra Ramos is a Content Producer at CinemaBlend. She first started off working in December 2020 as a Freelance Writer after graduating from the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Journalism and a minor in English. She primarily works in features for movies, TV, and sometimes video games. (Please don't debate her on The Last of Us 2, it was amazing!) She is also the main person who runs both our daily newsletter, The CinemaBlend Daily, and our ReelBlend newsletter. 

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