By continuing to use this website, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy. But these films hold very profound meanings beyond what you may have originally realised. We must mature, face hardships, take on responsibility, and build meaningful relationships. It develops and changes one thing into something else. It is certainly an intriguing parallel whatever conclusion one may come to about what the poisonous apple truly means. It is a widely used trope and can be seen in many stories across many genres. There are very few epic movies, whose sequels are going to be released in future and 300 is also one of them. Christopher Nolan isn’t shy about creating deeper meaning in his work— the film he made before Inception, The Dark Knight, is a critique of government surveillance. It spins fibre into yarn or thread for it then to be made into cloth. Leonardo DiCaprio has said that he based the character of Dom Cobb on Nolan himself. The stories have been inspiring and exciting children since the first animated Disney film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, came out in 1937. The animal has swallowed a clock and the ominous sound of ‘tick-tock’ we hear as it enters a scene is the impending reality of time eventually taking a hold of us. Aladdin. A young gypsy girl, Esmeralda, is represented as the sexual object of all the protagonists, but it’s especially obvious with Frollo. If you're under the impression that cartoons are for kids, you're highly mistaken, my friend. As for the others, it shows the reality and struggles of those who have the disorders and inspires us to help and support them so they can overcome everything with their loved ones by their side. 1. Alexander Nyland is an avid writer, blogger, and traveller with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Philosophy, graduating in 2018 from the University of Sheffield. A children’s cartoon can become so deep, you can get lost. Have you ever noticed that there are Disney movies with deeper meanings in them than what was shown. The genre term ‘fairy tale’ was first coined in the late 17th century. The following list will examine movies that not only have deeper meanings, but that have gone out of their way to be subtle about them. Disney is also credited for establishing the fairy tale as a children’s genre. The Little Mermaid. At first she only feels Disgust, Anger, and Fear, and then she doesn’t feel anything at all. The furthest back their estimations go is 6,000 years ago, which is at the time of the bronze age. Time already has a piece of him. You won’t be emotionally and psychologically developed enough to deal with anything. It was sent to me by a friend. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The parallels between this scene and the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden is uncanny. Esmeralda’s example teaches us to be brave, stand up for ourselves, and only let worthy people into our lives. There are many ideas to analyse and many interesting messages to pry out. Why? Now, these stories weren’t just oral folklore, they became pieces of literature that could be shared far and wide. All content published on this website is intended for informational purposes only. Yes, Disney movies are a source of joy and perhaps light entertainment for many people. The evil queen, disguised as an old woman, finds Snow White and urges her to take a bite of the poisonous apple. Nonetheless, these deep meanings are still prevalent in classic Disney movies. Otherwise, you’ll become isolated from the world (like in Peter Pan) or unconscious to the world when you eventually become an adult. Writers love that shit, so they work it in wherever they can -- even if they're writing about a cyborg that punches people. He doesn’t bother himself with the responsibilities, issues, and complexities of the real world. Really interesting stuff…but what I think we’re really talking about is the archetypal significance of ancient tales. Pixar's CG movies and shared universe may be a modern invention, but Disney films giving nods to their colleagues is nothing new. What other social issues do you think should also be exposed? Pinnochio is a puppet controlled by dark forces out of his control and succumbs to temptation and sin. Have you noticed any other hidden social issues in Disney movies? They are then banished from paradise. There is an abundance of symbolism in Snow White and the Seven... 2. They claim. It is a fantastical story that ignites the imagination of all, young or old. - Fahad, Pakistan Today's post is different from usual. In the Bible, this symbolises the birth of sin and spiritual death as the first man and woman disobey God. He presents the center as a paradise, however, the place turns out to be a dictatorship with an elite ruling class that is led by the despot teddy bear. As a young fish, Dory learns how to survive with her illness and explain it to others. He becomes psychologically awake and is now in control of his life. Bullying is widespread in our world, and many kids can relate to how Vanellope was treated. Unsurprisingly, the Disney studio has been the source of many of the most profound storylines and scripts, but they have also churned out some amazing musical moments which can teach our kids – and us – how to … 8 Disney Movies With Deeper Hidden Meanings You Never Thought Of. Uncovering these aspects of the stories can reveal that the Disney movies that we all know and love are perhaps much more profound and philosophical than what we first realised. Stories could be told through a whole new medium when cinema emerged as a new art form at the end of the 19th century. Snow White knows that she shouldn’t be talking to strangers, but she is tempted nonetheless. Moreover, she constantly tells her that she is naive and couldn’t possibly stand up for herself, trying to make her emotionally dependent. His transformation is necessary and is symbolised through his confrontation with the darkness in the sperm whale and his rebirth as a real boy. Fairy tales are short stories and are usually categorised as folklore genre. Nevertheless, Vanellope always stayed friendly to them, forgetting all their offenses, even when they broke the cart she made herself. Mocked upon its initial announcement, The LEGO Movie ended up becoming one of the most beloved films of 2014 once people actually saw what directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller had in store. A lot of social issues are mentioned there including religion, genocide, and sexual harassment. Most of us are familiar with movie metaphors. Beyond that, Vanellope is an example for bullied kids and teaches us how important it is to stay friendly no matter what. For that reason, movies widely regarded as allegories, like The Crucible, will not appear here. She has no experience, no meaningful relationships with anyone, and has no idea about what the world is actually like. Here the protagonist often faces danger and death, is confronted with a separation of his/her’s known world and self and undergoes a transformation as he/she finds his way out. It represents the inevitable transition from childhood to adulthood, for which Aurora is ill-prepared for. The gloves they give her represent their attempt to hide her uniqueness and make her “normal.” Elsa wore the gloves for her whole life and tried to be “normal,” until she escaped, accepted who she was, and threw them away. He/she is also transformed in this emergence and is reborn. At first, it seems like the plan is working, but then the prince ends up marrying another, a woman he THINKS is the person who saved him (the mermaid can't exactly tell him the truth, since she can't talk). Therefore, she is literally unable to function as an adult and so falls unconscious to the world. Even Snow White’s appearance throws up all sorts of imagery: “skin white as snow, lips red as blood, and hair black as ebony” (signifying innocence, life, and death). We will all face hardships and difficult times in our lives. The seemingly innocent little Pinocchio actually murders a cricket. Unless we do this, we can become resentful, bitter, angry, and unable to form relationships with real people (Peter Pan cannot form a meaningful relationship with Wendy and so, he must settle for Tinkerbell). These stories are and continue to be a source of joy and happiness for so many people. There are many typical themes and symbols in Sleeping Beauty. Why is Aurora so ill-prepared? What the creator wanted to show and teach us is actually said in the movie by the Barbie Doll: “Authority should derive from the consent of the governed, not from the threat of force!”. Mortality is setting in. So we can see from this article that there are aspects of these children’s stories that are much deeper and profound than we may have first realised. Perhaps you used Disney as a hook to get people reading…which is fine. Learning Mind is a blog created by Anna LeMind, B.A., with the purpose to give you food for thought and solutions for understanding yourself and living a more meaningful life. Such a story charters the hero who goes on an adventure, faces a crisis, and emerges triumphant against all odds. It is glaringly obvious to see that classic Disney movies have held an important and enduring place within popular culture for most of the last century. Pinnochio is a tale that speaks to the true nature of our being. But all the spectacle represents something very profound. Pinnochio is a tale that speaks to the true nature of our being. The spinning wheel cannot make the thread into yarn. Disney is responsible for bringing fairytales to life, for turning little girls into princesses, for making magic happen for generations and generations of children. BuzzFeed Staff. Of course, it doesn’t end here. These biblical connotations can lead to many interpretations. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – The Garden of Eden. The Hidden Meanings Behind These Movie Posters. The crisis faced in the belly of the whale is a psychological death and rebirth of the self. Inception is a bit more subtle: it’s a film about filmmaking. © Learning Mind 2012-2021 | All Rights Reserved |, 4 Classic Disney Movies with Deep Meanings You Had No Idea about, 20 Quotes about Society and People That Will Make You Think, 18 Sobering Quotes about Fake People vs Real Ones, Top 10 Must-Read Non-Fiction Books of All Time, 6 Powerful Ways Solo Travel Opens Your Mind. The True Meaning Behind Disney Movies By Crimson Orchid January 13, 2009 27 Comments For the record, I did not write this. The struggles of child custody and a broken family are shown in the movie. Yes, a cricket. As a result, the King and Queen order that all the spinning wheels in the kingdom are to be destroyed. 4 Classic Disney Movies with Deep Meanings You Might Have Missed 1. Presented as a paradise and a place of freedom, Sunnyside is actually a dictatorship with military-like discipline. Disney Movies have Deeper Meanings?! While youngsters were infatuated with the fast-paced action and colorful collection of characters, the adults in attendance quickly picked up on some of the film's deeper themes; … Oral stories had been passed down through the years in different European cultures. Much like literature, movies sometimes contain complex ideas hidden deep within their narratives that we fail to notice the first time we see them. The popularisation of traditional tales has meant that classical stories have been brought to the masses. Maleficent casts a spell on Princess Aurora when she is a baby: on her 16th birthday, she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and fall into an eternal sleep. She has been mollycoddled and protected in such a way that she has not been exposed to anything of value. She is exposed to evil in the world and her innocence dies. You may stumble upon something curious, stimulating, and captivating that you may have missed before. I will be really grateful if you could suggest similar movies that can help me in self-improvement." The 2 nd part of this movie franchise, 300: Rise of an Empire, was released in 2014 and collected huge profit at box-office. Not exactly the chap to enlighten you with his appraisal of the Hero Narrative, or the work of Spinoza? Another deeper meaning of the classic Disney movie is is the symbol of the crocodile. Gothel also doesn’t let her leave the tower and have any free will — and although it’s because she’s simply hiding Rapunzel, that doesn’t usually happen in real life. The relationship between humans and the non-human characters is critical to understanding Pixar’s movies. Pinnochio literally and figuratively enters the belly of a fearsome sperm whale to save his father. Frozen teaches us that it’s okay to be different and everyone has a place in this world, no matter who they are. It also calls us on to talk about our feelings and mental health. No problems are caused or fixed by the wave of a wand. I remember growing up with Disney movies and not understanding a whole lot out of them, however I've been watching them again and now I see the meanings in them that probably our parents noticed. Short-term memory loss isn’t the only disorder shown in the movie. If you haven’t thought about it, Inside Out is a movie about depression and how it progresses. The crocodile has already got a piece of him – his hand. You’re welcome to scroll through what we have prepared, but be careful — from this moment on, you’ll probably forever see these movies from a different perspective. The movie teaches acceptance to children in regards to those with mental disorders and encourages them to overcome their problems to be able to reach their dreams and goals. The Disney movie Pinocchio is from 1940 and you probably watched it at least once as a kid. We have already written that Mother Gothel only expresses her love toward Rapunzel’s hair, and not directly to her, which shows that she doesn’t really love her. Find out what are the 5 life lessons from Disney movies that your child can learn from. It shows how hard it is for a child to overcome a loss, what it takes for a broken family to overcome all the difficulties, and how much they need all the love and support they can get. Because what you may not have noticed is that behind all the cute talking animals and fairy tale romances, there are often many important social issues covered. The movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame probably tells the darkest story Disney ever told. They say. Disney is an industry built on magic and happily ever after. ... Any number of things are possible when poster artists dig a little deeper and try to plant some hidden meaning into their ... Walt Disney … Variations of these stories will have been told orally much further back in time in an array of societies and cultures. However, we must first examine the influences and origins of these stories before delving into intriguing themes. One of these symbols is that of the spinning wheel. Disney has been making movies for the whole family since the 1930s, and over the years it has become one of the most trusted brands in children’s entertainment. He doesn’t even deny his desire: he clearly suggests that either she should choose to be with him or he’ll burn her alive. Scenes of the cityscape as the children fly through victorian England and their adventures in Neverland is wonderful to behold. He became a beloved animator, producer, director, screenwriter, … by Stephanie. But only literary forms can fully survive. By creating such a strong and charismatic character, Disney supports the victims of bullying, showing them that their weirdness and quirks are what makes them unique, and that there are people in the world who will like them for who they are and treat them well. In the movie, a grown-up Andy donates his toys to a daycare center that is ruled by a teddy bear named Lotso. You should be now well aware of how this is relevant to the story of Pinnochio if indeed you are aware of the narrative of this tale. He has refused to. We know. We can also see it in her head: it’s exactly the moment when Sadness starts to become really active, touching everything around her. Learning Mind does not provide medical, psychological, or any other type of professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Even her parents never helped her to learn to be herself and to not be afraid of them, preferring to shut her out and trying to make her fit in. F or almost 100 years, the name Walt Disney has been so synonymous with animated films, television channels, and child-friendly theme parks, that it’s easy to forget that, at one time, this name referred to an actual person.. 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For instance, in the iconic final scene of The Godfather, religious imagery is juxtaposed with brutal violence to show Michael Corleone’s moral erosion; in the equally iconic final scene of Carrot Top’s Chairman of the Board, Carrot Top forces his enemies to fart when they’re lying. It is easy to analyse the story solely through this lens, but some other important symbols and themes could be overlooked because of this. Here are Screen Rant's 9 Hidden Messages in Disney Movies. Here are nine family flicks that have been mined for underlying meaning. His particular focus and interests in his studies included Film and Ancient Greek philosophy. US ... the hidden messages in children's movies. Pinnochio – The Belly of the Whale. The loss hit little Lilo very hard and she doesn’t behave very well, making it harder for her older sister, Nani, who now has to work and take care of her in order to keep custody of her. 5 Disney Movies with Secret Christian Messages - Christian Movie Reviews Christian blog and commentary on Crosswalk.com. However, like everything else in life, it seems as though these movies are just too good to be true. However, we should also realise that the themes, symbols and motifs of these movies can be part of an in-depth commentary upon various facets of humanity. People don’t widely discuss it and Disney reveals this problem, showing kids that people can be abusive, and even if you’re close, you should escape because there are people in this world who will love you for who you are and support even your craziest ideas. The situation gets even more difficult because of social services, who keep a close an eye on the sisters, threatening to take Lilo away. The whole movie shows how it progresses and destroys everything that used to be the definition of her. Whatever Mother Gothel says to Rapunzel, she is mostly trying to destroy her self-esteem by mocking her physical appearance, questioning the possibility that anyone could like her, laughing at her dreams, and making Rapunzel feel guilty for them. In the book of Genesis, Eve is warned not to eat the fruit in the tree but is tempted by Satan (who is disguised as a serpent) to take the fruit. Here at Bright Side we explain several social issues Disney showed us in its movies, most of which we didn’t even notice. When she got swept away and lost her parents, she was swimming around totally lost, not knowing who she was — and this is the reality people with amnesia disorders face. Similarly, Snow White is tempted by the evil queen and falls unconscious. Don’t resist the spinning wheel of fate and the cycle of life. He faces near-certain death but is triumphant and soon after undergoes a drastic transformation. This movie illustrates the many aspects of dictatorship: a charismatic leader, the existence of social classes (the elite who lives in a room where nice children play and who are very caring of their toys; and the rest of the toys are in a different room, where no one takes good care of them), brainwashing (what happened to Buzz Lightyear), forced labor, and certain ideology. Shaunna Murphy 11/13/2014. But it's easy to forget that almost every movie has some kind of subtext. Captain Hook is terrified of the crocodile. The fact that Disney is so ingrained in popular culture is stark evidence of this. The movie “300,” which was released in 2006, is one of the best epic movies of Hollywood. Peter Pan is is a boy who has not grown up. Yuh-huh, these movies used to make us feel like we could go to infinity and beyond, but these classic kids movies with some dark hidden meaning have got us feeling a little squiggly… Finding Nemo (2003) They will have been a large part of many people’s childhood. Whenever he hears the sound of the clock in its belly, he is petrified. These films have captured the imagination of people of all ages because of their entertaining and thrilling stories, their likeable and relatable characters, and the universal themes that they express. I … Perhaps we must face the darkness to truly overcome these facets of our existence, to be reborn psychologically stronger and more resilient than before. Learning Mind has over 50,000 email subscribers and more than 1,5 million followers on social media. Therefore, there is ample material to take philosophical and psychological value from classic Disney movies, as well as them being a source of entertainment. When Riley moves to San Francisco, her depression starts to develop since she doesn’t want to disappoint her parents and suppresses her real feelings of sadness. Next time you watch a Disney movie, you should think more deeply about what the story is trying to say. "Celes, I was reading one of your articles and noticed a reader mentioning the movie 'Yes Man' in his comment. "In the 1997 Disney classic, "Hercules", Zeus and Hera, Ruler of the Greek Gods, have their first son, Hercules. Great movies are rife with symbolism. These colourful, cinematic, animated portrayals of archetypal stories captured the imaginations of many people and brought the fairy tale into a new era, context and significance. Particular classic Disney movies have incredibly in-depth imagery, symbolism, hidden meanings and archetypal themes that take a bit of prying to expose. Here are 4 classic Disney movies with deep meanings that you might have missed: There is an abundance of symbolism in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). Walt Disney was a pioneer of cinema and animation and integrated fairy tales into mainstream popular culture. In fact, Film School seems more and more attuned to making writers churn out the equivalent of Fast Food. The Terrifying Origin Stories Behind Your Favorite Disney Movies 'The Fox and the Hound' was a super-downer, you guys. When Riley moves to San Francisco, her depression starts to develop since she doesn’t want to disappoint her parents and suppresses her real feelings of sadness. The deeper meaning behind this movie focuses on vanity and how the vain nature of the Evil Queen leads her to insanity. You can’t stay as a child forever and you mustn’t be shielded and overprotected from the realities of the world as a child. Joy restricts Sadness from doing anything and tries to lock her in a circle. Unfortunately, Zeus' brother Hades becomes jealous, and wants to overthrow him. However, Disney’s revamping and revitalising of fairy tales for primarily a child audience may subsequently mean that the deeper meanings of these stories are more easily missed. The farts symbolically represent lies. It’s not always in the most obvious way, but creators do show things that they can’t keep silent about. yes? The fact that it was glitching made her an object of bullying: not only was she not allowed in the group of her peers, she was constantly humiliated and mocked by them. For kids around the world, Disney movies are what dreams are made of. Disney’s Peter Pan is a visual spectacle. If you think that cartoons are for kids, you couldn’t be more wrong, because behind all the princesses and talking animals there are important social issues that are hidden. The movie shows that it is okay to not feel happy all the time and it’s important to accept all the emotions we have. A death of innocence as Adam and Eve are exposed to the fruits of the tree of knowledge and hence exposed to evil and sin. The Princess is unable to make the transition into maturity because of all this. This could lead to the core meanings and cruxes of these fairy tales to be glossed over and become less discernible than in their original counterparts, even if the changes are nuanced. You can’t stay as a child forever. Research conducted at Durham University and the New University of Lisbon suggests that certain tales can be traced back several millennia. 12 Super-Dark Origins Behind Your Favorite Disney Movies. There is a stage in the hero’s journey commonly referred to as the belly of the whale. Eve gives some of the fruit to Adam and they feel ashamed and guilty for disobeying God. The commonly perceived fairy tale ‘happy ending’ that Disney has come to normalise is usually not the case in the original stories. He lives in a utopian paradise called Neverland where he can stay as a child. By the way: why not follow on with how modern movies preach the Hero Narrative to a fault, leading to the great impoverishment of what fiction can say, the realms of experience it can explore? (It's taken in $360 million in the US already.) The message here is similar to the one discussed with Peter Pan. Parents and grandparents share their favorite Disney movies with children and … However, there is one famous scene that carries glaring biblical imagery that you may not perhaps have been aware of before. The Disney movie leaves out that the penalty the mermaid pays for having legs: every single step she takes will feel like she is walking on sharp shards of glass. This idea can resonate with all of us from a psychoanalytical perspective. But what exactly does all this mean, aside from it being part of the trope of a damsel in distress? Many have emerged from stories that are centuries of years old. These stories were first categorised as a separate genre by Renaissance writers and were then recorded and immortalised in literary form by the writer Charles Perrault and the famous Brothers Grimm.