Disney Heroines: Down the Rabbit Hole

Though Alice in Wonderland was made in 1951 Walt Disney’s relationship (he loved the books) with Lewis Carroll’s books (Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass) went further back.

When Disney was still trying to make a name for himself in 1923 (when he was 21), he made many failed short animations hoping that one would do the trick. Among these was one called Alice’s Wonderland, in which there was a live action girl interacting with cartoon characters.

It’s because of these failed films that Walt teamed up with his brother to create the Disney Brothers Studio, and then went on to revive the idea of animated shorts. From 1924 to 1926 the Disney Brothers Studio produced over 50 shorts about the Alice girl. The success of these shorts was probably the most significant reason for the success of Mickey Mouse. (Odd isn’t it? How we grant Mickey credit for being the first Disney success.)

Disney’s love for Alice in Wonderland drove him to want to make a feature-length film, and planned on making it his first. But it kept getting pushed to the side for one reason or another and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ultimately became first.

Though, he never lost the ambition to make it so, because in 1938 Disney officially started recording the title. But the economic wreckage after WWII, along with other production demands, caused him to push the project aside until 1946. And then finally in 1951 it was finished and released. (Eighteen years after first discussing it.)

Alice (Alice in Wonderland & Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland):

Cartoon:

1.      Imagination is the gateway to everything.

2.      Curiosity can start quite a wild ride.

3.      Be polite, to everything and everyone.

4.      There is such a thing as too much nonsense: Logic and reason exist for a purpose.

Tim Burton’s Live Action:

1.      Remember your childhood dreams: They’re the things that made you who you are today.

2.      Impossible is never impossible.

3.      Figure out who you are.

4.      Decide where you want to be going.

5.      Crazy friends are sometimes the best: “All the best people are mad.”

6.      Be assertive (but polite) in what you know needs to be done.

7.      Stand up for what you believe in.

With the recent rejuvenation of Alice and her trip down the rabbit hole I’ve decided to add Tim Burton’s version in here as well. (Even though it’s not animated; And it is Disney after all.) and since both versions share the same Alice, just older in Burton’s film, then I’m pretty sure that doing this is okay. Otherwise I would’ve kept them separate.

The story of the Alice girl and her adventures in Wonderland are a less serious approach to teaching morals. The nonsensicalness of Wonderland itself is, if not anything else, cracked out.

I say “cracked out” because the main theme that keeps popping up with the lessons learned from this movie is about how the whole movie glorifies the use of drugs. (Nothing pointed fingers at Alice herself, but her story was the one attacked and that’s what I’ll focus on.) And while I can’t say for sure what the animation team was trying to get across, I can say that the center of this theme lies in the fact that the story was written to satirize the cultural norms of the Victorian era of Great Britain.

This bit of information is almost always misinterpreted: for if he wrote about a caterpillar smoking a hooka in a children’s story then it must then be an evil lesson lurking in the shadows. While I can see the logic behind this, I can also see its faults.

If we say that all pens are blue, then does that mean that since we say it its true? The fact that I have a black pen on my table suggest otherwise; and this is the reason why I don’t really take much discern to this theme.

Alice was a girl who had one of the craziest dreams (I know I’ve had some like it) ever thought up I the world of fiction. She wanted an adventure, and she got one. But just because it was a maddening joke on logic doesn’t mean that it was meant to praise the use of drugs. It was about the “what if” factor and the need to just let lose for a while; but it was also about the need for logic and reason. And that’s what we need to remember.

Disney Heroines: Glass Slippers

I guess I’m going in chronological order with Disney’s heroines, because the second is Cinderella.

The movie was the second of Walt Disney’s full length fairytale Animations and was released in 1950. Right in the middle of Disney’s “Golden Age” animations of the 1930’s and the 1940’s and the (though I’m not sure why) less critically acclaimed productions of the 1950’s; making it representative of both eras. (Which can be seen in the cell animation style.)

Cinderella (Cinderella):

1.      Hard work is always a part of life: Know the true value of hark work.

2.      Don’t be afraid to dream.

3.      Kindness is always a good idea.

4.      Be polite: Kindness should be displayed throughout the entirety of your actions.

5.      Love, help, and forgive those who criticize, mock, and despitefully use you.

6.      Forgetfulness is something we all regretfully have: It’s just part of who we are.

7.      We are all equal.

8.      Being home by curfew never hurts.

Cinderella’s story seems to be one everyone wants to hear or tell. And, quite frankly, I’m not surprised. The mere plotline (rags to riches) is one that we would love to have happen to us.

But, as with most of the princesses on this list, some believe that she teaches faulty lessons. One lesson in particular I find aversion to is that she was only saved from her step-mother’s horrible household for one reason (and one reason only), her clothes and beauty were the only reason the prince fell in love with her: And thus, one’s outward appearance is the only way to win someone’s heart.

Though the prince’s first inclination (from afar) of her was that she wasn’t like the other girls at the ball (beautiful gown and appearance), we forget that she was shy. And what girl wouldn’t be in a situation such as hers?

She was hesitant when she arrived (understandable, since according to her step-mother she wasn’t supposed to be there), when he acted on his first impression to run to her (again understandable, considering he was the prince), and when they first started to dance (once again understandable, seeing that he was the prince): But as time went on her nervousness melted away. She became more confident in who she was, and in her feelings for the prince: Which showed in her actions, revealing her personality.

This is another thing about her that captivated him; leading him to run after her when the clock struck twelve. Curiosity is the spark to passion.

Everything considered, Cinderella’s shoes were extraordinary and she achieved her dream of love and a better life; but the glass slippers weren’t the reason the prince went in search of her. Her personality was her most attractive accessory: And that’s a fact.

Disney Heroines: The One That Started It All

In 1934 Walt Disney and his animation studios began on a project that would change the face of animation. Before Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs there had only ever been short subject matters, like short cartoons. So saying that they were working on something like this was down right outrageous.

Disney had to fight to get the film produced: he even had to mortgage his house to do so.

His brother and wife tried to talk him out of it, and those in Hollywood nicknamed it “Disney’s Folly”.

On December 21, 1937 it premiered to an audience of the same people that called it a waste of time and that told him no. The reception of the film? A standing ovation. Six days later, it appeared on the cover of Time magazine and the New York Times said “Thank you very much, Mr. Disney.”

This is one of the main reasons why I’ve chosen to do so Snow White first. Because people forget that without her there would be no Disney like we know it today.

Snow White (Snow White and the Seven Dwarves):  

1.      True beauty is in one’s kindness.

2.      Help others who can not help themselves.

3.      Listen to those older than you: They know more than you.

4.      Forgiveness: Forgive everything and everyone constantly; like it’s going out of style.

5.      Never assume: Thing’s are rarely the way they appear.

6.      Naivety is something we all regretfully have.

7.      Someday, our love will come: Just remember that waiting doesn’t mean you have to just sit there doing nothing. Do something while you wait.

8.      Love everything.

Yes, Snow White was “The Fairest”, but that wasn’t what made her the fairest. Her beauty was in her kindness. She forgave like it was a habit and was kind to everything.

True she had a moment of self stupidity, but who hasn’t. I know many a day where I was just as bad if not worse. Naivety is just part of being human. We’ll never be rid of that.

Plus she was 14 at that time in the movie.(When she got married she was between 16 & 17) How many 14 year olds do you know that have what we would like to call “Common Sense”? Common sense is only an illusion. What we think every one should know could very well be the worst idea in the world. For example, Geocentric Solar systems. Common sense changes, and that’s a fact.

All in all Snow White needs more credit than she deserves, because if we didn’t have her we wouldn’t have any of Disney’s Princesses; and that's a fact.

Intro. and Lessons Learned From Disney Heroines

So I've started this as a kinda of pressure/stress reliever. It won't  all be about the Disney girls, but I'll just start off with that and see where it takes me.

First thing's first, the Disney girls:

A lot of people say that Disney’s animated movies, like Sleeping Beauty and The Little Mermaid, teach children (especially young girls) faulty life lessons. This disturbs me in a way.

I’ve always had a soft spot for the animated princess movies Disney has done, and will do for that matter.

I’ve learned valuable lessons from the cartoon heroines. And the fun thing is, I’m still learning.

So, in the midst of opposite opinions, I’ve made a list of Disney’s princesses and female lead heroines, some well known others forgotten, and listed for each the lessons they teach. Please keep in mind that these lessons are about what makes them beautiful as a person. (Their actions for example) I may even add to it as new princesses and heroines come along. Who knows?

I shall post from this list one at a time, so as to give each the attention they deserve.

You’re welcome to follow this if you like. I’m just doing this for my minds ease and sanctity.