This week, I dive into the beginning of the Dark Ages of Disney. In the middle of the Bronze Era, we have a story about 2 mice rescuing a child from an abusive, horrible woman, but it's set with overtones of women's lib and international cooperation.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh has the unique honour of being the only package film released after the wartime era, being the last feature-length film that was personally worked on by Walt Disney, and it has the first work the studio completed without any input. It's hard to tell which of the stories here has more turmoil, the story of A.A. Milne and Christopher Robin or 1977's genre-sweeping changes.
Disney's Robin Hood was created as the ultimate show of reverence for Walt Disney. They incorporated ideas he'd held close since the 1930s to create the tricky, sexy fox that is Robin Hood. This movie drips with Gen X/Xennial nostalgia, promotes kindness and distribution of wealth, and also shows how poor people are treated in prison
After Walt Disney's death, the studio struggled to find its footing without their patriarch. With their first original story, they created the first animated movie without Walt Disney's oversight. Did they succeed or did they create a movie full of cringey memories?
On the heels of the abysmal failure of the Sword in the Stone, Walt Disney Productions decided to recreate the work of a culturally-appropriating Imperialist in the Jungle Book. The production of this family favourite was then interrupted by Walt Disney's death.
With Walt Disney afraid that his beloved animation was dying, the studio undertook a touching family story complete with love, support, infant death, and literally skinning puppies. Dive in with me to discuss how 101 Dalmatians changed the face of animation and possibly millions of children's attitudes toward mortality.
Is Sleeping Beauty the least objectionable movie yet? Find out how a movie inspired by ancient tapestries and issues of consent almost killed Disney animation for good.
In this episode, we talk about Lady & the Tramp, a movie that Walt Disney essentially stole from one of his favourite animators then added racism, sexism, and animal cruelty!
Tim Hall from Therapy for Monsters joins me to discuss who needs therapy most in the Cinderella story and whether Cinderella was really in love, or was Prince Charming just a better option?
