There Is Nothing Happy About Disney Movies-Video Post
When I think of Disney, I think of childhood heaven, happiness, hugs, kisses, peace, love, and Mickey Mouse. Disney World, DisneyLand-the happiest places on the planet. Let us all hold hands and sing It’s a Small World and wear Mousketeer ears.
But that’s not really the case with Disney movies. Not when you really think about it.
We all saw Disney movies in the theaters as kids. I specifically remember going to see Lady and the Tramp and crying my eyes during the scene where they are dragging a pound dog to be put to sleep. I’ve tried to block the details of the scene out, but you only saw the shadow of the dog fighting against the leash. I also suffer from post traumatic stress syndrome from Bambi and Dumbo-easily the two saddest Disney films I remember to date. Thankfully, I have suppressed Bambi’s mom getting shot. Unfortunately, we bought Dumbo as Sayle loves elephants. I avoided seeing the entire movie, but happened to walk across the room when Dumbo was being rocked by his mom’s trunk as she was locked in a cage marked “Mad Elephant.” Baby of Mine was playing and my heart immediately broke.
As a parent, it is now my turn to bestow the “magic of Disney” upon Sayle. This is quite a daunting task as I already know how heart-wrenching some of these movies are! Parents, don’t act like you haven’t avoided or at least thought twice before buy Bambi for your kids. We ALL are Disney scarred!
I started off with easy movies and built up courage as I went. I tackled Finding Nemo pretty easily, but Lion King was a killer. I become teary when I even think about baby Simba crying by his dad after he was killed. In an effort to avoid another depressing Disney movie, we purchased The Fox and the Hound for Sayle as it looked like a cute little movie about friends. For those of you who are familiar with this movie, I know you’re cringing, but I didn’t know any better at the time. This is N-O-T a feel good movie. In fact, it ranks right up there with Dumbo and Bambi. The movie starts out with a hunter and dogs chasing momma fox, she puts her pup in a safe place and carries on running, only to be shot. That’s the first five minutes of the movie and it only gets worse from there.
Hey Disney, what is your problem? Mother figures don’t fare well in your movies. If the mom isn’t already dead, she’s killed off in the first few minutes (think-Nemo, Bambi, Fox and Hound, Dumbo.) If she’s already dead, her child is raised by some horrible stepmother. If you’re a princess, you’re screwed. You end up with a witch trying to steal your voice, throwing poison apples at you, or casting horrible spells on you until your prince comes to save the day. And if you’re an animal it is guaranteed your mom is going to die, you’re going to the pound, abandoned in the middle of nowhere, or someone is trying to kill you. Where is the love? Where is the feel good in the magic of Disney? I say it’s in the movie Song of the South, (zip-a-dee-doo-dah) but that movie is not available anymore and a whole different blog I can tackle later. Moving along.
Ironically, we continue to watch and purchase these movies, but I’m not sure why? Is it because they’re Disney movies? Is it because they’re considered classics? Is it because it is just a never ending cycle of showing our favorite depressing movies to the next generation? I have no idea, yet I’m just as guilty as the rest of us…but I am NOT buying Bambi!
What Disney movies scarred you? What Disney movies are you NOT buying for your kids? What do you think the saddest Disney movies are?
Wow!! I definitely have to disagree with you about the Disney movies. There was not one Disney movie that made me scarred for life at all! I think that a big part of it is that 50 years ago, we didn’t feel the needs to wrap our kids in a protective cocoon and keep anything bad from ever happening to them. Yes, the characters in some of the Disney movies have to go through their share of hardships. And in each and every one of those movies, what happens? They pick themselves up and get past it, and overcome that adversity. That in and of itself is magical, and personally, I think teaches kids a great lesson: that no matter what life throws at you, you can overcome it and persevere if you don’t give up and keep trying.
As for the Lion King, yes, that scene makes me cry. But considering the Lion King is loosely based on Hamlet, it was a necessity.
Wow, that’s okay, Cassy!! My heart bleeds for some things, yours may bleed for others.
Not sure about your getting past it comment, I wouldn’t necessarily call having to rely on a prince coming save the day as “getting past it” or overcoming adversity as they ride into a sunset on a high horse.
Do some of the movies teach a life lesson? Yes, like Nemo and his fin. He overcame that. Doesn’t take away that it was sad in the start when his mom got eaten? Do I like the “just keep swimming, motto?” Yes, I do.
As for Hamlet, if “loosely based” now insinuates necessity, thank God they left out the incest!
I never really thought about this but it is true! I have Bambi but we have yet to watch it, as with many movies we own. I think we will just let them watch whatever the pick and if they have questions then we will have to answer them…hopefully it will be many years in the future!
I think removing the “rose-colored” glasses from our children at the age that Disney primarily promotes their movies to provides those of us in the therapeutic fields with plenty of future clients. So, keep’em coming, Disney, thank you for the job security!
You are brave to have Bambi, Kari!! I love Thumper and Flower, but it breaks my heart that his mom gets shot-same as Fox and the Hound. I agree, you have to answer your questions, but Disney who promotes happiness, isn’t so happy ALL the time!! Let me know when you watch Dumbo. I’m sure it will kill your mommy heart!!!
Hi Jo Ann and thanks for posting!! You have a good point, I never thought of it as job security!!
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Brooke,
I TOTALLY agree with you. There are many disney movies where I skip whole sections of the movie because I don’t want to be awaken in the middle of the night by a scared, screaming, crying child (Thank goodness for DVDs!). As for dumbo… we had to turn him off. Nora was really upset about the treatment Dumbo’s mother was receiving and couldn’t move past it. She was in tears and I felt horrible for even saying yes she could watch it.
I personally think that we are all only a child ONCE and I am going to do my best to make sure Nora’s childhood is as happy and stress free as it can possibly be. She doesn’t need to worry about mommy dying or leaving or any of the other horrid things movies bring up. When she’s old enough and has questions about life I’ll certainly talk about them with her but I’m not going to be ramming any of it down her throat.