To some, childhood is synonymous to Disney, whether you watched The Mickey Mouse Club House or dreamed of being a Disney princess. But lately, it seems as though this over a hundred year old company is losing its spark. Although Disney is known for its original ideas, the company has shifted more from its original out of the box ideas, to remakes of its classics, sparking outrage in fans.
Everyone has to admit that lots of Disney ideas were based on originality, and in my opinion, they captured the essence of how magical childhood is in a way that no other company could. Whether you wanted to live in an ice palace with Elsa or wanted to go on adventures with Winnie the Pooh, Disney represented a magical world where kids could just be kids, and that encouraged an active imagination. These original ideas thrived in the 20th century, and became the cornerstone of entertainment for children. Some of the highest grossing films, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs set up Disney for major success and recognition for timeless movies. Even though the company faced many challenges, especially in the 80’s with funding, Disney always managed to create new and captivating films that audiences fawned over.
So when did all the magic disappear?
It seems to me that it all started when Disney collectively refocused from creating original flicks to recreating their old movies. Although a portion of live action movies are a hit, fans (including me) have expressed their disapproval of this major decision. “Disney has been altering the original nostalgic movies, and it’s kinda disappointing to see how movies that were so childhood core are now completely different films,” remarks Kyra Koppelman, a Freshman at Palisade. I think it’s disappointing that Disney has decided to end the creativity that made them popular. It’s hard to believe that a century old company known for their creativity, has now officially run out of ideas. The company has also become very politically charged and shows their beliefs blatantly in certain movies and TV shows. Although a portion of the audience agrees with these beliefs, this has caused lots of controversy around the company. Shouldn’t we not be involving kids in politics? This is a TV company marketed towards children, and shouldn’t kids just be kids, and not have to worry about politics from either side?
Disney, a century old, beloved company, has started to lose what made it different from other entertainment companies, its originality and ability to think outside the box, which is upsetting devoted Disney fans and the general audience alike.
