When the name “Disney” arises, many images come to mind. Some imagine Walt, others imagine a mouse, and some even imagine one of the many parks around the world. Each Disney fan imagines the opening credits of the movies. But for each fan, the story that unfolds varies. Whether the film is live-action, animated, or a mix of the two, one element brings every fan back to the theater or streaming platform: the journey that unfolds. Every story begins with the hero, the main character who will be called on some form of adventure. The subsequent adventure will spark a change in them, emotionally and sometimes even physically. This hero’s journey is what makes the Disney franchise intrigue among cinephiles.
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These stories are more than spectacular animation pieces with heartfelt ballads and a comedic sidekick. Disney’s heroes are animals, witches, superheroes, entrepreneurs, puppets, and royalty. Regardless of who the hero is, each of them has a group of friends or connections with their family that are extremely solid. The people who surround the main character symbolize the different sides of that person, but in a more solid form. Heroes are often in a place of transition, and though they are reluctant to change, something pushes them to take that leap of faith. Each character’s journey is unique and inspires fans worldwide to dream as big as they can. Here’s a breakdown of the different character journeys often seen in Disney movies.
Non-Human Heroes
Disney
Through non-human characters, like O’Malley the Alley Cat (Phil Harris), Walter the Muppet (Peter Linz), and Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal), audiences learn that heroes sometimes need to accept themselves before they can make an impact in the world. According to Berkeley Well-Being, self-acceptance benefits our psychological health and how happy we are, and is a step toward positive change. In The Aristocats, O’Malley is fairly certain of himself, but his biggest hurdle, however, is choosing a domesticated life with Duchess or remaining on the streets. Of course, his decision is made quickly when Duchess and her kittens are in danger.
Walter, from The Muppets, struggles to fit in with his brother Gary (Jason Segel) in the human world. But when he goes on a trip to Hollywood and meets the Muppets, he feels at home, but doesn’t want to leave Gary behind. This push and pull Walter experiences leads to one of the greatest songs in a Muppet movie, entitled, “Man or Muppet, ”which features a cameo from Jim Parsons.
When Monsters Inc was released, Mike Wazowski was confident and self-assured. But in Monsters University, Mike was anxious and eager to prove himself to everyone. Despite being expelled, Mike overcame the biggest hurdle in self-acceptance: knowing your strengths and weaknesses. Each of these non-human characters faces their insecurities and becomes confident in themselves.
The Royal Line
Sometimes a hero accepts themselves fully, but feels imposter syndrome, or the crushing feeling of failure as The American Psychological Association explains. Simba from The Lion King, Elsa from Frozen, and Tiana from The Princess and The Frog overcome their imposter syndrome. These characters also happen to be royalty, either by birth or marriage. As heirs to their respective thrones, Elsa and Simba have similar stories before ascending to the throne. Simba runs away from home as a cub after his father dies and spends years living in an oasis. When confronted with his birthright, he denies his right to the throne because he doesn’t want to face his father’s death. In Frozen, Elsa loses her parents, but she was in solitude long before they passed. She was born with powers that allowed her to make ice, but as a child, she unintentionally hurt her sister. When her powers are revealed at the reception of her coronation, she is finally free to be herself.
Unlike Simba and Elsa, Tiana is not born into royalty, although she does marry a prince. Before she marries a prince, she works as a waitress at two different restaurants. Tiana’s dream is to own her own restaurant, but the way to her dream is a road jam-packed with work. Even though her plan is derailed by being cursed as a frog, she realizes that fun and love have to be part of her dream. For Elsa and Simba, isolation only exacerbated their feelings of being unworthy. While Tiana’s overworking stifled her from making real connections with people.
Witches and Alchemists
Maleficent and the Sanderson sisters are some of the most famous witches in the Disney franchise. While witchcraft is often misconstrued by the public, many who call themselves witches today believe that love and happiness are more important than vengeance. In Maleficent, one of the most formidable Disney villains is written properly. She may have cursed Aurora out of anger, but as she was the one to watch over the princess growing up, Maleficent grew to love her.
The Sanderson sisters from the Hocus Pocus franchise also acted out of love, though their love for beauty seemed to be their priority. Yet, in the much anticipated sequel, when Winifred chooses ultimate power, she sacrifices the people she loves the most: her sisters, Sarah and Mary. Since she cannot reverse the spell, she gives a moving final soliloquy, revealing she only wanted power to protect her sisters.
While Emperor Kuzco in The Emperor’s New Groove wasn’t a witch, his advisor Yzma was a sort of scientist or alchemist. In her attempt to kill Kuzco, her assistant, Krunk, mixes up the poison with llama extract. Kuzco begins as an extremely selfish character who believes everyone loves him, except that no one truly knows him. But as a llama, he gets to know Pacha, who is the kindest man in the village. Through this friendship, Kuzco begins to see how selfish he is and becomes a better ruler because he made a true friend. In the cases of Maleficent, the Sanderson sisters, and Kuzco, they were able to be themselves through the love of people who are family by birth or through friendship.
