Say the word Disney and you might think of the words magical, wonderous, dreams, wishes, fun and laughter. Images may pop in your head of enchanted castles, and deep dark woods. The characters tended to be as bold as the settings, dashing princes, sweet princesses and wicked step mothers seem to be par for the course in the land of fairy tales. Much loved as they were a question mark hung over traditional tales such as Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. Some asked how the stories could possibly be child friendly when they talked of slavery, witchcraft, curses, death and evil. Others remarked that they were rather sexist – the hero prince saves the day yet again as the poor princess simpers and waits patiently to be rescued.
Colourful Characters
Disney is defined by its vibrant characters, there may be stereotypes abound but you have to admit the characters are easily recognisable and loved by people around the globe. You can get your very own slice of Disney in the form of an intricate figurine from the Jim Shore Disney Traditions range.
If you love Beauty and the Beast you could go ooh-La-La for a Lumiere statuette or treat yourself to a stunning Belle figurine, complete with resplendent yellow dress. Fans of the Lion King will adore the “Fathers Pride” figurine that features Mufasa and his much-loved cub (and star of the show) Simba. Or perhaps you prefer the old school Disney characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse, who are still going strong even though they were first sketched back in 1928!
Disney Gets a Facelift
Despite the misgivings of a few people, traditional tales have managed to stand the test of time. But we have seen a few changes and updates that has brought Disney firmly into the twenty first century. Happy endings remain as the order of the day but the leading ladies are much savvier and no longer require rescue on a day-to-day basis!
Take the movie Frozen for instance, didn’t we all rejoice when Anna stepped between Elsa and the evil Hans to save her sister’s life? Our hearts soared even more when Elsa returned the favour and saved Anna from an icy tomb. Girl power.
A Tale of Good Versus Evil
New and old Disney stories still carry that element of good triumphing over evil that attracts us and holds her attention. Ultimately, we know that good will win, but the struggle between the two always manages to take us on a roller coaster ride and we’re still left worrying that somehow evil will get the upper hand. That’s the thing about traditional tales, they help us to work through our own concerns and fears in a secure way. Propping up the notion that no matter what happens in life being right and true will get you through and you will emerge victorious and into the light.
Disney For Kids
In fact, following the plight of some of the characters featured can actually help us to become stronger ourselves. Child psychologist Bruno Bettelheim is a believer of the fact that the humble fairy tale can actually assist in a child’s development. The story provides the child with an opportunity to witness the drive and determination of the main character as they face dilemmas and distress. This proves that you can overcome adversity providing you are positive and do not give up, a very important lesson in how to get along in life! There is often more than one version of the same story, you might find a few of the original tales a little too macabre for little ears! If so you can look around for a watered-down version or even ad-lib, there’s nothing to say you can’t add your own twist to a tale!
A Never-Ending Love Affair
It seems our love affair with traditional tales is set to continue. Despite the arrival of technology and the endless gadgets and gizmos that have flooded the market, there still seems to be room for a good story and the vivacious characters that feature in them. Give me a wicked witch and a singing snowman any day of the week over a pixelated zombie! What’s coming next? Who knows, but the stories we know and love will continue to do the rounds, being passed on from generation to generation. In the meantime, new tales will no doubt emerge, gain popularity and join the legions of stories already told and retold by grown-ups and kids everywhere.
