For many years Disney films were only released in movie theatres, both in their original debut and then in rereleases (For example, Bambi was first released in 1942, and then again, in 1947, 1957, 1966, 1975, 1982, and 1988.) At the tail end of the 1980s, new VCR technology allowed Disney to release home video editions. Through the next decades and technology changes (DVD, etc.) the Disney company followed a marketing strategy of only releasing a film for a short time from their ‘vault’ for viewers to purchase for their homes. This meant that it was sometimes impossible to get a particular film for regular viewing.
Streaming services (and the internet more generally) fundamentally changed people’s expectations of how these movies could be accessed. First on other services and then on Disney Plus, many animated films are regularly and easily available for audiences. One argument that has been made about this is that it has in some ways unmoored these films (and other films and tv programs) from a clear sense of the position that they were in historically. In other words, when a film was being re-released, or let out from the vault, you knew that it was reflective of a different period in which it was created. When everything is available all the time that sense of historicity is distorted.
Adding Warnings
Several streaming companies, including Disney, have chosen to put content warnings on some of these films.
This is what it looks like on Disney Plus for Peter Pan.
On first accessing the film, the details/content warning is not what you first see.
If you click on details you get the following:
This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together.
Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe.
To learn more about how stories have impacted society, please visit
www.disney.com/StoriesMatter
Other companies have followed suit or gone further, for example Warner Brothers added a 4 minute video about the racist depictions to be found in Gone With the Wind when returning it to streaming.
Immersion
Disney has offered commitments to building more inclusion within their theme packs.
Explore Re-working and updating in Disney Parks
Take a look at some of the different changes that Disney has made over the last decades.
Updating the Jungle Cruise
The Jungle Cruise was an original opening day attraction at Disneyland. It features a boat journey through major world rivers.
Post-Covid, Disney made small but crucial alterations to change how the ride depicted native peoples.
Splash Mountain
This ride in both Disneyland and Disney World has been around for 30 years and just closed last year for a new rethinking to retheme the story to “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.” It will remain the same in Tokyo Disneyland.
The ride was based on Song of the South, a Disney film considered among its most racist. The film (and ride) feature well-known songs like “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.”
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is schedule to open sometime this summer. As of April 2024 it is in test runs.
This video talks about the animatronics that fill this ride as well as other attractions.
Other Changes
- It’s a Small World
- Adding Indigenous presence to the American Adventure in Epcot (read about the curators)
- Renaming a Resort (Why Dixie Landings became Port Orleans: Riverside)
What do you think of these efforts? Is it enough? Too much? Too little? Is there a line?
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