Warning: THIS WILL MOST LIKELY BE LONG BUT VERY INTERESTING! I would like to remind those who are reading this that there are people not stating facts but are stating their opinions. People have commented about not liking the casting for Little Mermaid which does not make them racist. Again everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. Thank you!
Disney animated movies: Dumbo, Beauty and the Beast, Jungle Book, Cinderella, and Alice and Wonderland; now what do they have in common?
They are movies that the Walt Disney Company are choosing to remake. I was born in 1993 so I was able to experience watching the so called classics when they first came out as animations and now I am able to see Disney's adaptation of the classics into live-action films.
My question is though, Why is Disney remaking so many of its animated films?
Oleksandra Waldrop, a Disney fan who was born in Ukraine and raised in North Carolina said, "Well when Walt Disney Died, it said in his will that each and every movie needs to be remade every 10 years. What the producers decide to do and how to do it is not up to us."
According to Digital Spy, UK's biggest TV and movie website, they were able to get a statement from who covers the film industry and who is a senior contributor for thr Forbes stated" cinema goers are more likely to see an event film with a familiar story and familiar character" especially when fewer people go to the cinema nowadays.
"Disney is undertaking a deliberate and extensive strategy of live-action remakes of nostalgic animated successes.The Disney brand depends on nostalgia to reel in children and adults alike.Their latest formula works in a similar way: take an old story which will appeal to children, their parents, and a generation of adults with a specific, nostalgic connection to one version (in these cases, Nineties babies), Anna Leszkiewicz, the culture editor for the New Statesman which is a leading progressive and cultural magazine in the UK.
Another thing I personally noticed in the fact that Disney is making so much money off of these live-action remakes because of the famous faces they bring on board. For instance you have Beyonce as Nala in the Lion King, Angelina Jolie as Maleficent in the film, and Emma Watson as Belle in Beauty and the Beast.
Daren Yasay, sketch artist at Disney's Animation Academy acknowledged the fact that with live action movies, everyone is going to have an opinion and some feel like it's a step back from what we know Disney is capable of.
Yasay continued, "I want to see new stories being told just as much as everyone else but I also know how long and tedious the process is for new animated films to be made, so I’m thankful that Disney is at least trying to find new ways to retell what they’ve already done in unique ways rather than just trying to replicate their movies exactly scene by scene. With the Little Mermaid I’m super excited to see an actress of color representing Ariel, we need more diversity and representation in films and I know that Halle Bailey is going to be able to bring the essence of Ariel to the character regardless of her nationality and skin color. With Mulan I’m mixed because I loved the movie for its theme and story but above all , it was the music is that drew me to it. I know that her tale could be told without it, but it was the music and humor of the characters that kind of balanced out the seriousness of the plot so to see Disney go with a more serious and what looks like a more action-based route."
Currently living in the UK, Ele Mae Clayton shared that they are probably doing all these remakes to reach a younger generation who don’t care so much for the Cartoon Disney. She also added that this can be a possibly a marketing strategy but there are just so many coming out at once!
When it came to the casting for Little Mermaid, Clayton hated the casting because, “I grew up a little ginger who was bullied for her color and Ariel was the only Disney Princess with red hair like me so I am upset it’s not a natural redhead being chosen to portray Ariel.” Although Clayton does not care is she is Black or a person of color she is just sad that gingers are bullied for their hair color. “Now we (gingers) don’t get a live action Princess with our hair color naturally like I understand you can dye it but it’s not the same. Plus why not write a new story for a Black princess instead of giving the girl a part that has already been done? I feel the Black community deserve more than this” UK resident said. All Clayton wants is that as much as little Black girls need more princesses to look up to with their own story little Ginger girls should keep their princesses too.
On the other hand, Halley Abbagail Bowling a resident in Tazewell, Virginia, is a 100% for remakes and is looking forward to seeing the live action Little Mermaid.
Tazewell, Virginia resident said, “I know everyone is upset over her race being changed but Halle is very talented and is perfect for this role. I think the changes they are making to the movie are going to give it a whole new vibe in a good way.”
Refreshing anecdote from Canadian Lynzee Jackson, as a child, she used to soak down the whole bathroom, pushing herself up through the tub to be like Ariel at the end of the song when she saved Eric.
Similar to Clayton, Jackson is torn that the casting for The Little Mermaid has turned into a race war. Her husband is black and her 6-year-old daughter is mixed race and is upset with who they chose because it is not what Ariel looks like. Mind you that is a 6-year-old child and Jackson, her mother, said that she doesn’t understand what racism is to a full extent but all she knows is that Ariel is white, has blue eyes, and has red hair. Jackson is disappointed not because of the color of her skin but she personally does not like Halle Bailey as an actress or even a singer. Other than that she is still excited with the remake.
Michael Fitzgerald who is from Manhattan, Illinois enjoyed watching The Wonderful World of Disney which was before the time of Disney Channel.
“It’s ridiculous to complain about the inclusion of a black actress in the role of Ariel. You cannot complain that it doesn’t match the original narrative because in the Hans Christian Anderson’s version Ariel never marries the prince and has to choose killing him or turning into sea foam”, Fitzgerald pointed out.
California resident and a fan of Disney Molly Kathleen Roethler is tired of the remakes. She loves the classic Disney cartoons then she added why recreate things? " But the Little Mermaid one will kill me. I love Ariel. I think Halle is gorgeous. But she’s not Ariel. I think Halle is beautiful and talented. I hear she’s a great singer which is something Ariel needs to be. But, I’m such a purist. People would be so upset if Tiana was played by a blonde hair, blue eyed white girl, I’m just saying, I don’t want Disney to ruin the classics but I think Halle will do ok. It’s big shoes to fill, Jodi Benson is amazing."
Article on CNN Entertainment, it stated that Jodi Benson who was the voice for Ariel, supports Halle Bailey:
Benson addressed the issue this past weekend at the Florida Supercon convention discussing that the spirit of the character is what is important. She stated through this article that, " What you bring to the table in a character as far as their heart, and their spirit, is what really counts, let's face it, I'm really, really old -- and so when I'm singing 'Part of Your World,' if you were to judge me on the way that I look on the outside, it might change the way that you interpret the song. But if you close your eyes, you can still hear the spirit of Ariel."
Virginia resident, David Merryman said, "I think the backlash towards Ariel's casting is really unwarranted. I feel like there's a significant number of people who are hiding their dislike of a non-white actress being giving the role by acting like its about accuracy or something. Some of them might be doing it consciously, and some of them might be doing it subconsciously. It's so weird to me that people are using "science" to come up with reasons why Ariel wouldn't be white, but overlooking the magic contract and the talking fish. I find it troubling that there probably are some people who are concerned about the movie being true to the original, and those people are being manipulated and influenced by people with racist intent. They're taking their racism and dressing it up to make it more palatable to people who might not realize how they're slowly being influenced over time, and I think that's an issue that needs to be addressed."
The casting of Ariel has been a controversial topic since the beginning of this month or since they announced the casting and is still ongoing.
"I think that if a company is selling it as a Live action, they should have a cast that resembles the original animated movie. However, people are taking it really bad because they think that wanting a faithful representation of the animated movie means racism. It's not. However I think that the actress could make a great job, but maybe the story could vary and Disney should not sell it as The Little Mermaid: live action. Maybe changing the title could help something as The Little Mermaid: A New Story. For example with the Cinderella movie with Hillary Duff, everyone would've lose their minds of the title was Cinderella live action just because it's not the same as the animated version", Nadia Solis, who is from Mexico City expressed.
While the live action casting of The Little Mermaid, the changes for the live action Mulan is causing an uproar.
Solis who is also a fan of Disney princesses and expressed how each princess is a part of her by teaching her a little lesson, is kinda disappointed with them, but she thinks it'll be a great action movie. The changes they've made will make the movie more faithful to the original legend of Mulan.
While, Virgina resident who is fine with the remakes is not a fan of the live action Mulan not having any songs, but I think it's a bit early to worry about that. I feel like its easier to have songs in an animated film without them feeling out of place, so maybe its ok, and I think they could easily work in elements of the more iconic songs without having them be actual songs
Additionally, Michigan resident, Melissa Spitler (Michigan) is sad Mushu isn't included, but she added that his character doesn't fit with the historical/realistic perspective.
Personally, I respect and appreciate peoples opinions and thoughts about Disney animated classic movies versus the movies that are adapted to live action films.
UK resident, who discussed live actions being a marketing strategy would just be upset if they changed the race of Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas, and Merida. Their stories are revolves around their cultures. She is not offended by the newer movies that have came out recently because they stayed in the culture of the originals, she just feels that people should not be a racist towards any character or actor in coming Disney movies.She continued by saying how many colored actors get the parts because they are very talented and the race should not affect the story in general unless the race is different from the original culture which is all she had to say about that.
Desiree Catherine Chance is from Papillion, Nebraska is not a huge fan of remakes. Chance is not trying to dis remakes but Walt has those in mind for a reason. He had those in his design. They are kinda going away from what he wanted. Like how all the old Disney movies were drawn. The remakes aren’t as good goes away from the original look and story line.
Mark Dill who is from Carolina grew up with Disney. Dill has a rough childhood and Disney movies were his "safe place". Dill discussed that when Disney goes back to the well of a classic and churns out a live action remake the original loses its luster and "specialness". They have taken the character that you grew up with and gave it to someone else.
Bostonian Brittani Enos Blake is worried with how much of a change they’ll do with Mulan, She is hoping it's not a completely different story from what she has grown to love but she is also willing to embrace the change For Ariel, she is excited to see how they change her look.
Blake said, "Even though her red hair is so iconic to the look of the character, its iconic to what we know of her from Disney’s animated interpretation. It will take some getting used too but above all I’ll be more focused on the storytelling and how they’re able to translate the essence and personality of Ariel into this retelling and not so much on just her physical characteristics."
Hope you enjoyed this piece and take into consideration the opinions of the people who voiced their thoughts on my blog. Again I do not tolerate any hate comments and racism of any sort. I appreciate these people that were open enough to tell what there thoughts were on this topic but also respect others. I guess I wanted to end this blog by saying everyone is entitled to their opinion as long as people respect one another.