Disney: The Fairy Tale Years

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Disney: The Fairy Tale Years

BBC Omnibus broadcasted the documentary Disney: The Fairy Tale Years in 1992. The documentary records the beginning and progress of Walt Disney in animating the classic fairy tales. It documents the changes that Disney created when adapting the tales from their original versions. Some of the tales had sad endings but the company changed them to happy endings. For instance, in snow white and the seven dwarfs, the wicked queen was made to dance herself to death wearing red-hot iron shoes in the original version. Another change made was in the little mermaid. The original version included a section of how the mermaid suffered because she could not walk well. Disney decided to remove this section. Disney had to change this because his focus was children entertainment. He had to look for ways of ending the stories that left people happy in the end. The documentary also reveals the changes in the film animated industry throughout the years. Great technological changes occurred from the time that Disney started developing animated films.

The documentary was revealing and interesting. It highlights the work that went into developing animated films. Great efforts were made to turn the classic tales to films. Disney invested a lot of time and money to develop the films. In some cases, the investments made were greater than any returns realized. This was the case when the company developed Sleeping Beauty. Although it had invested millions of shillings to the project, the movie was not as successful as the company had hoped. This was because of the changing times in the country that changed people’s perceptions and interests.

I grew up watching and reading many fairy tales. I liked the idea of happy endings because it represented hope after struggles and it showed the importance and value of morals. Some of my favorite tales included Cinderella, three pigs and the wolf, beauty and the beast, and the little mermaid. I somehow compare the fairy tales to the modern day hero movies. In the modern movies, the hero saves the day and the bad characters are punished in some way. The good people who have suffered from the beginning of the movie get justice in the end. Whereas the classic fairy tales ended up with the main characters getting married and living happily ever after, the modern day hero movies end with the bad characters receiving the punishment they deserve.

Many fairy tales have similar characteristics even though the plot changes. There is always a girl in trouble or needing help. The source of trouble could be a wicked stepmother or a bad witch. This is the case in Cinderella, snow white and the seven dwarfs, and beauty and the beast. In many cases, someone appears that changes the life of the girl for the better. This happened in the case of Cinderella and sleeping beauty. The characters end up living happily ever after. Movies based on fairy tales are meant to give people a good feeling. Even though the good characters suffer, the viewers still hope that justice will be served. The movies are not meant to reflect the reality but they are meant to be a form of fantasy. Occasionally people want to be entertained. They want to laugh and hope for the better. They get these feelings when they watch such movies.

Work Cited:

“Disney: The Fairy Tale Years.” BBC Omnibus. BBC. 22 Sep. 1992. Television