Disney is a wholesome company that provides family entertainment via its movies. Whether it’s an animated movie or a live-action movie, when people see the Disney branding, they presume it will be appropriate for all of the family. But throughout its history, Disney has sometimes proved somewhat controversial. Whether it’s racist undertones or plots that people don’t deem appropriate, these are some movies that would be best kept in Disney’s vault.
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a classic tale that has been told countless times over the years, and Disney dipped into that with an animated version that has proven to be popular. While the portrayal of Pan, Tinker Bell, and Captain Hook created iconic characters for the company, how Disney chose to showcase the Native American people left many upset. It’s something that has been condemned ever since due to racial stereotypes.
Alice in Wonderland
This is another Disney movie based on a classic book, and it brings to life some of the most vibrant animated scenes in company history. However, some people do not like the hints of drug use throughout it. From Alice using potions to The Caterpillar smoking from a pipe, these ideas are likely not used today.
Dumbo
Dumbo is one of Disney’s most iconic characters, but during the movie, there’s a scene featuring the crows as they pay homage to racist minstrel shows. It might’ve been glossed over then, but it is deeply inappropriate nowadays.
Aladdin
Aladdin might be a popular princess movie from Disney’s archives, but it’s another that has been challenged for its depiction of Arab culture. The company was forced to change a couple of lines within the movie for its home video release, highlighting just how severe the pressure was on the company over this one.
Swiss Family Robinson
Swiss Family Robinson is a true adventure movie, but the pirates who threaten the family are portrayed in a stereotypical and racist manner. From having yellow faces to the fact that they speak in a language that presents a singular representation of Asian people, these scenes aren’t appropriate.
The Aristocats
The Aristocats take viewers on a true adventure as the core characters look to find their way back home. Along the way, they encounter a host of other characters, which leads to one scene where countless cats break into song and begin performing like a band. It’s a memorable part of the movie, but it has one moment where a Siamese cat is shown in a negative stereotype that has created controversy.
The Jungle Book
The Jungle Book has a content warning before it on Disney +, showcasing the fact that the movie is controversial. Based on Rudyard Kipling’s book, many people find King Louie’s character offensive.
Pocahontas
Pocahontas attempts to portray Native American culture more positively than the company has in the past, but it’s not entirely successful. Many negative stereotypes flow throughout the movie, and many people find them inappropriate.
Sleeping Beauty
The idea of a true love’s kiss solving all problems is no longer happily accepted by people as it once was. Many princess movies have used this stereotype to resolve storylines, and Disney is no different. Sleeping Beauty is the most famous example, as a kiss awakes her despite never agreeing to it. Consent is essential, and it has been spoken about more frequently in recent years, leaving this film feeling out of place.
The Princess and the Frog
The Princess and the Frog attempts to showcase African-American culture more prominently than has been done in Disney’s past. There are moments where that is done well, particularly the scenes in New Orleans. However, the fact that Tiana, Disney’s first black princess, spends most of the movie as a frog stops that representation in its tracks. This led to a lot of disappointment, as this had so much potential to reach out to a different audience for Disney.
Turning Red
Turning Red is a movie that tells a strong story about growth and standing up for what you believe in. But it did end up creating a lot of controversy. Some people felt that because puberty is a topic in this movie, it meant there was sexualization due to the characters having romantic feelings for the characters in 4*Town. The movie divided people because of that, with fans finding themselves on different sides of the argument.
Bambi
The decision to kill Bambi’s mother early on in this movie was a big call. It instantly got the film more attention but also caused backlash at the time. Walt Disney opted to cancel Trusty’s death in Lady and the Tramp because of that, with many fans feeling that the death was inappropriate for a film aimed at such a young audience.
The Rescuers
The Rescuers might seem an utterly safe movie for any age group, but during its initial release, Disney decided to showcase a topless woman in the background. In 1999, the home videos had to be recalled as Disney looked to rectify the issue, which seemed completely bizarre to have included in the first place.
The Three Caballeros
This might not be one of Disney’s most popular movies, but the fact that it focuses on Donald Duck can lead to people wanting to check it out. Beforehand, viewers will see a content warning on Disney + because of how Mexican culture is portrayed throughout the movie, which is often stereotypical.
The Little Mermaid
Even in a movie that is centered around fish, there is controversy. It showcases the power of animation regardless of the topic, as the blackfish character is drawn in a way that pushes a racist message. It wasn’t needed in terms of the storyline or the character, which raises questions as to why it was ever done in the first place.
Fantasia
Fantasia might be a unique movie in many respects due to its focus on music and imagery, but it featured some incredibly racist animation. The colors chosen for the skin of certain characters were racist, and it is something that many viewers have had problems with. Disney had to completely edit out certain characters from the movie in later years to try and fix the situation, with a content warning also coming before the film nowadays.
Lady and the Tramp
People might remember the iconic spaghetti and meatball scene from this romance movie, but there’s also an entire song that is profoundly inappropriate and racist. “The Siamese Cat Song” offended many, which is why it’s no surprise that the live-action version of this story opted to remove it altogether.
Song of the South
Song of the South is one of Disney’s most controversial movies, with this telling the tale of Uncle Remus. The movie has been heavily criticized for its racist portrayal of black characters, and that’s why it is not available on Disney +. The company would prefer people forget all about this, which can also be highlighted by the fact that they’ve recently removed Splash Mountain from two of the Disney theme parks, as the characters from those rides were linked to this story.
