Disney and Pixar have been the most powerful animation studios par excellence. Although they work hand in hand, each one has their own stories and characters that have marked generations.
Perhaps it is difficult to think that they are capable of break with the idea of the protagonist who is a perfect princessin search of romantic love since it is what we have been accustomed to since childhood.
However, times have changed and each time they have shown be willing to break certain female stereotypes so that we can feel more identified with what we see on the screen.
Here we mention some of the Disney and Pixar movies which broke taboos.
Red (”Turning Red”. Pixar, 2022)
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Photo: Disney
The most recent movie Pixar, released on the DisneyPlus platform, has received very good reviews and with good reason. The film not only uses a protagonist of Asian-American origin but also It addresses issues such as puberty and the hormonal changes that girls face with its arrival.
Mei is a teenager who is undergoing a complete body transformation and although at first it seems somewhat fanciful that she becomes a red panda, poses a metaphor for the intense mood swings we all go through during puberty. And yes, there is a very clear nod to menstruation that although it is not the main concern of the protagonist, It is appreciated that the subject is finally touched on so naturally (and in such a real way).
In fact, in one of the first scenes, Mei hides in the bathroom of her house where she is upset by her transformation. Her mother assumes she got her period. “Did the… red peony bloom?” her mom asks through the door and prepares ibuprofen, vitamins, a hot water bottle and sanitary pads.
Mary Poppins (Walt Disney Studios, 1965)
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The character of Winifred Banks in the film Mary Poppis, fought for the right to vote for women in England in 1910
Yes OK Mary Poppins It is the image of a leading woman who does not leave anyone -and perhaps one of the first who did not show herself with a specific romantic interest, except for the closeness with her best friend Bert- it is Winifred Banks who broke with the feminine stereotypes of the time.
The mother of the Banks children could go unnoticed by many, however, is a very interesting character because he fought with the suffragettes in England in 1910, in full vindication of the right to female vote.
PL Travers, the original author of the story, was against her character becoming a suffragette as she had portrayed her as a classic aristocratic woman seeking balance in her family. Surprisingly, it was Disney himself who managed to convince her of the change, and boy was it a huge leap in her productions!
Winifred was cast as an absent mother, immersed in her world but her song about “break the chains to be free” It is a very powerful message that must be heeded.
Frozen (Disney, 2013)
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The love It comes from the classic tale “The Snow Queen” and came to break with the idea that “we all need a romantic love to be whole.”
on tape, Elsa is a protagonist who breaks with the idea of the perfect queen. She is fearful, insecure and in a constant battle with her own demons. In addition, it is clear that she does not have any romantic interest and although her sister Anna ends up dating her, the final message revolves around the importance of “sisterly love”, something many girls identified with.
Raya and the last dragon (”Raya and the Last Dragon)
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The tape “Ray and the last dragon” shows leading female characters
One of the most recent Disney movies released on the DisneyPlus platform in 2021. The film set in Kumandra, a fantasy world, where humans and dragons live together in peace, shows a protagonist who is quite a warrior.
The world of Kumandra is divided into five regions that they have their own separate chiefs, several of whom are women. Showing women in positions of power, who are never questioned or seek validation from others, teaches girls that they can aspire to greatness.
All of the female characters in Raya are complex, with their own motives, beliefs, and flaws, which is a departure from the classic princess narrative.