A lot of people are pushing Disney to update Snow White’s story for the contemporary era.
Disney’s first feature-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, debuted in 1937 and has since become a beloved childhood favorite for many. Inspired on the German fable by the Brothers Grimm, the film narrates the tale of a banished princess who makes friends with seven dwarfs following her exile due to her evil stepmother.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the United States Library of Congress has designated the movie as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant,” yet some contemporary viewers believe an update is overdue.
Many of the beloved Disney movies are now being viewed in a far more somber manner. One fan tweeted, “As a kid, I never knew how dark and sinister some scenes were.”
“You ever go back and watch some of the Disney animated movies that came out when we were kids and realized how damn dark and not really for kids they were?” tweets another X (previously Twitter) user.
One moment in particular from Snow White has stirred a heated discussion.
One reader wrote, “I think it’s great we’re opening up the conversation about consent, but people blaming Disney – a romantic kiss at the end of a movie isn’t the reason teenagers become confused about consent.” However, not everyone agreed that the original narrative should be revised.
“Leave Disney alone; it’s a fairytale,” says an additional person.
Someone else makes the argument, “I’d argue that Snow White would readily give her consent to be kissed since not kissing her would condemn her to eternal sleep.”
A fourth commenter concurs, writing: “It’s unbelievable that they’re suddenly claiming that Snow White is incorrect! Why not consider it to be life’s kiss?
Following a redesign of the Snow White Enchanted Wish ride at Disneyland in California, which now concludes with the prince kissing Snow White, the controversy erupted once more. Julie Tremaine and Katie Dowd called this addition the “movie’s biggest problem” in their SFGATE review.
The review poses the question, “Haven’t we already agreed that consent in early Disney movies is a major issue?” “Teaching children that it is inappropriate to kiss without getting consent from both parties.”
