'Finding Dory' Movie: Disney Needs to Bring Back Animated Films

Pixar’s newest release announcement about the Finding Nemo sequel spurred excitement amongst numerous people. Disney acquired Pixar in 2006, but their relationship truly began when the companies collaborated on Toy Story in 1995. Of course, we all loved Finding Nemo, but, for goodness sake, whatever happened to Disney releasing non-CGI movies?

The significant amount of millennials grew up in the 90s and were exposed to wonderful movies such as Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Mulan, Tarzan, Hercules, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas, Ducktales Movie), Rescuers Down Under, A Goofy Movie, Pocahontas 2, Lion King 2, and Fantasia 2000 (1999).

These were some of my favorite movies growing up. I can’t count how many times I watched Aladdin and sang “A Whole New World.” I was even Jasmine for Halloween in first grade. Some of my best memories were sitting around with my mother, grandmother and sister watching Disney animated movies. The moveis reached across all generations. My grandmother (part of the Greatest Generation), to my mom (a Baby boomer) to my sister and I (both millenials), were allable to enjoy. It created magic and wonderment and let us escape in the world of non-reality. We all appreciated the magic that Disney tried to create. There were more animated movies released in the 2000s, but CGI movies started to take prominence.

Of the animated movies that were released, Brave, Frankenweenie, Secret World of Arrietty, Sophia the First, in 2012, only one of them was animated. The Secret World of Arrietty was based on Mary Norton’s novel, The Borrowers, which was actually a good movie. I recently saw it this summer just by happenchance. The only animated movies before that were The Princess and the Frog (2009) and Ponyo (2009). The famous director and screenplay writer, Hayao Myazaki,wrote both Ponyo and Secret World of Arrietty. Despite these movies not being high prominence, these movies actually were quite well done. Disney needs to revisit animated movies again.

Many feminists argue against the negativity of Disney Princess Culture and racism and and misogyny in Disney movies, but sometimes you have to appreciate what Disney is trying to achieve. Magic. Losing yourself in the fairytales and believing in the unbelievable. I recognize the bad effects of Disney movies, but if you inform your children as they grow up, then that will help combat the negative values instilled in Disney movies.

Animated movies have a special place for Baby Boomers, Generation X, millenials and the upcoming generations. Disney needs to go back to creating animated magic.