I see it as an artistic interpretation. The article I read said the characters were being "portrayed" as runway models. Well, there ya go. Runway models are the equivalent of walking sticks. They have no shape. The "fashions" just sorta hang on them like if you put a dress on a coat rack. Runway models aren't attractive to me so obviously these stick-versions of our beloved characters hold no appeal to me.
As far as the outrage over the "message" sent to young people, it's just like everything else in this world. Parents should be actively guiding their children in what they are exposed to. You have to use every opportunity you can to illustrate important points or ideals. Don't think for a moment we haven't had many conversations with our teen boys about how mainstream representations of the human body (models) aren't realistic and place unnecessary self-image issues on healthy people who physically cannot obtain such gaunt appearances. My boys are especially aware of females and the struggle with self-image (they see me fighting my weight continually). It's stuff we discuss. So when my boys see these portrayals of Disney characters what they see are stylized charicatures and nothing more.
