The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

[Californian Elitist]

Sure they can dye her hair red but what about keeping the magic alive for the kids? There’s a reason they have always the actors for the M&G look like their characters. When they walk around the parks you know who they are and that’s why kids want to meet them. I love seeing the magic of my kids greeting these characters. It’s such a special thing that will only last such a small time where they believe. My daughter was obsessed with Frozen and so excited to meet them and then very confused about the musical. You can’t have the characters available to meet and then walk over and see a show that looks nothing like them. That’s what’s going to happen with this casting.

Disney always changes things when they make their version but that does not change the fact that it is a Danish story. There’s a reason why the Danish have had their mermaid sculpture in Copenhagen for 100 years. I assume that’s why they have Ariel on the rock in the film as an homage. If it wasn’t for Darryl Hannah in Splash she would have been a blonde mermaid because she’s Danish. They don’t have accents in Frozen or Tangled, and they are not in America, because that’s not what Disney is going for. Sebastian could have hitched a ride but really the animated movies are not steeped in authenticity, again lack of accents.

Right, the Disney films aren’t accurate to the original material. So if Disney is remaking their version, one that really has nothing to do with the original source material, then the Danish aspect shouldn’t matter.

The children will be fine. White, red-headed Ariel will not be replaced by a black woman playing the part. I hope you took some time to explain to your child what was happening with Frozen and I hope she still enjoyed the show. When I was a little girl, a multi-racially cast version of Cinderella was released. Cinderella was black, Prince Charming was Filipino, the parents were black and white, etc. I and my siblings were fine and our perspectives of the Disney animated version didn’t change.

 

[Disney Irish]

I’m not saying they will. I am saying that they have, with the exception of the Frozen musical, cultivated the look of the iconic characters. Kids easily recognize them and the M&G reflect that. Halle does not look like Ariel of the animated version. Which one is the “real” Ariel? Because to my 6 year old princesses are real and Dumbo can fly. She still wants to be a mermaid when she grows up. She met Rey at Disneyland along with Mary Poppins and all the other characters. She still tells me stories she heard at these M&G, like Flynn telling her Rapunzel was running late because of how many hours she spends brushing her hair and Sally was also late another time because she was sewing on her arm. Kids believe and it’s magical. There is only one look for these characters.

Doesn’t Disney take this so seriously that dead characters are not even allowed in GE? The Sonic movie just went into extensive revisions because Sonic, a blue hedgehog, did not look right to his fan base and he was still a blue hedgehog. There is a look to iconic characters.

With the exception of the Frozen musical, which is not a M&G, all other characters that are actual M&G's have been representative of their animated counter-parts. I don't see this changing anytime soon.

I think you are worrying a bit too much on this.

 

[GingerGirl3]

Right, the Disney films aren’t accurate to the original material. So if Disney is remaking their version, one that really has nothing to do with the original source material, then the Danish aspect shouldn’t matter.

The children will be fine. White, red-headed Ariel will not be replaced by a black woman playing the part. I hope you took some time to explain to your child what was happening with Frozen and I hope she still enjoyed the show. When I was a little girl, a multi-racially cast version of Cinderella was released. Cinderella was black, Prince Charming was Filipino, the parents were black and white, etc. I and my siblings were fine and our perspectives of the Disney animated version didn’t change.

How do you explain to a 4 year old that yes there are two Annas that look very different but 1 of them is real? Little kids believe they are seeing the characters in their shows.

 

[GingerGirl3]

With the exception of the Frozen musical, which is not a M&G, all other characters that are actual M&G's have been representative of their animated counter-parts. I don't see this changing anytime soon.

I think you are worrying a bit too much on this.

I think I have kids that believe so I care.

 

[shortstop]

On my last visit, I rode GotG. I thought that I should give it another chance since I hadn’t been on it in over a year. Well when the ride started and the AP next to me lost his mind and starting dancing when “We Got the Funk” started playing I remembered why I don’t like the ride.

 

[Disney Irish]

How do you explain to a 4 year old that yes there are two Annas that look very different but 1 of them is real? Little kids believe they are seeing the characters in their shows.

How do you explain mall Santa's to your kids? Or if you don't explain it yet, how do you plan to explain it in the future when they get a bit older? Same thing....

I think I have kids that believe so I care.

Again it hasn't happened yet, and likely won't. So you're worrying about trying to explain something that you're never likely going to have to explain to your kids anyways. Or if it does happen, see above....

 

[Phroobar]

If those are your biggest worries, wait until they become teenagers and release hell on you.

 

[Californian Elitist]

How do you explain to a 4 year old that yes there are two Annas that look very different but 1 of them is real? Little kids believe they are seeing the characters in their shows.

Well you don’t actually tell them Anna is real...

You’re overthinking this. This isn’t rocket science. Simply saying there are multiple Anna’s should be sufficient enough.

Little kids will believe anything they’re told.

 

[VJ]

How do you explain to a 4 year old that yes there are two Annas that look very different but 1 of them is real? Little kids believe they are seeing the characters in their shows.

Anna in Frozen Live at the Hyperion is an actress playing a character. Anna in the M&G is the actual Anna from the movie. Pretty simple.

 

[GingerGirl3]

Well you don’t actually tell them Anna is real...

You’re overthinking this. This isn’t rocket science. Simply saying there are multiple Anna’s should be sufficient enough.

Little kids will believe anything they’re told.

Kids aren’t stupid. Do you or Disney Irish even have kids? It’s not overthinking it when I know how my kids will respond. They were confused by 2 Anna’s who look very different and not like the movie. Kids expect the animated characters to come to life looking exactly like they did on screen. Disney knows this and has always casted their actors accordingly.

Just because you would ruin the magic of believing for your kids doesn’t me I or other parents agree with you. There’s a reason there was a stampede a few years ago when you could meet Anna and Elsa in person. In fact those wait times were higher than that billion dollar land over in the corner from a galaxy far away.

 

[GingerGirl3]

Anna in Frozen Live at the Hyperion is an actress playing a character. Anna in the M&G is the actual Anna from the movie. Pretty simple.

No. It’s absurd to think kids are that stupid. Then why are Rapunzel and Belle in their own plays? Once you start on the path that they are actors and not “real” you lose the magic. There is only a small window of time in childhood where children fully believe and it's magical. It’s what makes Disneyland so special. It’s why we take our kids and spend gobs of money on overpriced buffets to meet the characters. Iconic characters are expected to look the way they’ve been established. Pretty simple.

 

[GingerGirl3]

If those are your biggest worries, wait until they become teenagers and release hell on you.

Obviously not my biggest worries, but isn’t this why we should enjoy these magical innocent childhood moments while we can? They are afterall too fleeting.

 

[VJ]

No. It’s absurd to think kids are that stupid. Then why are Rapunzel and Belle in their own plays? Once you start on the path that they are actors and not “real” you lose the magic. There is only a small window of time in childhood where children fully believe and it's magical. It’s what makes Disneyland so special. It’s why we take our kids and spend gobs of money on overpriced buffets to meet the characters. Iconic characters are expected to look the way they’ve been established. Pretty simple.

Frozen Live at the Hyperion is presented as an actual, Broadway-style show in an actual, Broadway-style theater in a land themed to Hollywood. The Fantasy Faire plays are in Fantasyland, where it's widely known that the Disney characters that roam there are the actual Disney characters.

 

[GingerGirl3]

Frozen Live at the Hyperion is presented as an actual, Broadway-style show in an actual, Broadway-style theater in a land themed to Hollywood. The Fantasy Faire plays are in Fantasyland, where it's widely known that the Disney characters that roam there are the actual Disney characters.

Widely known to kids? My son knows he saw the Genie and the flying carpet and my daughter knows Elsa made it snow during the show. It’s not less real to them at a bigger theater than it is at the plays in Fantasyland. Oh and down the street from the fancy show they met Marvel characters and Vampirina. Mickey is not less real at Goofy’s kitchen than he is at the castle or on a float. At Disneyland the characters are real to little kids wherever they are. It’s why my daughter is really afraid of the stormtroopers and was really nervous about Jedi Training. It’s very real to them.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Kids aren’t stupid. Do you or Disney Irish even have kids? It’s not overthinking it when I know how my kids will respond. They were confused by 2 Anna’s who look very different and not like the movie. Kids expect the animated characters to come to life looking exactly like they did on screen. Disney knows this and has always casted their actors accordingly.

Just because you would ruin the magic of believing for your kids doesn’t me I or other parents agree with you. There’s a reason there was a stampede a few years ago when you could meet Anna and Elsa in person. In fact those wait times were higher than that billion dollar land over in the corner from a galaxy far away.

Agree to disagree. This circle has definitely gotten pointless with this post and the one prior.

Bottom line: Live-action Disney Ariel is black and will most likely have red hair. Face character Ariel at Disneyland will still be white with a red wig. Children will survive.

Have a good one.

 

[TROR]

The bottom line is that this movie will suck no matter who they cast. Stop the live action remakes, my goodness.

 

[NateD1226]

Kids aren’t stupid. Do you or Disney Irish even have kids? It’s not overthinking it when I know how my kids will respond. They were confused by 2 Anna’s who look very different and not like the movie. Kids expect the animated characters to come to life looking exactly like they did on screen. Disney knows this and has always casted their actors accordingly.

Just because you would ruin the magic of believing for your kids doesn’t me I or other parents agree with you. There’s a reason there was a stampede a few years ago when you could meet Anna and Elsa in person. In fact those wait times were higher than that billion dollar land over in the corner from a galaxy far away.

There are so many things wrong with this:

1. Why does is matter if @raven24 or @Disney Irish have kids. I bet they have family they have taken care of and understand how maturity and the "magic" works.

2. Kids are going to have to grow up one day. You don't baby them into the real world and having them not knowing what is happening. You have to EXPLAIN the world to them and help them mature into great human beings. By explaining the change, it would help them turn and realize that our world has so many things going around as we have different races and sexualities. Even if the kids are young, explain it to them in a simple way that they would somewhat understand. I am not trying to tell you how to parent your kids. It just seems absolutely weird that you have to say things like this.

3. Bringing SW:GE into this is irrelevant.

 

[GingerGirl3]

There are so many things wrong with this:

1. Why does is matter if @raven24 or @Disney Irish have kids. I bet they have family they have taken care of and understand how maturity and the "magic" works.

2. Kids are going to have to grow up one day. You don't baby them into the real world and having them not knowing what is happening. You have to EXPLAIN the world to them and help them mature into great human beings. By explaining the change, it would help them turn and realize that our world has so many things going around as we have different races and sexualities. Even if the kids are young, explain it to them in a simple way that they would somewhat understand. I am not trying to tell you how to parent your kids. It just seems absolutely weird that you have to say things like this.

3. Bringing SW:GE into this is irrelevant.

It’s relevant because if you don’t have kids I could see why you would have no idea what little kids understand. The diversity of the world that my kids see everyday has nothing to do with character consistency. I’m not sure if I’ve offended you as an apparent GE fan or if you missed my point. If it’s the latter it was obviously a relevant point that people were willing to wait in longer lines to meet the new princesses than they are to do anything at GE because characters are a big deal.

 

[Californian Elitist]

How can someone who was once a child themself not understand the mentality of a child?

I wonder if this “she’s not a redhead” rhetoric would be happening if Disney cast a white brunette or blonde...

 

[VJ]

2. Kids are going to have to grow up one day. You don't baby them into the real world and having them not knowing what is happening. You have to EXPLAIN the world to them and help them mature into great human beings. By explaining the change, it would help them turn and realize that our world has so many things going around as we have different races and sexualities. Even if the kids are young, explain it to them in a simple way that they would somewhat understand. I am not trying to tell you how to parent your kids. It just seems absolutely weird that you have to say things like this.

I thought this quote would be relevant to this discussion:

“I didn’t treat my youngsters like frail flowers, and I think no parent should. Children are people, and they should have to reach to learn about things, to understand things, just as adults have to reach if they want to grow in mental stature. Life is composed of lights and shadows, and we would be untruthful, insincere, and saccharine if we tried to pretend there were no shadows. Most things are good, and they are the strongest things, but there are evil things, too, and you could do a child no favor by trying to shield it from reality. The important thing is to teach a child that good can always triumph over evil, and that is what our pictures do.” –Walt Disney