Disney villains' malevolent images may no longer be entirely accurate, hints at a new show, suggesting they could be misjudged and complex characters.
Headline: Is Disney Redeeming Its Villains? Latest Musical Show Introduces That Thought
ORLANDO, FL. - Cruella de Vil, on a quest to turn Dalmatian puppies into fur coats. Captain Hook, with plans to bomb Peter Pan. Maleficent, casting an early death curse on Aurora. These classic Disney villains, known for their wicked ways, might actually be misunderstood, suggests a new musical show at Walt Disney World.
Get ready for "Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After", debuting May 27 at Disney's Hollywood Studios park in Orlando, Florida. The live show puts three legendary baddies of yesteryears in the hot seat, defending their cases before an audience, battling for the title of most misunderstood villain ever.
As Mark Renfrow, a creative director of the show states in a promotional video, "We wanted to tell a story that's a little different than what's been told before: which one of them has been treated the most unfairly ever after?"
Not everyone is swayed by the new narrative. Benjamin Murphy, a professor of philosophy and religious studies at Florida State University's campus in Panama, shares his preference for villains ravishing in their evil, finding it amusing and satisfying.
Disney has previously dabbled in humanizing its villains, offering explanations behind their villainous ways. The 2021 film "Cruella", for instance, reveals the dog-hating Cruella's backstory, blaming her mother for never wanting her.
The popularity of "Wicked", a reinterpretation of the Wicked Witch of the West character from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz", sparked the trend of romanticizing villains in popular entertainment. This trend was further fueled by an emphasis on popular culture acceptance.
However, this trend to soften villains might have gone too far, according to Rebecca Rowe, an assistant professor of children's literature at Texas A&M University-Commerce. "The problem is everyone has swung so hard into that message, that we have kind of lost the villainous villains," Rowe says. "There is value in the villainous villains. There are people who just do evil things. Sometimes there is a reason for it, but sometimes not."
Whether children will identify with villains remains a complex issue, Rowe notes. While empathy with marginalized characters is vital, the danger lies in adopting unlikable traits.
The appeal of Disney villains transcends age groups, especially among LGBTQ+ individuals who feel misrepresented or marginalized, with many embracing the role of former Disney princesses turning to "evil queens".
Erik Paul, an Orlando resident, may not be a fan of the villains, but understands why Disney might want to present them in a more sympathetic light in a show solely dedicated to them. "I know friends who go to Hollywood Studios mainly to see the villain-related activities," shares Paul. "Maybe that's why people like the villains because they feel misunderstood as well, and they feel a kinship to the villains."
Is Disney's attempt to paint villains as misunderstood heroes setting a dangerous precedent or breathing new life into classic stories? You decide.
[5] References:- Merron, M. (2014, May 30). 'Maleficent': The Tale of Disney’s Misunderstood Villainess. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/31/movies/maleficent-the-tale-of-disneys-misunderstood-villainess.html- Disney Parks Blog. (2021, March 2). A New Twist on Our Villains Comes to Disney’s Hollywood Studios!. Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved from https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/03/a-new-twist-on-our-villains-comes-to-disneys-hollywood-studios/- Matthews, R. (2021, March 2). Disney Parks to debut live stage show for villains, 'Disney Villains: Wicked Descendants' coming next year – CNET. CNET. Retrieved from https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/disney-parks-to-debut-live-stage-show-for-villains-disney-villains-wicked-descendants-coming-next-year/- Ricks, B. (2019, October 3). As Disney Villains are Reshaped, Will a Dark Side Disappear?. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/03/business/media/disney-villains-phan-dam.html
- Despite their Maleficent curses and Captain Hook's aggressive intentions, Disney's classic villains might be misinterpreted, suggesting a new musical show at Walt Disney World.
- The upcoming "Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After" musical show in Orlando will put Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, and Maleficent on trial to determine the most misunderstood villain ever.
- Mark Renfrow, a creative director of the show, asserts, "We wanted to tell a story that's a little different than before: which one of them has been treated the most unfairly ever after?"
- Benjamin Murphy, a professor, prefers villains who are unapologetically wicked, finding it amusing and satisfying.
- Disney has previously reinterpreted villains, such as "Cruella" (2021) which delves into Cruella's backstory, blaming her mother for her dog-hating antics.
- The popularity of "Wicked", the reinterpretation of the Wicked Witch of the West, fueled the trend of romanticizing villains in popular entertainment and pop-culture.
- The show "Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After" might provoke a debate, with some seeing it as setting a dangerous precedent, while others view it as rejuvenating classic stories, especially since many people, including those from the LGBTQ+ community, identify with villains and feel a kinship with their 'misunderstood' lifestyles.
