Are Disney Movies Bad for Children?

[Murbleflip]

But he wears red clothes in animated series and movies.

Which are Disney.

I advise reading the books so you can see that a) he wears nothing, b) he is sometimes called Edward Bear and c) notice that Gopher is non-existant.

It's like how Irene Adler's case in Sherlock Holmes has a strong tendency to not involve royalty, photographs and fires when adapted (although, when put in those terms, Sherlock is remarkably accurate). The original story is quite different. (A better example would be the Moriarty obsession... he's quite a minor character, really.)

But the main point is that Disney mangled Winnie-the-Pooh. I'd be willing to bet a lot of its fans have never heard of "A A Milne".

I've heard of A A Milne... but I've never watched the disney version, so that just goes to show.

[Starkiller101]

yes Disney movies are bad for children and they have subliminal messages in most of their movies

[New Besancon]

yes Disney movies are bad for children and they have subliminal messages in most of their movies

That is to true.

[Cameroi]

i think the worst thing for children is censorship. and my reasoning is this, even the most horrendous real event, let alone one that is simulated, most people, even children get over eventually. BUT:
if all someone ever sees is one kind of thing, then when they encounter an unfamiliar situation, that one kind of thing is likely to be the only way they can think of or know how to deal with it.

this is why war movies, violent games, what have you, aren't bad in and of themselves, it is only when everything else is excluded, that you end up with the children of alcohaulics who only let their kids watch war movies and professional athletics end up going postal and trying to see how many victims of opportunity they can waste.

now disney movies, they used to be all or mostly one kind of thing, that's kind of ancient history for the most part.
they no longer just produce and distribute one kind of thing, they buy almost everything from all over, and then call it theirs and wont let anyone else play with it.
and that bugs me about what the disney organization has become.

but no, i wouldn't say any movies are bad for children, provided they aren't the only thing their exposed to.

[Matta]

i think the worst thing for children is censorship. and my reasoning is this, even the most horrendous real event, let alone one that is simulated, most people, even children get over eventually. BUT:
if all someone ever sees is one kind of thing, then when they encounter an unfamiliar situation, that one kind of thing is likely to be the only way they can think of or know how to deal with it.

this is why war movies, violent games, what have you, aren't bad in and of themselves, it is only when everything else is excluded, that you end up with the children of alcohaulics who only let their kids watch war movies and professional athletics end up going postal and trying to see how many victims of opportunity they can waste.

now disney movies, they used to be all or mostly one kind of thing, that's kind of ancient history for the most part.
they no longer just produce and distribute one kind of thing, they buy almost everything from all over, and then call it theirs and wont let anyone else play with it.
and that bugs me about what the disney organization has become.

but no, i wouldn't say any movies are bad for children, provided they aren't the only thing their exposed to.

So you are saying its okay to tell kids you can't be beautiful unless you're anorexic. Most of the stuff you have a good point but not with telling kids to be anorexic to be beautiful. Its not just Disney though its all kinds of entertainment on TV these days. When I have my own kids I don't want them thinking to be good-looking anorexia. Disney doesn't even have war or violent movies that I know of.

[Wiztopia]

I am not 100% sure this belongs in General rather than Arts and Fiction but as the intent here is to focus the discussion on the influence of the films on society rather than the films themselves I'm putting it here.

I was watching a bunch of Disney movies with my sister yesterday and I do not think they are a good influence on children, especially girls. The movies are full of racist and sexist messages.
The classic Disney princesses are all dangerously underweight. Many are passive and helpless and even those who do have some control over their own lives are still ultimately reliant on the prince to save them. Most marry in their teens.
On top of this there is a pattern in the appearances of the characters. Protagonists of both genders are beautiful, supporting characters are strange looking and villains are ugly or monstrous. This clearly sends the wrong message about appearance. Villains are always darker in colour than the heroes as well. Even on the rare occasion heroes are not white they are always lighter skinned than the villains.
One exception I noted was Beauty and the Beast which had only the problem of the underweight princess. I also am overlooking the 21st century films as they do not have the same influence as the older ones in popular culture.
I would not take issue with any of this if these were movies for adults, but as Disney movies are not only aimed at young children but are usually the first movies children see it is important to be aware of the lessons they are teaching.

What does everybody else think? Are Disney movies a bad influence on children? Do the characters make good role models?

EDIT: I would like to retract my claim about Beauty and the Beast not being harmful in light of some well reasoned responses. I still think it is better than most but clearly there are problems I missed.

Most of the Disney movies are old as hell making these arguments invalid. This is just how the world thought when most of the movies came out originally.

The movies aren't harmful anyway.

[Blekksprutia]

Yes they are.
The Disney Cult is re-establishing films with stories that weren't really meant for kids in the first place. Many of the movies contain these subliminal messages about sex.

I know Walt Disney was a social conservative but his legacy has been hijacked by some fat corporate slob. and don't get me started on the garbage Disney Channel puts, those are worst than the movies.

Jesus, what has the world come to.

Okay. Lemme break this down.

Many of the movies contain these subliminal messages about sex.

Okay. Here's a problem.

Many of the movies

"The Lion King"

contain these subliminal messages about sex.

It said "SFX." It was a nod to the sound effects people.

Moving on.

I know Walt Disney was a social conservative but his legacy has been hijacked by some fat corporate slob. and don't get me started on the garbage Disney Channel puts, those are worst than the movies.

Wait for it...

I know Walt Disney was a social conservative

Liberal leftist, sure...

but his legacy has been hijacked by some fat corporate slob

Uh no.

and don't get me started on the garbage Disney Channel puts, those are worst than the movies.

Grammar, please.

Okay. So you have some homework.

[Cameroi]

i think the worst thing for children is censorship. and my reasoning is this, even the most horrendous real event, let alone one that is simulated, most people, even children get over eventually. BUT:
if all someone ever sees is one kind of thing, then when they encounter an unfamiliar situation, that one kind of thing is likely to be the only way they can think of or know how to deal with it.

this is why war movies, violent games, what have you, aren't bad in and of themselves, it is only when everything else is excluded, that you end up with the children of alcohaulics who only let their kids watch war movies and professional athletics end up going postal and trying to see how many victims of opportunity they can waste.

now disney movies, they used to be all or mostly one kind of thing, that's kind of ancient history for the most part.
they no longer just produce and distribute one kind of thing, they buy almost everything from all over, and then call it theirs and wont let anyone else play with it.
and that bugs me about what the disney organization has become.

but no, i wouldn't say any movies are bad for children, provided they aren't the only thing their exposed to.

So you are saying its okay to tell kids you can't be beautiful unless you're anorexic. Most of the stuff you have a good point but not with telling kids to be anorexic to be beautiful. Its not just Disney though its all kinds of entertainment on TV these days. When I have my own kids I don't want them thinking to be good-looking anorexia. Disney doesn't even have war or violent movies that I know of.

i'm agreeing with you. other then that the idea of censoring disney won't accomplish this. of course its the corporate influence promoting a culture that favors their profits above all else. disney wasn't always a symbol of all that is wrong with it. and there's nothing wrong with boycotting corporate culture either. you can't hide reality from children without injuring them just as much by doing so. but none of us have to shop at wall mart, or drive a car in a city that has a good transit system.

my point is that children growing up, to understand what they need to realistically, need to witness diversity so they can understand everything isn't all any one way. so they can grow up to build something that will gratify everyone, instead of everyone having to live in misery, because it profits a few, to have the rest of us believe, that is all we are capable of.

[Ifreann]

I am not 100% sure this belongs in General rather than Arts and Fiction but as the intent here is to focus the discussion on the influence of the films on society rather than the films themselves I'm putting it here.

I was watching a bunch of Disney movies with my sister yesterday and I do not think they are a good influence on children, especially girls. The movies are full of racist and sexist messages.
The classic Disney princesses are all dangerously underweight. Many are passive and helpless and even those who do have some control over their own lives are still ultimately reliant on the prince to save them. Most marry in their teens.
On top of this there is a pattern in the appearances of the characters. Protagonists of both genders are beautiful, supporting characters are strange looking and villains are ugly or monstrous. This clearly sends the wrong message about appearance. Villains are always darker in colour than the heroes as well. Even on the rare occasion heroes are not white they are always lighter skinned than the villains.
One exception I noted was Beauty and the Beast which had only the problem of the underweight princess. I also am overlooking the 21st century films as they do not have the same influence as the older ones in popular culture.
I would not take issue with any of this if these were movies for adults, but as Disney movies are not only aimed at young children but are usually the first movies children see it is important to be aware of the lessons they are teaching.

What does everybody else think? Are Disney movies a bad influence on children? Do the characters make good role models?

EDIT: I would like to retract my claim about Beauty and the Beast not being harmful in light of some well reasoned responses. I still think it is better than most but clearly there are problems I missed.

Most of the Disney movies are old as hell making these arguments invalid. This is just how the world thought when most of the movies came out originally.

And therefore, they aren't harmful to children now. Because the people who made them were sincere in their racism and sexism. Right.

[Creative Vikings]

My favourite one was Atlantis because I couldn't see Michael J. Fox's Parkinson's.

[Wiztopia]

Most of the Disney movies are old as hell making these arguments invalid. This is just how the world thought when most of the movies came out originally.

And therefore, they aren't harmful to children now. Because the people who made them were sincere in their racism and sexism. Right.

They aren't. Only stupid parents who can't teach their kids right are a problem.

[Geilinor]

i think the worst thing for children is censorship. and my reasoning is this, even the most horrendous real event, let alone one that is simulated, most people, even children get over eventually. BUT:
if all someone ever sees is one kind of thing, then when they encounter an unfamiliar situation, that one kind of thing is likely to be the only way they can think of or know how to deal with it.

this is why war movies, violent games, what have you, aren't bad in and of themselves, it is only when everything else is excluded, that you end up with the children of alcohaulics who only let their kids watch war movies and professional athletics end up going postal and trying to see how many victims of opportunity they can waste.

now disney movies, they used to be all or mostly one kind of thing, that's kind of ancient history for the most part.
they no longer just produce and distribute one kind of thing, they buy almost everything from all over, and then call it theirs and wont let anyone else play with it.
and that bugs me about what the disney organization has become.

but no, i wouldn't say any movies are bad for children, provided they aren't the only thing their exposed to.

So you are saying its okay to tell kids you can't be beautiful unless you're anorexic. Most of the stuff you have a good point but not with telling kids to be anorexic to be beautiful.

If that message is countered with "you don't have to be super thin to be beautiful", you'll send a middle-of-the-road message to your children, which would equal "it's best to be a healthy weight, because being too low or too high is bad for you". It's best to expose children to diverse opinions, no matter how stupid those ideas may be.

[Uiiop]

Nope most of this shit flies past them as kids. Except of course maybe how violent some of the deaths are.

[Geilinor]

And therefore, they aren't harmful to children now. Because the people who made them were sincere in their racism and sexism. Right.

They aren't. Only stupid parents who can't teach their kids right are a problem.

Many times, that is the case, but not always.

[United Kingdom of Muffins]

Nope most of this shit flies past them as kids. Except of course maybe how violent some of the deaths are.

And their porn films probably are kinda bad too.

[Czechanada]

At least Spongebob has characters doing bad things and suffer the consequences later. The only cartoon years ahead we should be proud of.

You know that spongebob was originally going to be a Gay Adult Show.

Do have a source for that?

[Fedeledland]

i think the worst thing for children is censorship. and my reasoning is this, even the most horrendous real event, let alone one that is simulated, most people, even children get over eventually. BUT:
if all someone ever sees is one kind of thing, then when they encounter an unfamiliar situation, that one kind of thing is likely to be the only way they can think of or know how to deal with it.

this is why war movies, violent games, what have you, aren't bad in and of themselves, it is only when everything else is excluded, that you end up with the children of alcohaulics who only let their kids watch war movies and professional athletics end up going postal and trying to see how many victims of opportunity they can waste.

now disney movies, they used to be all or mostly one kind of thing, that's kind of ancient history for the most part.
they no longer just produce and distribute one kind of thing, they buy almost everything from all over, and then call it theirs and wont let anyone else play with it.
and that bugs me about what the disney organization has become.

but no, i wouldn't say any movies are bad for children, provided they aren't the only thing their exposed to.

So you are saying its okay to tell kids you can't be beautiful unless you're anorexic. Most of the stuff you have a good point but not with telling kids to be anorexic to be beautiful. Its not just Disney though its all kinds of entertainment on TV these days. When I have my own kids I don't want them thinking to be good-looking anorexia. Disney doesn't even have war or violent movies that I know of.

What?

Just because Disney princesses are skinny doesn't mean that they say "you can't be beautiful unless you're anorexic".

And really, if Disney is the only thing showing beauty you show to your kids, that's also a problem.

[Geilinor]

You know that spongebob was originally going to be a Gay Adult Show.

Do have a source for that?

You wouldn't believe the idiots out there. http://theweek.com/article/index/219196/top-6-spongebob-squarepants-controversies

[Ifreann]

And therefore, they aren't harmful to children now. Because the people who made them were sincere in their racism and sexism. Right.

They aren't. Only stupid parents who can't teach their kids right are a problem.

And if they don't teach their kids right, they will fail to undo the harm caused by Disney movies.

[Matta]

So you are saying its okay to tell kids you can't be beautiful unless you're anorexic. Most of the stuff you have a good point but not with telling kids to be anorexic to be beautiful. Its not just Disney though its all kinds of entertainment on TV these days. When I have my own kids I don't want them thinking to be good-looking anorexia. Disney doesn't even have war or violent movies that I know of.

What?

Just because Disney princesses are skinny doesn't mean that they say "you can't be beautiful unless you're anorexic".

And really, if Disney is the only thing showing beauty you show to your kids, that's also a problem.

First of all when they make Merida who looked like she was at a healthy weight and make her skinnier there is a problem. I did not say anything about that being the only thing show beauty i show my kids. Did you not see Its not just Disney though its all kinds of entertainment on TV these days. Have you seen all these super skinny people on TV these days. Also that girl who played the girl in hunger games was put on the cover of a magazine and they photo-shopped her to be skinny there is a problem.
Want proof
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sh ... eauty.html


So yes these entertainment companies are sending that message.

[Wiztopia]

What?

Just because Disney princesses are skinny doesn't mean that they say "you can't be beautiful unless you're anorexic".

And really, if Disney is the only thing showing beauty you show to your kids, that's also a problem.

First of all when they make Merida who looked like she was at a healthy weight and make her skinnier there is a problem. I did not say anything about that being the only thing show beauty i show my kids. Did you not see Its not just Disney though its all kinds of entertainment on TV these days. Have you seen all these super skinny people on TV these days. Also that girl who played the girl in hunger games was put on the cover of a magazine and they photo-shopped her to be skinny there is a problem.
Want proof
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sh ... eauty.html


So yes these entertainment companies are sending that message.

Since when is The Sun reliable?

[Matta]

First of all when they make Merida who looked like she was at a healthy weight and make her skinnier there is a problem. I did not say anything about that being the only thing show beauty i show my kids. Did you not see Its not just Disney though its all kinds of entertainment on TV these days. Have you seen all these super skinny people on TV these days. Also that girl who played the girl in hunger games was put on the cover of a magazine and they photo-shopped her to be skinny there is a problem.
Want proof
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sh ... eauty.html


So yes these entertainment companies are sending that message.

Since when is The Sun reliable?

More sources
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/fash-t ... ior-425504
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2013/03/01/ ... ior-oscars
http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-new ... hop-201313
http://www.reddit.com/r/JenniferLawrenc ... photoshop/
http://www.celebuzz.com/2013-03-01/j-la ... photoshop/
http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/celebrity- ... -photoshop
Each on clearly states it was photoshop not her actual self so yes hollywood is sending that message.

[Fedeledland]

Since when is The Sun reliable?

More sources
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/fash-t ... ior-425504
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2013/03/01/ ... ior-oscars
http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-new ... hop-201313
http://www.reddit.com/r/JenniferLawrenc ... photoshop/
http://www.celebuzz.com/2013-03-01/j-la ... photoshop/
http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/celebrity- ... -photoshop
Each on clearly states it was photoshop not her actual self so yes hollywood is sending that message.

The Hunger Games has nothing to do with Disney. It's also not targeted to little children. So that has nothing to do with Disney movies nor teaching girls whether anorexia is beautiful or not.

[Matta]

More sources
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/fash-t ... ior-425504
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2013/03/01/ ... ior-oscars
http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-new ... hop-201313
http://www.reddit.com/r/JenniferLawrenc ... photoshop/
http://www.celebuzz.com/2013-03-01/j-la ... photoshop/
http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/celebrity- ... -photoshop
Each on clearly states it was photoshop not her actual self so yes hollywood is sending that message.

The Hunger Games has nothing to do with Disney. It's also not targeted to little children. So that has nothing to do with Disney movies nor teaching girls whether anorexia is beautiful or not.

Again Its just not Disney its all entertainment companies. Also you seemed to ignore my post on them making Merida skinnier and have you seen the Disney princesses lately they are way to skinny and don't say they aren't skinny just because their dresses are poofed up.

[The Serbian Empire]

yes Disney movies are bad for children and they have subliminal messages in most of their movies

Almost all movies have bad subliminal messages in them though. It's the industry and not just Disney that is messing up children with the subliminal messages.