Credit: Inside the MagicThis week, rumors swirled about the studio revisiting the success of the Disney Renaissance after the recent success at the box office. However, has Disney Animation been neglecting half its audience?
It might look like Disney and Pixar Animation studios are resting on their laurels after the smash hit of Inside Out 2 (2024), but the healing journey is far from over. After Disney’s upcoming wave of sequels, it will need a new original film to solidify its fanbase.
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Based on the patterns seen in the studio’s release schedule, it’s safe to say that Disney might very well return to its fairytale origins. That’s a million-dollar idea, but does Disney really need another princess?
Holding Out For a Hero
As Snow White, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Anna, and Elsa continue to thrive on our screens and at the theme parks, the Disney Princess franchise is undeniably one of the brand’s biggest moneymakers. However, not all of Disney’s clientele are young girls singing “Let It Go” at the top of their lungs.
If Disney truly repeats the pattern of themes seen during the Disney Renaissance, a fairytale adaptation is inevitable. That doesn’t mean the studio should rely entirely on the old way of doing things.
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Disney’s golden era gave us some of the most heroic figures of animated cinema. Look at characters like Hercules, Aladdin, Tarzan, and Simba. All of them were strong (yet flawed) leading males that audiences of both demographics could identify with and root for, and Disney needs to do it again.
Although Disney has had success with characters like Maui from Moana (2016) and Flynn Ryder from Tangled (2010), the studio has not released a specifically male-led title since Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018). Additionally, Disney has recently been in hot water with a generous portion of its male fanbase.
Disney Animation Needs a Male Audience
Disney isn’t just pigeonholed towards one demographic—that was the genius move Walt made way back in the ’30s. However, it’s been a long while since audiences have had a male lead character who received the same appreciation and validation as his female counterpart.
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We’ve had characters like Wreck-It Ralph and Flynn take center stage, but they’re not nearly as grounded as some of Disney’s heroines. The last time fans saw a male character go through any emotional growth with the same level of depth was Kenai in Brother Bear in 2003.
As recent reports from Star Wars and Lucasfilm demonstrate, Disney’s male audience has even come under heavy fire in its own fandoms. If there’s one thing The Walt Disney Company should take away from its recent success, it’s not to funnel all its time, attention, and creative power toward just one breed of audience alone.
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Audiences need positive male characters just as much as beautiful princesses and heroines who overcome adversity and obstacles. Characters like Eric, Prince Philip, and others like them are rarely more than glorified set dressing until they have to swoop end in the film’s third act.
Male audiences will always love material like Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but that doesn’t mean they should be excluded from Disney’s animated masterpieces. Instead of trying to find the next Elsa or Moana, Disney needs a new Hercules, Aladdin, or Simba.
Who is your favorite Disney hero? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!