The Heroes They Are A Changin’
After two days at Disneyland, a place I’d only been to once before I had kids but now visit at least twice a year, I’m thinking about heroes and flaws.
Flaws, flaws, flaws.
It seems like most of my posts revolve around the flawed or tortured hero who must overcome his darker nature to be worthy of the heroine’s love.
Now what’s up with that?
If you look at how even Disney heroes have changed, I think we can all agree that they’ve gone from stock, two-dimensional characters to so much more as they (and their heroines) have been infused with more life, more personality, and yes, more flaws. They’ve always been brave. But now they are more three-dimensional, more realistic, and yes, more interesting. We have more to learn from their journeys and the happy ending always seems more satisfying as a result.
Compare Prince Charming (pretty much any of the princes in Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Cinderella) to Li Shang (Mulan’s male counterpart in Mulan, a story about a girl who disguises herself as a man in the army in order to save her father from being hurt). Li Sang is honorable, yes, but he’s also judgmental and arrogant. Then there’s the classic Beast from Beauty & The Beast, a man who needs to reconnect with his inner beauty before he can be worthy of love. Hercules is a strong but clumsy boy who must complete his hero’s journey to reclaim his real parents, and Aladdin is a street urchin who breaks a promise to free Genie for his own self-interest. Finally, what about Captain Jack Sparrow? So flawed, yet so compelling and likable anyway!
It’s a fine touch, one I’m still trying to get down, but it’s worth the effort. Just as Disney’s heroines are evolving so that little girls can aspire to be complemented by a man rather than saved by one, Disney’s heroes are evolving into men a modern woman can root for and enjoy!
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
Who is your favorite Disney hero and why?
June 4th, 2008
Virna 
in
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June 4th, 2008 at 8:38 am
John Smith in the Pocahontas story! I always love the outdoorsy rugged man who can provide and protect, but what I really liked about him is that he totally changes his point of view of cultures and societies. He said that he never really felt like he fit in anywhere. And his feelings on the native culture weren’t exactly accepting of them as equals. But he fell in love, and being in love with Pocahontas showed him that he was wrong in thinking that the native Americans weren’t as desirable or as good as the white man. And he realized that when he was with her and her people he finally felt like he fit in somewhere. She completed him
June 4th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Emperor Kuzco from The Emperor’s New Groove
Here’s a character who’s full of love…for himself. He’s rude, narcissistic, selfish, egotistical, a jerk. And while his transformation isn’t 100% at the end of the movie, he does make small baby steps toward reformation when he decides to build his water slide somewhere other than on top of Pacha’s house. It’s not romantic love that’s shown, sure, but for Kuzko, sharing his waterslide with Pacha’s family would probably be the equivalent of Prince Charming ripping his still-beating heart out of his chest, having it bronzed, and presenting it to Snow White in a Tiffany’s box. So he still gets points, IMO.
Runners up:
+ Beast
+ Jim Hawkins from Treasure Planet
+ Thomas O’Malley from The Aristocats
+ Tramp from Lady and the Tramp
+ Robin Hood
(I have a thing for strays.)
June 4th, 2008 at 11:52 am
This is easy for me, Peter Pan. Since I was very young I loved Pete. He was my all time fav. I could relate to the fact, he never wanted to grow up, and would go to any length not too. I never wanted to grow-up either, but had to face the fact I would someday. Pete was self-sacrificing, brave, arrogant, cute, and loyal. Not to mention he could fly, which was very cool, in my young eyes. As a kid, I dove out of hay loft, in a attempt to fly after my sister sprinkled me with “pretend” fairy dust. Wactching from our kitchen window was my grandmother, she nearly had a heart attack, when I landed hard in a huge cloud of dust. I never saw her run so fast before or ever again. When I go to Disneyland, I’ll ride the Peter Pan ride as much as humanly possible, to relive my fantasy.
June 4th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
My favorite was Robin Hood, I loved that little fox with the British accent. LOL He had his flaws; he always pushed his luck, he never saw an adventure he could say no to, but his love for Maid Marian and his ability to help the little people made him so lovable.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Awesome heroes, y’all. I agree there’s something about these reformed characters that has long-lasting appeal. Even when there’s not the romantic HAE (like for John in Pocahontas I or Emperor Kuzco), men who have room to grow and sacrifice for others stay in our memories. Peter Pan is awesome, Lee–the character and the ride. I love flying through those twinkling starts. And Jill, I love that description, “little fox with the British accent.” Robin Hood has always been sexy in that he’s always got a sparkle in his eye and hidden depth! Thanks, ladies! I so appreciate your visiting us.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Lol at myself. Ok, I guess I’m going to have to go back and watch Pocahontas again, but I swear I totally remembered them being together. But I’m always getting my Disney movies confused, especially the ones from the more recent years.
I still think Captain John Smith was a sexy animated character though
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