Beauty and the Beast - Articles and Interviews

Almost 2 years after it started filming, Disney's live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast was finally released in cinemas this week. By the very high standards which Disney have set for themselves, its Rotten Tomatoes score of 71% Fresh is a bit of a disappointment (The original Beauty and the Beast has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 93% Fresh), but it has made an impressive $63.78 million on its opening day in the USA alone, demonstrating that it is yet another major hit for Disney...

Due to the iconic status of the original (the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture) and the all-star cast (led by Emma Watson and Dan Stevens), this version of Beauty and the Beast has arrived in a blaze of publicity. In this blog post, I will provide a set of 28 articles about the live-action remake, which range from interviews with the cast and crew to discussions of the original movie's legacy and the some of the controversies surrounding this retelling.

The Legacy of the Original 

Inevitably, the publicity surrounding the remake has led to increased focus on the original animated version from 1991. These articles provide information on how it was made and how it became one of Disney's best-loved films. They demonstrate that the remake is under a lot of pressure to live up to the high standards set by the original Beauty and the Beast...

Beauty and the Beast: Angela Lansbury On Film's Legacy, Live-Action Reboot - Whilst many people are incredibly excited about the prospect of a live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast, others have argued that the enduring popularity of the original makes a new version unnecessary. Among those who have expressed the latter view is Angela Lansbury, the iconic actress who voiced talking teapot Mrs. Potts in the original film. In an interview last year to mark the 25th anniversary of the animated version, she claimed that  "I don’t quite know why they’re doing it. I can’t understand what they’re going to do with it that will be better than what we’ve already done". Lansbury also talks about what it was like to be involved in the 1991 film, and its popularity amongst children. Her comments highlight how hard it will be for the remake to emulate the quality of the "extraordinary and special" original.

Beauty and the Beast: The Tales Behind the Tunes - The live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast will feature all six of the songs from the original, including "Belle", "Be Our Guest" and the Oscar-winning title song. In this article, Alan Menken, who composed these songs, provides some information on how they were made, with some interesting tales about how he sent the wrong demo of "Beauty and the Beast" to Angela Lansbury, and how lyricist Howard Ashman was reluctant to hand over a version of "Belle" to Disney execs in the belief that they would not accept a "seven-minute opening number".

How One Gay Man's Battle With AIDS Shaped Disney's‘Beauty and the Beast’ - In an interview with the LGBTQ+ magazine Attitude, Bill Condon, the openly gay director of the live-action remake, discusses how Howard Ashman's battle with HIV/AIDS (he died of the disease in March 1991) shaped the original film and its portrayal of the Beast . He also mentions how the macho villain Gaston was based on people who Ashman referred to as "trade" (i.e. masculine and primarily straight males secretly involved in relationships with gay man). If there is one person who did more than anyone else to bring Beauty and the Beast to life, it is Howard Ashman, so it's great to see him get recognised for his contributions to Disney history.

How We Made Beauty and the Beast - In this article from The Guardian, Linda Woolverton, who wrote the screenplay for the original Beauty and the Beast, and Alan Menken discuss their experiences working on the original.Woolverton explains how she tried to make Belle a strong feminist role model, in spite of resistance from some Disney execs, whilst Menken provides some fascinating anecdotes about working with the legendary Howard Ashman.

Original Belle Gives Thumbs-Up to Emma Watson in 'Beauty and the Beast'  - Although Angela Lansbury has been sceptical about the live-action remake, Paige O'Hara, who voiced Belle in the original movie, has been more enthusiastic. In September last year, O'Hara took part in a USA Today interview with Robby Benson (who voiced the Beast) and Richard White (who voiced Gaston), where she endorsed the casting of Emma Watson as Belle. In addition, she stated that "there's always going to be room in history for both of these versions". 

This Beauty and the Beast Art Show Is, Well, Beautiful - The Californian art gallery Gallery Nucleus has a history of providing Disney-themed exhibitions. To coincide with the release of Beauty and the Beast, they are putting on an exhibition consisting of 40 artworks themed around the the movie, which runs until the start of April. Some of these pieces are shown in this Gizmodo article, and they are very impressive, capturing the magic and wonder of the story which inspired them.

The Stars 

One of the major selling points of the live-action version of Beauty and the Beast is the all-star cast, including Emma Watson (the Harry Potter series), Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey), Luke Evans (Fast and Furious 7), Josh Gad (Frozen), Ewan McGregor (Moulin Rouge!), Sir Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy), Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks) and Kevin Kline (A Fish Called Wanda). These actors, in particular the lead trio of Watson, Stevens and Evans, have provided plenty of interviews to promote the film and get their fans to see it...

Beauty and the Beast: 5 Juicy Behind-the-Scenes Secrets from the Cast - In a talk with Vanity Fair to coincide with the movie's premiere, the four main stars of Beauty and the Beast (Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans and Josh Gad) provide some interesting secrets from behind the scenes. Emma Watson and Josh Gad discuss the movie's timely messages about being yourself and not judging a book by its cover, whilst Stevens talks about wearing stilts to play the Beast, and Evans reveals how he prepared for his role as Gaston.

Beauty and the Beast: Emma Watson Addresses Questions Over Beast Relationship - Famous for playing the brainy Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, Emma Watson, who plays Belle, is probably the person who has featured the most in the remake's publicity campaign. Here, she responds to the common claim that Belle suffers from "Stockholm Syndrome" when she falls in love with the Beast. "Watson argues that, in this version, Belle "keeps that freedom of thought" throughout, and her relationship with the Beast is based on the gradual realisation that they "bring out the best" in each other. She regards Belle's relationship with the Beast, which is more realistic than the traditional Disney romance, as one of the movie's major selling points.

'Citizen Kane' Inspired Dan Stevens for 'Beauty and the Beast' - The Beast is played by Dan Stevens, star of the hit TV shows Downton Abbey and Legion. In this Times of India article, he points out that the film will show more of the Beast's life before he got cursed, and talks about watching a wide range of movies, including Wreck-It Ralph and Citizen Kane, in order to get inspiration for his role. 

Emma Watson On Why Beauty And The Beast’s Belle ‘breaks the mould’ of Disney princesses - Here is another article featuring Emma Watson, as she explains why Belle is not your typical Disney princess. She points out that Belle was the first Disney princess created by a woman (Linda Woolverton), and highlights her desire to challenge the status quo and seek out something greater. 

Emma Watson Reveals the Deeper Message in 'Beauty and the Beast' - Like Hermione Granger, one of Belle's defining traits is her love of reading. According to Emma Watson, this will be an integral aspect of the live-action remake, as Belle's "passion for books" is one of the most important things that she has in common with the Beast. She notes that books "have the ability to change your life and your outlook", and points out that up to 80 million girls around the world are prohibited from going to school based on their gender. Watson is a very passionate advocate of women's rights (she recently distributing free copies of feminist books on the London Underground), and she hopes that Beauty and the Beast will inspire further interest in the issue of Women's Education, thus encouraging demands for greater equality. 

How Dan Stevens Went From Disney Prince to Comic Book Legend - Five years after he quit Downton Abbey, Dan Stevens has returned to prominence with his roles in Beauty and the Beast and the superhero TV show Legion. Although this article from Backstage predominantly focuses on Legion, Stevens discusses working with Emma Watson, and talks about some of the special effects used to bring the Beast to life.

Luke Evans On Becoming Gaston For 'Beauty And The Beast' - The third lead in Beauty and the Beast is the Welsh actor Luke Evans, who plays the movie's egocentric and self-aggrandizing villain, Gaston. In this interview with Harper's Bazaar, Evans talks about what it was like playing Gaston, his experiences working with Josh Gad, (who plays Gaston's sidekick LeFou), and the risk of being typecast as overly macho antagonists.

Luke Evans Explains the Backstory for His Gaston in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ - One of the things which will mark this version of Beauty and the Beast out from the original is the increased focus on backstory, with flashbacks depicting Belle's childhood and explaining why the Beast was cursed. Even Gaston is getting a backstory, with Luke Evans explaining that his celebrity status within Belle's village is based on his past as a war hero. He also points out that what makes Gaston such an unnerving villain is his realistic nature, as he is "an arrogant, narcissistic, bigoted, chauvinistic, self-absorbed man" willing to resort to violence when he doesn't get his way. (Does this remind you of anyone?)

Stanley Tucci: Beauty And The Beast Challenges Views on Race as Well as Gender - Aside from the three leads, the supporting cast of Beauty and the Beast have plenty to say about the film as well. The Oscar-nominated actor Stanley Tucci plays Maestro Cadenza, a character specially created for this remake. He praises the fact that there are two interracial couples in the Beast's staff (Cadenza and Madame Garderobe, and Lumiere and Plumette), and expresses his hope that this will normalise interracial relationships, which are still relatively rare in the USA. 

Behind the Scenes

For all the media focus on the actors, the people working behind the scenes are arguably even more important. They range from reasonably well-known figures such as director Bill Condon (Dreamgirls) and composer Alan Menken (Aladdin), to various set designers and special effects experts who gave the live-action remake its distinctive look.

Alan Menken and the Musical Legacy of Beauty and the Beast - Here is another interview of Alan Menken, this one provided by Den of Geek. In it, Menken reveals that he updated the score in order to the add a greater "sense of reality" to the live-action remake, conveying the feel of the movie's setting (France in the mid-18th century). He also looks at the differences between the live-action remake and the stage version of Beauty and the Beast (which ran on Broadway for 13 years) and mentions that almost all the cast members (with the exception of the two leads- Emma Watson and Dan Stevens) have experience performing in musicals.

‘Beauty and the Beast’: Disney’s $300 Million Gamble -  In this article, The New York Times provide a look at the risks involved in remaking Beauty and the Beast in live-action. They examine some of the changes made by the new version, including a controversial new look for Mrs. Potts, and the innovations used in an attempt to update a story which many fans know "chapter and verse".

Bill Condon on Beauty and the Beast, His Musical Influences, and Lindsay Lohan’s Plan for The Little Mermaid - This article from Vulture features Beauty and the Beast's director, Bill Condon, talking about how he transferred the tale into live action, the influence of Jean Cocteau's 1946 film La Belle et La Bete, and the "overblown" controversy surrounding LeFou's "gay moment". He also gets to give his opinion on Lindsay Lohan's request that he should direct a live-action remake of Disney's The Little Mermaid in which she gets to play Ariel.

Exclusive: Celine Dion Opens Up About Singing New Song for 'Beauty and the Beast' 26 Years After the Original - In 1991, the iconic diva Celine Dion participated in the original Beauty and the Beast, singing a version of the eponymous song over the end credits. In the live-action remake, she will return to sing a new song called "How Does A Moment Last Forever?". Talking to Entertainment Tonight, she reveals how much she loved the original movie, and why she chose to sign up for the latest version.

How Long Has The Prince Been Cursed In The New Beauty And The Beast? Dan Stevens And Bill Condon Weigh In - The live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast is about 40 minutes longer than the animated version, which gives the film extra time to explore the issues which the original didn't have the time to examine. A couple of notable question left by the animated version are: how old the Beast was when he was cursed, and how long has he been in his current monstrous form? Dan Stevens and Bill Condon attempt to provide CinemaBlend with the answers, but their comments are pretty vague, with Condon claiming that the amount of time the Beast was bewitched is something which should be left for the fans to speculate.

Making the Magic of Beauty and the Beast Real - In this promotional article published in The Daily Telegraph, we get a sense of how much effort went into making this version of Beauty and the Beast look as epic as possible. 27 massive physical sets were constructed at Shepperton Studios, and director Bill Condon and cinematographer Tobias Schliessler used the latest technology in order to highlight how incredible these locations are. There is also information on how advanced motion-capture was used in order to bring the Beast to life, with Dan Stevens having to shoot scenes twice in order to capture his body movement and facial expressions in as much detail as possible.

Pittsburgh Native Chbosky Puts His Spin On 'Beauty and the Beast' - Stephen Chobsky, who previously wrote the screenplay for (and directed) Emma Watson's 2012 movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower, co-wrote the screenplay for the live-action version of Beauty and the Beast with Evan Spiliotopoulos. In this interview with Pittsburgh news website Trib Live, he explains that "I just wanted to write a fairytale for my daughter". He also explains how he tried to update Linda Woolverton's script for the animated film by adding "new characters and relationships", and discusses the creation of a new song for the movie called "For Evermore", written by the iconic lyricist Sir Tim Rice.

See the Concept Art that Brought the Beautiful Scenery of Beauty and the Beast to Life - A lot of effort went into creating the locations featured in the live-action remake, in order to give them a distinct and epic feel. Here, OhMyDisney show off some of the spectacular concept art used to bring a number important settings to life, including Belle's home and the Beast's library...

Take A Look Inside the Creation of the Ballroom for Beauty and the Beast - One of the central locations in the live-action remake is the Beast's ballroom. OhMyDisney have provided a number of snapshots which show just how spectacular this location is, even when it falls into a state of disrepair after the Beast gets cursed...

Controversies 

For all the excitement surrounding Beauty and the Beast, there have been a couple of controversies surrounding the project. Most notably, Bill Condon stated that LeFou would have the first ever "exclusively gay moment" in a Disney film, leading to a depressing homophobic backlash. Another notable incident involved a lesson plan which attacked the original film's portrayal of Belle. Both were blown way out of proportion, but highlight the fact that Beauty and the Beast's giant fan-base includes some very vocal and reactionary viewers.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast Remake Shouldn't Have A Tokenistic Gay Romance – the Main Characters Should Be Gay -  Not all the criticism of the decision to make LeFou gay has been homophobic in nature. In fact, many commentators have expressed disappointment that "Disney's first gay character" is merely a "slimy, sycophantic villain's sidekick". This editorial in The Independent argues that, in honour of Howard Ashman's battle with HIV/AIDS, Beauty and the Beast should go much further in representing the LGBTQ+ community, with a gay Beast and a male Beauty. Although there are some flaws with this argument (for example, there is a reference to the animated version of Beauty and the Beast as "the original Beauty and the Beast story", which ignores the fact that the first published version of the tale came roughly 250 years earlier), it is certainly true that LGBTQ+ narratives should be allowed greater prominence after centuries of being excluded from mainstream society. In addition, given that it is traditionally regarded as a hetrosexual love story, it would be interesting to see a version of Beauty and the Beast centered around a gay couple.

Does Disney’s ‘Beauty And The Beast’ Glamorize Domestic Violence? - In November, around the time that the first full trailer for the live-action remake was released, there was some controversy in the UK press about a lesson plan written by a teacher which suggested that the film condoned domestic abuse, due to the Beast's initial harsh treatment of Belle. Here, Hollywood.Com point out the reasons why this claim is incorrect (For starters, the villainous Gaston is a much more extreme example of a domestic abuser than the ultimately kindhearted Beast), but their article concludes by sensibly stating "it’s just a Disney movie, and everyone is really reading too much into it."

Everyone Is Making the Same Joke About the Backlash to the Gay Character in "Beauty and the Beast" - Although LeFou's "gay moment" is apparently completely innocuous, it has led to some cinemas refusing to show the live-action version of Beauty and the Beast, and the film receiving a 16+ (adults only) rating in Russia. Many commentators on Twitter have made fun of this overreaction, and this article from Seventeen collects a number of tweets, including one from the YouTube personality Tyler Oakley, which argue that it's ridiculous to get worked up about a "blink and you'll miss it" moment involving a side character whilst overlooking the fact that Beauty and the Beast is a film "about a girl who falls in love with a buffalo". The allegations that Beauty and the Beast promotes bestiality are ludicrous for a number of reasons, but then so are the claims that LeFou's subplot represents a form of "gay propaganda"... 

Pupils Taught Disney Fairy Tales Promote Sexism and Domestic Violence in Online Lesson Plan - In contrast to Hollywood.com, some British commentators were less polite about the allegations that Beauty and the Beast was excusing domestic abuse. One Conservative politician called the lesson plan making this allegation "politically correct claptrap" and accused it of "brainwashing" children, whilst the head of the right-wing pressure group Campaign for Real Education described it as "an ignorant, insidious and covert attack on family values and on the ancient wisdom of fairy tales." Claims that criticism of Disney movies represents a threat to society are pretty extreme, but they highlight the way in which films like Beauty and the Beast have become the definition of wholesome, family-friendly entertainment.

Summary 

All the articles above highlight the fact that it will be incredibly difficult for the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast to become as iconic as the original movie, and it will be very hard to expand the story whilst pleasing a fanbase who can become incredibly hostile to trivial changes and criticisms. However, the interviews and articles about the making of the new version also demonstrate that the people involved in bringing this version to life have put an immense amount of effort into ensuring that this retelling will be worth seeing. Even if it cannot match the original, the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast will probably still be a spectacular and entertaining movie which all the family can enjoy.

The Nostalgia Critic Vs. Lindsay Ellis: Duelling Editorials on the Decline of the Disney Villain

(Note: This article contains spoilers for Moana. It also discusses plot twists from some recent Disney films. It can be assumed that anyone who reads this has seen the likes of Frozen and Zootropolis, and knows what happens, but if you don’t, tread carefully…)

The rise of the internet has led to the emergence of a number of intelligent and insightful online film critics. One of the most prominent is Doug Walker, better known as The Nostalgia Critic. Last week, he published a video called “What Happened to Great Disney Villains?” on the online reviewing website Channel Awesome. The video features him explaining why he thinks that the Disney villains of today are not up to the standard of the scene-stealing baddies which they provided in the past. By sheer coincidence, Lindsay Ellis, a former reviewer on Channel Awesome (Where she was known as The Nostalgia Chick) simultaneously released an editorial on the same subject, called “Are Disney Villains Going Extinct?” Both videos are can be viewed below:

 


 

Both The Nostalgia Critic and Lindsay Ellis are passionate Disney fans. Since 2011, The Nostalgia Critic has provided an annual event called ‘Disneycember’, where he spends the whole of December reviewing Disney films. Meanwhile, Elis has discussed a number of Disney-related subjects, ranging from their direct-to-video sequels to their duels with rival animation studio Dreamworks. The two videos are interesting and insightful, but how do they convey their arguments and which of them is better?

What Makes a Great Disney Villain?

Both The Nostalgia Critic and Lindsay Ellis argue that the older Disney villains are superior to the ones they have provided in recent years, with The Nostalgia Critic claiming that Disney has not had a true “scene stealer” of a villain since Hades from Hercules, which was released almost 20 years ago. The Nostalgia Critic believes that the Disney villains of the past were iconic due to their strong and distinctive personalities. He notes that a colourful baddie provides a truly formidable obstacle for our heroes, and when their plans get thwarted, it makes the ending all the happier.  However, he believes that Modern Disney villains are merely “serviceable”. They advance the story and provide good messages (for example, in Frozen, Hans’ scheming nature highlights the fact that not all Princes are as perfect as they seem), but they are not “deliciously despicable” enough to stand alongside the likes of Ursula and Maleficent. Overall, The Nostalgia Critic believes that Disney’s best villains are able to fire up our emotions in a way which modern ones cannot.

Meanwhile, Lindsay Ellis highlights how the best Disney villains can be both evil and enjoyable at the same time. This is especially apparent in a comedic section where she tries to downplay and justify the vile deeds of several Disney Renaissance villains. However, she places particular focus on the way in which the Disney villains have become a brand of their own, taking centre stage in films like Maleficent, the TV movie Descendants and the Disneyland attraction Club Villain. The Disney villains also appear in a lot of merchandise, and Ellis shows a collection of novelty pins themed around villains such as Hades and Professor Ratigan. However, she believes that it not easy to make recent Disney villains as iconic, claiming that pins of Mother Gothel are not as popular as pins showing older villains. Ellis acknowledges that Tamatoa, the flamboyant giant crab from Moana, is the nearest Disney have got to the classic villain template since 2010, but his role in the film is too small for him to have enough impact. Both videos have different, but interesting ways of explaining why Disney villains are so popular. Whilst The Nostalgia Critic focuses on the emotional appeal of the characters, Lindsay Ellis looks at their status as a brand. However, the early Disney villains would not have become so iconic if they weren’t so memorable, and both The Nostalgia Critic and Ellis agree that the newest additions to Disney’s rogues gallery do not stand out enough to attain the same status.

Identity Crisis

Both Nostalgia Critic and Lindsay Ellis acknowledge that more recent Disney films have focused primarily on protagonists struggling to find their own identity. The villains they face need to reflect this in some way, making them harder to write. In addition, as princesses and even princes became more developed, with interesting and distinctive leads such as Ariel, Anna, Aladdin and Flynn Rider taking centre stage, the screen-time for the villain steadily declined.

Though The Nostalgia Critic discusses this, it is a central point in Lindsay Ellis’ video. She notes that after The Little Mermaid, the search for identity became a consistent feature of Disney’s films. This meant that the internal struggles of characters like Ariel, Belle and Simba were as important as external conflicts. Some Disney Renaissance villains, such as Scar and Frollo, had a significant effect on the protagonist’s internal struggles, by exploiting and exacerbating their insecurities. However, many recent villains, such as Hades, Ratcliffe and Dr. Facilier, primarily provided external conflict, and lacked any deeper connection to the struggles of heroes like Hercules and Tiana. This meant that, whilst they were usually very fun to watch, they did not have the power over the protagonist they needed to feel like a true threat. Ellis believes many Disney Renaissance villains existed just so Disney could have an antagonist who could sell merchandise. Overall, one of the best aspects of Ellis’ video is her discussion of the manner in which the growing focus on big issues and internal conflict has made it harder to incorporate an old-fashioned villain into a Disney film in a satisfying way.

Changing Tastes

The Nostalgia Critic and Lindsay Ellis are both aware that traditional good vs. evil storylines have fallen out of fashion in recent years. The Nostalgia Critic notes that animated films are no longer a novelty, so they are now judged on the quality of the characters rather than the beauty of the animation.  This has forced Disney to develop their leads a bit more, and they have been forced to alter their villains in order to emphasise the fact that the most interesting antagonists are not born, but made. In fact, some Disney movies (such as Pixar films Inside Out and Finding Dory) have featured no villains whatsoever. The Nostalgia Critic believes that the demand for more complex characters has led to the decline of conventional villains like Maleficent who simply represent a “grand evil”. He links Disney’s current trend for “unknown villains” to the demand for more realistic enemies, although he notes that Wreck-it-Ralph and Frozen were not the first Disney films to use that trope (The Nostalgia Critic claims that Disney have used “unknown villains” in films such as Tarzan and Treasure Planet, in addition to many Pixar films). However, The Nostalgia Critic believes the people behind Disney films have primarily focused on making the heroes and heroines more appealing and relatable, leaving less for the villains to do.

Lindsay Ellis also looks at the audience demand for more developed protagonists. She also acknowledges that whilst early Disney films such as Snow White and Sleeping Beauty had very passive female leads with few goals, more recent female protagonists have been strong, independent and not tied down to a love interest. Male leads have become more interesting as well, and recent Disney films, such as Zootropolis and Moana, have primarily focused on the interactions between two protagonists. Audiences seek new and unique takes on familiar characters and stories, hence Disney’s frequent use of “meta” comedy in recent movies, as they poke fun at Disney clichés on several occasions. This subversive approach has also fuelled the handling of villains, as Disney try to play around with the moral certainties traditionally associated with them. One example of this comes in Moana, where the seemingly evil lava monster Te Ka turns out to actually be a benevolent goddess affected by a curse.

Ellis also notes that the demand for more complex villains has affected existing Disney villains as well as new ones. Disney’s live-action remakes have tried to make the classic villains more developed, with the 2014 film Maleficent (a film which The Nostalgia Critic strongly dislikes) depicting a character who was the “mistress of all evil” in the original film as a tragic figure. Other live-action remakes, such as Cinderella and The Jungle Book, have given their villains a bit of backstory to show that they are motivated by more than simple malice. Sometimes, a conventionally evil villain can undermine a film, a problem which Ellis invokes when she discusses Pocahontas, claiming that the film’s use of a single villain meant that it sanitised the intolerance and violence depicted in it by primarily linking it to a single person. Both videos get across the fact that Disney’s success has been based on their ability at responding to audiences who demand more sophisticated entertainment and stronger protagonists. This is great, but has the side effect of causing the uninhibited evil of classic Disney villains to become less relevant and fall out of fashion.

Gaston Vs. Hans

Central to both videos is the perception that Disney have relied too much on “unknown villains” in recent years, with films like Frozen, Big Hero 6 and Zootropolis containing seemingly friendly characters who turn out to be evil. The Nostalgia Critic believes that one of the major problems with “unknown villains” is that the fact that viewers have to be “re-introduced” to them when their villainy is revealed. In order to highlight this, he compares the most notable “unknown villain”, Hans, with another scheming suitor from the Disney Animated Canon, Gaston from Beauty and the Beast. The Nostalgia Critic argues that Gaston is a better villain because he has the same egotistical and colourful personality throughout the film, and his goal of gaining Belle for himself remains constant throughout, even as he resorts to attempting blackmail and murder in order to attain it. This fixed characterisation is highlighted by the voice acting, as Gaston always sounds like the same character, even when his behaviour becomes more extreme. Meanwhile, the giddy energy which Hans displays in “Love is an Open Door”, his romantic duet with Anna early in the film, is contrasted with the coolly villainous tone he uses when revealing his true colours to her. This shows that the dissonance between his initial personality and his behaviour in the climax is too great for him to feel like a properly developed villain.

Lindsay Ellis also compares Hans to Gaston in order to show why Gaston is a stronger villain. She notes that Gaston’s villainy is made clear from the start, as he is introduced hunting animals with his face in shadow. Meanwhile, Hans shows few conspicuous signs of villainy until he tells Anna “If only there was someone out there who loved you”. In contrast to The Nostalgia Critic, Ellis does not elaborate on this point, but judging by her cynical and sarcastic delivery when discussing Hans, she’s not a fan of the twist. She adds that Elsa was supposed to be the villain at first, but was changed into a heroic character in order to appeal to female audiences. Based on this it’s clear that Ellis believes that Hans turned out to be evil for shock value. The director of Frozen, Jennifer Lee, has confirmed that Hans’ personality shifts were deliberate (Frozen is based on The Snow Queen, where an evil mirror plays a key role in the story so, in a subtle reference to this, Hans was designed to change his personality to mirror others), but they still validate the argument made in both videos that he’s a plot device lacking in depth. Both videos use the comparison between Hans and Gaston to highlight the problem with “unknown villains”, as the decision to use their true nature as a plot twist means that we can’t enjoy their villainy properly, and they are reduced to being mere “nuisances”.

Other Differences

Although both videos have the same subject and tackle the same themes, there are a number of differences between them. For example, whilst Lindsay Ellis looks solely at Disney animated movies, The Nostalgia Critic also examines Pixar movies such as Monsters Inc., Up and the Toy Story sequels, due to their use of “unknown villains”. However, he doesn’t mention the fact that John Lasseter, the chief creative officer of Pixar, also became the chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios in 2006, and doesn’t link Lasseter’s love of the “unknown villain” trope with its recent overuse in Disney films. This ensures that he does not provide any insights into the similarities and differences between the approaches of Disney and Pixar. The Nostalgia Critic's most detailed examination of Pixar villains is when he compares Sid from Toy Story and Stinky Pete the Prospector from Toy Story 2 in the exact same way he compares Gaston and Hans. This is interesting, but a little superfluous, and it’s disappointing that The Nostalgia Critic did not take full advantage of the wider range of films he is talking about.

However, the primary difference between the videos provided by The Nostalgia Critic and Lindsay Ellis is their reviewing style. The Nostalgia Critic has the more eloquent and serious approach, talking directly to the camera whilst relevant clips and images are shown. Done badly, this style can be pretty boring, but The Nostalgia Critic is an excellent speaker with plenty of great insights, so he is able to pull it off.

In contrast, Lindsay Ellis has a more relaxed and comedic style, as she shows off her Disney merchandise and makes several jokes about the Disney films she discusses. Particularly amusing is her dig at the portrayal of Ratcliffe in Pocahontas. When she complains about the way in which defeating him seems to bring peace between the settlers and natives, a title card flashes with the message “colonialism solved”, highlighting her point. However, there are times when the humour is a distraction, as a number of interesting observations are left underdeveloped in order for Ellis to talk about Disney villain pins.

Conclusion

Overall, both videos are worth watching, as The Nostalgia Critic and Lindsay Ellis are very engaging and intelligent commentators with appealing review styles, and provide plenty of interesting observations on how Disney’s portrayal of villains has changed over time. Ultimately, the one from The Nostalgia Critic is probably better, as it’s made in a more professional manner, and provides a greater number of insights into why the older Disney villains are so iconic.

However, regardless of which video you like best, both The Nostalgia Critic and Lindsay Ellis highlight the fact that, as excellent as the Disney Revival movies are, they have yet to produce a villain who will be a true icon like Cruella De Vil, Ursula and Jafar. Whilst recent baddies such as Mother Gothel and Hans have plenty of fans who admire their more realistic characterisation and the subtle little details used to highlight their cold-hearted nature, there will always be a place in our hearts for the wonderfully uninhibited and colourful (yet still scary) villains which Disney used to provide, who, in the words of The Nostalgia Critic, “did their best to give us their worst”. Although it’s easy to understand why Disney have stopped using traditional villains, we hope that they will eventually provide the great villain which Disney fans have been waiting for without losing sight of the strong messages, interesting storylines and relatable protagonists which have fuelled their recent run of form.

Moana- Articles & Interviews (Part 3)

Disney's most recent hit, Moana, enjoyed a highly successful run at the cinema, and has been nominated for two Oscars. This week, it began its transition from the big screen to home viewing, as it premiered on two major VOD platforms - Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere. After this, Moana will be released on DVD and other VOD sites in a fortnight, and it will be accompanied by a number of bonus features, such as Audio Commentaries, Making-Of Featurettes and Deleted Scenes.

In the past, I have provided two posts which have highlighted a number of fascinating articles about Moana. In honour of the film's Digital HD release, here is a set of 27 articles about the film and its release on Home Video and Streaming Platforms. These range from articles about the impact of the movie and its titular protagonist to previews of some of the bonus features available on DVD...

(A Quick Warning: Many of the articles listed in this post contain substantial spoilers for Moana. If you haven't seen the film yet, tread carefully...)

Moana as a Feminist Role Model

Moana's titular protagonist is the latest in a long line of female leads in Disney films to be praised for being strong and independant. However, Moana's tenacity, bravery and self-sufficiency, and her status as the future chief of her people, mean that she is being regarded as a particularly strong role model for girls...

Disney’s Moana is a Princess Head and Shoulders (and Feet) Above the Rest - This article from Washington Post journalist Carrie Dunsmore argues that "Moana is the greatest of all Disney Princesses". Dusnmore notes that Moana has no references to romance whatsoever, and praises the fact that dolls depicting the title character do not give her high heels. These changes show that Moana is a strong modern protagonist not constrained by traditional stereotypes of femininity, and thus an excellent role model for girls.

Is The Success Of ‘Moana’ An Indication Of The Empowering Direction Disney Will Steer Toward? - This article from GirlTalkHQ praises Moana for being a well-developed and relateable protagonist who doesn't need a love interest. However, the most notable aspect of the article is its examination of why Moana was created, as it explains how she represents a response to the growing demand for feminist role models.

No Prince Required: Moana and the Evolution of the Disney Princess - Unlike the previous two articles, this commentary from Tricia Ennis on Blastr looks at all the Disney Princesses instead of merely Moana. This highlights the fact that Moana represents the culmination of 80 years of change, during which Disney Princesses have become stronger and more independant characters. Ennis also considers the evolution of Disney villains. Although I personally disagree with this article's implication that the classic villains such as Maleficent and Ursula represent a dated template which should be discarded, I admire and appreciate the messages which Ennis is trying to provide, as she states that social problems such as fear and prejudice are greater than any "singular villain" and heroes and heroines should find nonviolent ways of dealing with their enemies. Ultimately, this is a very detailed and interesting article on how Disney films have evolved over the years.

Moana's Impact

Moana's success means that its impact on pop culture has been felt in many areas. Fans have devoted plenty of time to analysing the film and creating costumes based on the characters, whilst other cinemagoers have taken interest in the movies depiction of sailing and celestial navigation techniques.

A Phenomenal Maui Cosplay From Disney’s ‘Moana’ - In spite of the controversy generated when costumes of the character were accused of being racially insensitive, the charismatic demigod Maui has been very popular with Moana fans. In a tribute to the character, Philip Odango, creator of Canvas Cosplay, has designed an especially spectacular Maui costume.Odango created every part of the costume by himself, including the fish hook and necklace, and the end product is pretty impressive...

How Far They’ll Go: Moana Shows the Power of Polynesian Celestial Navigation - This fascinating article from The Conversation discusses Moana's depiction of the astronomy and celestial navigation which the ancient Polynesians used on journeys to discover new islands. Moana's portrayal of the techniques used is pleasingly accurate (for example, we often see Moana using her hands to measure the altitude of the stars in order to check the direction she is travelling in), and this provides a level of authenticity which is not normally associated with a Disney film.

How to Dress Your Pākehā Child Up as Maui or Moana Without Appropriating Pasifika Culture- New Zealand website The Spinoff has released a number of interesting articles related to Moana, and this one from Fijian author Emmaline Matagi provides some dos and don'ts for anyone who wants to dress up as Moana and Maui. She explains why Disney's Maui costumes were such a bad idea, making some very important points about the effect which racial prejudice has on Polynesian people, and the cultural significance of tattoos. However, Matagi also notes that Moana can provide an excellent gateway to learning more about Polynesian culture.

In the Shadow of Frozen - In spite of Moana's critical and commercial success, it hasn't become a phenomenon in the same way as Disney's 2013 hit Frozen, which continues to inspire a spectacular amount of merchandise. However, this article from Nouse argues that this is not necessarily a bad thing, as Frozen's overexposure has led to increased scrutiny and criticism of its flaws. Moana will still be regarded as a great film, even if it isn't being used to advertise tins of soup...

Moana: A Review for Sailors - One of the most unique and interesting features of Moana is its depiction of ancient wayfinding techniques. In this article, sailing expert Damian Lord provides his opinion on how Moana depicts wayfinding. The review is almost entirely tongue-in-cheek, and its insights on sailing are rather simplistic, but Damian provides some very funny comments about the unusual assistance which Moana receives.

Someone Noticed That “Moana” Basically Has The Same Plot As “The Lord Of The Rings” - This Buzzfeed article is inspired by a fan theory which states that Moana's magical Macguffin, the Heart of Te Fiti, has the power to extend human life. It points out the numerous parallels between Moana and Lord of the Rings, highlighting the enduring appeal of the 'Heroes Journey' narrative which links both films.

The Truth Behind Disney's 'Moana,' Overcoming 'The Long Pause' - This article from Iowa State Daily discusses the ways in which Moana was inspired by Polynesian culture and history. It places particular emphasis on the "Long Pause", a 1,000 year period when Polynesian wayfinding voyages appeared to stop. Their sudden return of this iconic tradition inspired the story of Moana's attempts to restore wayfinding to Motonui.

The Making of Moana

It's always fascinating to learn more about the making of Disney movies, as scripts, storyboards and drawings are steadily developed into an colourful and entertaining film which the whole family can enjoy. These articles look at how the music and animation, two of the highlights of the film, were created. They also provide some insights into the directors and voice acting.

Animating the Friendly Ocean in Disney's 'Moana' - One of the most spectacular aspects of Moana is its animation of the ocean, which the movie depicts as a living being that can interact with the same protagonist. In this article, animators Marlon West and Amy Sneed discuss how they used all sorts of sophisticated technology to depict the ocean. The process is difficult and time-consuming (it takes a week to finish 3 or 4 seconds of footage), but the end result makes all the hard work worthwhile...

Go Behind the Scenes of Disney's 'Moana' With Lin-Manuel Miranda - The music in Moana was created by three very different musicians: Composer Mark Mancina, who previously worked on The Lion King, Lin-Manuel Miranda, the man behind Broadway hit Hamilton, and Opetai Foa'i, founder of the New Zealand group Te Vaka. This Moviefone article provides a brief clip showing how the trio created one of Moana's standout songs, "We Know the Way". It highlights how well they got on, and discusses the hard work which goes into composing a catchy and memorable number.

‘How Far I’ll Go’: The Incredible Journey Behind Disney’s ‘Moana’ - In this in-depth article from Animation World Network, Moana's producer, Osnat Shurer, discusses the making of the movie. The article focuses on the film's animation, so it also features interviews with several of the animators, who reveal how much effort went into bringing ordinary things like costumes, feathers, hair and especially water to life. This resulted in detailed and realistic animation, which made Moana beautiful to watch.

LOOK: ‘The Art of Moana’ Delves Behind the Scenes of Disney’s Latest Animated Feature - Another article from Animation World Network, this shows off some of the artwork published in the tie-in book 'The Art of Moana'. Ranging from concept art depicting the ocean to drawings of characters like Moana and Gramma Tala, the illustrations shown here are pretty impressive. It's also fascinating to consider how these images were transferred to 3D animation.

‘Moana’: How Disney Crafted Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Oscar-Contending ‘How Far I’ll Go’ - Out of all the songs in Moana, the most successful is probably "How Far I'll Go", which has been nominated for Best Song at the Oscars. In this IndieWire article, Moana's directors, Ron Clements and John Musker, discuss how the song was constantly altered to reflect changes to the story and Moana's goal as the movie evolved. They also point out the ways in which the composition of the song, and the animation accompanying it, highlights Moana's internal struggle - Should she stay on the island, or follow the call of the sea?

The Man Behind The Magic - Before he teamed up with Ron Clements to direct Disney classics like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Moana, John Musker studied English at Chicago's prestigious Northwestern University. This article from the Northwestern University website features Musker talking about how Moana was made, discussing the research trips to the Pacific Islands, the animation process, and the music. He also provides information about how his time at university inspired him as a film-maker and an animator.

The Rock Recording 'Moana' Song "You're Welcome" Will Make You Smile — VIDEO - In this article, Dwayne Johnson, who voiced Maui in Moana, discusses audience reactions to the movie, as he the wide range of fans who have asked him to sing Maui's signature song, the lively and anthemic "You're Welcome". We also get a clip showing Johnson recording the song.

Where Lin-Manuel Miranda Got Inspiration for his Oscar-nominated ‘Moana’ Song - Another article about the making of "How Far I'll Go", this piece in the Washington Post features Lin-Manuel Miranda discussing how he wrote the song, and drew inspiration from other classic Disney tunes such as "Part of Your World".

Deleted Scenes & Songs

Disney films tend to go through some substantial changes during the production process, as numerous characters, ideas and songs get cut at various stages. Moana was no exception to this rule, as a number of elements were altered or deleted whilst the movie was being made.

Deleted 'Moana' Reveals Maui Was Bald — and the Heroine Had Six Brothers - Here, USA Today provides an overview of some of the ideas and characters which were deleted. It showcases several rejected designs for Maui (who was initially supposed to be bald) and characters from earlier drafts of the script, such as Moana's six brothers.

Meet Moana's Six Brothers in Deleted Scene From Disney's Animated Adventure - This article gives us a more detailed look at Moana's brothers, as it shows a deleted scene where she competes against them in a canoe race. It's a very interesting and entertaining scene, and the brothers we see have plenty of personality. However, cutting the brothers allowed the film to focus more on Moana, so it was a wise decision.

“Moana” Almost Had A Very Different Ending - One of the best scenes in Moana is the ending, where Moana returns the Heart of Te Fiti to its rightful owner. However, it was a relatively late addition to the movie, being created just 8 months before it was released. This article from Buzzfeed features Moana screenwriter Jared Bush talking about the many alternate endings which were rejected during the production process, and explaining why the final version has such an impact.

'Moana' Deleted Scene Has Our Heroes On the Run From A Giant, Eight-eyed Bat - Another deleted scene included on the DVD provides a more detailed look at Lalotai, the terrifying underworld which Moana and Maui travel to in order to find Maui's magical fish hook. Here, Moana and Maui try to get past a number of scary creatures, including an eight-eyed monster called Walu the Wicked, as they attempt to regain the hook from Tamatoa. As Lalotai was a pretty memorable location, it's great to explore it and learn more about the monsters based there.

'Moana' Deleted Songs and Scenes Detail Cut Brothers, Maui's Past - This article from Hollywood Reporter discusses the deleted scenes and songs which have been released online. It provides a quick overview of these, with videos of three deleted songs: "More", "Unstoppable" and "Warrior Face".

The Moana Soundtrack Hints At Some Major Changes To The Film - Moana's deleted songs were initially released on the deluxe edition of the soundtrack, which also contains early demos of the numbers that appeared in the finished movie. This article from CinemaBlend examines the deleted songs and demos in greater detail. It analyses the lyrics of "More", "Unstoppable" and "Warrior Face" for the information they provide about the original portrayals of Moana and Maui. It also takes note of differences between the demo versions of "Where You Are" and "Shiny", and the completed songs. The effect which changing or deleting a song has on the characters and the message demonstrates how important music can be in a movie like Moana.

Watch a cut Moana song sung by Hamilton stars - Here we get a closer look at "Warrior Face", one of the deleted songs. Inspired by the Haka tribal dance, this pleasingly energetic and ominous number would have accompanied a scene where Maui teaches Moana how to intimidate the monsters they encounter in Lalotai. In this video, the song is being sung by two of the stars of Hamilton, Christopher Jackson and Phillipa Soo.

Other Bonus Features

In addition to the usual making-of featurettes and deleted scenes, the DVD of Moana has some more unusual bonus features. Here is some more information on them...

Dwayne Johnson Gets Schooled by the Ocean in Moana Bonus Clip - One of the most intriguing bonus features to accompany Moana's Digital and DVD releases is Gone Fishing, a comedic short featuring Moana and Maui in the vein of Tangled Ever After and Frozen Fever. It centres around Maui's attempts to show off his control of the Ocean, which don't go to plan. Dwayne Johnson shared a clip on Instagram a couple of months ago, and it can be viewed in this article. Based on the clip, it seems that Gone Fishing is going to be an enjoyable opportunity to spend some more time with Moana, Maui and their friends...

See the Secret Aladdin Easter Eggs Hidden in Moana - Like many other Disney movies, Moana features several subtle references to the studio's previous classics. Disney fans will be aware of some of the 'Easter Eggs' in Moana (e.g Maui shapeshifting into Sven from Frozen, Tamatoa talking about Sebastian from The Little Mermaid), but others are harder to spot, even in repeat viewings. This article from Entertainment Weekly highlights a number of references made to Disney's 1992 classic Aladdin. For many people, 'Easter Eggs' like these may seem innocuous, but they demonstrate the level of detail which goes into animating a Disney film.

Summary 

All of the articles listed above provide insights into how Moana was made and why it became so popular. Most of the articles show how much hard work went into making the animation, music and characters that allow the movie to stand out. Meanwhile, the rest of the articles demonstrate how popular Moana and its titular heroine have been. Overall, the articles shown in this post highlight why Moana is such a great film, and I definitely recommend buying it, whether on DVD or VOD platforms...

Future Fairy Tale TV Series #1 - Tangled: The Series

In November 2010, Disney released Tangled, their take on the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale Rapunzel. Depicting the adventures of Rapunzel, a sheltered teen with 70 feet of magical blonde hair, and the charming outlaw Flynn Rider (real name: Eugene Fitzherbert), Tangled marked Disney's return to form after over a decade in the wilderness, making over $590 million worldwide, and paving the way for the likes of Frozen and Moana. Although the protagonists of Tangled appeared in a 2012 short called Tangled Ever After, which depicted Rapunzel and Flynn getting married, Tangled has been overshadowed by Disney's more recent hits. However, Rapunzel, Flynn and their friends are about to return, as Tangled: The Series, which is set between the film and Tangled Ever After, will arrive on the Disney Channel next month, almost 2 years after it was initially announced.

Tangled:The Series is the thirteenth animated series to be spun off from a Disney animated film, following in the footsteps of shows like Aladdin: The Series and The Lion Guard. It will begin with a TV movie called Tangled: Before Ever After, which will air on the Disney Channel on Friday March 10th, with the series proper starting on March 24th. Tangled: The Series will last for three seasons, consisting of a total of 78 episodes. In addition, there will be two further TV movies after Tangled:Before Ever After, one airing in November, and the other airing in February 2018. There will also be four animated shorts released on April 11th (It is currently unknown whether these shorts will be standalones like Tangled Ever After, or form a continuous story like Frozen:Northern Lights). All in all, it seems like Tangled fans will be kept happy for a very very long time...

The Plot

Tangled:Before Ever After picks up where the movie left off, with Rapunzel being reunited with her parents, the King and Queen of Corona. However, whilst her father and Flynn (now back to being called Eugene) want her to settle down and embrace the responsibilities of life as a princess, Rapunzel would prefer to explore the world beyond the castle walls, aided by her new lady-in-waiting Cassandra. During the course of one adventure, Rapunzel comes across a set of mysterious stones, which causes the enchanted hair that got cut off at the end of Tangled to magically grow back. The rest of Tangled: Before Ever After, and the subsequent TV series, will depict Rapunzel's attempts at dealing with the return of her hair and healing powers, and her relationships with her friends and family.

The Characters

The two main characters in Tangled: The Series will be the movie's central couple, Rapunzel and Eugene, with Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi returning to voice them. Rapunzel wants to make up for 18 years stuck in a tower by doing as much exploring as possible. Meanwhile, after years as an outlaw, Eugene would prefer to live a normal life, hence his return to using his birth name. They will be accompanied by Rapunzel's two animal companions, her pet chameleon Pascal and crime-fighting horse Maximus, both of whom will probably steal as many scenes as they did in the movie. Also returning are the "pub thugs" who Rapunzel befriended in the original movie, such as Big Nose and Hook Hand. Their menacing looks contrast with their friendly personalities and passion for innocent hobbies such as piano playing and collecting ceramic unicorns. One of the most important reasons for Tangled's success was the strong  and appealing set of protagonists, and it will be great to see them go on new adventures.

Rapunzel's parents will also be central to Tangled:The Series Although they appeared in Tangled, they were not named and did not speak. They will have a much larger role here, with Rapunzel's father, King Frederic, being voiced by Clancy Brown, and her mother, Queen Ariana, being voiced by Julie Bowen. Both of these actors are intriguing choices. Aside from his portrayal of demanding boss Mr. Krabs in Spongebob Squarepants, Clancy Brown is almost entirely known for his villain roles (whether in live-action films such as Highlander and The Shawshank Redemption, or animated shows such as Superman:The Animated Series and Avatar:The Last Airbender), so it will be interesting to see him apply his signature deep and powerful voice to a loving (albeit overprotective) father. Meanwhile, as Queen Ariana, who shares her daughter's free-spirited nature, Modern Family star Julie Bowen is replacing Ashley Judd, who was originally cast in the role. It seems like Rapunzel's relationship with her parents will provide the series with its emotional core, and the 78 episodes and 3 TV Movies planned for Tangled: The Series represent an ideal opportunity to explore this in greater depth.

There will also be a variety of entirely new characters. The most prominent of these is Cassandra (voiced by Eden Espinosa), a feisty handmaiden who aspires to follow in her father's footsteps and join the Royal Guard. Other characters include a pirate called Lady Caine (voiced by Laura Benanti), who will be the primary villain in Tangled:Before Ever After, Lance Strongbow, one of Eugene's former associates (voiced by James Monroe Iglehart, who won a Tony for playing the Genie in the Broadway version of Aladdin), Varian , a teen alchemist (voiced by Jeremy Jordan), a Blacksmith called Xavier (voiced by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), and Old Lady Crowley (voiced by Ursula herself, Pat Carroll, who is nearing 90 but still sounding awesome). We know little about these characters at the moment, but given the high-quality voice cast, we can assume that they will be pretty memorable.

The Animation

In contrast to the movie's elaborate CGI 3D animation, Tangled: The Series is animated in 2D. The 2D animation style used has a rougher, more primitive look similar to concept art. It also resembles children's storybooks, such as the Little Golden Books series. However, whilst it's not going to emulate the finesse and detail of the original film, the animation for Tangled: The Series is bright and expressive. Tangled was the first Disney Princess film to be made with 3D animation, so it's really nice to see Disney return to their roots in traditional animation with this series.

The two people most responsible for the animation on Tangled: The Series are Alan Bodner, the Art Director, and Claire Keane, who will be Visual Development Artist. The daughter of veteran Disney animator Glen Keane, Claire worked on the original Tangled, and her colourful approach (she created the murals which Rapunzel paints in her tower during the movie) is perfect for the series. Though the hair does not look as realistic, the animation for Tangled: The Series is pretty good when you consider the pressures of working on an animated series (you need to produce much more material in a far shorter time period),  and it provides a very distinctive look, but one which emulates the style of the original film enough to be recognised as part of the same universe.

The Songs

Claire Keane, Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi are not the only people from Tangled to return for the Tangled: The Series, Alan Menken and Glenn Slater, who wrote the songs for the original movie, will create new songs for the show. One of the songs they wrote for Tangled:Before Ever After, "Wind in My Hair", has just been unveiled. It's a catchy little pop song, which does a great job of conveying Rapunzel's free spirit and passionate nature. Another tune, "Life After Happily Ever After", will be released online the morning before Tangled: Before Ever After premieres. Alan Menken has earned his status as a Disney Legend, and Glenn Slater has worked with him as a lyricist since 2004. Hopefully, they will ensure that the songs in Tangled: The Series will be worthy of standing alongside the likes of "When Will My Life Begin?" and "I See the Light".

Summary

Whilst the original movie tried to please as wide an audience as possible, Tangled: The Series will seemingly be aimed primarily at preteen girls. However, this isn't a bad thing, as long as there is enough to keep other viewers interested and engaged, and those outside the target demographic will probably enjoy Tangled: The Series as well. Judging by what we know so far, it seems like it will retain the spirit of the original film, whilst taking Rapunzel's story into exciting new territory. This means that it is going to be a must-see for Disney fans, and enjoyable entertainment for children and parents.

Fairy Tales and Fanfiction

A Personal Introduction

In addition to my love of fairy tales and Disney films, I am a very passionate fan of fanfiction. In this article, I will discuss why I love fanfiction so much, and how it ties into my interest with fairy tales.

This article will often diverge from the fairy tale/classic mythology focus of this blog in order to discuss TV, film and literary franchises which have inspired particularly large and prominent fanfiction communities, such as Sherlock, Harry Potter and Twilight. However, there will still be significant emphasis placed on fanfiction based on classic stories and ‘fairy tale’ films. A further guide to which works are discussed on this blog can be found here.

A Brief Guide to Fanfiction

Fanfiction can be defined as stories which centre on characters from existing books and films. Within this field, there are numerous subgenres, including: ‘Shipping’ (fanfics which pair two characters in a relationship which tends to be romantic in nature), AUs (stories set in an alternate universe), ‘Fix Fics’ (stories which rectify issues with the source material) and straightforward sequels and prequels.

As long as there have been stories, authors have tried to respond to them explore the worlds and characters they depict from a new perspective. This has fuelled a number of classic stories, ranging from Virgil’s Aeneid to The Wide Sargasso Sea (Jean Rhys’ re-interpretation of Jane Eyre) which have placed characters from an existing story into a new one. One of the most famous examples of this is Tom Stoppard’s play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, which tells the tale of Hamlet from the perspective of two peripheral characters. When established authors and directors create new stories in familiar universes (examples of this range from Anthony Horowitz’s Sherlock Holmes story A Touch of Silk to J.J. Abrams' reboots of the Star Trek and Star Wars franchises), the end product is often described as fanfiction. However, when fanfiction is discussed on this blog, it will almost entirely be the work of amateur authors. The concept of a ‘professional author’ emerged in the 18^th century with the birth of the full-length novel, and this led to literary fans trying to emulate the work of their idols. With the onset of the internet age, Fanfiction reached new heights of popularity. There are a number of online forums where these writers share their work, with the three most prominent fanfiction sites being Fanfiction.net. Archive of Our Own and Wattpad.

Differences Between Fanfiction and Fairy Tales

One difference between fanfiction and fairy tales is their perspective on character. Fairy tales often rely on moral certainties, with protagonists who are defined by their purity and innocence. The emphasis tends to be on the story and the moral lessons which it contains, meaning that the characters primarily exist to move from event to event and highlight the story’s messages.  In contrast, there are many fanfics which focus on the inner thoughts and feelings of characters and emphasise ‘angst’ and other extreme emotions in a way which most fairy tales don’t. As many fanfics are based on films and TV, writers often take advantage of the new medium and aim to get into the protagonist’s head in a manner which is difficult to do in the visual medium of film, or the plot-based medium of fairy tales.

In addition, whilst fairy tales are generally family-friendly, fanfiction is primarily aimed at teenagers and adults. Fairy tales are primarily designed to be read to children. Though they contain some violence, this is often depicted in a very simplistic style. We hear about the gruesome things which happen to the villains, but we don’t actually see them. Furthermore, whilst fairy tales often have sexual symbolism and undertones, they almost never depict sex itself. In contrast, fanfiction has a reputation for relying too much on graphic sexual content. This perception has been encouraged by the dominance of ‘shipping’, which tends to be romantic in nature. Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch is among those to associate erotic fanfiction with the form in general, as he once complained about stories which show “me and John Watson floating in space on a bed handcuffed to one another”. The perception that fanfic authors are focused on sex over story has also been encouraged by the infamous erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey, which began life as a Twilight AU called ‘Master of the Universe’. The notoriety of E.L. James' signature story has led to significant attention to its provenance, and as ‘Master of the Universe’ fulfils many of the stereotypes associated with fanfiction, it has reinforced perceptions surrounding the genre.

However, the most problematic difference between the two forms of story is their legal status. Fairy tales are in the public domain (as are almost all works from before the 20^th Century), as enough time has elapsed since the author's’ death to allow people to use their work for any purpose without having to pay royalties. This is one reason why it’s so easy for studios such as Disney to adapt them into their own stories. In contrast, most works of fanfiction are based on the creations of living authors. This makes their legal status ambiguous, although the fact that they are non-commercial works means that creating them can be considered an act of ‘fair use’ and thus, they seem to be exempt from legislation concerning plagiarism and copyright infringement. Whether authors support them or not is a matter of personal taste. The likes of J.K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyer have endorsed fanfics based on their work (albeit with some reservations), but other prominent authors, such as Annie Proulx and George R.R. Martin, have been vocal about their distaste for fanfiction, expressing the belief that it disrespects the world they created, and arguing that it is lazy to write a story centred around pre-existing characters. These complicated issues mean that the world of fanfiction is focused on relatively small and exclusive communities, unlike fairy tales, which are designed to provide lessons for a wide audience.

A Wide Range of Genres

The term ‘fairy tales’ refers to a form of story rather than a genre. Therefore, whilst fairy tales have plenty of common tropes (such as the use of fantasy elements and supernatural creatures), they can belong to a wide range of categories. For example, Hans Christian Andersen’s collection of stories include satire (The Emperor’s New Clothes), adventure (The Snow Queen), romantic tragedy (The Little Mermaid) and social realism (The Little Match Girl). This diversity of genres also applies to fairy tale films. Most Disney films seem to belong to a distinct genre of their own, as they combine adventure, comedy, romance and music into a joyous and entertaining package. Meanwhile, Shrek is primarily a comedy, whilst Snow White and the Huntsman assumes a dark fantasy style. There are even a number of ‘fairy tale’ films in the horror genre, such as In the Company of Wolves. This highlights the manner in which the term ‘fairy tale’ can cover a truly diverse range of stories.

Fanfiction also incorporates a variety of genres.  Fanfiction.net classifies stories by putting them in categories ranging from Adventure and Family to Spiritual and Tragedy.  The fact that a single story can inspire works in so many subgenres indicates the universal appeal of the characters, the world they inhabit, and the stories which can be told with them. It may seem totally incongruous to imagine Disney princesses in a Sci-Fi story, but on Fanfiction.net, Frozen (which is, by some distance, the Disney film which has inspired the most fanfics) has 83 fanfics in this category. Many fanfic authors recognise that best characters are able to retain the traits which make them unique and appealing across a wide range of stories, and this has encouraged them to place familiar protagonists and antagonists into unfamiliar genres. Therefore, the field of fanfiction, like the fairy tale genre, is defined by the infinite possibilities it offers.

The Impact of the Source Material

Throughout history, fairy tales have been used to communicate messages and beliefs which are important to the storyteller. They often teach morality to audiences, with virtue and selflessness being rewarded, and disobedience and dishonesty being ruthlessly punished. As fairy tales convey important messages in a clear, fascinating and engaging fashion, they can have a significant influence on the world view of those who read them or listen to them being told.  Another visible example of the importance of folklore is Mythology. Though the stories of gods and heroes from ancient Egypt and Greece have survived due to their compelling characters and plotlines, they had great significance within their own cultures, as they could be used to teach people about the wider world. The predominance of creation myths across the globe to explain natural phenomena leads to a greater degree of insight into the unique and beautiful features of the world which are too often taken for granted. Fairy tales and myths are perfect examples of the way in which stories can be used to allow the messages and ideas which mean the most to the storyteller to be transmitted to a wide audience.

Fanfiction is also motivated by the desire to make people appreciate something which the storyteller finds important, though in this case, the thing which the storyteller finds important takes the form of an existing book, film or TV show. In recent years, fanfiction has been increasingly recognised as a means to demonstrate passion for a work and can even increase publicity for it. The 2012 animated film Rise of the Guardians was not a huge success on its initial release, making an underwhelming $306.9 million worldwide. In contrast, Frozen made roughly $1.276 billion worldwide the following year. However, when fans noticed the similarities between Rise of the Guardians protagonist Jack Frost and Frozen’s Queen Elsa (For starters, they both have the power to control ice and snow), fanfics shipping ‘Jelsa’ as a couple became incredibly popular. On Wattpad alone, there are over 6,800 stories about the duo. This means that Rise of the Guardians has gained the attention of numerous Frozen fans who had previously not given the movie a second thought. Some producers have deliberately tried to use fanfiction to promote their works. Many Star Trek fanfics have been published in print, and in order to promote the introduction of a new character in the drama series The United States of Tara, the cable channel Showtime created an entire fansite devoted to her fictional creations. Fanfiction exists because fanfic writers are enthusiastic enough to devote time and effort to stories about their favourite characters. These displays of passion demonstrate the power and appeal of the source material, just as retellings of fairy tales and myths are proof that they can resonate across the generations.

A Personal Spin

When the Brothers Grimm began collecting fairy tales, their intent was to preserve the stories as faithfully as possible, as representations of the German culture which they belonged to. However, over a period of 45 years, they gradually altered their tales to make them appeal to a wider audience. Meanwhile, many of Hans Christian Andersen’s stories were adapted from existing fairy tales, including Thumbelina and The Wild Swans. The extent to which fairy tales rely on the storyteller to make them unique is shown by the fact that fairy tales and folklore from all over the world often rely on common story types, with distinctive touches provided by the storytellers and the beliefs and culture which inspire them. Philip Pullman put it best when he stated that “a fairy tale is not a text”, and storytellers are free to alter it as they wish.  The wide range of variations on a single story type demonstrates that any fairy tale depends on the storyteller, as they emphasise their personal interests and skills, and use their native culture to enrich their tales.

Fanfiction also benefits from the unique perspectives which the author can bring to the characters and story which they are using. For example, “What-if” stories (e.g What if – Harry Potter was sorted into Slytherin?) show some of the changes which could have occurred if something happened a little differently. In doing so, they draw attention to the ways in which these events could have affected the characters and the story. There are also plenty of fanfics which provide the opportunity to see a familiar story take place in a new location. For example, Disney fans can enjoy a retelling of The Little Mermaid set in modern-day Australia, and a twisted take on The Princess and the Frog which takes place in the medieval era. The new setting for these tales encourages unique touches and innovations which makes them stand out. Like the best storytellers, fanfiction authors find ways to allow their stories to reflect their own interests, and this personal touch allows fanfics to feel distinct and gain a unique life of their own.

Conclusion

Even the most ardent lover of fanfiction will have to admit that many pieces of fanfiction are badly written. However, even the worst fanfiction is generally created by people who are passionate about the source material, and their willingness to put time and effort into new stories with their favourite characters demonstrates the importance and impact of the works which inspired them. 

Furthermore, there are thousands of high-quality fanfics with compelling stories which provide 

fascinating perspectives on the characters who inhabit them and the universe in which they are set. These aren’t just excellent tributes to the source material, they are great tales in their own right.

Ultimately, whilst there are plenty of differences between fairy tales and fanfiction, there are also a number of similarities. Both forms of fiction incorporate a wide range of genres, ranging from comedy and romance to horror and thriller. They also showcase the importance which storytellers attach to existing works. Most importantly, they both represent the way in which storytellers put their own personal spin on familiar stories and characters. Just as fairy tales are known for the variety of ways in which they can be adapted, fanfiction highlights the versatility and enduring appeal of the original stories which inspire it.

In the future, there will be a number of articles on this blog drawing attention to some particularly high-quality fanfics inspired by Disney films, classic literature, and fairy tales. It is going to be a real pleasure to share some of these stories with a wider audience.