# Why don't people like Walt Disney and Walt Disney movies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 9, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658 "2008-04-09T20:39:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658/61 "2008-04-11T13:56:19Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] There a lot of hatred due the belief that Disney was responsible for the extension of the copyright term from death plus 50 to death plus 70. But that’s a misinterpretation. Though Disney was certainly in favor of it, the real reason was to put the US in line with the Berne Convention (which seems to have made the change in order that the copyright on **Mein Kampf** didn’t expire). [/QUOTE] You’ve debunked one urban legend, but perpetuated another. ---
**Author:** ![Intravenus\_De\_Milo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Intravenus\_De\_Milo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intravenus_De_Milo)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658/62 "2008-04-11T18:24:13Z")
> [@Dung Beetle](#): > > “Don’t you say a word.” > “These are my best shoes!” > “gasp My spinach puffs!” HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FROM ALL OF US TO YOU!! WE WISH IT WAS OUR BIRTHDAY, SO WE COULD PARTY TOO!! God I love that part, especially Yzma wearing the sombrero 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658/63 "2008-04-11T18:29:09Z")
A kindred spirit! “Was she scary beyond all reason?” ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658/64 "2008-04-11T20:13:34Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] Disney made some great movies. The only complaint I’d make is that his movies were so good that they closed off an entire genre. Animated feature films all became imitations of his style (including subsequent Disney films) and are still trying to shake his influence off. [/QUOTE] I think this is a little strong. There are a lot of animated features that do plow the same territory that Disney did so well, but I don’t think that all animated features imitate his style. Of course, my counter examples are going to consist mostly of Miyazaki’s works. But not solely. I think that a large part of the problem with US animation had been that for decades, because of Disney’s example, feature animation was seen as only suitable for children’s stories. Oh, to continue the Groove loving: “Demon Llama!!!” ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658/65 "2008-04-11T20:59:43Z")
Why do we even _have_ that lever? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658/66 "2008-04-11T21:17:54Z")
[QUOTE=NDP] During the 1940’s, Disney became notorious for his attempts at union-busting and chintzy treatment of his workers. [/QUOTE] Half-right. Walt was very anti-union, but he also treated his workers reasonably well. He took it as a personal affront when they unionized anyway. It’s probably part of the reason he was so virulently anti-communist later in life. Other people have mentioned that he was an anti-Semite. No more so than any other typical American in the middle of the 20th Century. He hated Hitler and threw his studio wholeheartedly into the war effort at serious economic cost to himself. People are familar with the Donald Duck cartoon “Der Fuhrer’s Face” but fewer have seen “Education For Death” which is an absolutely scathing attack on what fascism represents. Prior to the war he made “Victory Through Air Power” to argue for strengthening America’s air defense in response to the growing fascist threat. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658/67 "2008-04-11T21:19:05Z")
“Tell us where the llama is and we’ll burn your house to the ground!” “Don’t you mean or?” “Oh, all right. Tell us where the llama is _OR_ we’ll burn your house to the ground!” ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658/68 "2008-04-11T21:21:35Z")
[QUOTE=Ellen Cherry] The only one I really don’t like is Bambi. My daughter was horrified at the death of Bambi’s mother and frankly I find it a little much myself. It’s the only one my older children and I never re-watched countless times, and I’ve never introduced it to my 3-year-old. [/QUOTE] What about The Lion King? Doesn’t Mufasa’s death bother you in the same way? ---
**Author:** ![Tenebras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@Tenebras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenebras)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658/69 "2008-04-11T22:26:26Z")
[QUOTE=vivalostwages] A friend of mine has worked for the Maus for nearly 20 years and is increasingly unhappy. From all the things she’s told me, I wouldn’t take a job there if you paid me to. [/QUOTE] Being paid for labor is the traditional arrangement. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658/70 "2008-04-11T22:52:48Z")
[QUOTE=Tenebras] Being paid for labor is the traditional arrangement. [/QUOTE] Goddamn it, why doesn’t anyone ever tell me these things? ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658/71 "2008-04-12T02:33:36Z")
I just bought _101 Damations_ - the restored edition came out on DVD a week or so ago, I think. Totally psyched to see it again. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658/72 "2008-04-12T03:22:37Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra] What about The Lion King? Doesn’t Mufasa’s death bother you in the same way? [/QUOTE] And Scar allowing Simba to think he killed his own father? I was horrified when we took my then-10 year old BIL to see it during the theatrical release. ---
**Author:** ![plankter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ba0ec/32.png) [@plankter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plankter)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2008, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658/73 "2008-04-12T23:07:43Z")
[QUOTE=HazelNutCoffee] [snip] Sleeping Beauty - killed by prince Snow White - falls off cliff Peter Pan - eaten by crocodile, presumably Little Mermaid - killed by prince Aladdin - trapped in a lamp The Lion King - eaten by hyenas [/QUOTE] :eek: Holy crap! I knew Disney was a revisionist but I’m amazed that so many title characters got offed! (Yes, I realize you meant the movie _villains_, but it was funnier at first glance.) ---
**Author:** ![Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crocodiles_And_Boulevards)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658/74 "2008-04-14T09:13:35Z")
Ah, I love Disney movies! Y’know, I’m actually really disappointed in the new Disney/Pixar stuff. I mean, movies like _Rattatouille_ and _Finding Nemo_ are good. I enjoyed them immensely. But, somehow, they lacked that _classic_ feeling that made _Aladdin_ and others cling to me. I miss the great music, the writing, the charm… Then again, I love musicals, so maybe that’s it. I’m pretty sure that Disney movies are what got me into musicals in the first place. A lot of other animated features at the same time as Disney’s animated classics were coming out just didn’t have the same level of professionalism. Just watch animated movies like _Anastasia_. Totally not up to the bar set by Disney. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658/75 "2008-04-14T09:55:14Z")
On the opposite extreme, there was _All Dogs Go To Heaven,_ which tore down the bar set by Disney, used it to bludgeon Walt Disney to death, and then blew it into a thousand pieces with dynamite, and flushed the pieces down the toilet. Which is why Don Bluth is the man. I love the classic Disney movies but none of them can touch the nightmarishly bizarre and trippy epic _All Dogs Go To Heaven._ ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658/76 "2008-04-14T12:53:45Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra] What about The Lion King? Doesn’t Mufasa’s death bother you in the same way? [/QUOTE] I forgot about that. Yes, it is a very upsetting scene, but I never showed that movie to my children. I saw it once, before they were born. I mean, I don’t think I avoided it intentionally once they were here, but I never rented or bought it. I did, however, buy Bambi, we watched it once (the initial scenes where he is a baby fawn are just precious) and there it sits on the shelf, in all its VHS glory, untouched. Also, now that I think about it a bit … the hunter shooting the mother deer seems more horrible because it’s humans doing unnecessary (and illegal?) killing. Humans are also shown leaving their fire smoldering, which I think starts a fire. It’s all a Humans Are Killing Pigs sort of a set up. In The Lion King, they’re all animals though of course total anthropomorphized. ---
**Author:** ![Dyslexics\_Untie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a587f6/32.png) [@Dyslexics\_Untie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dyslexics_Untie)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658/77 "2008-04-14T13:22:41Z")
People just grow up and movies don’t. Any movie, Disney or MGM or anyone from the 30’s 40’s and 50’s seems terminally corny. They had such odd theme os superpropiety, tipping hats and hlf bowing to people. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658/78 "2008-04-14T14:16:37Z")
If all you’re noticing when you watch great movies like _The Gold Rush_ (1925), _The Grapes of Wrath_ (1940), _The Maltese Falcon_ (1941), _Double Indemnity_ (1944), _The Best Years of Our Lives_ (1946), _The Treasure of the Sierra Madre_ (1948), _Shane_ (1953), and _On the Waterfront_ (1954) is trivialities like tipping hats, you’re watching the movies on only the most superficial level. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658/79 "2008-04-14T16:45:14Z")
Our favorite line from _Groove_ is one word: “Robe.” (Spoken by angel-Kronk to devil-Kronk when they’re arguing on Kronk’s shoulder and the devil makes fun of his “dress.”) I reeeeally need to get a DVD of that movie! I haven’t seen it in several years now. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658/80 "2008-04-14T17:08:42Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] I love the classic Disney movies but none of them can touch the nightmarishly bizarre and trippy epic _All Dogs Go To Heaven._ [/QUOTE] How about [Cats Don’t Dance](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118829/)? I can only imagine what the greenlight meeting for this weird little film was like: “You know what little kids today love? Camp! And musical theater! We’re gonna make the campiest cartoon musical ever! With cats! It’ll be a blockbuster!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-like-walt-disney-and-walt-disney-movies/444658.md?page=5)