When Did the Disney Heroes Become So…Meh?

The evolution towards more identifiable characters has flattened the Disney heroes into milder versions of themselves. The question is: When?

Disney heroes used to be iconic and inspiring, setting standards with their skill, beauty, or bravery.

However, the newer heroes are… bless their hearts, different. It appears that in a bid to be more relatable to the general public, they’ve somehow become less adventurous and, frankly, less memorable. This improvement is most noticeable in the scriptwriting and the design. 

The evolution towards more identifiable characters has flattened the once-grand silhouettes of Disney heroes into milder versions of themselves. The question is: when? Here’s a timeline that puts the situation in perspective. 

The Golden Era of Disney Heroes

Note: “Golden Era” here is used loosely to refer to the 90s–early 2000s period of Disney animated movies, not the 1930s–1940s era.

It is well discussed that Disney’s Golden Age featured some of the best narratives and characters. Factors that have differed from the classic and newer heroes of Disney are:

Aesthetic and Personality

The princesses, such as Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, and Ariel, were intentionally designed with both personality and racial considerations in mind. Belle, Cinderella, and Ariel were arresting in the sweet, pampered way. Jasmine, on the other hand, was stunning in a Middle Eastern way that came off as easy on the eyes with little to no patience for nonsense.

The male heroes were easy on the eyes as well. Aladdin may have been a petty thief, but he was blessed with the face of a prince. Hercules was strong and physically peaking, befitting his demigod status. Even Simba, despite being a lion, had a majestic mane.

‘Regular” heroes like Tarzan and Pocahontas were also striking, showing appearance wasn’t exclusive to privileged characters.

Distinctive visuals

At every given point, the design choices were deliberate. 

Aladdin initially appeared in street clothes, but when he became a “prince”, his attire changed to fit his new station. Hercules went through a similar change. When he was poor and unclaimed, he appeared lanky and awkward. Nevertheless, when he became a hero, his appearance assumed a more regal aspect.

Mulan wore everyday household clothes and almost always caused commotion, but when she was going to see the matchmaker or go to war in her father’s stead, she looked the part.

A common thread among these heroes is that, in addition to their appearance changes, they had distinctive silhouettes that enhanced their characterization. 

Hercules had a golden silhouette with an angular, blocky build. Mulan had a flowing, sharp-edged profile. Tarzan had a crouching, feral outline. Simba just had to show up with his mane to attract attention.

Personality

A standout factor that made these heroes remarkable is their persona. Ariel may have been an indulged Daddy’s girl, but she knew how to speak up for herself. She saved a drowning human, and when her Father banned her from going to the surface, she made a deal with an evil witch to get legs to reach that said land.

Pocahontas could have remained within her clan, but instead she chose to interact with the English settlers and advocate for peace when violence was about to escalate between her people and the foreigners. At every point, she followed her convictions over tradition.

Tarzan may have grown up in a jungle, but that didn’t strip him of reason. He was the ever-ready protector, shielding his jungle family and, later, Jane. Beyond that, he courageously left the jungle for the human world, learning to walk, communicate, and adapt to human behaviours.

Adventure 

The original Disney heroes weren’t afraid of adventure. They took bold risks, even if they knew they would fail flamboyantly.

Simba, albeit foolishly, ventured to the Shadowlands. Belle went to live with a beast to save her father. Aladdin ventured into a dangerous cave to get a genie lamp. Hercules underwent inhuman challenges to become a hero. Ariel ran away from home for a man. Quasimodo stood up to authority figures to protect the innocent.

The Modern Disney Hero

What prompted the move from bold adventurers to emotional risk-takers?

Relatability Over Boldness

Times have changed, and audiences want to see parts of themselves in the media.

This shift wasn’t sudden. It began in the late 90s, bridging the Golden Era to the present. Productions such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) and Tarzan (1999) showcased struggles with personal identity. The foundation continued with Lilo & Stitch (2002) and The Princess and the Frog (2009), emphasising family, friendship, growth, and ambition.

Since then, the Disney shows of the 2010s and later shows have capitalised on more nuanced, familiar heroes.

Focus on Internal Struggles

With the veer to more recognisable heroes came a sentimental angle: the heroes became more focused on internal struggles and life lessons than on external adventure.  

Frozen (2013) and Frozen II (2019) had some adventure, but the stories of Anna and Elsa remained focused on family trauma, identity crisis, and self-doubt. This pattern follows Coco (2017) and Encanto (2021), with a side of dangerous escapades and self-discovery, emotional courage, and family healing as the main course.

Regardless, it would be unfair to downplay animated films such as Raya (2021) and Moana (2024) that, in a new age way, attempted to be courageous.

Visual and Skill Changes

While modern visual media depict technical advances, contemporary heroes often lack the aspirational qualities that made earlier characters iconic. Anna, Moana, Miguel, and Mirabel look like everyday people.

Although it is understandable that the characters’ visualisations need to match the storyline, it would be nice to have heroes who leave something to work towards. It definitely works. Ask Beyonce.

Why the Shift Happened

Push for Inclusivity

Earlier Disney productions focused on a specific racial type, whereas contemporary Disney material is more diverse in its portrayal of personalities and cultures.

Pocahontas features Native American culture, Moana represents Polynesian culture, Raya highlights Southeast Asian culture, Coco centres on Mexican tradition, Encanto celebrates Colombian identity, and Iwájú delves into Nigerian storytelling.

Although racial variation results in differences in features, representation has become essential.

Storytelling Trends

In crafting plots, the direction changed from external adventures to more internal conflicts.

This decision was likely due to insufficient material that highlighted the unseen issues, or to the sway of more sensitive content. Still, the past few productions have shown that this new development will be seen a lot more often.

Marketing and Audience Targeting

Disney is, above all, a profit-making company, so it would lean toward characterisation that would increase its reach and diversify its revenue streams.

It’s no surprise that there are more inclusive, intricate Disney heroes.

Fandom Reactions

The Disney Fandom has the “for’s” who wish the heroes could return to the old recipe, and the “against’s” who love the more simplified characters. These are some of their reactions.

Conclusion

Nostalgia and change will always clash, like oil and water.

On one hand, we have the nostalgic millennials and older Gen Z, asking what happened to their iconic heroes. Alternatively, the younger Gen Zs and Gen Alpha are wondering what all the fuss is about. 

Ultimately, there has to be a general acceptance that while the old method of crafting Disney heroes influenced generations, the new one is here to stay.

However, it begs one last question: Can Disney heroes ever recapture that “unattainable yet cool” energy without losing relatability?