Let’s face it. I’m what some people might refer to as a ‘nerd’. I like all sorts of things from Anime to Books to Television and Movies. You name it, if I haven’t actively taken the time to read/watch it, I’ve probably heard of it. Today we will be discussion one of my favorite subjects (but not my ultimate favorite, though we will get there), Disney. More specifically, Disney animated movies.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for a good Disney Movie. I lost my mind when I found out that Disney was remaking Beauty and the Beast, I’m still excited I’ll be seeing Frozen move to the stage on August 23rd at DCPA. I was a kid in a candy store on the Disney Cruise Ships. I’m a lover of Disney, and their movies are often the cutest things I’ve ever seen.

But why don’t we look at our favorite Disney flicks a little more closely?

I obviously can’t go on and on about every animated Disney movie ever made. We’d be here until the last Star Wars movie premiere. Instead, I’ll grab a few of my favorites. Specifically, Mulan, Frozen, and Big Hero 6. Now, that’s a hard list to make, I feel like I’m discounting so many AMAZING films, but I only have so much time to type before I develop Carpal Tunnel. Besides, they all have a little something in common that I’m going to explain. So lets dive right in with Mulan, shall we?

Mulan is a Disney Princess, and one of the first (If not THE first, I don’t have that much time on my hands) to be classified as such while also not actually being a princess. Her film was also one of the first (Again if not THE first) movie from Disney’s studios that didn’t revolve around a love story. For those of you who may not know, Mulan is about a young woman who takes her father’s place in the Chinese Army (Despite the HIGH LEVEL OF ILLEGALNESS). That’s basically it if you only need a basic gist. Throughout the movie we get some wonderfully hilarious songs and a truly good story for young girls everywhere, and a message that can be different for every girl.

Mulan breaks all the rules to protect her father from going back to war to keep him safe and healthy, the poor man does walk with a limp after all. She then goes to the camp, learns to fight like a badass warrior, and then actually uses those skills against the Huns. Following her gender reveal, her life is spared due to her heroic actions, and when she realizes that the Huns are still alive she returns to China to warn the General (Shang) that they are still in danger. The Huns reveal themselves and Mulan manages to save the day by getting three guys to dress like women and in the end the Emperor bows to her. All in all it’s not your average Disney Movie.

I won’t beat Frozen to death here, it mostly just needs to be mentioned. The story is easy enough to understand. A princess (Eventual queen) has hidden ice powers, and when they are revealed she is all but exiled from her own kingdom and in the process she learns to accept her powers and figures out how to control them. True love is a heavy feature but in the end, the best act of true love was one between sisters. Once again, not your typical Disney film.
For those of you tired of hearing people talk up Frozen here’s some cinemasins that literally just critiques the hell out of it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvwMtWkfkJ8

An finally, Big Hero 6. I could go on and on about Big Hero 6. It actually falls somewhere in the Marvel Universe but is a fully standalone film. Its different from things like The Avengers and Spiderman. The superheroes are all a little unconventional, and pretty much everything is based in science. Except the part where San Francisco is San Fransokyo. That part took some getting used to. Big Hero 6 has wonderful displays of action and is great at showing people recovery from loss. Grief sort of becomes one of those things that is always there but it’s not the focal point so you don’t see it unless you’re looking for it. It does have some things that we saw in Frozen if you really look but the story is completely different.

I love these films because they aren’t your average Disney animated feature. They have stories that don’t follow the typical girl meets boy, boy rescues girl plot. All of these involve doing what the main characters think is right, for whatever reasons they have. Often they are saving something precious to them.The messages are great not just for children, but for adults. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been reminded by Disney movies that I’m not alone. Hiro being depressed after the loss of his brother, Anna sacrificing herself to save her sister, Mulan breaking all the laws to protect her father. Disney goes to the extreme to get a point across, but in the end, it reminds us that sometimes it’s the little things.

It’s okay to be different.

It’s okay to be depressed.

It’s okay to follow your own path.