The dark side of Disney

Like almost every child, I grew up with Disney movies. In my squeaky 2-year-old voice I could — very poorly — belt out all the words to nearly every Disney princess song.

These songs gave and continue to give me so much joy that my roommate and I blast “Let it Go” from Disney’s latest masterpiece, “Frozen.” The songs are undeniably catchy.

However, the movies seem much darker than I remember as a kid.

“Frozen” was the first Disney movie I had seen in quite a while. Easily the oldest people in the theater, with the exception of parents, my friend and I excitedly sat to view the movie many had spoken so highly of.  To date, the film has grossed about $1 billion worldwide.

For those who have not seen the film, watch for spoilers ahead.

Immediately, I was shocked by the quick deaths of characters, specially given the nature of “Frozen” as a Disney movie. The event was quickly forgotten as the plot continued.

Still, it seemed Disney was interested in making audiences feel desperation — both young and old — in Idina Menzel’s character, Elsa.

After accidentally turning her sister’s heart to ice, Anna returns home for the one cure — a kiss from her true love, which turns out to be a power play by a prince with 12 older brothers desperate for power. With this in mind, it seems Disney is increasingly unafraid to include darker subject matter into its family-friendly movies.

Surprisingly, this does not bother Disney fans.

In fact, many are applauding their choice to make Anna’s first love not work out. It is relatable, with 40 to 50 percent of marriages ending in divorce. It appeals to parents, but to kids it presents darker themes of deception they are too young to think about.

Despite your opinion on Hans’ fraudulent behavior, the final scenes of “Frozen” follow Disney’s pattern of darkness that may not actually be so new.

In “the Little Mermaid,” Ursula turns Ariel’s father into a polyp — a weird shriveled up seaweed thing. Films like “Tangled” and “Beauty and the Beast,” the protagonist’s love interest is killed trying to protect her.

What makes “Frozen” different is the protagonist herself is in harm’s way to protect her sister.

As Hans prepares to murder Elsa after telling her of Anna’s passing — that is, in fact, not true — Anna commits an act of true love and saves her sister, sacrificing herself in the process.

There was an audible gasp in the movie theater. My friend and I turned to each other, both of us in disbelief Disney would display something so mature in a movie rated PG. There was a part of me that wondered if Anna would thaw, or if the movie would end on a somber note.

The kids in the theater, though, could not understand why the adults were so shaken by the scene. One sitting behind me asked his mom if he could get more popcorn over Elsa’s sobs.

As kids we cannot comprehend more complex themes. Still maybe we should question whether Disney should expose young children to such mature themes in the first place.

­— aledaily@indiana.edu