Reimagining Disney Characters With Realistic Bodies

Growing up, many of us found solace and joy in the colorful world of Disney. From brave heroes to wise mentors, Disney characters became our friends, guiding us through tales of adventure and self-discovery. Yet, while these characters were diverse in personality, they often shared similar physical appearances.

This prompted artist Wyethe Smallish to embark on a journey of reimagining these beloved characters, challenging conventional beauty standards and celebrating diversity through her art.

Smallish, like many, grappled with body image issues. Seeking solace and self-expression, she turned to her art as a form of therapy.

Inspired by her struggles and a desire for change, Smallish embarked on a project to depict Disney characters with diverse body types. In her reimagined artworks, Smallish boldly altered the physical appearances of iconic Disney characters, giving them bodies that deviated from the traditional norms portrayed in mainstream media.

From plus-size princesses to muscular heroes, her creations celebrated bodies of all shapes and sizes, reflecting the beauty of diversity in humanity. The response to Smallish's artwork was overwhelmingly positive.

As she shared her creations on social media, they quickly garnered attention and praise from people around the world. Many commended her for offering a refreshing perspective on familiar characters and for championing inclusivity in art.

Smallish's project not only challenges existing beauty standards but also encourages viewers to embrace diversity and celebrate individuality. By depicting beloved Disney characters with diverse body types, she sends a powerful message of acceptance and self-love.

Through her drawings, Smallish wants us to think about our favorite stories in a new way. She wants us to see them from a perspective that highlights the diversity of people. Her art reminds us that beauty can look different for everyone and that it's special to accept the things that make us unique.

1. Ariel

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2. Mulan

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3. Princess Aurora

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4. Jasmine

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5. Rapunzel

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6. Jasmine

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7. Cinderella

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8. Jasmine

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9. Princess Tiana

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10. Mulan

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11. Jasmine

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12. Princess Aurora

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13. Princess Tiana

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14. Princess Tiana

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15. Rapunzel

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16. Elsa

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17. Ariel

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18. Cinderella

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19. Rapunzel

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20. Belle

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21. Meg

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22. Princess Aurora

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23. Meg

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24. Princess Aurora

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Old Disney movies are often criticized for giving young girls negative messages, such as needing a man to be happy, waiting for the perfect partner, and believing that marrying a prince means living happily ever after.

However, these movies also receive criticism for portraying unrealistic body images. For example, researchers Toe Aung and Leah Williams point out that Disney princesses are drawn with extremely small waist-to-hip ratios that most people cannot achieve naturally. They suggest that these cartoon princesses could lead people to prefer and admire these unrealistic body shapes and to think that individuals who look this way are better people.

This can harm girls' self-esteem in the long run. However, since beauty is subjective, Aung and Williams measured something specific: the waist-to-hip ratio of female Disney characters.

They analyzed screenshots and calculated the waist and hip sizes of 11 Disney princesses and characters from the hugely popular movie Frozen, as well as seven villains like Maleficent and Ursula. They found that, on average, these characters' waists are only about 53% the size of their hips.

This is much smaller than the widely accepted ideal ratio of 0.7 and even smaller than the Barbie doll's ratio of 0.56.

The researchers emphasize that such an exaggerated hourglass figure is almost impossible to achieve naturally.

25. Princess Tiana

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26. Belle And Adam

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27. Meg

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28. Prince Eric

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29. Cinderella

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30. Ariel

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31. Rapunzel

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32. Belle

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As we go through life, we often feel pressure to look a certain way because of what society tells us is beautiful. However, Smallish's art shows us that we don't have to follow those rules. We can set our own standards and celebrate how different everyone is.

Smallish is changing how we see the world. She envisions a world where everyone feels included and valued for who they are. So, as we continue with our lives, let's remember what her art teaches us: that everyone is beautiful in their own way, and we should celebrate that.