Disney Is Amazing At Presenting Serious Topics To Children And Here Are 31 Of Those Instances

Disney has a talent for taking the kind of pain adults tiptoe around, and handing it to kids like it’s just another plot point. And yes, it can be dark. Like, “wait, why is this happening on a Tuesday?” dark.

In Up, Ellie’s pregnancy turns into miscarriage and depression, and the movie refuses to blink. In Coco, Ernesto’s confession about poisoning Héctor drags treachery and friendship into the same emotional room. Dumbo adds animal abuse and divorce, while Beauty and the Beast doesn’t shy away from harassment, misogyny, and Gaston’s entitlement toward Belle.

So when you notice how often these stories hit serious topics head-on, you start wondering what Disney is really teaching between the songs.

1. Up

The important subjects discussed include miscarriage and the ensuing depression. When Ellie learned she was expecting, she was so excited, but she later found out that she had miscarried.

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2. Coco

The characters tackle the weighty subjects of treachery and friendship. The scene where Ernesto confesses to poisoning Héctor is the one that instructs the audience on these two concepts.

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3. Dumbo

The cartoon addresses issues like divorce, animal abuse, and how animals are mistreated in the entertainment business. This is especially evident in the scene where Mrs. Jumbo loses her mind when a child mistreats her son, Dumbo.

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4. Beauty And The Beast

The very severe issues of sexual harassment, misogyny, social rejection, and masculine entitlement are all addressed by Disney. Gaston's ungentlemanly and degrading attitude toward Belle is evident in nearly every scene in which they appear.

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5. Frozen

The difficulties and obstacles of developing a healthy relationship with your siblings are examined, not just the benefits. The film explores how, in order to have a loving connection with your sister, you sometimes have to endure pain, ambivalence, jealousy, rivalry, and even hate.

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6. Tangled, Cinderella And Frozen

Parental maltreatment and neglect are discussed, but not everybody accepts this interpretation.

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7. Monsters, Inc

Learning to say goodbye to those you love the most is one of the most serious subjects. The sequence in which Sulley bids Boo farewell and exits into the closet captures this beautifully.

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8. Hercules

The film touches on issues of sexism and sexual harassment. Through Meg's character, who asserts in one scene that males believe that "no" means "yes" and "get lost" means "take me," these two subjects are discussed.

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9. Pocahontas

The film's creators discuss racism and colonialism, as well as their significant and troubling repercussions. The movie consistently explores these two concepts.

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10. Cinderella

The makers of the animated film address issues including parental loss, abuse, and how distant everyone is from a good, loving family. The scene in which Cinderella's wicked stepsisters rip off her handcrafted dress is one of the worst.

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11. Bolt

Between the lines, there are a few more somber subjects like lying and proper treatment of animals. The entire movie's plot—and the need for the film—would not have occurred if Bolt had never imagined that he possessed superpowers.

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12. Big Hero 6

The story's main theme is the profound loss of a cherished family member and the sadness that results from it, rather than simply the migration.

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13. Finding Nemo

Disney and Pixar discuss love and losing those who are close to you with the audience. Only father Marlin and his little son Nemo managed to escape the barracuda attack. Marlin lost both his wife and every other child he had.

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14. The Rescuers Down Under

The makers of the movie touch on issues like preserving the environment and safeguarding endangered species. A few more somber subjects, such as lying and treating animals humanely, can be discovered between the lines. They also address the issue of illegal poaching.

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It’s a lot like vetoing your partner’s pet adoption after they surprised you with a pet snake.

15. Oliver & Company

The serious subject of living and surviving in great poverty is covered in the film.

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16. The Hunchback Of Notre Dame

Dark topics that are addressed by Disney include bullying others who are different from you, ableism, racism, sexism, sexual harassment, poverty, genocide, and corruption.

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17. Moana

The notion that the people we lose as loved ones are never actually gone—they will always be with you—is one of the most heartbreaking. The scene where Grandma Tala, who is passing away, bids Moana farewell is the clearest example of this.

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18. A Bug's Life

Throughout the film, the subjects of authoritarianism, fascism, dictatorships, and political corruption are covered. Some people believe that the film contains some overt allusions to Nazism.

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19. Mulan

The makers of the animated film address societal misogyny in their work. Throughout the entire movie, Mulan demonstrates that a woman's place is not necessarily in the house. No matter what their gender, everyone can be intelligent, humorous, tough, and capable.

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20. Cars 2

The narrative of the entire film discusses nature, climate change, and the impact of oil on the global environment.

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21. Lilo & Stitch

The loss of loved ones, mourning, and experiencing loss and confusion are all themes throughout the film. The scene where Lilo tells Stitch about how her parents perished in a vehicle accident is where this is most apparent. Later, Stitch acknowledges that he is lost.

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22. Tarzan

The protagonists discuss how to maintain optimism in the face of losses that appear insurmountable and unrecoverable.

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23. Zootopia

The entire movie is filled with references to racial profiling, segregation, and the absurd notion that racial differences in biology affect behavior. The film also makes references to how stereotyping is wrong and that everyone should work for equality.

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24. Brave

The entire movie deals with the weighty issues of sexism, enforced gender norms, and expectations placed on young women by the patriarchy.

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25. Toy Story 2

The film explores problems surrounding abandonment and the notion that just because someone has been abandoned doesn't mean they are incapable of loving. More about Jessie's past is revealed in the cartoon, including the fact that she was abandoned.

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26. The Princess And The Frog

The audience is presented with the idea of accepting one's fate, no matter how terrible it may be. Knowing that something positive would result from having taken the object and repelled Facilier's demons, Ray the Firefly accepts his fate. After that, Ray passes away quietly in the company of his friends.

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27. Inside Out

Riley's sadness received the appropriate attention from the film's writers. Instead of portraying Riley as a typical disgruntled teenager, they made her sadness a real problem. Riley's attire even reflected how she was feeling.

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28. Aladdin

Extreme poverty, never having enough food, and the desire to live better are some of the most important subjects. You may even argue that the entire plot of the film (or its sequels) would not have occurred if Aladdin hadn't lived in poverty.

The other major serious issues included patriarchy, corruption, and greed.

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29. Toy Story 3

The film explores the idea that we all eventually grow out of our pasts, and that's a wonderful thing. The moment when Andy presents Bonnie with all of his favorite toys perfectly encapsulates this.

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30. Finding Dory

Through Dory, a character in the film, the writers explore the idea of being neuroatypical. The movie demonstrates that being neuroatypical is acceptable, that having an intellectual disability does not make one less of a person, and that such individuals may live fulfilling lives.

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31. The Lion King

The animated film touches on the idea of how a thirst for power may result in terrible things, including breaking families apart.

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That’s what makes <em>Up</em> hit so hard, Ellie’s excitement turning into miscarriage, then depression, before you even catch your breath.

Meanwhile, <em>Coco</em> pivots from treachery to friendship right when Ernesto confesses to poisoning Héctor, and the whole vibe changes in seconds.

Then <em>Dumbo</em> takes it even further, with Mrs. Jumbo losing her mind after a child mistreats her son, and suddenly the “cartoon” feels painfully real.

And by the time <em>Beauty and the Beast</em> shows Gaston degrading Belle again and again, the movie’s serious themes are no longer background noise, they’re the point.

Disney films help the characters and the audience discover the appropriate course of action by presenting serious, occasionally troubling subjects. Therefore, rather than dismissing the issues that youngsters may encounter, these movies assist in providing them with the emotional toolkits necessary to tackle the obstacles that lie ahead.

Disney might be singing, but it’s also quietly showing kids how ugly real life can get.

Up next, read about refusing your partner’s pet adoption dream and the fallout.