director John Musker has suggested the company needs ‘course correction’ after putting political messages ahead of plots in their recent films.
The animator has helmed a selection of iconic movies including the Little Mermaid, , and Hercules over his incredible career.
The 70-year-old also served as writer for many for the beloved cartoons, with the Great Mouse Detective and Treasure Planet also on his CV.
Sharing his thoughts on the Walt Disney Company’s latest offerings, he reflected on how releases have changed over the years, imploring bosses to put ‘compelling stories and characters’ at the forefront of their future films.
‘We weren’t trying to be woke, although I understand the criticism,’ he told Spanish publication of his work on the Princess and the Frog, in 2009. ‘The classic Disney films didn’t start out trying to have a message. They wanted you to get involved in the characters and the story and the world, and I think that’s still the heart of it.
‘You don’t have to exclude agendas, but you have to first create characters who you sympathize with and who are compelling.
‘I think they need to do a course correction a bit in terms of putting the message secondary, behind entertainment and compelling story and engaging characters.’
John has seen some of his biggest films get the live-action remake treatment in recent years – , with in the titular role.
However, he hasn’t always been a fan of how they have turned out…
‘Companies are always like, “How do we reduce our risk? They like this, right? We’ll just do it again and sell it to them in a different form.” Or they think, “Well, we could make it better,”’ he continued.
‘I think there was a question even with The Little Mermaid. They didn’t play up the father-daughter story, and that was the heart of the movie, in a way. And the crab – you could look at live animals in a zoo and they have more expression, like with The Lion King.
‘That’s one of the basic things about Disney, is the appeal. That’s what animation does best.’
Another of the filmmaker’s most iconic movies will be transformed for the big screen, with Moana 2 being released later this year.
The original was first released in 2016 and starred Dwayne Johnson and Auliʻi Cravalho – netting over $680million at the global box office.
Thanks to the animation, and the banging soundtrack, it went on to become a firm family favorite, with the sequel set to drop just before Christmas.
After plans for a follow-up TV series were shelved, bosses recently shared a teaser trailer for Moana 2, confirming confirmed release date of November 27.
Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger previously teased what more we could expect, adding: ‘After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania.
‘[Moana enters] dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.’
