Here’s What Diehard Disney Fans Think About These Live-Action Remakes

If it seems like Disney has been creating a more aggressive push lately to turn its animated classics into live-action films, it’s because it has been — and the organization hasn’t been subtle about it, either. Immediately following the success of 2016’s The Jungle Book and 2018’s Beauty and the Beast, Disney has doubled down on its commitment to breathe new life into its animated movies. In 2019 alone, Dumbo, Aladdin, and The Lion King all acquired the live-action treatment (though, The Lion King is more of a CGI animation than a live-action production), with several more adaptations in the works. Nevertheless while some OG fans of the classics are thrilled that their preference tales are being revamped with a greater emphasis on inclusivity, others are a little bit more skeptical about Disney’s choice to dive in deep with the remakes.


So what is it that critics have against Disney’s colossal wave of live-action adaptations? For some, they think it's a sign that one of Hollywood's most revolutionary studios is running out of fresh ideas. And rather than putting in the work to come up with new stories it hopes fans will like, it’s much easier for the organization to continue with the same old classic tales that have been successful in the past. Why? Because Disney owns the intellectual property of all its animated classics, which basically means the corporation can continue to remake as several versions of those same stories as it would like, in perpetuity.


To some, this choice to re-tell the same stories using real actors and CGI effects comes off as uninspired, and a number of people feel that it doesn’t at all exude the kind of creativity and innovativeness that Disney’s known for. "The things that made the movies classic, and wonderful were the expressiveness, and personality," Adam Martinez, a fan of the classic movies, tweeted, "and I’ve although to watch a 'live action' one that matches or exceeds the originals excellent. Why? It’s not original."


But loyal fans of the animated classics aren’t turned off solely because Disney generally seems to be taking the easy road to financial success. In her review of The Lion King, Kendra James of The Verge wrote, "The new Lion King will make a lot of cash, and hopefully, some of that cash can be used to prepare films that have more artsy integrity, narrative ambition, and bare reason to exist." And that generally seems to be the general consensus among some fans, as well. By recycling old tales, some feel that Disney is using their millennial crowds unceasing desire for nostalgia to lure them back to the box office. "We stay in an age where most of them of the millennial generation was place on Earth and raised on the Disney classics," Anthony Cain, a critic of Disney’s live-action trend, told MTV News. Alternatively of trying new and interesting things, they play it safe."


Though, even critics of Disney's live-action slate understand that it’s all piece of the company’s well thought-out marketing plan of action. Disney is aware exactly what it’s doing by making new iterations of beloved films that were released decades ago. Immediately considering that, fans of the classics have already developed deep, emotional connections to the characters and storylines, and if they know that they feel fondly about a particular film, there’s a greater chance Disney will make a significant return on its investment — and also a new generation of parents will share these beloved films with their children, creating new memories and future Disney fans. "They know millennial parents will take their kids to be able to see these movies, then show their kids the originals, then begin the process all over again," Cain added. Savvy organization plan of action or not, isn't any well-crafted film that brings families with each other in the movie theater worth celebrating?


It's also worth noting that the classics aren’t going anywhere. Diehard fans of the animated movies can still watch them at their leisure. And as some people on social media have pointed out, there really are actually a lot of advantages to remaking these adored animated movies. As an example, as we’ve seen with Halle Bailey’s recent casting in the upcoming live-action version of The Little Mermaid, creating updated versions of those films offers Disney a possibility to exhibit these classic tales in a more inclusive way. And considering the initial Black princess arrived in 2009 with The Princess and the Frog, we can all agree that these stories could use an added dose of inclusivity — even if there really are naysayers on the world wide web who insist that Ariel, a fictional mermaid, needs to be white and have red hair.


The impending remake of Mulan also offers the agency the chance to retell the inspiring tale in a more accurate and respectful way — helmed by Niki Caro, the second woman to solo direct a Disney movie with a $100 million-plus financial range. In the live-action version, Disney will do away with the songs from the animated classic, Mulan’s original love interest Captain Li Shang, and yes, dragon pal Mushu and the cricket, also. And while those concepts definitely added some additional flair, ultimately, several people agree that they’re just not needed. “The original Disney movie was pretty and had iconic songs and hilarious sidekicks, which I know resonated with people…” Clara Sia, a contributor of the Mulan remake, tweeted. “That version still exists. You could watch it once you want. A version more respectful to my culture won’t cancel that movie. There’s room for this.”


Still, there will usually be diehard fans of the animated versions who insist that should these movies get the live-action treatment, the plot and the characters need to stay as close to the classics as possible, à la Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King. Nevertheless as some fans on social media have aptly pointed out, maybe these live-action remakes aren’t for the fans of the classics. Maybe they’re for an entirely new generation of Disney fans who aspire to be able to see female leads that not only look like them, however that empower them, also. "[Mulan] looks like it can would be a game-changer for Disney," Myan Mercado, a loyal fan of Mulan, told MTV News. "I think she'll just be being a lot of little ladies preference — if she isn't already."


moreover to the obvious required for Disney stories headed by diverse female leads, another argument is that live-action versions are downright amusing — and not to say, especially advanced — which should be enough of a reason for them to exist. Technology has evolved tremendously since we watched the animated movies as starry-eyed kids, and with all of the progress that has been made with effects, some fans really appreciate the possibility to watch these tales come to life in an other way. "I think it’s a no-brainer to come out with live-action remakes,” Megan Lapinski, a longtime Disney fan, told MTV News. "It’s the ideal balance between the classic Disney stories and new age technology that makes it all really impressive."


In general, fans of the classics have mixed advice about Disney’s choice to go full force with these new adaptations. Though, that won't exactly keep them from their local theaters on initial weekend. These stories defined their childhoods, and bringing them back in a different form offers an escape to their youth that they likely feel they wouldn’t have the ability to get anywhere else. "Some us of us just want an eas escape and [to] remember what it looked like as a carefree kid watching these," Lapinski mentioned. "It’s astonishing to me how a movie can bring up so several past feelings and emotions."