The Disney Company has become the leader in the moral corruption of the family. People are complaining that the world’s largest family entertainment provider has fallen away from its roots, that it no longer promotes the virtues and family values that Walt Disney instilled in his company. I would say that not only are the current products The Disney Company is pushing not appropriate for any good wholesome family, but they have always had a hidden anti-family agenda.

Disney has gotten so out of hand that at the 1997 Southern Baptist Convention, this highly regarded religious group made a resolution to boycott Disney products. Importantly, the most disconcerting aspect for these righteous people is Disney’s support for the gay community. Other religious groups have since joined in the Disney boycott. The religious communities first became concerned after the release of The Lion King, which apparently contains a gay relationship in the form of Timon the meerkat and Pumba the warthog. Next, Disney, through its ownership of ABC, had Ellen come out of the closet on her self-titled show. But, the final straw for the critics was when Disney began extending benefits to the gay and lesbian partners of its employees. The Southern Baptist resolution states, “These and other corporate decisions and actions represent a significant departure from Disney’s family-values image, and a gratuitous insult to Christians and others who have long supported Disney and contributed to its corporate profits” (Text). All of this makes me wonder where people got the idea that Disney promoted family values to begin with.

Since its inception, Disney has used cartoons, television shows, and movies to model appalling behavior. These films contain a significant amount of sorcery, drugs, alcohol, anti-family values, childhood misbehavior, and extreme violence. Just look at some of the original Disney characters: Mickey Mouse only wears pants, and Donald Duck only wears a shirt. They never show any family for Mickey, and Donald only has his mean uncle and three trouble-prone nephews. If there were men walking around half dressed and living alone in real life, parents would keep their children far away; but if it is a cartoon duck and mouse, Disney thinks that is acceptable. These characters also encourage class discrimination. Goofy and Pluto are both dogs; however Goofy is treated better than Pluto just because he can stand up and talk. Well, at least Goofy is fully dressed.

The amount of violence and sorcery in most Disney films is unacceptable. Fighting, blood, and death are common in the “Disney Classics.” They teach children that fighting and killing is the way to solve any problem. For example, Sleeping Beauty depicts a very dark witch who sits on a throne in a dark cave with a fire in the middle. She watches as her demon-like followers dance around. Eventually, the witch is murdered by the prince, in a vicious blood bath, and I cannot believe children do not have nightmares after watching it. The Sword and the Stone is full of sorcery depicted as “good family fun,” teaching children that they too can become a wizard. Let’s not forget the “modern” Disney films. The Little Mermaid contains an evil sea witch who goes on murderous rampages. Beauty and the Beast involves a town of people who are intolerant of the beast just because he is different. They storm his castle yelling, “Kill the beast, kill the beast!” When my child was three years old, and walked around the house repeating that very line, I realized how completely unacceptable Disney movies are for children. It took a lot of work on my part, but I think I have been able to undo any damage caused to her by Disney propaganda.

Andy Bauck reports in the Washington Free Press, “Disney’s animated films are filled with gratuitous violence and dysfunctional families, and present an unhealthy view of society at large” (Bauck). Have you noticed the family dynamics in the supposedly “wholesome” Disney films? Snow White, Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Cinderella, Jungle Book, and The Rescuers—there is not a traditional, intact family among them. In several films, like Bambi and The Lion King, one parent is brutally murdered in the opening scenes. Snow White has to flee her home to save herself from her wicked step-mother who is trying to kill her. She ends up living with seven men, eats from a poisoned apple given to her by her step-mother, and is only saved by a kiss from a prince. There are some great wholesome values in that one!

The inept family situations portrayed in these films are no doubt the cause of the drug and alcohol abuse they depict. In Dumbo, his mother goes mad when people are mocking his large ears. Because of her reaction, the authorities have no choice but to lock her up. Left unsupervised, it is really not surprising when Dumbo becomes inebriated to the point of seeing pink elephants. Then there is the dysfunctional Pinocchio: he runs away, gets drunk, smokes cigars, and ends up in the belly of a whale. Maybe he should not be held accountable; after all, his mother was a tree. And let’s not forget the drug usage and disrespect illustrated in Alice in Wonderland. This movie shows a caterpillar smoking what I can only assume is pot and encouraging Alice to eat some “funny mushrooms.” Along with the drug use, parents everywhere should disapprove of the poor table manners portrayed as funny during the Mad Hatters’ Tea Party, not to mention the disrespect for the mentally ill.

Disney loves their princesses—in Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty just to name a few Disney films centered around a princess. All these films have a similar story: the princess is in trouble, a prince comes to save her, and they live happily ever after. These princesses are more like sex goddesses, using their womanly ways to manipulate the people around them. They have perfect bodies that are curvy and sexy enough for Playboy. You never see a Disney princess who is overweight or who has small breasts. This kind of entertainment helps to promote the stereotype that women can’t take care of themselves, must have a great body, and need a man to ride up on a white horse to rescue them. Millions of young girls are just waiting for the day their prince will come.

Probably the most popular Disney princess is Cinderella. Her story begins with a kind hearted stepmother and her two daughters. After marrying a widower, the stepmother took care of his child while he was away on business. Did Cinderella appreciate all her stepmother did for her? No! She disobeyed, went to the ball, and irresponsibly lost one of her shoes. Despite this, she is treated as the victim, teaching children that it is ok to disobey authority, along as you get your prince in the end.

In malls all over America, Disney has entire stores dictated to promoting anything Disney. Walk inside and you see shelf after shelf, and rack after rack, of games, toys, figures, and clothing, all supporting this shameful company and its agenda. Our children become walking, talking billboards, soldiers in The Disney Company’s crusade to disgrace the traditional family structure. The kids have to have these products, anything stamped with Disney. Parents let their children watch Disney videos over and over, not realizing how they are being brainwashed to the Disney way.

It is not surprising that some religious groups are outraged by Disney’s current moral corruption. What is surprising is their desire for Disney to return to the “traditional values” of their past. I think parents should avoid Disney altogether, because the majority of their films have never promoted good morals. The violence, witchcraft, sorcery, and poor family values they endorse have never been appropriate for children. It is a mystery to me why no one has seen this until now. It is up to parents to protect their children, and society as a whole, from the Disney company’s anti-family agenda.

Works Cited

Bambi. The Walt Disney Company. 1942. DVD. Buena Vista Home Video, 12005.

Cinderella. The Walt Disney Company. 1950. Videocassette. Buena Vista Home Video, 1995.

Dumbo. The Walt Disney Company. 1941. Videocassette. Buena Vista Home Video, 1998.

The Lion King. The Walt Disney Company. 1994. Videocassette. Buena Vista Home Video, 1995.

Pinocchio. The Walt Disney Company. 1994. Videocassette. Buena Vista Home Video, 1995.

Sleeping Beauty. The Walt Disney Company. 1959. Videocassette. Buena Vista Home Video, 1997.