MINI-EPISODE: Best Idea for a Disney Park Attraction?

Fantasia: Erin and Rachel review Disney’s Fantasia (1940) segment by segment and discuss the film’s repeated racist, female objectifying, and fatphobic imagery. But the music and unicorns are pretty! Maybe there’s a reason Disney likes to focus on Sorcerer Mickey when they talk about this film... by Deconstructing Disney

99 min listen

Bambi: Hear how “twitterpated” Erin and Rachel both are with Bambi (1942), the delightful classic that chronicles the lives of forest creatures with a heavy-handed conservationist agenda. Widely panned by critics following its initial release, this is the first time the grade Erin assigned on behalf of 1942 viewers is lower than the grade Rachel assigned based on a current day perspective! by Deconstructing Disney

77 min listen

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Erin and Rachel discuss Disney's first full-length animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, snidely referred to by critics as "Disney's Folly" before its release and subsequent box office success in 1937. The hosts unpack the impact of this groundbreaking film on popular culture, including its sexist and ableist themes. by Deconstructing Disney

98 min listen

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (BONUS EPISODE): In this bonus episode, Erin and Rachel unpack The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949), and debate which is the most frightening: the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow, Mr. Toad’s untreated mental illness, or the complete lack of female and BIPOC representation in this film. by Deconstructing Disney

83 min listen

Welcome to Deconstructing Disney: Meet Erin and Rachel, two life-long Disney fans who've decided to take on the Disney film catalog with a critical lens. In this introductory episode, they share some Disney memories, quiz each other on Disney trivia, and explain what "deconstructing" actually means. To all who come to this happy podcast, welcome! by Deconstructing Disney

50 min listen

Peter Pan: Erin and Rachel have A LOT of thoughts (just under two hours worth) about Peter Pan (1953), a film so full of racism and sexism, they’re left scratching their heads about why this Disney classic is so beloved. Join the hosts as they unpack all the different ways this movie is offensive toward indigenous people, women, and even people with disabilities! by Deconstructing Disney

117 min listen

Saludos Amigos & The Three Caballeros: As unofficial ambassador of Franklin Roosevelt’s Good Neighbor approach to foreign policy, Walt Disney traveled to South America on a so-called “goodwill tour,” the results of which were Saludos Amigos (1942) and The Three Caballeros (1944). Join Erin and Rachel for this special double episode as they unpack the political and cultural influence of these lesser known “package” films. by Deconstructing Disney

82 min listen

The Sword in the Stone: Journey back to the Middle Ages for a discussion of The Sword in the Stone (1963), a film beset with sexism and classism befitting its medieval setting. The last fully animated film before Walt Disney’s death in 1966, this story of Arthurian legend leaves a lot to be desired in terms of plot and songwriting as well. Erin and Rachel try to make up for the latter with some singing of their own, and for that, they sincerely apologize. by Deconstructing Disney

77 min listen

Sleeping Beauty: Can a film with a female protagonist who sleeps more than anything else be considered “feminist”? Erin and Rachel wrestle with this question and more as they discuss Sleeping Beauty (1959), Disney’s third and final princess film until the Disney Renaissance thirty years later. by Deconstructing Disney

80 min listen

Dumbo: Erin and Rachel unpack Disney’s pachyderm-focused 1941 film, Dumbo. This beloved classic helped Walt Disney Studios recover financially from previous box office busts and an animator strike. Despite being the shortest Disney animated film at only 64 minutes, there’s no shortage of racism, sexism, or horrifying elephant-based hallucinations. by Deconstructing Disney

80 min listen

Cinderella: Disney’s Cinderella thrilled Erin and Rachel almost as much as it thrilled 1950 audiences, with “almost” being the operative word. The co-hosts revisit their favorite topics of gender roles and colonization, while also debating what, exactly, dreams are made of for the second Disney princess. by Deconstructing Disney

104 min listen

Pinocchio: Erin and Rachel offer a less favorable take on Disney’s Pinocchio (1940) than the 100% Rotten Tomato rating of this film might suggest. They discuss the historical context of WWII in which the film was released and consider how this relates to the film’s themes about morality and family relationships. by Deconstructing Disney

86 min listen

The Rescuers Down Under: Travel to Australia with Erin and Rachel, where they’ll dissect The Rescuers Down Under (1990), a film full of native flora and fauna, but absolutely no native people. This box office flop was created using the Computer Animation Production System (CAPS), but it’s impressive animated sequences couldn’t redeem the irregular pacing and lackluster characters. by Deconstructing Disney

62 min listen

MINI-EPISODE: Best Idea for a Disney Park Attraction?: In this first miniature (or Minnie Mouse?) episode, Erin and Rachel each pitch an idea for a new Disney Park attraction based on the films they've watched so far. by Deconstructing Disney

17 min listen

Lady and the Tramp: Join Erin and Rachel as they examine the surprising amount of ethnocentrism and classism imbued in the 1955 classic Lady and the Tramp. Walt Disney Studios did its part to promote the myth of the American melting pot while also cautioning audiences about the "yellow peril," memorably embodied by the infamous Siamese cats who disrupt Lady's idyllic Victorian home life. by Deconstructing Disney

94 min listen

Alice in Wonderland: Erin and Rachel don’t have time for nonsense, and neither did 1951 audiences when Alice in Wonderland flopped at the box office. Thankfully, marijuana-fueled college students in the 1960s had all the time in the world for a trip down the rabbit hole, thus solidifying a permanent place in popular culture for Alice in Wonderland, a film surprisingly devoid of racist or sexist content compared to its predecessors. by Deconstructing Disney

83 min listen

One Hundred and One Dalmatians: Like a Dalmatian’s coat is sprinkled with spots, Disney’s 1961 One Hundred and One Dalmatians has bits of sexism, racism, classism, and fatphobia sprinkled throughout. However, those questionable moments weren’t enough to sour Erin and Rachel on what is overall a heartwarming and visually interesting film. Oh, and did we mention how cute the puppies are? by Deconstructing Disney

97 min listen

Robin Hood: Erin and Rachel travel to Sherwood Forest and discuss Robin Hood (1973), the first Disney film to feature a cast entirely composed of anthropomorphized animals! Although their qualms with the film include the limited agency of female characters and the derision of fat characters, they also enjoyed the exciting plot and folksy music. by Deconstructing Disney

93 min listen

Mary Poppins: Erin and Rachel discuss the classic hybrid film, Mary Poppins. Although Julie Andrews’ famous nanny may be “practically perfect in every way,” the co-hosts find plenty of flaws in the 1964 film’s messaging on family values, gender roles, and classism. by Deconstructing Disney

106 min listen

The Jungle Book: Join Erin and Rachel as they journey to the jungles of India to discuss the 1967 classic, The Jungle Book. Based on the book by Rudyard Kipling, a champion of British Imperialism, the film demonstrates more implicit racism and sexism than colonialist themes. by Deconstructing Disney

81 min listen

The AristoCats: Released three years after Walt Disney’s death, the 1970 animated film The AristoCats (yes, the “C” is capitalized!) marked the beginning of a new era for Walt Disney Animation Studios. Join Erin and Rachel as they discuss the tough questions such as, does everybody want to be a cat? by Deconstructing Disney

81 min listen

The Rescuers: In their deconstruction of The Rescuers (1977), Erin and Rachel discuss orphans, alligators, and confederate symbolism. This film seemingly represents the first attempts of the Walt Disney Animation Studios to represent racial diversity and gender equality in any intentional or meaningful way, but how successful are they? by Deconstructing Disney

89 min listen

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: Venture into the Hundred Acre Wood with Erin and Rachel as they discuss the The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, the 1977 feature-length film that compiled three previously-released featurettes about a willy nilly silly old bear. The conversation touches on issues of gender and racism, but Rachel’s biggest qualm with this movie is the fat shaming directed at our favorite tubby cubby. by Deconstructing Disney

72 min listen

The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Erin and Rachel spend a lot of time wringing their hands over the mature themes in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Disney’s animated film about a bell ringer in medieval France. The film underperformed at the box office; apparently, a children’s movie about adult sexuality is a bell you can’t un-ring. The depictions of disability and race induce further cringing that the dazzling music and visuals can’t completely overcome. Join the party! by Deconstructing Disney

118 min listen

MINI-EPISODE: Best Source Material for a New Disney Movie?: In the third and final mini-episode (for now!), Erin and Rachel wrestle with the definition of "classic" literature and identify possible source material for the next great Disney animated film! by Deconstructing Disney

19 min listen

The Great Mouse Detective: Amid mounting pressure from new leadership, Disney animators ushered in a new era with its first ever computer-generated image (CGI) sequence in The Great Mouse Detective (1986). Erin and Rachel discuss their attraction to Disney characters and their puzzlement with the lengthy cabaret sequence in this Sherlock Holmes-inspired adventure film. by Deconstructing Disney

66 min listen

The Fox and the Hound: Erin and Rachel unpack The Fox and the Hound (1981), the most expensive Disney animated film up to that point, due largely to conflict amongst the film makers. They discover that even a movie about the best of friends isn’t immune to racism in the form of Black stereotypes and underlying messages about segregation. by Deconstructing Disney

69 min listen

Pocahontas: In pursuit of another Oscar-worthy animated feature, Disney chose a culturally significant protagonist and pumped up the romance for Pocahontas (1995). Unsurprisingly, good intentions didn’t prevent a group of white men from creating a hugely problematic film, rife with gross historical inaccuracies, racism, and misogyny. Pocahontas underperformed at the box office, and the only Oscar went to Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz for best original song. by Deconstructing Disney

97 min listen

Beauty and the Beast: A smashing success at the box office and awards shows, Beauty and the Beast (1991) confirmed that the Disney Renaissance had indeed arrived. Despite its technical and narrative achievements, this film garnered heavy criticism from the feminists it sought to appease with a spunky heroine. Erin and Rachel discuss how Belle and her suitors reinforce that gendered violence is a tale as old as time. Oh, and also, is everyone gay? by Deconstructing Disney

108 min listen

The Black Cauldron: In an episode bubbling over with Disney history, Erin and Rachel dive into The Black Cauldron (1985), also known as, “the film that almost killed Disney animation.” Amid corporate restructuring, another animator’s strike, and increasing competition at the box office, The Black Cauldron totally flopped. Erin and Rachel liked this film about as much as 1985 audiences did, and not just because of the misogyny and white-washed cast. Even innovative animation technology couldn’t save the meandering script and annoying characters. by Deconstructing Disney

86 min listen

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MINI-EPISODE: Best Idea for a Disney Park Attraction?

MINI-EPISODE: Best Idea for a Disney Park Attraction?

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