“Little Freak…Yes, Him with Those Ears Only a Mother Could Love”: Representation of Physical Disability in Disney Across Three Eras

Abstract

This study compared the portrayal of physical disability in Disney animated films across its Classical (1937-1959), Renaissance (1989-1999), and Revival (2009-2022) eras. Atextual analysis was conducted on six selected films from these eras that depict characters with physical disability: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Dumbo (1941), Peter Pan (1953), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Brave (2012), and Luca (2021). The study found that Disney films from the Classical Era (1937-1959) and the Renaissance Era (1989-1999) often depicted characters with disabilities as outsiders struggling for acceptance. However, starting from the Renaissance Era (1989-1999), the films began to portray these characters as multi-dimensional individuals. Recent films emphasize empowerment and selfdiscovery, depicting characters like Massimo in Luca as capable and independent, with their disabilities minimally mentioned and not defining their entire plotline. The study concludes that recent positive and nuanced portrayals of disability in Disney films reflect current societal calls for inclusivity.