In Zipes’ study of Disney animated films, five characteristics are proposed to define the Disney Fairy-Tale model: the film conceived as a musical, the happy ending through marriage, the presence of the comic sidekick, the visual distinction between good and evil, and the appeal to children in all viewers. The purpose of this article is to clarify whether these characteristics are still relevant and valid in the most recent films. To this end, a detailed study of each of the five features is presented, focusing on their evolution and development. Paying special attention to the releases of the last decade, the goal is to conclude whether the Disney Fairy-Tale formula, as defined by Zipes, is still valid or, instead, has been replaced by another poetic approach.
Ignacio Laguía (Wed,) studied this question.