Top 30 Disney Movies That Dealt with Serious Issues

While “Turning Red” beautifully explored the message of navigating one’s culture and traditions, it’s “Elemental” that braves the pressure around being a second-generation immigrant. Ember’s parents gave up so much to start a new life and provide opportunities for their daughter. We see xenophobia outright depicted on screen and, when Ember’s mom finds out about Wade, there’s immediate pushback against any sort of romantic relationship between the two. All of it is handled in a way that feels rooted in reality, promoting acceptance and walking the fine line between honoring the past and going your own way.

After the death of Bambi’s mother traumatized young audiences far and wide, the sequel spared no one. Not the writers, not the animators, and certainly not us watching. Bambi’s dad is left to raise his son alone, and the first thing he does is ask Friend Owl to find a doe to raise the child. We know he’s the Prince of the Forest and has a lot on his shoulders already, but this is not good parenting, sir! This is a movie that not only portrays the complexity of single parenting but also the perspective of a kid being raised by only one parent who has little time for them.

The thing about Barley’s predicament is that it’s so true to real life. Illness can completely transform someone you once knew and the sight, especially when you’re young, can be jarring. Barley was still just a tot when his dad was on his deathbed. There’s no way he even understood what death was at the time. While Ian never got the chance to meet him, Barley got the worse end of the deal, having to live with a decision he made out of fear at such a young age. We can’t imagine holding onto that kind of remorse as you grow up.

As kids, we root for Bianca and Bernard to find the kidnapped Penny. As adults, we’re aware of just how dark the whole scenario is. Penny being an orphan certainly makes a point about the foster care system and just how much revision is needed. Plus, there’s the whole ‘being guarded by crocodiles’ thing which can’t have been very pleasant. Medusa’s motive for abducting Penny in the first place is so she can have someone small enough to fit in the blowhole leading to the pirates’ cave and get them to retrieve the world’s biggest diamond for her. This has to be several counts of child endangerment.

It may seem like a callow life lesson but, the way “Brother Bear” tells it, the advisory is impossible to forget. Honor is earned and hubris is punished in this way of life. After Kenai hunts down a bear for stealing food he didn’t store properly and his oldest brother dies in the skirmish, Kenai ends up taking the bear’s life. For his misdeeds, the Spirits transform him into the animal. It’s in this form that he befriends Koda, a friendly bear who frees him from a trap. Before long, Kenai discovers that the bear he killed was actually Koda’s mom and that two lives could have been saved if not for his ego. It’s a reminder to act out of compassion whenever we can.

Free our boy Genie, he did nothing wrong. This movie makes it clear very soon after meeting the character that he’s not thrilled with his arrangements. Where genies in other media had previously been depicted as these grand mythical beings, Disney turned him into a prisoner coveting for freedom. We’re sympathetic to him the moment we hear he wants out and, luckily, Aladdin is just the guy to make his wish come true. The patriarchy is also a huge point of contention in the movie as Jasmine argues over and over for her right to marry for love instead of status or imperial gain.

With superhero stories inevitably comes the question of control. Is it up to the government to keep people with superhuman abilities in check? What does it mean for free entities to have so much power? The involvement of the state in personal affairs is a key bureaucratic talking point and is a major factor in determining where one falls on the political spectrum. It’s not something you really expect out of a 2004 Pixar movie, but it does make it that much more interesting to revisit as an adult. When Bob and a few other supers end up with lawsuits on their hands over collateral damage and the like, the government forces them into hiding. When it comes to taking down Big Bads, however, there’s really only one way to fight back.

Merida shoots for her own hand and bada bing bada boom, movie over. Of course, it doesn’t happen that way because she’s the princess and her hand is meant to be won. There are now a few Disney princesses without love interests but Merida was the first to show us your story doesn’t have to revolve around romance. It can be about freedom, fighting for what you believe in, and changing the status quo if that’s what you want it to be! Like “Aladdin”, this movie also touches on alliances and how marriage was often a way for kingdoms to build those political relationships, which can be a lot for younger audiences to digest.

In a society where shrinkflation is as rampant as ever, we’d like to mandate one watch of this movie to all large corporations, thank you. The city of Monstropolis runs on the energy of children’s screams so, when energy production begins to decline, the Monsters, Incorporated factory resorts to desperate measures: kidnapping. Upon discovering the conspiracy and seeing the horror that is Randall’s Scream Extractor, Mike and Sulley do everything they can to keep the abduction plan from progressing. As the duo proves, there are more ethical ways to go about ensuring one’s own survival and, usually, they’re even mutually beneficial.

This is a movie that feels like it’s honestly more for the parents than the kids. Barring a few butt jokes, the subject matter of this film is heavy. Marlin falls in love, gets married, and is so excited to become a dad – a dad to over four hundred but a dad all the same – when horrible tragedy strikes. His wife and his children, who had yet to even hatch, have become a barracuda’s lunch. But then… hope. He discovers one egg and, though it’s cracked, it’s alive. Flash forward a few years later and that’s all Marlin is concerned with: keeping his one egg alive. Suffice it to say, when Nemo was captured by the divers, we’d have reacted a lot worse than Marlin did.

Nature has a certain order, and according to Hopper and his gang of grasshoppers, that order includes a colony of ants giving them food every summer in exchange for protection. Of course, this whole setup is worse than they make it sound. Basically, it’s a group of bikers ruling over an entire village through threats and intimidation to keep them in line. The truth is that the ants outnumber the grasshoppers –and Hopper knows it. But the colony’s become too scared to realize that they can overpower the bad guys at any time. Fortunately, sometimes it just takes one brave soul to take the stand against the crushing supremacy.

“Cars 2” is far from being Pixar’s most popular film, but that doesn’t mean we should overlook the underlying conflict of the story. The world of sentient automobiles is slowly converting to clean-burning alternative fuel instead of gasoline. This threatens the livelihood of a gang of oil tycoon lemon cars until their ringleader promotes a fake “clean energy source” to make alternative fuel look bad so that the oilers can stay in business. It may be a relatively recognizable “big oil companies are bad” plot. But it really shows that, especially in a world populated by cars, pollution and climate change are relevant issues that many are taking steps to change.

Whether you resonated with Anna’s loneliness, Elsa’s anxiety, or both sisters’ grief, “Frozen” is universally relatable. Its 2019 sequel is packed with even more life lessons. For starters, their adventure “Into the Unknown” turns into a restorative justice mission. Also, hearing Kristoff tell Anna that his “love is not fragile” hits us hard. Meanwhile, Olaf shows audiences that change isn’t always bad and actually helps us grow. However, it’s Anna’s solo “The Next Right Thing” that speaks straight to our souls. Kristen Bell drew on her own experiences of “depression and anxiety” to relay this powerful message. The number teaches us that in the face of darkness and uncertainty, even the smallest steps can have a significant impact.

The 1941 movie highlighted just how awfully animals can be treated for the sake of so-called entertainment. They risk being kept in inhumane confinement, forced into submission and a life in chains. Dumbo is even torn away from his mom, reflecting a distressing reality. That’s all before the creatures are subjected to degrading and dangerous tricks, and for what? The film has a bittersweet ending as mother and baby reunite but still aren’t truly free. The 2019 live-action remake sought to fix this, incorporating a ban on mistreating animals for entertainment and releasing Dumbo and his mom back into the wild. In reality, it’s only relatively recently that some countries have ensured circuses can’t involve wild animals.

We might’ve all come away from this movie proclaiming “Hakuna Matata” at the top of our lungs. But in many ways, “The Lion King” actually taught us not to turn away from our worries. Simba goes through the unimaginable pain of losing his father, and his grief is all too real. Thinking he’s to blame, he runs away and blocks out his past to live a worry-free life with Timon and Pumbaa. Eventually though, his past catches up to him, and only by acknowledging it can he find some closure. Although, in the sequel, we see how his past scars turned into prejudices. Thanks to Kiara, Simba and his Pride learn to be more tolerant and accepting.

Like Andy, most of the franchise’s initial demographic had grown up by the time this third installment rolled around. Pixar even did some “Special Cliffhanger Edition” showings on college campuses to appeal to their original audiences. After all, who could better relate to Andy? The toys in the film, however, have mixed feelings about their impending retirement and struggle to come to terms with this new phase of their lives. Perhaps the most affecting moment is when Andy gives his toys to Bonnie, thus officially saying goodbye to his childhood. Growing up can be tricky, and letting go can be even harder, but sometimes things have to end to make way for new opportunities.

Disney films are no strangers to tackling the loss of a loved one. “Big Hero 6” does an exceptional job guiding anyone who’s experienced a similar tragedy through the grieving experience. Hiro sinks into a depression of sorts, and isolates himself after his brother Tadashi dies. He accidentally activates Baymax, a caring robot his brother invented, and is tempted to turn him into a revenge machine at a point. Eventually, Baymax helps Hiro find a healthier way to process his emotions. He also proves that Tadashi’s legacy lives on through memory and actions. We were bawling again when we thought Baymax was lost forever too. But thanks to this film, we were comforted knowing we could get through anything when surrounded by the right people.

The world has slept on this underrated treasure for far too long, and we think it’s time more people knew about its heartfelt story and relatable protagonist. Jim Hawkins is a surly troublemaker raised by a single mom after his dad left them. It’s a poignant reflection on how tricky it can be to heal the wounds created by absentee parents. John Silver later steps into the father figure role and teaches Jim some valuable life lessons. Even though Silver turns out to be a villain, their relationship contributes to Jim’s personal growth in a major way. It might sound cheesy, but this film is about the importance of nurture and love.

Within roughly its first 12 minutes, “Up” delivers two gut-punching and painstakingly real hard truths. Carl and Ellie are ready to start a family but receive some devastating news. It’s estimated that roughly a quarter of pregnancies end in miscarriage. Meanwhile, approximately 11% of U.S. women struggle with fertility. Yet these topics are often still considered taboo, leaving many who experience either feeling isolated or embarrassed. So, it’s a bold and welcome step to see Disney acknowledge these issues so openly. Of course, Ellie’s passing toward the end of the montage has us sobbing hard. But it provides the catalyst for the adventure that teaches Carl how to cope with loss and move forward.

The Madrigals’ matriarch, Alma, has sometimes been vilified for the pressures she places on her family. However, we can’t forget that she experienced the horrors of losing her husband and home, which awakened her survival mode. Unfortunately, her determination to protect herself and her family, and uphold the gift of their miracle comes at a significant emotional cost to herself and her loved ones. Indeed, this is best exemplified through songs like “Surface Pressure” and “What Else Can I Do?” Mirabel tries to reason with her Abuela, but it’s only by acknowledging the past that she’s finally able to break the chain. Together, they take the first steps to help heal their family. This story resonated with many, especially those from immigrant families.

It goes without saying that taking a child and forcing them into isolation is wrong. But we want to focus on the relationship between Mother Gothel and Rapunzel. Gothel constantly tears Rapunzel down, whether that’s poking fun at her appearance or chipping away at her self-esteem. We truly see how badly the protagonist is affected when she first leaves her tower and has an existential crisis. However, the longer she spends away, the more her confidence grows, and she starts to heal. The movie demonstrates how emotional damage can cut deeply, especially when it’s caused by a person you’re meant to trust. Hopefully, it also shows audiences they don’t have to endure this burden in silence.

Along with being a visual spectacle able to tell a compelling story with little dialogue, “WALL-E” really set the bar high for Pixar in terms of social commentary. The whole film is set in a post-apocalyptic future where excessive consumerism and environmental pollution has gotten so bad that the Earth has become uninhabitable. Thus, humans were forced to evacuate into a space colony and become complacent while robots tried and failed to clean up the mess. This was a definite eye-opener for anyone of any age about the dangerous place humanity could easily end up. Unfortunately, WALL-E won’t always be there to give us a hand.

“Pocahontas” was a very mixed bag in the eyes of critics, but it does an admirable job when it comes to showing the hazards of colonialism. The English settlers arrive in the new world and claim it as their own, completely failing to respect the Indigenous peoples who already live there. The latter group is understandably threatened. There are times where it feels like the film might be equating the two groups’ attitudes, which is problematic to say the least. However, there’s no denying it also shines a light on the harmful effects of racism, encourages peace, and warns against the havoc colonial practices wreak.

“Finding Nemo” has often been applauded for the way it respectfully gave visibility to a range of disabilities. from Nemo’s “lucky fin” to Dory’s short-term memory loss. However, the latter’s condition was initially used more for laughs. But the sequel “Finding Dory” brings a more serious light to her forgetfulness while she continuously searches for her forgotten parents. Her condition can be challenging to work around, but it’s even more difficult when surrounded by those who don’t understand that she processes information differently. Still, she never lets it bother her. More importantly, the film demonstrates that the best way to help someone with a disability is with acceptance and patience, and to trust that they’ll overcome any obstacle as only they can.

With their parents’ tragic death, Lilo’s older sister Nani is left to be her guardian… but a social worker threatens to separate them if the home environment seems unsafe. Lilo’s behavior doesn’t help, but it’s not her fault – losing her parents at such a young age left a huge mark on her. Of course, the story of our titular misfits coming together to become best friends is heartwarming. But part of the film’s success stems from its mature, realistic portrayal of a family and the effects that loss can have on children and young adults. Lilo and Nani’s family may be different, but they make sure that no one gets left behind –including the newest member, Stitch.

It only seemed fitting considering how the whole film is set during Día de Muertos – an entire holiday dedicated to paying tribute to and remembering those we have lost. Death is usually a taboo subject in films for younger audiences, and can be shown as something to be feared. However, “Coco” acknowledges that it’s an unavoidable reality that viewers of all ages can learn about. In fact, understanding the concept may just help them accept it when it eventually comes. Not only that, the film makes it clear that while death is difficult, our memories of the deceased matter a great deal, and we should hold onto them.

The buddy-comedy plot between Joy and Sadness teaches the value of respecting your teammates. But there’s one very important message behind the film – the importance of mental health. Joy wants young Riley to be happy, but denying her a chance to be sad only makes things worse. And when both Sadness and Joy are out of commission, Riley slowly falls into a depression. This perfectly demonstrates the hazards of not only bottling up your feelings, but also suppressing even one of them. Letting them out may be the best way to keep your mind balanced and find inner peace. Of course, the introduction of Anxiety in the sequel only furthered the message that all emotions serve their purpose.

Mulan’s expected to bring honor to her family by becoming a “primped and polished” bride. Instead, she does so by defying expectations and protecting her country. She learns to “be a [so-called] man” and keep up with her comrades. However, she’s most successful when she embraces the fluidity of gender and uses it to defeat Shan Yu. This also helps her find the self-acceptance she so desperately sought earlier. The film also highlights the devastation of war. The troops’ joyful singing is brought to an abrupt halt by the harrowing view of a completely demolished village. Mulan finds a doll, the implications and sight of which will haunt us forever.

Even in a world where animals can live in harmony, no one is safe from facing the divide that prejudice causes. Indeed, predators are put into the unfair stereotype of being deceitful “savage” killers. And even our heroine Judy is scoffed at for being a bunny cop – a FEMALE bunny cop, no less. With Disney’s target audience generally being young, they often have to teach the terrors of bigotry either in a black-and-white manner or through analogy, like in “The Fox and the Hound.” With “Zootopia,” they were able to hit all the right notes to illustrate and warn against the dangers of prejudice in every form.

If it weren’t for the gargoyles, there is NO WAY this could be classified as a “kids” movie. Judge Claude Frollo considers himself a righteous and pure Minister of Justice who can do no wrong. He’s pretty much lying to himself, though. Not only does he hold extreme prejudice against those who are different from him, but he has no qualms with lusting after women, murder, and more. All the while, he arrogantly claims that everything he does is in God’s will. Unfortunately, there ARE people like Frollo who take advantage of their positions of power for their own needs in the worst ways. “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” crucially exposes how wrong they are.

Which heavy topic did you realize a kids’ movie was portraying when you got older? Let us know in the comments.