Calls for Disney to Update Snow White for Modern Audiences

Released in 1937, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was Disney’s first full-length animated film, becoming a beloved classic for generations. Inspired by the Brothers Grimm’s German fairytale, the movie tells the story of a princess who befriends seven dwarfs after being exiled by her wicked stepmother.

While the United States Library of Congress has recognized the film as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant,” according to the Los Angeles Times, some modern viewers believe it’s time for an update.

Many people are now calling for this childhood classic to be refreshed to better reflect today’s values. A tweet that encapsulates this sentiment reads, “As a kid, I never realized how dark and sinister some scenes were.”

Another tweet reflects on how many older Disney films, once seen as innocent, can now be viewed in a much darker light: “You ever go back and watch some of the Disney animated movies that came out when we were kids and realized how damn dark and not really for kids they were?”

One scene in particular from Snow White has sparked intense debate among modern audiences.

In the film’s finale, a heartbroken prince kisses Snow White, who appears to be dead. However, some viewers now see this iconic moment as outdated and problematic.

During an appearance on Good Morning Britain, journalist and broadcaster Nichi Hodgson pointed out that this kiss, which wasn’t in the original Brothers Grimm story, sends a confusing message about consent. Hodgson argued, “Disney has a moral duty. They can be an ethical business if they want to be. They make billions every year from their films. Children watch their films from a very young age, and these are some of the first stories they encounter.”

Even celebrities have joined the conversation. Actress Kristen Bell shared in an interview with Parents magazine that she had a candid discussion with her children about the scene, saying, “Don’t you think it’s weird that the prince kisses Snow White without her permission? Because you cannot kiss someone if they’re sleeping!”

However, not everyone agrees that the original story needs changing. One person commented, “I think it’s great we’re opening up the conversation about consent, but people blaming Disney – a romantic kiss at the end of a movie isn’t the reason teenagers become confused about consent.”

Another person added, “It’s a fairytale, leave Disney alone.”

Some have argued that Snow White would likely have given her consent if she were awake, with one person writing, “I’d argue that Snow White would readily give her consent to be kissed since not kissing her would condemn her to eternal sleep.”

A fourth person supported this view, saying, “I can’t believe they’re saying Snow White is wrong now! Why not look at it as the kiss of life?”

The debate intensified after Disneyland in California revamped the Snow White Enchanted Wish ride, which now concludes with the prince kissing Snow White. In a review for SFGATE, Julie Tremaine and Katie Dowd criticized the addition, calling it the “movie’s biggest problem.”

“Haven’t we already agreed that consent in early Disney movies is a major issue?” the review asks. “Teaching kids that kissing without establishing mutual consent is not okay.”