Rather than creating new and original films or even adapting new stories from novels, Disney has recently chosen to recreate its own classic stories. Unfortunately, whether it be Cinderella or The Lion King, the long list of Disney remakes has not only managed to avoid being as beloved as their original animated counterparts but have often avoided doing anything with the original concept to update or build on the story. For example, the live-action remake of The Lion King struggled in its animation as the re-invented portrayals of the characters lacked the artistry, charisma, and personality that the original versions had.
Disney remakes have repeatedly let audiences down as they are primarily exact retellings of the original content rather than looking at the story from a different angle. There may be minor changes to the newer iterations, such as the live-action Beauty and the Beast making Belle an inventor in her own right, or The Jungle Book making enough changes to not entirely be the original film. Still, the story itself, for the most part, is precisely as it had been, which defeats the purpose of a re-creation. Disney had the opportunity to remake the movies with a different perspective but lacked the excitement from the animated version’s heart and soul.
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They’re Disappointing The Audience
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Viewers have made it clear over the years that they are not thrilled with how Disney live-action remakes have re-told the stories of their childhoods. Although it can be initially exciting to hear Disney is making a live-action remake of a beloved animated film; the excitement dies once the trailer and movie itself are released. At that point, audiences are critiquing whether the movie is worth seeing. Often, reviews for Disney remakes tend to have one main thing in common: No matter what, they are never as good as the original animated film. Although CGI may allow storytellers to create what only animation was capable of in the past, certain elements should be left to the animation itself.
The Lion King remake is perhaps the most guilty of this, as Simba’s reaction to Mufasa’s death seems far more toned down in his facial expressions, given the movie’s desire to appear realistic. As a result, Simba’s horror and desperation do not come across on his face, and thus, while still devastating, does not have the same emotional kick as the very expressive Simba in 1994’s The Lion King.
They Aren’t Adding As Much As Re-Creating
Perhaps if the remakes were telling these stories from different perspectives or changing them slightly to do something else with them, they would be adding to the film rather than making a replica movie. What is happening in the live-action version that has not already occurred in the animated version? Why remake the film at all if Disney is not going to do something special with it to allow it to feel unique? While they are changed slightly, it has not been enough to warrant an entire remake. ABC’s Once Upon A Time did more throughout its seven seasons to add more intrigue to the classic characters and stories than plenty of the live-action remakes have done in all the attempts made. Since they are not adding anything, it is like watching the exact same movie without the original film’s animated charm.
Loss Of Personality From The Animated Version
Movies such as The Lion King and The Jungle Book have some of the biggest problems with that, as the animals are made to look realistic, not charismatic, in their animated versions. Due to that, the upbeat and excitable expressions are wiped away to be replaced by what would look more similar to what those animals would actually look like. Aladdin struggled with that in the Genie’s personality when translated from animated to live-action, when the animated character’s charisma could not be captured in a live-action presentation. The Beast in Beauty and the Beast also misses a range of facial emotions. What works in animation, whether it be the characters, storylines, dialogue, or use of song, may not translate well to a live-action recreation. However, facial reactions and body movements that may not be possible in live-action are beautifully and comically portrayed in an animated movie or show.
Even Disney Channel’s Kim Possible live-action remake suffered from a similar fate. While it may have read like an animated Kim Possible episode or movie, the on-screen portrayal lacked the charisma and ease the animated series exhibited flawlessly. Animation allows the creators to achieve things live-action never could, even with the best CGI available or the best actors at their disposal. Sometimes, a movie needs to be animated to convey the character’s genuine charisma or emotion. Making something live-action strips those elements from the story or risks losing them altogether.
