Deconstructing Disney

This is the final episode in a special eight-part series about millennial women and the Disney Renaissance. Rachel interviewed 34 millennial women to learn how the movies of the Disney Renaissance influenced them. Millennial women embraced inspirational messages about following one’s dreams of adventure in the great, wide somewhere and going the distance to find where one belongs. Disney Renaissance films also nurtured a love of art and music in many millennial girls, even leading some to careers in animation. For these reasons and more, the Disney Renaissance left an indelible mark on many millennial women.Thanks to Grace Brenner, Chris Casey, Erin Casey, and the University of Southern Maine. Research protocols were approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Southern Maine (IRB#2024-192).  Audio clips of research interviews have been shared with consent from participants. Audio clips from existing media have been used in accordance with fair use principles in U.S. copyright laws. This podcast is not associated with or endorsed by the Walt Disney Company. Cover art by Melanie Kim (@mellyckim). Sources:Bancroft, T., & Cook, B. (Directors). (1998). Mulan [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Clements, R., & Musker, J. (Directors). (1989). The Little Mermaid [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Clements, R., & Musker, J. (Directors). (1992). Aladdin. Walt Disney Pictures.Clements, R., & Musker, J. (Directors). (1997). Hercules  [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Goldberg, E., & Gabriel, M. (1995). Pocahontas [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Lima, K., & Buck, C. (Directors). (1999). Tarzan [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures. Minkoff, R., & Allers, R. (Directors). (1994). The Lion King [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Trousdale, G., & Wise, K. (Directors). (1991). Beauty and the Beast [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Trousdale, G., & Wise, K. (Directors). (1996). The Hunchback of Notre Dame [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.

This is the seventh episode in a special eight-part series about millennial women and the Disney Renaissance. Rachel interviewed 34 millennial women to learn how the movies of the Disney Renaissance influenced them. In this episode, millennial women reflect on their feelings about the Walt Disney Company as an agent of both wondrous joy and capitalist greed. Despite their ambivalence about the Walt Disney Company, many women continue to watch the beloved movies of their childhood and share them with younger generations.Thanks to Grace Brenner, Chris Casey, Erin Casey, and the University of Southern Maine. Research protocols were approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Southern Maine (IRB#2024-192).  Audio clips of research interviews have been shared with consent from participants. Audio clips from existing media have been used in accordance with fair use principles in U.S. copyright laws. This podcast is not associated with or endorsed by the Walt Disney Company. Cover art by Melanie Kim (@mellyckim). Sources:Bancroft, T., & Cook, B. (Directors). (1998). Mulan [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Bloomberg Television. Disney’s Third-Quarter Profit Growth Driven by Parks, Streaming [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XegCLv-X8CgClements, R., & Musker, J. (Directors). (1989). The Little Mermaid [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Clements, R., & Musker, J. (Directors). (1992). Aladdin. Walt Disney Pictures.Clements, R., & Musker, J. (Directors). (1997). Hercules  [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Goldberg, E., & Gabriel, M. (1995). Pocahontas [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Lima, K., & Buck, C. (Directors). (1999). Tarzan [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures. Minkoff, R., & Allers, R. (Directors). (1994). The Lion King [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.The Hollywood Reporter. (2024, August 13). ‘Frozen 3’ Gets Official Thanksgiving 2027 Release Date | THR News [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wcxgEUvEUcTrousdale, G., & Wise, K. (Directors). (1991). Beauty and the Beast [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Trousdale, G., & Wise, K. (Directors). (1996). The Hunchback of Notre Dame [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.

This is the sixth episode in a special eight-part series about millennial women and the Disney Renaissance. Rachel interviewed 34 millennial women to learn how the movies of the Disney Renaissance influenced them, including their beliefs about families. After recounting their family trips to Disney theme parks during childhood, millennial women share how Disney Renaissance films showcased a diverse array of family structures.Thanks to Grace Brenner, Chris Casey, Erin Casey, and the University of Southern Maine. Research protocols were approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Southern Maine (IRB#2024-192).  Audio clips of research interviews have been shared with consent from participants. Audio clips from existing media have been used in accordance with fair use principles in U.S. copyright laws. This podcast is not associated with or endorsed by the Walt Disney Company. Cover art by Melanie Kim (@mellyckim). Sources:Bancroft, T., & Cook, B. (Directors). (1998). Mulan [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Clements, R., & Musker, J. (Directors). (1989). The Little Mermaid [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Clements, R., & Musker, J. (Directors). (1992). Aladdin. Walt Disney Pictures.Clements, R., & Musker, J. (Directors). (1997). Hercules  [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.DocumentDisney. (2026, January 11). Pirates of the Caribbean 2026 - Disneyland Ride [4K60 POV] [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnBNFjRKuIg&t=818sGoldberg, E., & Gabriel, M. (1995). Pocahontas [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Kanemoto, D.M. (2024, May 1). THE HAUNTED MANSION Animated Ride-A-Long [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3JqUle-M_cLima, K., & Buck, C. (Directors). (1999). Tarzan [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures. Livingston, G. (2013, July 2). The rise of single fathers: A ninefold increase since 1960. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/07/single-fathers-07-2013.pdf LMG Vids. (2026, March 23). Space Mountain - Low Light POV - Disneyland Park 2026 | 4K 60FPS [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3z_RYkT3l8&t=185sMinkoff, R., & Allers, R. (Directors). (1994). The Lion King [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Tom Crossman Pictures. (2026, April 18). it’s a small world Disneyland Ride Through | Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1h4ejwKwQkTrousdale, G., & Wise, K. (Directors). (1991). Beauty and the Beast [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Trousdale, G., & Wise, K. (Directors). (1996). The Hunchback of Notre Dame [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.

This is the fifth episode in a special eight-part series about millennial women and the Disney Renaissance. Rachel interviewed 34 millennial women to learn how the movies of the Disney Renaissance influenced them, including their beliefs around beauty standards. While the female protagonists of this era retained the unrealistic hour glass figures and oversized facial features of their predecessors in earlier Disney films, they also demonstrated more physical strength and a wider range of racial identities, thus expanding the definition of what makes women beautiful.Thanks to Grace Brenner, Chris Casey, Erin Casey, and the University of Southern Maine. Research protocols were approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Southern Maine (IRB#2024-192).  Audio clips of research interviews have been shared with consent from participants. Audio clips from existing media have been used in accordance with fair use principles in U.S. copyright laws. This podcast is not associated with or endorsed by the Walt Disney Company. Cover art by Melanie Kim (@mellyckim). Sources:Bancroft, T., & Cook, B. (Directors). (1998). Mulan [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Clements, R., & Musker, J. (Directors). (1989). The Little Mermaid [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Clements, R., & Musker, J. (Directors). (1992). Aladdin. Walt Disney Pictures.Clements, R., & Musker, J. (Directors). (1997). Hercules  [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Goldberg, E., & Gabriel, M. (1995). Pocahontas [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Lima, K., & Buck, C. (Directors). (1999). Tarzan [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures. Minkoff, R., & Allers, R. (Directors). (1994). The Lion King [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.PIX11 News. (2022, December 5). The return of heroin chic? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=705g74IklHcTMZ. (2022, April 13). Jessica Simpson Shows Off in New Bikini Pic After 3rd 100LB | TMZ TV.  [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J81OlJ9vfVUTrousdale, G., & Wise, K. (Directors). (1991). Beauty and the Beast [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Trousdale, G., & Wise, K. (Directors). (1996). The Hunchback of Notre Dame [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.U.S. Department of Commerce. 1990 Census of Population: General Population Characteristics. Bureau of the Census. https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-1.pdf Waters, M. (Director). (2004). Mean girls [Film]. Paramount Pictures.

This is the fourth episode in a special eight-part series about millennial women and the Disney Renaissance. Rachel interviewed 34 millennial women to learn how the movies of the Disney Renaissance influenced them, including their beliefs around romance. Every single female protagonist in the Disney Renaissance movies experienced some sort of romantic entanglement, conveying to millennial girls that (heterosexual, monogamous) love is required to achieve a happy ending in real life.Thanks to Grace Brenner, Chris Casey, Erin Casey, and the University of Southern Maine. Research protocols were approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Southern Maine (IRB#2024-192).  Audio clips of research interviews have been shared with consent from participants. Audio clips from existing media have been used in accordance with fair use principles in U.S. copyright laws. This podcast is not associated with or endorsed by the Walt Disney Company. Cover art by Melanie Kim (@mellyckim). Sources:Bancroft, T., & Cook, B. (Directors). (1998). Mulan [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.CappaZack. (2021, July 16). Runaway Bride Movie Trailer 1999 - TV Spot [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fagevbZWFU0Clements, R., & Musker, J. (Directors). (1989). The Little Mermaid [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Clements, R., & Musker, J. (Directors). (1992). Aladdin. Walt Disney Pictures.Clements, R., & Musker, J. (Directors). (1997). Hercules  [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.From a Lost Deck. (2010, July 13). While You were sleeping (1995) | Movie Trailer | Sandra Bullock, Bill Pulman [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3RSYSsgz3wGoldberg, E., & Gabriel, M. (1995). Pocahontas [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Lima, K., & Buck, C. (Directors). (1999). Tarzan [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures. Minkoff, R., & Allers, R. (Directors). (1994). The Lion King [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Trousdale, G., & Wise, K. (Directors). (1991). Beauty and the Beast [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Trousdale, G., & Wise, K. (Directors). (1996). The Hunchback of Notre Dame [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Walsh, S. (2023, October 19). Sleepless In Seattle commercial 1993 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBTd1-bdYtY