Archetypes and the Hero Journey in Disney Animations

Abstract

Guided after the motto “create happiness”, Walt Disney managed to bring happiness, emotions and feelings in many hearts and houses. From Mickey Mouse to Frozen or to Chip and Dale - The Rescue Rangers (2022 Disney animation), Walt Disney and later the Disney Company knew how to create stories and characters that would attract a diverse audience regardless of its age, culture or religion. The Disney producers have brought in front of the viewer contemporary values as well as old values, being equally influenced by old traditional folk tales and by the new trends. In this way, the audience is attracted with something contemporary, but never forgets the importance of the past and traditions. The characters’ diversity as well as the dozens of stories in which these characters evolve managed to interfere and influence the evolution of many people who watched the Disney productions, as it happened in my own case. Growing up with the beauty of Disney classic animations had a positive impact on my tastes of choosing an animation. None of the other productions would make my heart vibrate as the Disney productions did and still do, even if I am not a child anymore. I have always been impressed by the inexhaustible source of imagination in the Disney productions and by the constant emotions that these animations confer even if I’ve seen some of theme several times. The tears and joy remain the same no matter the age. Taking into consideration these aspects I was interested in analysing the archetypes that the Disney characters embody, as well as the way in which the heroes evolve in three Disney animations that date from 1992, 1994 and 1996: Aladdin, The Lion King and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.