Conflict and Conformity : Deconstructing Dynamic Disney Duos

1. ConflictandConformity: Deconstructing Dynamic Disney Duos Courtesy of THE SITUATION (CJ Wachter, Tyler Nelson, Ethan Graff, Andrea Maassen, Jay Wright, and Challiss Alexander)

2. Background of Walt Disney He eventually won a scholarship to the Kansas City Institute, where he met a fellow animator, Ub Iwerks. The two then went to Hollywood in 1923. Together, they produced many films, such as Steamboat Willie (1928), Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Pinocchio (1940), Cinderella (1950), Alice in Wonderland (1951), Peter Pan (1953), and many more. • Raised on a farm near Marceline, Missouri, Walt Disney became interested in drawing at an early age, selling his first sketches to neighbors when he was only seven years old. • At McKinley High School in Chicago, Disney divided his attention between drawing and photography, contributing both to the school paper. At night, he attended the Academy of Fine Arts.

3. Andrew Stanton, director of Finding Nemo • Born in Rockport, Mass. • Studied character animation at CalArts (graduated in 1987) • Joined Pixar in January of 1990 • Related works: • Toy Story (1995) • A Bug’s Life (1998) • Monsters, Inc. (2001) • The Incredibles (2004) • Cars (2006) • Ratatouille (2007) • WALL-E (2008) • Up (2009) • Future works: • Toy Story 3 (2010) • John Carter of Mars (2012)

4. Chris Buck and Kevin Lima, directors of Tarzan • Kevin Lima • Born and raised in Pawtucket, Rhode Island • Directed A Goofy Movie (1995), 102 Dalmatians (2000), and also helped to create Lumiere (Beauty and the Beast) and Ursula/Flounder (The Little Mermaid) • Chris Buck • Born in Wichita, Kansas • Studied character animation at CalArts before his career at Disney as an animator (The Fox and the Hound [1981], The Little Mermaid [1989], and Oliver & Company [1989])

5. MOVIE CLIP! Notice the similarities between the Tarzan and Pocahontas scenes (Kerchak = Radcliffe, Tarzan = John Smith) • They are almost EXACTLY the same, each faced with conflict against a different race/species. • *Reaction shot* - Kerchak’s reaction when Tarzan defies him in front of the gorilla tribe • Notice the backgrounds/colors in both scenes. The red symbolizes upcoming danger, anger, fear, suffering. • Notice the *denouement (DAY-NOOM-WAH)* after the brief dispute between Tarzan/Kerchak and John Smith/Radcliffe. • The *progression* of Tarzan/Pocahontas continues/grows worse at these two points. • These two scenes make an aesthetic association for the viewer.

6. Finding Nemo

7. Tarzan

8. Roger Ebert’s Thoughts Tarzan “Something deep within the Tarzan myth speaks to us, and Disney’s new animated ‘Tarzan’ captures it. Maybe it’s the notion that we can all inhibit this planet together, man and beast, and get along…The movie doesn’t insist on this thread of meaning, but it gives the movie weight. Like all the best Disney animated films, this one is about something other than cute characters and cheerful songs. It speaks even to the youngest members of the audience, who, like Tarzan, must have days when they feel surrounded by tall, rumbling autocratic bipeds.” • Finding Nemo • “‘Finding Nemo’ has all of the usual pleasures of the Pixar animation style—the comedy and wackiness of ‘Toy Story’ or ‘Monsters, Inc.”’or ‘A Bug’s Life.’ And it adds an unexpected beauty, a use of color and form that makes it one of those rare movies where I wanted to sit in the front row and let the images wash out to the edges of my field of vision. The movie takes place almost entirely under the sea, in the world of colorful tropical fish—the flora and fauna of a shallow warm-water shelf not far from Australia. The use of color, form and movement make the film a delight even apart from its story.”

9. Possible Themes… • Outcast • Tarzan/Nemo both outcasts; don’t belong • (Tarzan – neither ape nor human, Nemo – awkward defective fin, daddy’s boy) • The plot follows their quest to conform/belong/fit in/be accepted • Are both judged at an early age by their conforming friends. • Can be frequently seen in other Disney movies. Does Disney use this as part of their “movie formula”?

10. MOVIE CLIP! • Finding Nemo- Marlin and Dory finally arrive in Sydney, Australia to find Nemo. After a brief battle with pelicans/birds, they find Nemo in a dentist’s office. Nemo eventually, with the help of Nigel the pelican and Gil the fish, makes his escape to the ocean. • *Motif* (MOW-TEEF)- Dory’s recurring short-term memory loss reminds the viewer that she isn’t the brightest bulb and that Marlin is more on top of his game. • *Reaction shot* – Marlin’s face when he sees Nemo’s “dead” body • *Leitmotif (LAY-MOW-TEEF)* – Psycho music playing on Darla’s arrival • All of these expert movie-making techniques make subliminal connections for the audience

11. Possible Themes, Pt. 2 • Pollution (Exploit, Conquer, Abuse—Imperialist) • Both films displays humans are wasteful, ignorant, and, for the most part, the villains (without conscience). • Tarzan/Finding Nemo display how humans are “disturbing Mother Nature’s course” with their carefree habits/addictions. • (Ex.: Tarzan – Humans cut down trees to build camp, capture wildlife, shoot guns into anything that moves, etc.) • (Ex: Finding Nemo – Sydney Water Treatment Pipeline, innocent fish are corralled into a net by the humans, others [like Nemo] are kidnapped, even taken hostage, if you will.)

12. Possible Themes, Pt. 3 Family Problems • Tarzan/Nemo both struggle with family affairs throughout the films. Nemo has never met his mother or siblings, while Tarzan has almost no connection/nothing in common with his guardians. • Tarzan/Nemo must continually prove themselves throughout the films to gain respect/trust/support from their friends/family members.

13. Marxist Lens Dentist in Finding Nemo = powerful, wealthy, influential, intelligent (white collar, upper class)Crush (the turtle dad) in Finding Nemohas rejected the system and thrived—it is possible to be an individualMarlin has “moved up” to a perfect neighborhood = The American Dream!Humans kidnap gorillas for monetary gain; destroy the rain forest and exploit nature. Capitalism without a conscience. (Mines in Nemo)

14. Feminist Lens Darla (niece of the dentist in Finding Nemo)—greedy, selfish, destructive, spoiled, bratty Jane (Tarzan’s mate)—smart, level-headed, proper (according to society’s expectations); physically dependent Dory (Marlin’s friend/sidekick)—stupid, needy, dependent, banished, abandoned Kala (Tarzan’s ape mother)—smart, selfless, and resourceful

15. MOVIE CLIP! • Watch the weather in this scene, notice how it changes, and how it reflects the current mood/vibe of the plot. • Examine how Clayton kills himself. Coincidence? (He got what was coming to him – karma- self hanging?) • Notice how Jane takes out two men and rescues Kala (Feminist Lens) • *Reaction shot* - Gorillas reacting to the flares in the beginning • Observe how nature fights back (elephants, rhinos, hippos, etc. reclaim their turf) • CLIMAX is when Tarzan and Clayton throw it down in the trees

16. Freudian Lens Marlin is obsessed, even risks his life, about saving Nemo. Nemo has Marlin’s genes; Marlin, like us all, is hard-wired to want to be immortal and to profligate the species. Jane is unique, spontaneous, adventurous, and yearns for a different type of man (not the average Joe). She has an “appetite for knowledge” and craves to learn all about Tarzan’s culture. Jane, eventually, chooses Tarzan. What does this tell us about her character (She chooses a wild ape man that lacks the ability to interact/communicate/relate to the outside world)? Tarzan will do whatever it takes, including the betrayal of his family and family, to satisfy Jane and keep her with him. Jane, in return, sacrifices everything she has ever known (civilization, interaction with the outside world) to grow old and swing through the vines with Tarzan.

17. Symbols (they desperately want to make it/survive in the jungle) The ending fighting scene in Tarzan (Tarzan vs. Clayton) can be portrayed as being against guns or anti-violence. The tree house in Tarzan (that Tarzan’s original parents build in the beginning of the movie) represents the dedication, determination, perseverance, and hard work put in by both of Tarzan’s parents.

18. Hollywood’s Solutions We should coexist with nature better, less exploitively The bond between father and son is an important one Fathers should not be ultra-protective; adventure and travel and challenges and obstacles are good for us We all need to do our part to cut back on pollution (Recycle, Recycle, Recycle!)

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