Recently, in my British Literature class, while studying Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," we discussed the differences between the word "beautiful" and the word "sublime." "Beautiful" is pretty and majestic and brings about happy feelings. "Sublime" can be beautiful, but it is also awe-inspiring, breathtaking, something that can't be explained or can't quite be understood. You, Disney and Pixar animation, are sublime. Yes, the moving characters and vibrant stories that you bring to life can be considered as "beautiful," but I don't think that can adequately sum up what you've created here. Your work is sublime.
First, I must confess that my love for you won't give justice to the greatness, to the sublimity, that you are. Growing up, I had never seen "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin," "The Little Mermaid," "Wreck It Ralph," etc. I have never been to Disney World. But the passion of the people around me attest to your greatness. The heartfelt notes of your music drifting from our Drama Club's stage. My family's laughter as we sit around the TV and watch one of your films. The brightness in my friends' eyes when they mention their own trips to Disney World.
You are truly magic.
Overall, Disney is magic, especially Disney and Pixar animation. I was reminded of this fact over the weekend when I went to see "Zootopia" in theaters. As my friend and I lounged back in those leather recliners (It was a nice theater) and ate our theater snacks, something happened up there on that screen, or more importantly within myself. I was thinking. As the bunny chased the fox and the lion gave a speech, I was thinking and analyzing.
Because it was more than just a movie.
It was a movie, but with beautiful animation that created a different world before my very eyes, so believable that sometimes I forgot that it was just some digital workings on a big screen. It was a movie with a heartbreaking story about a dreaming bunny, an outcast fox and families grieving the loss of their missing loved ones. It was a movie with so many references that made me laugh out loud. (Walter and Jesse wearing hazmat suits and making blue stuff underground? That was pretty funny.)
But overall, "Zootopia" was truly a movie made for the times, as many Disney and Pixar films often do. The story dealt with racial inequality, marriage inequality and gender inequality. And the story didn't just make references to this. Disney presented its own solution for the country's problems, provided a theme to resonate in its viewers: We are all different, and the best way to overcome that is to accept one another's differences.
It was inspiring.
So thank you. Disney and Pixar. You have given me "Just keep swimming," and "Hakuna Matata." You have given me a cute little post-apocalyptic robot and a little elephant with really big ears. You have given me smiles and time and time again reminded that there are dreams worth fighting for. And if I reach that dream? Just find another dream.
Thank you.
