How 100 Years of Disney Storytelling Influenced ‘Wish’
When Wish hits theaters tomorrow, the film will not just be the latest entry in the Disney animated canon, but the culmination of 100 years of Disney storytelling.
The film will introduce audiences to the kingdom of Rosas, where an optimistic young girl named Asha senses a darkness that no one else does surrounding the seemingly benevolent King Magnifico.
Photo: Disney
In her moment of desperation, Asha makes a fervent plea to the stars, which is answered when a celestial body named Star tumbles to Earth.
Star Was Inspired By Mickey Mouse
Ahead of the film’s release, Disney has revealed some of the ways that Wish was inspired by the classic Disney animated films that came before it.
Photo: Disney
Production and customer designer Griselda Sastrawinata-Lemay, for example, explained how Star’s design came about.
“Star’s face shape is a heart, which is also inspired by the face of Mickey Mouse,” Sastrawinata-Lemay explained. “And you will notice Star does not talk and spreads magic dust, just like Tinker Bell.”
Photo: Disney
Asha’s friends meanwhile were celary inspired by the seven dwarfs from Snow White. Safi plays the role of Sneezy, Simon represents Sleepy, Dario as Dopey, and Gabo as Grumpy.
How Walt Disney Influenced Asha’s Look
Even Asha herself was inspired by Walt’s original concept for his Disney princesses. In classic Disney films, the princess appears in contemporary clothing, while the supporting characters dress in period-correct garb.
Photo: Also Disney
“If you look close, you will notice Snow White has a 1930s hairstyle, Cinderella wears a 1950 Dior-style dress. This was done on purpose by Walt, to be more relatable,” said Sastrawinata-Lemay. “So you will see in our film, Asha has contemporary braids that many African-American women wear today.”
The queen character, however, is the only one to wear buttons. This would be appropriate for the film’s 1500s-1600s time period.
“Only the wealthy could afford buttons as they required help to put on,” Sastrawinata-Lemay explains.
Other Disney Easter Eggs
Other Easter Eggs in the film include a couple of appearances by Peter Pan, a deer named Bambi, and a bear named John (a Robin Hood reference!).
Asha is also referenced multiple times as a “fairy godmother” in a not-so-subtle nod to Cinderella.
Photo: Disney
Finally, the film ends with a classic fireworks show. If you look closely you may even spot a Mickey Mouse-shaped firework.
With so many subtle nods in the film, Disney fans are in for a real treat.
Photo: Disney
Wish will arrive in theaters on November 22.
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