Check out some Disney animations that, like “Pocahontas”, which is celebrating 29 years of release, were also not based on fairy tales
Exactly 29 years ago, Walt Disney Studios released “Pocahontas”, its 33rd animation. Following a different path from the other princesses, the plot about the Native American character was not inspired by a fairy tale, but rather by the real story of Amonuthalso popularly known as Motoakadaughter of the leader of the Powhatan tribe who was born around 1595 in the region that today corresponds to Jamestown, in the American state of Virginia.
Although Disney is internationally known for its adaptations of fairy tales, the studio also has other productions that, like “Pocahontas”, were based on myths, real stories, or even books of different genres.
With that in mind, RECREIO put together an incredible list of five Disney animations that weren’t inspired by fairy tales and you need to watch. Check out!
1. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
One of Disney’s great Renaissance classics, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, released in 1996, was inspired by the author’s 1831 French gothic novel. Victor Hugo, which bears the same name. Unlike the animation, the original story is a little heavier, and had to be adapted by the studio to be more suitable for children.
2. Mulan (1998)
The story of Mulan, Disney’s princess heroine, is an adaptation of an ancient Chinese folk poem entitled “The Ballad of Hua Mulan”, dating back to the 6th century, which basically tells the same story as the film, however, with different details, such as the existence of brothers and the absence of the dragon Mushu and a romantic partner.
As it is an extremely old text, it has several versions spread around the world. However, its oldest copy that remains preserved can be found in the anthology of poems and songs “Music Bureau Collection”, which were compiled by Guo Maoqian between the 11th and 12th centuries.
3. Hercules (1997)
Released in 1997, “Hercules” was based on the myth of Hercules from Greek mythology, presenting some differences from the original myth. One of the most notable changes that we can notice is that, in the story, Ivy is not the protagonist’s mother, but rather his enemy and the great villain of the story — different from the animation, where the villain is Hades, god of the underworld.
In the Greek version, in fact, the goddess of women and marriage was related to Zeus, the god of Olympus. However, the sovereign betrayed her again, and had a son with a mortal: Herculesmaking him a demigod.
4. The Sword in the Stone (1963)
In “The Sword in the Stone”, we know the story of young Arthur, an orphan boy who ends up becoming the apprentice of a wizard called Merlin, who helps him participate in a competition where the person who can remove the magic sword that is stuck in in a stone, could become the new king of England.
The plot was based on the novel of the same name by TH White launched in 1938 with the same name which, in turn, was inspired by the famous King Arthur of Camelot, legendary king of Great Britain who would have ruled during the High Middle Ages, between the 5th and 6th centuries, and who would also have become king of the Britons after removing the sword of Excabulir from a rock. However, there were never any sources that proved its existence.
5. Robin Hood (1973)
Being the first Disney animation to not feature any humans, and to be entirely made up of animals, in “Robin Hood”, from 1973, we know the story of a fox who, alongside his faithful companion João Pequeno, steals from the rich for give to the poor.
The animation was based on a popular English folk tale of the same name, which appeared in 15th century ballads, as Collider points out. Just like in the drawing, robin He was also a noble man outside the law, who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Its existence, however, has never been proven, being the subject of debate to this day.
Source: Recreio
