Disney a.f. that captures "Growing up" theme best

[BelleGirl]

I got this idea for a poll because I'm working on my "Bambi" banner.
There are a few Disney animated features like Bambi that have a Bildung theme, the German term for "development of the protagonist's mind and character, in the passage from childhood through various experiences -and usually a spiritual crisis- into maturity and the recognition of his or her identity and role in the world" (quoted from A Glossary of Literary Terms). Which of these movies captures this theme the best and -if you like to explain - why?

[estefan]

I think they're all good, but The Lion King is the best. Simba starts off as a little smug, as he knows he will become king one day. But, the death of his father emotionally cripples him for life. Throughout the film, he learns from Mufasa's death to Scar's betrayal to even Timon and Pumbaa's "Hakuna Matata", the true meaning and responsibility of being king.

[Jack Skellington]

I would have picked "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh", because I remember the scene where Christopher Robin spent his last day as a child with Pooh, and I was kind of moved by it.

[BelleGirl]

I would have picked "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh", because I remember the scene where Christopher Robin spent his last day as a child with Pooh, and I was kind of moved by it.

But he doesn't really grow into an adult, he just goes to school, right?

So I don't think Winny the Pooh fits the criteria.

[Mooky]

Out of these four options, I think it's a two-way tie between "The Lion King" and "Tarzan".

However, I believe "Treasure Planet" portrays that sort of character development much better than any of the films listed here. It is much more rooted in real life and its protagonist grows beyond the mere boy-to-man phase, he grows as a person – while Tarzan's character growth is triggered by his desire to fit in, Jim has no desire to prove himself to others. There are no outside forces (cute sidekicks/friends) to push him in the right direction. There's of course the father figure - a flawed one at that - but all the choices Jim makes, he makes them on his own and learns from his mistakes. In that way, he goes from a self-destructive teenager to a responsible young man.

Just my 2 cents .

[DisneyJedi]

To be honest, I believe it would have to be.... The Lion King.

[ajmrowland]

Lion King

[BelleGirl]

Out of these four options, I think it's a two-way tie between "The Lion King" and "Tarzan".

However, I believe "Treasure Planet" portrays that sort of character development much better than any of the films listed here.
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I considered including "Treasure Planet", but I think not enough was shown in this movie of Jim as little kid, contrary to "Tarzan" for instance. TP predominently deals with adolescensy.

Maybe I should have included the option "other" in the list?

[Escapay]

I voted for The Fox and the Hound. It's not one of my favourites, but I think it embodies the theme of growing up far better than the other three listed. You meet Tod & Copper as kids, see their friendship grow despite their differences. Then in a quick montage, you see them grow up and grow differently, that when they reunite, their lives and situations are different even though they don't want it to be. When Widow Tweed sets Tod "free" in the woods, it's very emotional for both of them, as Tod is literally left to fend for himself, to support himself, and to find a mate. Amos Slade and Copper go after him, thus showing how Copper has grown into the man (well, dog) that he is. But when all seems lost and Tod seems to be beaten by Slade, Copper stands up for him, Slade realizes he doesn't need to kill him, and the once-friends part ways, possibly forever. It's hugely different from the book, but just seeing the two characters to through this journey, it's heartbreaking because you know they can never "really" be friends forever.

Bambi would probably be a close second in terms of the "growing up" theme, and for much of the same reasons. You see him as a kid, you see him with his friends, you cut to him older, and you see how he assumes the responsibilities from his father amongst other things.

Tarzan never really seemed like a "growing up" kind of movie to me. It's part of Tarzan's spiritual journey from boy to man to ape to man, but always seemed to take a back seat to the overall theme of acceptance and to some extent, assimilation.

The Lion King gets fourth on the list by default not because it's my least favourite DAC, but because its story and characters just aren't good enough. Simba's an asinine brat who nobody should like at all in the first half of the movie. His big emotional experience gets twisted in a convoluted way to make him think it's his fault, and as a result for the next several years he lives a carefree slovenly life so he can forget the past. Then when Nala shows up, followed by Rafiki, and finally the ghost of Mufasa, it seems he's only returning because they all told him to and it hardly feels like a decision he made on his own as a way of owning up to the responsibility he left behind. He doesn't learn responsibility, nor does he ever have any. He feels more obligated to do things than to want to do it because he knows it's right. And the Mufasa/Simba scene is probably the least evocative pep talk in the history of pep talks. Mufasa is annoyingly cryptic, doesn't offer anything worth knowing beyond "You are my son, take your place in the circle of life". Simba goes from unlikeable brat to spineless adult, and his story was never as appealing to me as his daughter's in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride. The sequel works far better, story and character wise, than its predecessor.

albert

[CampbellzSoup]

Toy Story 2 kinda hit the nail on the head with a real life growing up theme...the whole thing with Jessie getting played with, and as your life goes on you grow up...I dunno that kinna hit home for me in tersm of growing up.

[Margos]

Personally, I voted for "The Fox and the Hound" as well. It really stresses how society affects the journey from child to adult. I don't know if it really is the "growing up" theme in and of itself so much, but it seems more relevant than the others.
"Tarzan" isn't really very much about growing up as it is about accepting oneself. "The Lion King" is more about coming to terms with grief and guilt than any sort of growing up. "Bambi" doesn't so much stress Bambi's growing up, in my opinion, as his place in the "circle of life," so to speak, and the roles of animals and man in nature.
I think better choices, all of which do reflect growing up in some way, not literally the transition from child to adult, but from immaturity to maturity are:
"Treasure Planet," "Pocahontas," "Peter Pan," and "The Black Cauldron."

[PatrickvD]

I'd pick Bambi and Toy Story 2.

Toy Story 2 because of Emily. In most of Disney's films we see a main character grow into an adult and overcome the obstacles. The way this anonymous character grew up and left her childhood behind was cold but realistic. It showed a completely different side of the growing up theme. But yes, I know it doesn't compare to the other films mentioned.

And Bambi, well because I love that film. An amazing coming of age story with minimum dialogue. So well done.

[BelleGirl]

I think better choices, all of which do reflect growing up in some way, not literally the transition from child to adult, but from immaturity to maturity are:
"Treasure Planet," "Pocahontas," "Peter Pan," and "The Black Cauldron."

Maybe, but my criteria for the "growing up" theme for this poll is literally growing from child to adult, not from 'spiritual' immaturity to maturity. Like the novels "Great Expectations" and "David Copperfield" for instance. These are bildungromans

If you want you can start your own poll like: "which animated classic best captures the "immature to mature" theme?"

I thought my introduction made my intentions clear to everyone but apparently it doesn't.

[Elladorine]

I'm voting for The Fox and the Hound.

Both Copper and especially Tod are near infancy when introduced to the story, and both go through a lot of changes through the course of becoming the full-fledged adults we see at the end.

I know it's not among the favorites around here, but what I love about it is that they don't get to remain friends forever. I think that sometimes growing apart and accepting those changes is a major part of growing up.

[Flanger-Hanger]

Out of these four options, I think it's a two-way tie between "The Lion King" and "Tarzan".

However, I believe "Treasure Planet" portrays that sort of character development much better than any of the films listed here. It is much more rooted in real life and its protagonist grows beyond the mere boy-to-man phase, he grows as a person – while Tarzan's character growth is triggered by his desire to fit in, Jim has no desire to prove himself to others. There are no outside forces (cute sidekicks/friends) to push him in the right direction. There's of course the father figure - a flawed one at that - but all the choices Jim makes, he makes them on his own and learns from his mistakes. In that way, he goes from a self-destructive teenager to a responsible young man.

Just my 2 cents .

I fully agree with you Mooky. If only it were on the poll.

[Margos]

Maybe, but my criteria for the "growing up" theme for this poll is literally growing from child to adult, not from 'spiritual' immaturity to maturity. Like the novels "Great Expectations" and "David Copperfield" for instance. These are bildungromans

If you want you can start your own poll like: "which animated classic best captures the "immature to mature" theme?"

I thought my introduction made my intentions clear to everyone but apparently it doesn't.

I never said they were "bildungromans," simply that each better exhibit a character whose mind and character, through, yes, spiritual crisis, come into maturity and recognize his or her identity and role in the world. Excepting Jim, none of them literally ages through the course of the film. However, Jim, Wendy, Taran, and Pocahontas all illustrate this general theme much better than Bambi, Tod, Simba, or Tarzan. Perhaps none of them fit you narrow desciption at all, then.
Yours age, but do not really go through the changes that you're talking about to the extent that mine do. With some themes, some factors are more vital than others. Wendy does not physically grow, but goes through much more psychological changes than does Bambi.

There's no need to be rude. I was just stating my opinion.

[merlinjones]

For me it would be "Peter Pan," "Pinocchio," "Bambi," "Snow White" and "Dumbo." (with a nod to "The Sword in the Stone").

[BelleGirl]

Maybe, but my criteria for the "growing up" theme for this poll is literally growing from child to adult, not from 'spiritual' immaturity to maturity. Like the novels "Great Expectations" and "David Copperfield" for instance. These are bildungromans

If you want you can start your own poll like: "which animated classic best captures the "immature to mature" theme?"

I thought my introduction made my intentions clear to everyone but apparently it doesn't.

I never said they were "bildungromans," simply that each better exhibit a character whose mind and character, through, yes, spiritual crisis, come into maturity and recognize his or her identity and role in the world. Excepting Jim, none of them literally ages through the course of the film. However, Jim, Wendy, Taran, and Pocahontas all illustrate this general theme much better than Bambi, Tod, Simba, or Tarzan. Perhaps none of them fit you narrow desciption at all, then.
Yours age, but do not really go through the changes that you're talking about to the extent that mine do. With some themes, some factors are more vital than others. Wendy does not physically grow, but goes through much more psychological changes than does Bambi.

There's no need to be rude. I was just stating my opinion.

Sorry If you think I'm rude, but you gave me the feeling "Your choice of movies for this poll is wrong and these other movies are better options", so I got a bit irritated. Surely I have the right to defend my choice? Indeed, the movies you mention do not fit my 'narrow description' that I hold up as criteria. I choose movies that literally tell of a passage from childhood to adulthood, and in how far they match the explanation for the literary term Bildung is for the UD'rs to discuss.

[DisneyFan09]

Sorry for bumping this old thread, but I came across this and I wanted to give my opinions about it

IAnd the Mufasa/Simba scene is probably the least evocative pep talk in the history of pep talks. Mufasa is annoyingly cryptic, doesn't offer anything worth knowing beyond "You are my son, take your place in the circle of life".

I happen to agree on this. I think Mufasa's speech should've been really more about his love and affection for his son, rather than a preach about how he had apparently forgotten about his father. The preaching was of course somewhat needed, but it shouldn't been all about that.

Simba goes from unlikeable brat to spineless adult, and his story was never as appealing to me as his daughter's in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride. The sequel works far better, story and character wise, than its predecessor.

Disagree on that. Regardless of which movie is superior of the two of them, I actually consider Kiara's arc and story to be inferiorly done than her father's. Regardless of what could be said about the sequel, one major flaw with it is it's writing. It's screenplay is utterly conventional and actually contains a gap - Kiara and Kovu just met once as cubs (apparently), so it really makes little sense why Kiara placed a tremendous faith in him when she showed up as an adult. Kiara's arc is actually pretty cluttered and not particularly well executed. She's nothing but another poor Princess who don't want to be royal and the film afterwards leaves it behind until the climax where she actually wises up. The same could be said about her desire to be independent and strong (when she hunts). But it doesn't make up for adult Kiara's foolishness and recklessness; She's even more of a brat than Simba ever was (despite having her reasons to be so), yet Kiara deliberately rebels in a way that puts her in danger, acts snotty towards Kovu and when she falls in love, she's completely blinded by it and not realizing that he is a potential threat and danger to the Pride and his father. Last, but not least, her love seem to overshadow the fact that her father was attacked (and no, it's not meant to be an indication that Kiara didn't care about her father at all, but her crush overshadowed her reasoning and sense. And yes, Kovu was innocent, yet he came from a clan that was the nemesis to her pride).

Personally I'm warming more up to Simba's Pride than I used to and it does have a couple of strengths that it predecessor didn't have. Yet the writing and character arcs were definitively the Achilles heel of the movie.

[milojthatch]

My favorite movies from this list as Lion King and Tarzan, however based on your question of which captures the theme of growing up best, I have to give that to Fox and the Hound. That film really shows how carefree childhood is until you grow up. As young people, we want to go change the world how we see it and then as we grow up we realize how unrealistic that is. That was the path that Todd found himself on. Even Copper to a point.