Has Disney Losts it's Magic??

Has Disney losts it's magic? A lifelong fan's Reflection 

For years, Disney was my world. The excitement of a new Disney princess movie, the timeless magic of their animated classics—it was something I lived for. From as early as 2008, I cherished every moment of watching these films, dreaming of being a princess, finding a prince, and experiencing the fairytales that felt so real in my childhood imagination.

But now? I feel like Disney is losing its magic. The creativity, the originality, and even the heart that once made it special seem to be fading.

The Disney That Was

Disney was founded in 1923 by Walt Disney and Roy O. Disney, originally as the Disney Brothers Studio. The first-ever cartoon that brought Disney into the spotlight was Steamboat Willie (1928), which introduced the world to Mickey Mouse. From there, they grew into an empire, giving us Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Cinderella (1950), The Lion King (1994), and so many unforgettable classics.

These movies had soul. They were made with passion, innovation, and a love for storytelling that made us believe in magic. Every film felt unique, with rich hand-drawn animation and characters that stayed in our hearts. Disney wasn't just a brand; it was an experience.

The Turning Point: Creativity or Repetition?

Then, somewhere along the way, things changed. Instead of new ideas, we started getting live-action remakes of movies that were already perfect. It started with Cinderella (2015), and then came The Lion King (2019), Mulan (2020), and now Snow White in 2025.

The Lion King remake was one of my biggest disappointments. The original Lion King (1994) was filled with love, soul, and energy, but the live-action version felt… empty. It was technically impressive with its hyper-realistic CGI, but it lacked the emotion that made the original so powerful. And now they’re making Mufasa? Why? Is there really no new story to tell?

And let’s not even talk about The Little Mermaid (2023). Disney decided to cast Halle Bailey as Ariel, and while some people cheered, many of us wondered—why? What was the need to change her? When I was a kid watching The Little Mermaid, I didn’t care what color her skin was. I cared about her personality, her dreams, her curiosity, and her love for adventure. Changing her appearance for the sake of diversity felt forced, not natural. It was the same movie, same scenes, same story—just a different skin tone. Did this really add anything meaningful to the story? No.

A Lack of Direction?

It’s not just about race-swapping or remakes. Disney as a company seems to be losing its identity. Once upon a time, it stood for family-friendly storytelling, something parents could trust to entertain and inspire their children. Now, they’ve allowed so many unnecessary themes to enter their movies, pushing agendas that young kids don’t need to be thinking about.

Take the LGBTQ content they’ve been adding. Whether people support it or not, the truth is that Disney is supposed to be for children. Kids don’t have the maturity to understand those topics, and they shouldn’t be forced into discussions that should be left to parents. But instead of focusing on the values that made them great, Disney has shifted its focus to pleasing certain groups, rather than the families that built this empire in the first place.

Is Disney’s Magic Gone Forever?

I won’t deny that Disney still has a strong legacy. The classics will always be the classics. But looking at where the company is now, I wonder—will they ever return to their roots? Will we ever see original animated films that carry the same heart and soul as Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, or The Lion King? Or are we stuck with an endless cycle of unnecessary remakes and forced changes that add nothing new?

For me, Disney has lost something. The spark, the originality, the pure love for storytelling—it’s disappearing. And unless they change course, I doubt they’ll ever get it back.

What do you think? Has Disney lost its magic, or is this just the natural evolution of entertainment? Let’s talk about it in the comments👇🏿

Sources

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Barrier, J. Michael (2007). The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney. Oakland, CA: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-24117-6. Buckaroo Bugs'.

Beard, Richard R. (1982). Walt Disney's EPCOT Center: Creating the New World of Tomorrow. New York: Harry N. Abrams. ISBN 978-0-8109-0821-5.

Broggie, Michael (2006). Walt Disney's Railroad Story: The Small-Scale Fascination That Led to a Full-Scale Kingdom. Marceline, MO: Carolwood Pacific. ISBN 978-0-9758584-2-4.

Canemaker, John (2001). Walt Disney's Nine Old Men and the Art of Animation. Burbank, CA: Disney Editions. ISBN 978-0-7868-6496-6.

Ceplair, Larry; Englund, Steven (1983). The Inquisition in Hollywood: Politics in the Film Community, 1930–1960. Oakland, CA: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-04886-7.

Cohen, Karl F. (2004). Forbidden Animation: Censored Cartoons and Blacklisted Animators in America. Jefferson, NC: McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-0725-2.