8 Dark Origins Behind Everyone's Favourite Disney Films
The disturbing tales that were changed for everyone's sake!
For many Disney movies, the heroes meet their happily-ever-afters, finding their true loves or learning their way in life after being subject to evil witches, dragon slaying princes and fairy godmothers through their story.
With a magical Mickey Mouse coating, these tales are soothingly familiar, and have become much loved children's classics over the years.
But many of these original stories came from old fables and texts, depicting a far worse off (and in some cases very disturbing) narrative in which the characters often are killed off, tortured, abused or subject to terrible fates. These narratives were made to teach those who read them to stick to the right path in life, and not make the bad decisions that might endanger you.
Some date back to Brothers Grimm tales in the eighteen century, or as far as Chinese ballads from the fourth century AD, all of which tell these short stories in ways that will leave you with significantly less nostalgia.
Here is a list of just a few of those disturbing and dark origins from the classic Disney movies you'll be glad the studios changed for their release!
8. Snow White
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first Disney musical animation released in 1937. The original story was written by The Brothers Grimm in 1812.
In both versions of the story, the princess is exiled by her step mother when her father dies, as she aims to take the throne using a magic mirror.
The original text includes much more disturbing extracts. For starters, Snow White is only seven years old in the Grimm's telling. Her step mother seeks to become the fairest of them all, hiring a huntsman to kill Snow in the woods and return with her lungs and liver to eat. He kills a boar instead, and lets the young girl free who escapes and takes shelter in the dwarves' house.
Hearing of the princess' escape, the Queen attempts to kill her three times disguised as an old woman with lace, a poison comb and lastly an apple, which puts her in a state of suspended animation.
Presuming she's dead, the dwarves place her in a glass coffin, although she's eventually rescued her someone accidentally dislodging the piece of apple stuck in her throat.
The witch is cursed to dance at the couples wedding in red hot iron shoes and dance until she falls down dead.