Once upon a remix: race, representation, and Disney’s modern fairytales

Abstract

This thesis explores how Disney’s recent live-action remakes (The Little Mermaid [2023], Aladdin [2019], and Mulan [2020]) engage with themes of race, ethnicity, and cultural identity, particularly in comparison to their animated predecessors from the Disney Renaissance era. As global conversations around diversity and inclusion evolve, Disney has become a focal point for praise and criticism. It stands at the intersection of nostalgia and influence. It is a cherished part of many childhoods and a powerful corporation that helps shape dominant narratives about identity, difference, and belonging. Rather than assuming these adaptations represent either superficial gestures or profound transformations, this study critically examines the representational shifts they introduce. Using qualitative textual analysis, it considers casting decisions, character development, visual aesthetics, and cultural settings to assess how mainstream storytelling constructs inclusion. These films offer particularly compelling case studies due to their international visibility, commercial success, and the public debates they sparked concerning race, authenticity, and performative inclusivity. The findings indicate that while these remakes present a more diverse visual landscape and incorporate language of empowerment, they often leave underlying ideological structures intact. This thesis contributes to broader discussions about how media institutions negotiate race and culture, revealing how inclusion can be offered in form but not always in substance.