When I was younger, Disney was a major part of my life. My brother and I lived, breathed and ate Disney. We'd annoy our parents by spending countless hours in the Disney store whenever we made trips to the mall. He begged for the plastic swords while I begged for the endless supply of tiny princess dresses. All we watched on our VCR were Disney movies. My brother and I successfully memorized every line of Walt Disney's "The Lion King" because we watched it about five times a day. To top off our Disney obsession, we took a trip to Disney World one summer. It was a summer I'd never forget. But as a kid, one thing I never thought about was what the movies I so adored actually meant. What lessons did these movies want to teach kids? Now that I am older, I've re-watched many Disney movies and they've actually taught me very important life lessons. These five Disney movies in particular have taught me the most important life lessons.
1. "The Little Mermaid" (1989)
"The Little Mermaid" taught me to try my best to adapt to environments that are not familiar. Ariel had to adapt to the human world after living underwater for so many years. This reminds me that if a mermaid can learn how to behave like a human, I can learn how to be a college student.
2. "Tarzan" (1999)
"Tarzan" taught me that family doesn't necessarily need to be the people who are related to you. Tarzan was raised by gorillas, who at first didn't accept him, but as he got older they became more accepting of him. He isn't related to the gorillas in any way, but he considers them his true family because they love him and support his decisions. Your family is ultimately anyone who loves you and will always support what you do.
3. "Beauty and the Beast" (1991)
"Beauty and the Beast" taught me that looks aren't everything and that your personality matters more. Belle was able to fall in love with the Beast because of his personality. She saw past his looks and focused on what mattered the most: his character. With the society we live in this movie definitely helped me become less shallow.
4. "The Emperor's New Groove" (2000)
"The Emperor's New Groove" taught me that I can't take anything for granted. It taught me to appreciate everything that I have because there are other people who do not have the privileges and opportunities that I have. Kuzco was ungrateful of his luxurious lifestyle as an emperor. He realized that he should be more grateful after seeing what life is like as a peasant when he was turned into a llama and met Pacha, a peasant. Kuzco became more humble after this experience and learned to appreciate everything he has, which to me, is a valuable lesson.
5. "The Lion King" (1994)
"The Lion King" actually taught me two lessons: remember who I am and take responsibility. Simba runs away and goes into hiding after his father, Mufasa, dies. He forgets his duties as the next king and lives a carefree lifestyle with his new friends Timon and Pumbaa. When Simba talks to Mufasa in the clouds, Mufasa has to remind Simba not to forget that he is the next king, and most importantly, that he is the son of a past king. Simba realizes he needs to take responsibility as the next king and save his kingdom from his Uncle Scar's rule. This movie taught me to always remember my goals in life and to take the responsibilities in order to reach them.
These movies didn't have much significance to me as a child in an educational aspect, but now that I'm older I understand that they each hold valuable life lessons. So the next time you're re-watching your favorite childhood Disney movies think about what lesson it is teaching you.
