For generations, Disney has been a major part of our childhood. Depending on when you grew up, your version of Disney could look completely different from someone else’s.
Some generations were raised on classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Three Caballeros, and other films from Disney’s early years. Then came Pixar, the Disney Channel, the original Star Wars films, and the original live-action X-Men franchise. The generation after that was introduced to Frozen, Tangled, The Incredibles, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and so much more.
No matter which generation you belong to, there’s one thing Disney understands extremely well:
Adults will revisit the stories that remind them of a simpler time.
But this year’s D23 convention showed us that Disney isn’t relying on nostalgia alone. They’re also looking for ways to allow these characters to progress as their audiences grow up with them.
We’re seeing Anna’s life move forward in Frozen 3, including her relationship with Kristoff entering its next chapter. The Lilo & Stitch universe continues expanding after the success of the live-action movie. And Marvel is bringing back some serious nostalgia by revisiting the X-Men while simultaneously preparing audiences for a new generation.
Leave it to Marvel to tug at your heart strings with the biggest clapback in history. How did everyone react when Robert Downy Junior appear as Dr. Doom at San Diego Comic Con. It will be interesting to see how the fans will take him as this character as they are taking almost two decades of MCU memories with them. Bravo to Disney for the incredible storytelling and marketing behind this movie.
We start to see our characters grow, in Coco we saw Miguel and how his journey ended. Disney is looking to evolve the character in the sequal to show that loving music but building a life around music are not the same thing. Instead of it speaking to nostalgia but it gives a message to the people who were children when the first movie arrived and giving adivce to those now beginning to build their lives.
The story of the incredibles shows that Violetm, Dash, and Jack -Jack would have to go through life conforming against the inherit expectations from their superhero parents and the traditions and responsibilities instilled on them and as older characters the sequel will have them possibly decide to step away from the life or take a more leadership role. Each child has their own ambition one who wants to step away one who wants to rush head in and one whose in between. Its an amazing dynamic to be explored. A coming of age for those who still looking to forge their own path.
Star Wars may be the clearest example of what happens when nostalgia becomes both a franchise’s greatest strength and biggest limitation.
Darth Vader remains iconic.
Luke Skywalker remains iconic.
Leia remains iconic.
Obi-Wan remains iconic.
Anakin remains iconic.
But those characters cannot carry the franchise forever.
Eventually somebody new has to matter.
Not because they’re connected to Luke.
Not because they’re connected to Vader.
Not because they’re secretly someone’s child.
They need to matter because audiences love them.
A new theatrical Star Wars story has the opportunity to create something that feels independent of the Skywalker saga.
If audiences connect with new characters, Star Wars suddenly has somewhere to go.
If they don’t, Lucasfilm remains stuck constantly revisiting its past.
That makes Starfighter bigger than another Star Wars movie.
It’s another test of whether Star Wars can create cultural icons in the present.
Disney has already proven audiences will show up for recognizable brands.
The harder challenge is creating something audiences will still care about twenty years from now.
Because once upon a time:
Frozen was new.
The Incredibles was new.
Coco was new.
Lilo & Stitch was new.
The MCU was an experiment.
Even Star Wars was once something audiences had never seen before.
So while D23 understandably celebrates everything audiences already love, there should always be another question in the background:
Where is the next franchise we’re going to become nostalgic for?
Disney has already proven audiences will show up for recognizable brands.
The harder challenge is creating something audiences will still care about twenty years from now.
Because once upon a time:
Frozen was new.
The Incredibles was new.
Coco was new.
Lilo & Stitch was new.
The MCU was an experiment.
Even Star Wars was once something audiences had never seen before.
So while D23 understandably celebrates everything audiences already love, there should always be another question in the background:
Where is the next franchise we’re going to become nostalgic for?
Do you want Disney to keep expanding the movies and characters you grew up with, or is it time for the company to invest more heavily in creating the next generation of original classics?
Leave a Reply