Disney is well known for their amazing adaptations from fairy tales and their modern spin on these age old classics. However, in recent years, they have turned away from adapting the original tales and shifting focus to adjusting their own adaptations. Disney should be trying to get back to their roots by adapting some time-honored fairy tales. These are the top five fairy tales, myths, and legends that should be made into Disney animated movies.
1. Hansel and Gretel
Hansel and Gretel follows the story of a brother and sister who are left in the woods and happen upon a house made of candy. This house is home to a cannibalistic witch that they must defeat in order to survive the ordeal. This is a popular fairytale, originating in Germany, that has been adapted many times over the years. However, Disney has not yet joined this bandwagon, but could be lucrative if the magic of Disney is applied.
2. Baby Yaga
Baba Yaga is a Russian witch who lives in an enchanted cottage, a rickety wooden structure with chicken feet. She lures children into her home and kidnaps them never to be seen from again. This tale is used to keep children from wandering off on their own and getting kidnapped. It is also referenced in the Disney/Marvel movie Ant-Man and the Wasp by the Russian hacker, Kurt Goreshter.
3. The White Cat
This tale features three brothers vying for their father’s throne, who gives them impossible tasks to complete, not wanting to give up his throne. The white cat helps to ensnare the throne for the youngest of the brothers and in the end, turns into a princess. This tale is a mix between the original tale of Puss in Boots and Beauty and the Beast. This could be another box-office hit for the Disney Princess franchise.
4. Icarus and Daedalus
The story of Icarus and Daedalus is one of the love between father and son, and as Disney strays from the classical ideals of romantic love this would be a perfect one to adapt. Daedalus is an inventor that is trapped with his son in a seemingly inescapable Labyrinth of his own making. However, Daedalus makes wings so that he and Icarus can fly out, but Icarus flies too close to the sun and dies. This ending would probably be adjusted by Disney, but would still be a good story to be brought to life.
5. The Marsh King’s Daughter
This story features a beautiful girl named Helga that must save her mother, an Egyptian fairy, from her father, the Marsh King. Helga does not know of her true parentage until she grows up, but knows that she is not normal because she is a kind and good-natured frog by night and a wicked and beautiful girl by day. This story is Hans Christian Andersen’s second longest piece and was just as popular as The Snow Queen, which Frozen is loosely based on, at one time.
Kayla LeBeau
Kayla LeBeauis a first-year Secondary Education major with a concentration in English. She was the Arts and Entertainment editor at Montoursville Area High School for two years and has continued as the Arts and Entertainment editor on the Eagle Eye staff. Kayla has written a variety of articles for the Eagle Eye beyond Arts and Entertainment. She loves to read fantasy, adventure, and Sci-Fi novels, especially books by Brandon Sanderson and Sarah J. Maas.
