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I may not be a kid anymore, but there’s something about Disney animations that will continue to pull at my heartstrings and be one of my favourite sources of entertainment.
As the official release of Disney’s new film Wish is just around the corner, I and my fellow animation enthusiasts were treated to an exclusive screening of the film on Wednesday, 22 November, at Montecasino’s Movies @ Montecasino.
The premiere was gorgeous, draped in blue and covered in fairy lights, with entertainment for the children who excitedly attended the launch with their parents. Face painters brought the characters from the film to life, while other kids enjoyed the comfort of the bubble house.
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For the adults, a blue carpet that fits the film’s overarching colour scheme hosted actor Prev Reddy from Netflix’s new hit local show Miseducation and cosplay influencer Princess Sachiko in a Japanese-inspired ensemble. Soon, kids took over the blue carpet and showed off their ensembles, and they were definitely dressed to impress.
We were then escorted into the cinema and excitement filled the air, as we waited for the movie to begin.
Many things can be said about Disney, but they definitely know how to make an animated film. Wish is a brilliantly put-together and deeply revelational film about selflessness, community and friendship.
The story follows wide-eyed Asha, played by West Side Story’s Ariana DeBose, as her 18th birthday inches closer. She wishes for King Magnifico, played by Chris Pine, to grant the wishes of her mother and grandfather. Upon her discovery that the king is nothing more than an evil sorcerer, she wishes upon a star and this is where the movie really takes flight.
The film is a nostalgic marvel, with Disney’s signature hand-drawn watercolour aesthetic occupying the gorgeous backgrounds of the film, reminiscent of the company’s earlier works, such as Pinocchio, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Bambi, while CGI animation livens the characters in the world of story.
With everyone glued to the screen, the mixed media served its purpose as it gave the story a kind of colour that resonated with audiences of all ages.
This time around, we are not watching the story of a princess who tirelessly longs for a knight in shining armour to save her. Asha is the complete opposite of what we’ve known Disney women characters to be, much like Merida’s character from the Disney film Brave, Asha is an afro-Hispanic girl with braids, which was a breath of fresh air, even from a princess like Tiana who had straight and silky hair in her story. Asha seeks answers, but not for herself. Her resilience and determination to find liberation for her people are the true stand-out points of the film.
While the story is simple, the soundtrack really carries the film home, with intricate layers of sound and vocals that form a soundtrack that plays like a warrior's cry. The film features seven all-new songs, from Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Julia Michaels, who has written for artists, such as Justin Bieber, Dua Lipa and Janelle Monáe, and Grammy-winning producer/songwriter Benjamin Rice, whose old-school pop style is seen in songs from artists like Lady Gaga and Robin Thicke, made for the perfect soundtrack.
The soundtrack boasts hits which stand powerfully on their own, and have a pop-ballad feel to them, with songs to last theatre kids a lifetime of audition-worthy pieces.
Disney has stood the test of time and become one of the greatest animation houses to ever exist. Celebrating their 100-year journey through the release of Wish, which would explain the countless references to different characters and eras within the company's journey. Disney did what they do best and kept us wishing on their Disney stars. But perhaps, this is exactly the beauty of Disney: they help keep our hope alive and dare us to dream of something whimsical and magical.
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Wish is a culmination of everything that Disney has done in the last 100 years, simple and surface level, yet able to inspire across all ages, races and class structures. Wish may be a heap of Disney propaganda, but it is propaganda I am totally buying.
The film goes into theatres across South Africa on 24 November.
