Report: Animators Instructed by…

Disney’s Billion-Dollar Success Amid Controversies

After a year devoid of any billion-dollar hits, Disney roared back into the spotlight. Two films have soared above the billion-dollar mark this year. Cue the fanfare for ‘Inside Out 2’ and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’ The audiences have given their stamp of approval to both films.

‘Inside Out 2,’ Pixar’s latest gem, hauled in a whopping $1.682 billion globally. In the U.S. and Canada alone, the film raked in $652.6 million, with an impressive $1.030 billion from international markets.

Lessons from The Past

Now, let’s delve into some intriguing insider chatter, courtesy of IGN. Animators on the ‘Inside Out 2’ project received specific instructions. They were told to make the film’s protagonist, Riley, “less gay.” The motive behind this decision is traced back to the failure of ‘Lightyear.’ The inclusion of a same-sex kiss scene in ‘Lightyear’ cost the movie dearly.

Many Muslim-majority countries chose to ban the film. Count China among those who requested the removal of the same-sex kiss scene. Disney, however, declined to cut out the scene. The kiss scene was initially removed from the feature but reinstated thereafter. The move came in response to the Florida Parental Rights in Education bill and a barrage of internal debates within Disney.

Fallout of Controversies

The controversies cast a shadow over ‘Lightyear’s’ box-office performance. The film managed to bag $118.3 million domestically and $108.1 million internationally. So, the global gross amounted to $226.4 million. It may sound impressive, but the film ranked only fourth in animated films in the U.S. in 2022, and fifth globally. Deadline Hollywood reported a staggering studio loss of $106 million after adjusting for all costs and revenues.

Consequently, the unease surrounding ‘Lightyear’ spilled over into the development of ‘Inside Out 2.’ Leadership often brought up ‘Lightyear’ as a cautionary tale. They attributed the film’s financial failure to the inclusion of a queer kiss scene.

The Ripple Effect

The ‘Lightyear’ saga had its repercussions on ‘Inside Out 2.’ The studio reportedly shied away from incorporating LGBTQ themes. Reports suggest repeated efforts to portray Riley as “less gay.” These instructions led to countless edits, particularly after the WGA strike ended in September of 2023.

Additionally, meticulous efforts were taken to ensure Riley and Val, a new face in the sequel, seemed as platonic as possible. This mission involved tweaking the lighting and tone to minimize any sense of romantic chemistry.

An insider viewed these efforts as elaborate attempts to quash any hint of a non-heteronormative relationship between Riley and Val. Note that the film does not canonically label Riley as gay. Yes, certain contexts perhaps slightly hint at it, but Disney was keen on downplaying such suggestions at any chance.

Final Thoughts

Disney’s latest billion-dollar outings have been a rollercoaster ride, to say the least. Among the triumphs and hiccups along the way, ‘Inside Out 2’ and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ have proved that the magic mouse house is back, and in a big way. But what are your thoughts? Join the conversation in the comments below!

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Image credit: fictionhorizon.com

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