sexism
Historical accounts note that Walt Disney held sexist attitudes and reportedly joked about preferring Mickey Mouse over the women in the world. After several Oscar disappointments, Disney reportedly stopped inviting his wife Lillian to ceremonies to avoid what he perceived as bad luck. In private, he reportedly discouraged his daughters from watching his cartoons, fearing their reactions might not align with his expectations.
Disney’s gender bias extended to studio practices, including an official stance against hiring female animators. He expressed concerns that pregnancy and layoffs could disrupt production, and he questioned women’s sense of humor and drawing skills for shaping emotional characters. A prepared note circulated to women who considered nominating themselves suggested that animation work for the big screen was reserved for young men.
In the pre-war era, Disney relied heavily on women in technical roles to transfer drawings to film. The onset of World War II created staffing shortages that necessitated hiring several female artist assistants to fill the gap.
Racism
The animated feature Song of the South (1946), based on writings about Uncle Remus, has been criticized for promoting racial stereotypes and portraying plantation life with an unsettling sense of happiness. A scene featuring Uncle Remus singing among workers on the plantation became particularly controversial later on.
Despite these criticisms, Song of the South performed well at the box office and earned an Oscar for its song. Later, reissues and sales of the cartoon were officially banned in many markets due to the racial content.
Nazism
During 1942, Walt Disney Studios released The Face of the Führer, an animated short that satirically depicted Adolf Hitler. The narrative shows Donald Duck dreaming of working under Nazi pressures and includes gestures referencing Nazi imagery along with a parody title track inspired by the era’s music. In 2010, this short was listed in Russia as extremist material, a designation later overturned by a regional court in 2016. Simultaneously, Disney faced accusations of Nazi sympathies, despite the anti-Hitler stance of the work.
Amusement park tragedies
In 1980, an incident at Disney’s River Country water park in Florida raised concerns about safety after an 11-year-old boy contracted a serious brain infection from non-chlorinated water. The park eventually closed in 2001. In 2006, a fatal alligator attack near a lake at Walt Disney World drew attention to safety communications, with officials noting that park guests should have been warned about potential wildlife dangers.
Exploitation of child labor
In 2001, Disney entered contracts with factories in China to produce branded toys. Investigations revealed that some workers were under the age of 14 and were paid very low wages. The company later stated that it would implement reforms to prevent such practices in the future and conducted internal inquiries into the matter.
Sexual harassment by John Lasseter
John Lasseter, a leading figure at Disney and Pixar, resigned at the end of 2018 after allegations of inappropriate behavior. Several former employees described a culture that favored male leadership and made it challenging for women to advance. After an extended leave to reflect and address concerns, Lasseter pursued opportunities elsewhere, including leadership roles in new projects at different studios. He publicly stated that the past several months prompted him to reassess his priorities and focus on the art of animation with renewed direction.
Hidden sexualized messages
In the animated work Saviors (1977), observers noted a poster depicting a partially exposed figure in the background, which sparked discussions about sexualized imagery in animation for entertainment value. In another scene from The Lion King, some viewers interpreted dust clouds forming the letters SEX as a potential allusion, though official explanations point to a technical effect meant to honor effects artists.
Post-war xenophobia
In 2013, discussions arose about the portrayal of two Siamese cats in Lady and the Tramp and whether this reflected post-war stereotypes about Asians. Critics argued the characters embodied two-faced, villainous tropes. When the 2019 remake appeared, the song The Siamese Cat Song was omitted, and the feline characters were redesigned to avoid offensive stereotypes.
James Gunn’s dismissal
In 2018, James Gunn was released from his role overseeing Guardians of the Galaxy after resurfaced tweets from a decade earlier drew controversy. The decision sparked debate among fans and colleagues. Following the incident, opportunities flowed to him at other studios, and by 2019 he had been invited to return to Disney for future projects while also collaborating with other production houses.
Stealing an idea
In the late 1980s, two executives proposed an ESPN Wide World of Sports complex but did not gain approval. Five years later, a plan resembling the original concept moved forward, with 88 documented similarities between the two projects. Disney asserted ownership of the idea, culminating in a legal dispute that was resolved in favor of the original petitioners in 2000.