Disney has been releasing adaptations of its most famous classics in recent years and, apparently, this trend won’t stop there Are your ideas exhausted?Does the old one work better than the new one? What is clear to all is that 2019 has been a year of reorganizations or rather reinventions, Aladdin, the Lion King and, of course, Dumbo, were among the classics that were updated.
Today we want to focus on the giant-eared little elephant with exceptional dexterity, we’re talking about Dumbo, a film that, even in 1941, was already attracting the world’s attention for its true character and to move away from Disney’s most childish and innocent appearance.
- When we learned that Tim Burton would lead the adaptation of The Little Elephant.
- Many of us were overwhelmed by a sense of nostalgia and joy.
Who better than the unsuitable filmmaker to tell the life of the marginalized elephant?However, times have changed and the truth is that Burton’s beginning, since the time of Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice and Ed Wood, is no longer the same.
Similarly, looking at our own present moment, a world more critical than ever, we had to wait for a stronger version to be released: a message of love for animals and respect for differences.
The truth is that, in part, there’s a bit of that in this new Dumbo Update, but we’re also missing some elements of the original movie How did the passage of time affect one of the darkest stories?And at the same time, Disney’s time lover?
It has been a long time since the animated version began in 1941, so values and society have changed enough to expect a harder and stronger version than the previous one.
The issues surrounding animal abuse and slavery that some species suffer from our pure selfishness are increasingly controversial.
More and more cases of violence against animals are reported every day, and society is somewhat more aware, even if it is not yet perfect.
In fact, the original Dumbo was nothing more than an attempt to overcome the economic losses Disney Studios had suffered following Fantasia’s debut (and failure) in 1940.
So, on a small budget, have you decided to release a movie with a shorter story?Does the show only last an hour? And, at the same time, more exciting.
When we heard about the premiere, everyone expected to see a version taken by the new influences, the new streams, and trying to update the values that the original film conveys. In part, the feature film played this role, but it didn’t. fall in favor of the public.
Perhaps the expectations were very high and many forgot that behind Tim Burton’s name Disney Studios were hidden, that is, a studio that aims to attract a very wide audience and play with the nostalgic element.
New technologies, especially computer graphics, provide a more realistic and moving image than the original Dumbo, allowing for great realism without the presence of real animals.
However, it is also interesting to note that sometimes the film focuses a lot on the superficial, on the beauty of the image, without highlighting the deeper feelings, without “putting your finger on the wound”?Animal abuse.
However, Dumbo’s new update puts us on a more egalitarian stage, showing us a similarity between fatherhood and motherhood, demonstrating that not only mothers suffer and fight for their children, but also parents.
This similarity goes beyond species: we see an elephant mother suffering and defending her child and, at the same time, a human father capable of facing different threats to protect the well-being of her children.
The role of women demands vital importance, whether girls, adults or elephants. Burton gives space to the determined woman, who fights and defes from the standards imposed in 1941.
In the original Dumbo it seems that the only function of women is motherhood, fatherhood is hardly demonstrated (not to mention fatherhood) and, of course, women are submissive, obedient and conversational.
In a way, Burton knew how to update these values, however, many characters are superficial and parts of the script portraying feminism and animal rights seem somewhat forced, far from the expected naturalness.
In fact, animated feature film is characterized by severe coldness, violence and a rejection of differences that appear to have been resolved in 2019.
Wasn’t this a good opportunity to fight?Yes, that was probably the case. However, if we look at the film, we will realize that, perhaps, the filmmaker’s intention was not so close to reality.
Why do we say that? Because this new Dumbo Update, as we said, is exaggerated, reduces coolness, and reviews end up deviating to an unexpected place.
But Burton takes the opportunity to criticize between the lines, to draw a parallel between Disney’s own studios and the great circus to which Dumbo was sent.
It seems that Tim Burton, far from proposing his version of the inadequate, decided to outline a critique of the film industry itself, to capitalism.
You can see it in Dreamland Park, the place where Dumbo is taken to become a star, as in Disney’s own studios and theme parks, that is, a false happiness, a false illusion that is bought with money.
The enemy no longer owns the small animal circus, but the stingy, rich partner who enslaves both human and animal employees. With his money, this man in a suit and tie can get what he wants, no matter what lives involved in the process.
Thus, Burton decides to set fire to the hand he feeds, in the studies with which, for years, he has established a relationship of love and hatred.
It is the result of those who supported him financially, but who also cut off his wings, his artistic freedom and, like Dumbo, what he can do is fight for his freedom.
The rawness of the film is not manifested in the form of mistreatment of animals, but through the theme park, which represents a place of worship and entertainment for those who can afford it. Meanwhile, a business tycoon enriches himself by sitting in his leather chair.
So we can say that the values have changed, that the point of view is different and that in 2019 being a star is no longer synonymous with success, but of exploration.
Following this line, it appears that Burton heard the warnings of the PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) association and, in addition to not using animals on his stage, decided to give Dumbo a second chance, away from fame and the circus.
If in 1941 the equivalent of the happy ending was a famous Dumbo that everyone admired, in 2019 the happy ending is far from famous and is to be with your species in a natural environment.
The feature film shows, once again, that circuses with animals are already a step in the past and that the future is fighting for a more respectful and ethical treatment for those with whom we share our planet.
Probably, the 1941 version trembles a little more for its rawness, for its realism – albeit excited – of an animal that suffers and is unfairly separated from its mother.
However, the current Dumbo, although superficial in some respects, must be read between the lines and interpreted according to our present.
Burton trusted his beloved actors, such as Danny De Vito and Eva Green, to build a story that, in addition to denouncing animal circuses, represents a critique of our own way of life.