65th Academy Awards
There was a minor controversy when Snow White (Disney character) was presenting an award for Best Animated Short Subject. She was voiced by Mary Kay Bergman, Adriana Caselotti, the original voice of Snow White was not aware of this. She was reportedly offended that Disney didn't ask her to voice Snow White during the ceremony.
Criticism of The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company has also been criticized for the lack of feminist values seen on the older, original Disney Princesses. Snow White in particular, is under constant criticism for her lack of feminist ideals. The film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)" features a main protagonist whom at the time, fit the domestic and docile expectations of women in the pre-World War 2 era. Snow White is displayed on screen covered in a long dress, embelished with a white collar, puffy sleeves, red cape, and a red bow constraining her hair; a traditional, modest look on feminity by revealing minimal skin. Through her actions portrayed in the movie, she draws on the traditional femininity that was encouraged in 1930's American culture. In the midst of The Great Depression, women were encouraged to return to the home and care for the household; a theme that is widely displayed in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)." However, with the second resurgence of Disney movies, known as the Disney Renaissance, beginning in 1989 until 1999, Disney transformed the damsel in distress into a strong woman with the desire for adventure. This new approach ushered in a decade of go-getting, proactive heroines, who possessed character traits that coincided with the new era of acceptable sexual roles in a society where women hold the same jobs as men. This is evident in princesses such as Ariel from "The Little Mermaid (1989)", and Belle from "Beauty and the Beast (1991)".