Resurrection in Disney Cartoons

FeaturesResurrection of Jesus
Written By Edward Wolfe

Flynn Rider from Tangled

Filmmakers can tap into their public’s deepest longings. This can make for some truly beautiful films—and also, I assume, add to the popularity and money-making potential of the movie.

I’ve noticed over the years that many of the animated, feature-length Disney films include a sense of resurrection from the dead, bringing a dramatic sense of closure and transcendence to the film. The tragic apparent, often sacrificial death of the protagonist is answered by his or her near-miraculous return from the dead.

The New Testament, of course, is the archetypical use of resurrection. The great hero, Jesus is murderously and humiliatingly put to death, only to arise triumphantly after three days. We find the story eminently satisfying and fulfilling. And, of course, those of us who believe in Jesus, look forward to our own actual resurrection from the dead. His story planted the seeds of longing and fulfillment in our souls.

If you agree or disagree with this list, please let us know in the Comments section.

Here’s a list of Disney features that include an allusion to resurrection:

  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

  • Pinocchio (1940)

  • Lady and the Tramp (1955)

  • Sleeping Beauty (1959)

  • The Fox and the Hound (1981)

  • The Brave Little Toaster (1987)

  • The Little Mermaid (1989)

  • Beauty and the Beast (1991)

  • Mulan (1998)

  • Bolt (2008)

  • Tangled (2010)

  • Frozen (2013)

  • Zootopia (2016)

Edward Wolfe

Edward Wolfe has been a fan of Christian apologetics since his teenage years, when he began seriously to question the truth of the Bible and the reality of Jesus. About twenty years ago, he started noticing that Christian evidences roughly fell into five categories, the five featured on this website.
Although much of his professional life has been in Christian circles (12 years on the faculties of Pacific Christian College, now a part of Hope International University, and Manhattan Christian College and also 12 years at First Christian Church of Tempe), much of his professional life has been in public institutions (4 years at the University of Colorado and 19 years at Tempe Preparatory Academy).
His formal academic preparation has been in the field of music. His bachelor degree was in Church Music with a minor in Bible where he studied with Roger Koerner, Sue Magnusson, Russel Squire, and John Rowe; his master’s was in Choral Conducting where he studied with Howard Swan, Gordon Paine, and Roger Ardrey; and his doctorate was in Piano Performance, Pedagogy, and Literature, where he also studied group dynamics, humanistic psychology, and Gestalt theory with Guy Duckworth.
He and his wife Louise have four grown children and six grandchildren.

https://WolfeMusicEd.com
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