Deconstructing Disney
Kanalaren Xehetasunak
Deconstructing Disney
Two life-long Disney fans take on the Disney film catalog, beginning with the animated features, and discuss with a critical lens. New episodes the first Tuesday of every month. @DeconDisney on social media.
Atal Berriak
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The Princess and the Frog
Episode Summary
Erin and Rachel hop on down to 1920’s New Orleans, where Disney’s first Black princess spends most of her time as a frog in the...
Up
Episode Summary
Erin and Rachel wallow through an elderly man’s grief journey with Pixar’s critically acclaimed Up (2009). They argue the beauti...
Bolt
Episode Summary
Erin and Rachel discuss Bolt (2008), a lesser known film about a dog who thinks he’s a super hero. Under new leadership, Disney...
WALL-E
Episode Summary
Erin and Rachel travel 700 years into the future to discuss WALL-E (2008), Pixar’s robot romance with an unintentionally anti-ca...
Ratatouille
Episode Summary
Erin and Rachel discuss Ratatouille (2007), a Pixar film about a French rat who wants to be a chef. Their discussion includes a...
Meet the Robinsons
Episode Summary
Erin and Rachel travel to a frenetic future to discuss Meet the Robinsons (2007), a fever dream of a film that performed poorly...
Cars
Episode Summary
In this episode about Cars (2006), Erin and Rachel take a road trip to Radiator Springs, discussing Pixar history, environmental...
Chicken Little
Episode Summary
Chicken Little (2005), the modern retelling of the classic folk tale, will make you wish the sky was falling so the movie would...
The Incredibles
Episode Summary
Family superhero saga, The Incredibles (2004), was another smash hit for Pixar. Although fun to watch, the focus on a middle age...
Home on the Range
Episode Summary
Erin and Rachel venture to the Old West to discuss the oft forgotten 2004 flop Home on the Range. The convoluted plot, juvenile...
Brother Bear
Episode Summary
Welcome to our family time! Erin and Rachel discuss Brother Bear (2003), another entry in the canon of Disney’s flop era. Despit...
Finding Nemo
Episode Summary
Erin and Rachel dive into a discussion of Finding Nemo (2003), the box office splash that enthralled audiences and critics alike...
Treasure Planet
Episode Summary
Erin and Rachel explore Treasure Planet (2002), the biggest flop in Disney animation since The Black Cauldron. The hosts discuss...
Lilo & Stitch
Episode Summary
Much like family dynamics and intergalactic diplomacy, Lilo & Stitch (2002) is a complicated movie. Erin and Rachel surf through...
The Best Disney Song of All Time
Erin and Rachel sing their way through a March madness-style bracket to determine the best Disney song of all time!
Listen to the official play...
Monsters, Inc.
Episode Summary
Join Erin and Rachel on the Scare Floor for a discussion of Monsters, Inc. (2001). The impressive animation, clever world buildi...
Atlantis: The Lost Empire
Episode Summary
Making sense of the plot of Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) proves almost as difficult as locating a lost civilization in the A...
The Emperor's New Groove
Episode Summary
Erin and Rachel try not to throw off the emperor’s groove with their critique of the cultural appropriation and homophobia in th...
Dinosaur
Episode Summary
Disney animators combined computer generated animation with live action background scenery to create the visually stunning Dinos...
Toy Story 2
Episode Summary
Originally planned for a direct-to-video release, Toy Story 2 (1999) was deemed too good for the small screen and instead enjoye...
Tarzan
Episode Summary
Erin and Rachel swing to the end of the Disney Renaissance with their discussion of Tarzan (1999). The hosts fault the filmmaker...
A Bug's Life
Episode Summary
Despite competing with a similar insect-themed offering from DreamWorks, Pixar’s sophomore feature film, A Bug’s Life (1998), ea...
Mulan
Episode Summary
Erin and Rachel explore the mess of gender and culture in Mulan (1998), Disney’s adaptation of an ancient Chinese legend. The pl...
Hercules
Episode Summary
Unlike its eponymous protagonist, Hercules (1997) is more “zero” than “hero.” Erin and Rachel discuss the film’s rampant misogyn...
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Episode Summary
Erin and Rachel spend a lot of time wringing their hands over the mature themes in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Disney’s...
Toy Story
Episode Summary
Erin and Rachel travel to masculinity and beyond in their discussion of Toy Story (1995), the first feature-length entirely comp...
Pocahontas
Episode Summary
In pursuit of another Oscar-worthy animated feature, Disney chose a culturally significant protagonist and pumped up the romance...
The Lion King
Episode Summary
Another critical and commercial success of the Disney Renaissance, The Lion King (1994) was a beast at the box office and on hom...
Aladdin
Episode Summary
Erin and Rachel travel to the (problematically) imaginary land of Agrabah to discuss Aladdin (1992), debating whether this film...
Beauty and the Beast
Episode Summary
A smashing success at the box office and awards shows, Beauty and the Beast (1991) confirmed that the Disney Renaissance had ind...
The Rescuers Down Under
Episode Summary
Travel to Australia with Erin and Rachel, where they’ll dissect The Rescuers Down Under (1990), a film full of native flora and...
The Little Mermaid
Episode Summary
Join Erin and Rachel under the sea for the first princess film in 30 years! The Little Mermaid (1989) marked the beginning of th...
Oliver & Company
Episode Summary
Once upon a time in New York City, a movie about dogs brought up a lot of questions about class, race, and gender. Erin revisits...
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Episode Summary
Thanks to its impressive technological innovation and astounding attention to detail, Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) achieved co...
The Great Mouse Detective
Episode Summary
Amid mounting pressure from new leadership, Disney animators ushered in a new era with its first ever computer-generated image (...
The Black Cauldron
Episode Summary
In an episode bubbling over with Disney history, Erin and Rachel dive into The Black Cauldron (1985), also known as, “the film t...
The Fox and the Hound
Episode Summary
Erin and Rachel unpack The Fox and the Hound (1981), the most expensive Disney animated film up to that point, due largely to co...
MINI-EPISODE: Best Source Material for a New Disney Movie?
Episode Summary
In the third and final mini-episode (for now!), Erin and Rachel wrestle with the definition of "classic" literature and identify...
MINI-EPISODE: Best Characters?
Episode Summary
For their second mini-episode, Erin and Rachel each identify their picks for best villain, best love interest, and best animal s...
MINI-EPISODE: Best Idea for a Disney Park Attraction?
Episode Summary
In this first miniature (or Minnie Mouse?) episode, Erin and Rachel each pitch an idea for a new Disney Park attraction based on...