Disney Introduces First Plus-Size Lead Character, yet Not Everyone Seems Happy

Disney's Reflect disney movies Diney's First Animated Plus-size Female Character Reflect Young Ballerina Fat Ballerina Body Dysmorphia Normalize Fat Word

By Jo Anne Hubert , Parent Herald Nov 05, 09:01 am

Photo: (Photo : Getty Images/Christophe Simon)

The multinational mass media and entertainment company gave birth to the first-ever animated plus-size female lead character in their latest short film. However, only some people seem to be celebrating the new character.

In their recently released short film, "Reflect," Disney introduced their first-ever plus-size female protagonist. The 2-minute movie that revolves around a young ballerina struggling with body image is both earning praise and backlash from the public.

CNN News reported that many social media users, especially teens, celebrate the movie as a "win for representation among young girls."

One 16-year-old girl took to Twitter and said she needed the short film because she was planning to quit ballet already, not wanting to be the "fat girl in class anymore." She added that she's glad that young ones have the movie to watch and learn from. She rated the film a perfect 10.

One TikTok user expressed her joy in a video stating that Bianca, the plus-sized ballet dancer character, is her Ariel, and then praised Disney for getting her feelings.

Disappointments and negative comments

Amidst the celebration and praises, however, are negative comments placing Disney under fire.

Author and MSNBC opinion columnist Evette Dionne also took to Twitter and conveyed her disappointment to Disney, begging to please give fat people new stories, adding that all these are becoming exhausting.

Ben Adam Climer, a crisis counselor, is also not one with the celebrating party. He said that if Disney wanted to be "progressive," their first "plus-size heroine" would not be in a film talking about dysmorphia but would be in a movie doing stuff that ordinary people are doing.

"Like why can't we have a fat D*sney heroine who's just ... happy with her body? Just existing and living her life without it being 'emotional' or being about body dysmorphia? (I know why)," tweeted the New York Times bestselling author Katee Robert.

The film is actually 'meaningful'

"Reflect" turned out to have a happy ending, with the lead character Bianca learning to triumph over her fears and insecurities and moving confidently despite her body weight.

Chairperson of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, Tigress Osborn, applauded Disney for "portraying weight bias in the world of dance."

In an exclusive interview with TODAY Parents, she said that the movie is a beautiful story of a "fat dancer's experience," emphasizing that the word "fat" is important to be normalized.

Historically, Disney and Pixar have upheld the thought that fat people are "lazy, silly, unintelligent or evil," making "Reflect" a "step forward," according to Osborn. It breaks the negative narrative that fat people put their lives on hold and need to push themselves to have this perfect, accepted body before they can actually live. She was glad the story was not about overcoming one's fat body to dance and dance well.

Osborn beautifully describes the short film as "meaningful" to many people, and she does not want to take it away from them. She loves that the movie shows that anyone can dance, dancers can come in all shapes, sizes, abilities, and colors, and that doing things is scary, even if it is something one is passionate about. It is important to know why it is scary.

To date, Disney has not provided any statement or comment regarding the debate over their newest short film.

In an interview streaming on Disney+, Hillary Bradfield, "Reflect" director, also the director of "Encanto" and "Frozen II," revealed that the film was based on her own personal experiences.