Which Disney films pass the Bechdel test?
Disney films are a huge cornerstone of nearly everyone's childhood. Whether you grew up watching stories of princesses and their all-powerful, fearless princes, or depictions of inanimate objects such as cars and their tumultuous races to victory despite tragic obstacles along their way, chances are you’ve spent at least some weekday afternoons curled up on the couch with your favorite youth-affirming Disney film.
Yet, no matter how timeless these films are, it is important that we analyze our media in terms of how, exactly, it is reflecting our society. A fantastic way to look back on our favorite films and promote progressive analysis is to use the Bechdel test.
The Bechdel test, also known as the Bechdel-Wallace test, is “a simple test which names the following three criteria: (1) it has to have at least two women in it, who (2) talk to each other, (3) about something besides a man.” With these criteria, many movies have been statistically categorized based on their representation of women and, thus, a great deal of cinematic history has been reanalyzed through the lens of feminist rhetoric.
While there are many lists reporting which films pass and which films fail the Bechdel test, there is a much less-lofty amount of material on the subject of Disney films in relation to the Bechdel test. Through research, both on and off the screen, I compiled a list of favorite Disney movies in relation to their respective scores on the Bechdel test.
Though movies that fail are still merited in their content and hold strong fanbases, it is important that we begin to notice these patterns of female representation (or lack thereof) —understanding how femininity is portrayed, especially in thematic universes made for children, can severely alter how femininity is perceived throughout all of society as a whole.
Moving forward, and after reading the ‘pass’ and ‘fail’ list of Disney films below, try using the Bechdel test while watching any film. Not only can this simple tool break down a filmmaker's ability to portray women well, but it can explain a lot of ‘hollowness’ in character development, or, furthermore, why some films just hit while others completely miss.
***DISCLAIMER: The Bechdel test does not always classify a film as ‘feminist’ or ‘antifeminist’. While it can be a great tool, it is not the end all be all, and relies solely on the interactions and relationships between women in film.
PASS: Alice in Wonderland, The Aristocrats, Beauty and the Beast, Bolt, Brave, A Bug's Life, Cars, Cinderella, The Emperor's New Groove, Frozen, Hercules, The Incredibles, Lilo and Stitch, Peter Pan, Pocahontas, The Princess and the Frog, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Tangled, Toy Story 3, Wreck-It-Ralph
FAIL: Aladdin, Bambi, Brother Bear, Dumbo, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Jungle Book, Lady and the Tramp, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Meet the Robinsons, Monsters, Inc., Mulan, Pinocchio, Ratatouille, Tarzan, Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Up, WALL-E
Of course, this is not a comprehensive list, but out of the 40 films referenced, only 19 failed the Bechdel test, making for a solid 52.5% pass rate in Disney films. I’m sure, of course, that this number would likely go down if I analyzed all Disney films, specifically including some from the early decades, but at least in terms of recent years, this percentage is not too disappointing.
Next time you sit down to watch a Disney movie, or any movie in general, try the Bechdel test. Though it won’t immediately decide whether the feminist rhetoric is on par with the work we hope to see in contemporary film, it is a great way to bring awareness to the portrayal of woman and female-centric tropes, and an even better way to understand how, exactly, a film is portraying its female protagonists.
Sources:
https://disney-blog.com/2011/05/the-bechdel-test-and-disney-films/
https://www.hercampus.com/school/ucsb/so-how-many-disney-movies-pass-bechdel-test/