It's still hot outside, but as the weather starts to cool down, some people will try to get into running (again). If you need some recommendations to get you moving, check out our discussion about Disney songs for your running playlist! And check out our ongoing Disney running playlist here.
Recently, I have been thinking about lessons about friends from movies and songs. I cannot point to why this has been on my mind, but it has sparked this blog post, so we’ll see what insights I can share. Thank you for being a friend!
I recall a book I gifted my brother called Surround Yourself With Greatness by former BYU and NFL tight end, Chad Lewis. I might have read the intro but that’s all. I do remember Chad speaking about the book with a reporter once and what he shared has stuck with me. In summarizing what the book was about, he said something to the effect that you are what you surround yourself with. If you surround yourself with skunks, you are going to stink. If you surround yourself with people who are great, you will be great. I have heard John Bytheway refer to a similar idea which he calls "The Parable of the Marinade". Friends have a big influence on this and so it can be important what friends you choose.
I have been blessed with friends throughout my life, but perhaps the most important thing I have learned about friendship is the importance of being a good friend. I do not have a perfect answer about what being a “good” friend means, but I hope to share a few insights that I have received from some of my favorite “friend” lines from movies.
“You’ve got a friend in me” from “Toy Story.”
Andy’s interaction with his toys is a nostalgic look at what playing with toys can be. Add to the fact that the toys can come to life and are looking out for Andy and the journey that Woody and Buzz go on to becoming friends and it is a great friend journey. This line from this song is a good summary of what we want in a friend, someone to rely on.
“Never had a friend like me” from “Aladdin.”
Robin Williams’ performance was spot on with this song and the message is one that I think I can see in the friends that I have. While there may be similarities in the friends that I have, each is unique and brings different strengths and to the proverbial table, providing me the opportunity to learn from each of them
“No man is a failure who has friends” from “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
This message is written on Clarence’s copy of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer which he gifts to George Bailey at the end of the film. In the context of what Jesus told early leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Doctrine and Covenants 88:117, “ye are my friends,” I think this means that no one on earth is a failure because Jesus is our friend. Elder Buckner spoke in greater detail about this scripture in the October 2024 General Conference.
Now, I know this is not a comprehensive list of all the friends’ examples that are out there, but I hope it can be a good start to reminding us all the importance of being a good friend, being grateful for our friends, and always remembering that the Savior is our greatest friend.
Heading into a new year, people will inevitably start making resolutions (and hopefully keeping them). So for those setting goals or need something for a new start, check out the discussion Russell and I had about some more of our favorite Disney songs. And check out our ongoing playlist of favorite good mood songs here.
00:11 - Introduction 00:42 - Spencer's Recommendation: Visser Available for purchase on Audible 05:40 - Russell's Recommendation: "The Christmas Story" and "An Unexpected Christmas" from St Paul’s Arts n Kids
17:25 - "A Whole New World" from Aladdin 21:39 - "What Else Can I Do?" from Encanto 27:21 - "I've Got a Dream" from Tangled "We've Got a Dream!" by Russell
33:27 - "Stand Out" from A Goofy Movie 34:47 - Conclusion
Slow on the uptake, huh, Spencer? Yes, it's been over a year since the movie came out. That being said, I don't think any of the Captain Marvel haters will blame me. And I except that anyone like me who loves Captain Marvel and Ms. Marvel will appreciate the post in general. As far as the movie itself, I enjoyed the it (when it came to Disney Plus). We got space travel, we got the Khan family back, and we got some insight into what Captain Marvel's been doing. I maintain the movie was AT LEAST as good as Iron Man 2 or Dark World (not all Marvel sequels are home runs).
But today is just a fun fluff post.
"It is a marriage of convenience. It's more of a diplomatic act, you know? It's like there was a power struggle. Matriarchal society. We are friends. It's a long story."
During the movie, we learned that Carol got in a political marriage on a planet that speaks music. This was the cringiest part of the movie for me, though I did love how Kamala reacted to the whole (I'd react more like Monica). Turns out the person she married was their prince. So yeah, regardless of whether you like Captain Marvel, she's an unofficial Disney Princess now. For fun, I wanted to compare her to some of her sister Disney Princesses.
Rapunzel and Aurora - Lies About Her Heritage
Let's start with the comparison of Carol Danvers to two tragic Disney Princesses. Like Rapunzel, Carol was taken from her family and her home and was explicitly lied to about where she came from and what her powers represented. Like Aurora, she was kept in the vague lies that her caretakers thought would keep her in line (PS: I have some issues with the three fairies' plan but that's a post for another day). Captain Marvel's backstory is more in line with Rapunzel and how she was manipulated and gaslighted. But like Rapunzel, once she learned the truth Carol was pretty unstoppable. So here's my plug for the Tangled series on Disney Plus--Loved it!
Mulan - Massive Body Count
This one is almost laughable when you stop and think about it. I've seen memes repeatedly about how Mulan is the Disney Princess with the highest body count, but I think Carol could give her a run for her money. Like I mentioned before, once she learned the truth about herself and became Captain Marvel, she was unstoppable. Imagine if she'd been around for the full fight against Thanos (Infinity War or Endgame, I don't care). The tide of the Endgame battle changed once Danvers came in as a shooting star. Only person with a higher body count in that fight was Tony Stark himself.
Elsa - Magic Hands
Flashback to Ralph Breaks the Internet. When the Disney Princesses tried to determine if Vanellope really belonged with them, Elsa asked if she had magic hands, demonstrating her ice magic. Carol Danvers literally has magic hands. Okay, maybe not magic, but I think Tesseract-based powers are pretty magical. That's why, like Elsa's parents giving her the gloves, Yon-Rogg and the Kree had to dampen her powers. Once the gloves came off, Captain Marvel definitely had some "let it go" energy (but set to the tune of "Just a Girl").
Jasmine and Moana - Adventurous
At the end of the first Captain Marvel movie, Carol took to space to help the Skrulls find a new home. Based on Secret Invasion, The Marvels, and a handful of credit-scenes we know it wasn't that simple. All the same, we have no indication that she spent much time on Earth before or after Thanos. She explained away her absence by telling Rhodey (or a Skrull pretending to be Rhodey) that there were a lot of places in the galaxy who needed help. Maybe this was just out of duty, but Carol was an adventurous person before she became super. Traveling to many different worlds and helping them puts her in good company with her fellow princesses, Jasmine and Moana. While once these princesses were contained in their palace and island, they went on to explore their worlds. See also: Moana 2 and the Aladdin TV series (why is it not on Disney Plus yet???).
With over a dozen official and unofficial Disney Princesses, I'm sure there are plenty of other ways Carol Danvers relates to her Disney sisters. Let me know if you think of any, but she fits the bill, whether you like her or not. Sorry, guys.
A couple weeks ago Marvel released Deadpool & Wolverine, a triumph for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In honor of the merc with a mouth, who’s famous for breaking the fourth wall, I was thinking about some of the best moments of Disney characters (villains and heroes) breaking the fourth wall. There are obviously a number of others who comment on aspects of the Disney franchise, or like Winnie the Pooh characters addressing the narrator or Jiminy Cricket telling the story of Pinoochio, but I’m going to focus mostly on the characters who speak directly to the camera. So let’s have some fun with those moments.
Kuzco (Emperor's New Groove)
The most obvious of all Disney fourth-wall-breakers is Emperor Kuzco the llama. Granted, he’s also the narrator, so I suppose that’s already kind of breaking the fourth wall. But there’s the iconic moment in which Kuzco stops the movie in order to remind us who the protagonist is in the movie (him, not Pacha). But then again Emperor’s New Groove is absolute nonsense (and that’s why I love it).
Timon and Pumbaa (The Lion King)
I think one is the most well known of the Disney fourth-wall moments (besides Kuzco). There’s this moment during “Hakuna Matata” in which Pumbaa was about to say he farted. Apparently that was a bad word for kids back in the 90s, because Timon stopped him saying “Not in front of the kids.” As a kid most of us probably thought he was referring to Simba, but as we grew up (and the internet pointed it out) we learned that “kids” (plural) referred not to Simba, but to the viewers.
Tamatoa (Moana)
After Maui and Moana escape from the giant crab and return the heart, we have a happy ending with Moana returning to her family. After the credits finish rolling, we get this post-credit scene with Tamatoa still stuck on his back moaning and groaning until he comments to the camera that someone would help him if he were as charming as Sebastian (from The Little Mermaid). It’s a cute callback to the classic princess movie.
Genie (Aladdin)
After Aladdin releases his new friend from the lamp, there are plenty of funny moments with the Genie with Robin Williams and his beautiful comedic timing. He references other Disney movies and future events that ancient Arabia wouldn’t know anything about. There are two points in particular where he tries to interact with the audience. At one point, amidst trying to convince Aladdin to be honest with Jasmine, Genie is playing chess with the magic carpet; he loses the game and says, impersonating Rodney Dangerfield, “I’m losing to a rug.” And then of course there’s Genie’s abrupt interruption as Aladdin and Jasmine fly away at the end of the movie.
Olaf (Frozen 2 and Olaf Presents)
In Frozen 2, there’s a moment during “Some Things Never Change” that Olaf looks directly at the camera and says “You all look a little bit older.” Granted, he has some kids run past him immediately after the line, so he could be referring to them, but there’s still a moment that he seems like he’s talking to the viewer, who would naturally be a few years older compared to viewing the first movie at its release. There’s also the series of Olaf Presents shorts in which he tells various Disney stories to the camera. That could be breaking the fourth wall or he could have an audience there (like the enchanted forest people during Frozen 2 or the other snowmen in the post-credit scene).
There are plenty of other Disney moments breaking the fourth wall of course, like Hades, Doofenshmirtz, and others who are more self-aware than anyone would think to allow in a Disney movie. Let us know which fourth-wall-breaking moment is your favorite in Disney or any other franchise too. And a hearty welcome to the X-Men arriving in the MCU!
So with the success of my last rent-free post, I figured I'd do one exclusively for my favorite mega-corporation: Disney!
So here's my ADHD/caffeine/sugar fueled journey through the Disney animated universe! :D
So This Is Love and The Transformation (Cinderella)
I love the 1950 animated Cinderella movie to death, so this movie gets two slots. The first one is when Fairy Godmother transforms Cinderella's dress. The animation alone is just incredibly beautiful, and after everything Cinderella's been through this was a deserved glow-up.
The second is the song So This Is Love. I will find myself singing this in the shower when I'm in a good mood. And yes, I know that Cinderella and the Prince exchange maybe three words before they dance and then fall in love but the song is just so pretty and also indicative of how Cinderella is appreciating what she's feeling in the moment. The animation is also beautiful in this scene (Seriously can we please go back to watercolor backgrounds?) and I love Lady Tremaine getting blocked at every opportunity.
9: Part Of Your World Reprise (The Little Mermaid)
I already mentioned this in my other post but I don't care this is a good enough scene to mention twice.
8: Ohana Means Family (Lilo and Stitch)
No they're not all songs, some of them are moments. And of course, Lilo and Stitch is going to be on this list.
This is near the end of the movie where Stitch convinces the alien ambassador to let him stay on Earth. Stitch explains in his limited English what family is, and how he has found a family in Lilo and Nani.
It's little and broken, but still good.
Yeah, still good.
7: You Came Back (Beauty and the Beast)
Beast's death scene is so full of emotion. Beast is surprised that Belle came back, and here Belle is finally able to understand that she does love the Beast. She had already loved him but I don't think she realized it until now. It is in this moment that the Beast finally understands what it means to love and be loved in return.
6: Dress in Drag and do the Hula (Lion King)
So far all these moments have been romantic, poignant, and general feeling tuggers. This one though is none of that. It's just a quick line and an impromptu musical number that makes me giggle every time. I use it whenever I can, which if you're creative can be quite often.
Also this is literally the only time I like Timon and Pumbaa
5: Happy Happy Birthday (The Emperor's New Groove)
Can we all just agree that The Emperor's New Groove just nailed it? I love everything about this movie but Yzma is my kindred spirit. An angry old lady who is done with everyone and this scene is a perfect example of that. As a distraction, Kuzco sends the servers at the little diner to sing happy birthday to the villain and her reaction is just glorious.
4: Party Crashing (Sleeping Beauty)
Nobody can make an entrance like Maleficent, the Dame of All Evil. When we first meet her she's crashed Princess Aurora's christening, put out because she wasn't invited. She's a terrifying presence, without ever really saying anything overtly threatening, just being there is enough to make everyone's skin crawl. This is how I want to enter every room for the rest of my life.
3: Todashi is Here (Big Hero 6)
At the core of Big Hero 6is grief, something that everyone can or will some day have to relate to. Hiro is trying to extract vengeance on the people responsible for his brother Tadashi's death. In one scene Baymax reveals that he has videos of Tadashi trouble shooting his robot, showing Hiro that his brother lives on through his creation and the memories Hiro has of him, and that by turning Baymax into a weapon of vengeance dishonors his memory. This is also when Hiro breaks down crying, truly embracing his grief.
2: Senior Psychopath (Aladdin)
Another moment that makes me giggle is when Aladdin comes back from his trip to the North Pole to find the palace in chaos and under Jafar's evil control. When Aladdin meets up with the Genie, well the scene speaks for itself.
1: I Won't Say (I'm In Love) Hercules
Ugh I think everything on Disney+ lives rent free in my head honestly, these are just 10 that I could think of right now. I didn't even touch Out There, God Help The Outcasts and Hellfire from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, or Tarzan, or every scene with Cruella DeVille, so I'm going to put up the song that I sing to myself often to remind myself that just because I've been burned before it doesn't mean that I'll be burned again.
On November 25, 1992, “Aladdin,” Walt Disney Pictures’ 31st animated film premiered in theaters. Loving Disney feature animation, I was excited to see the newest addition to their canon. However, these feelings were tempered by the preconceived idea that I wouldn’t love it like “Beauty and the Beast” released the previous year. When I watched Aladdin on the big screen for the first time, I was immediately drawn in by the gorgeously detailed hand drawn and computer animation and the music by Alan Menken, Tim Rice, and the late Howard Ashman. Surprisingly the movie surpassed Beauty and the Beast in becoming my favorite Disney film. The moment was the appearance of the Sultan of Agrabah’s daughter, Princess Jasmine.
In the Princess’ introductory scene, I learned that she was being required to marry a man of the same social status by a predetermined date (Jasmine’s “next birthday”). In addition, the royal remained in the palace confines by her loving yet overprotective father. Like Belle, I quickly related to Jasmine. As a thirteen-year-old boy, I wasn’t royal, and marriage wasn’t even near the horizon. However, I began feeling the constraints of my parents’ rules. I was growing older and wanted to decide how to live my life.
Since my first encounter with her, I’ve been inspired by Jasmine’s characteristics exhibited in Aladdin and its adaptations to Broadway, television, and live-action film. In the original animated feature, I admire Jasmine’s independence. From the beginning, the princess is willing to utilize it and reject Prince Achmed as a potential husband. She is unafraid to vocalize to her father that she wants love to be the reason she marries and not because a law demands it or to satisfy the Sultan. Jasmine demonstrates her autonomy when she condemns Aladdin (disguised as Prince Ali), the Sultan, and Jafar for debating what’s best for her life. She states, “I am not a prize to be won!” When Aladdin offers the royal the chance to leave the palace via magic carpet, she willingly accepts. After Jafar takes over the kingdom, the deposed royal defies the evil new sovereign by refusing to bow and later rejects his offer to become his queen to end her enslavement. The most powerful moment where Jasmine exercises her independence is when the Sultan alters the marriage law to which she happily declares that Aladdin is her choice.
I like the observing and introspective nature Jasmine displays in the Broadway version of Aladdin. In her solo, the princess expresses frustration with specific demands of her royal station, especially the requirement to wed a man she doesn’t know or love. She knows that her suitors are only interested in her wealth. As the royal and her handmaidens sing about her situation, Jasmine recognizes that if she doesn’t listen to her heart and change course, she’ll end up bitter and unfeeling. This self-realization cements for the princess that she needs to leave the strict security of the palace and find what she is yearning for.
In the retelling of Aladdin in the television series Once Upon a Time, I love how Jasmine’s leadership is exhibited. Determined to end Jafar’s control over her father and Agrabah, the princess seeks out the mythical “diamond in the rough” which turns out to be Aladdin. When the evil sorcerer re-emerges as a threat after initially being stopped, Jasmine rejects the Sultan’s proposed plan for protection which would require her marrying a prince who possesses a military. Instead, she searches for Aladdin (who has disappeared) to enlist his help again. The royal is ready to make the sacrifice and willingly marry her people’s enemy when it appears her options have run out. Even though Jasmine faces setbacks, the princess perseveres. In doing so, Jafar is ultimately defeated and Agrabah is free and safe.
I’m affected by Jasmine’s self-advocacy in the Aladdin live-action remake. The possibility of succeeding her father as Agrabah’s ruler is questioned by Jasmine’s handmaiden, Dahlia, and dismissed by the Sultan and Jafar. This doesn’t stop Jasmine from expressing herself. The most dramatic moment of this is when Jafar usurps the throne. The princess powerfully persuades Hakim, the Captain of the Guard to continue supporting the rightful royal family. Through this demonstration and Jasmine’s subsequent willingness to stand up to their enemy, the Sultan realizes that his daughter is capable of reigning. He abdicates allowing the princess to become a female Sultan.
Since seeing Aladdin during the 1992 holiday season, the Princess of Agrabah has been and continues to be an inspiration. I had the unbelievable opportunity to meet her speaking voice, Linda Larkin and share how Jasmine has influenced my life. In honor of the 30th anniversary of Aladdin’s theatrical release, this post is dedicated to one of my most beloved Disney Princesses. Happy 30th Anniversary, Jasmine! Thanks to you, “I’m like a shooting star. I’ve come so far. I can’t go back to where I used to be!”
On the first day of this month, family and friends around the world, especially in Asia, gathered to welcome the Chinese Lunar New Year. The year of the Water Tiger was ushered in with food, fireworks, gifts, and other festivities. According to chinahighlights.com, persons born under the Tiger sign in the Chinese Zodiac are “brave, competitive, unpredictable, … confident[,] … very charming[,] … well-liked[,]… [and] likely to be impetuous, irritable, and overindulgent.” Tiger people can be “stubborn,” “tough” judges, active workers, “express themselves boldly,” “high-handed,” “authoritative,” and keep their word. In addition, they have “indomitable fortitude, … be competent leaders[,] … will not make preparations…, but can handle anything that comes along.” From this description, those who are tigers have a spectrum of qualities. Similarly, there are Tiger characters in the Disney cannon who also have a broad range of personality traits. In honor of the Zodiac Tiger, this post will look at three of these animated striped felines and how they exhibit some of the behaviors of the Chinese astrological animal.
Tigger: Confident and Indomitable Fortitude
From the moment he meets Winnie the Pooh, Tigger exudes confidence. In response to the question, “what’s a Tigger?,” the bouncy cat isn’t shy in describing himself, stating at the end of his musical number that he’s “the only one!” The sentient plush is confident that he likes (only to strongly dislike) honey, assert that “Tiggers never get lost,” ice skating is what he does “best,” and that the inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood love to receive his bounces, among others.
Along with feeling confident in himself, Tigger also has indomitable fortitude. Even if it gets him into scrapes, the springy tiger is willing to pursue new things. To prove to Roo that he’s the best at bouncing up trees, Tigger exuberantly goes up and up nearly “bouncing clear out of the book.” A fear of heights paralyzes him, preventing the striped toy from going back down. While trusting the story’s narrator to help him back to the ground, this experience doesn’t deflate Tigger’s confidence. Nor does it influence him to be more thoughtful and careful. Instead, Tigger is ready to bounce (with his friends) into the next chapter of Pooh’s story.
Shere Khan: Very Charming and Irritable
His very name struck fear in the hearts of the denizens of the jungles of India. Yet upon his first appearance, Shere Khan is composed with a deceitfully calm voice. The villain of The Jungle Book intimidates (or at least would attempt to) by being charming. In trying to suss out if the “man-cub,” Mowgli is in Kaa’s coils, Khan subtly pressures the python into divulging this information by being polite and gracious. Later, at the conclusion of the vulture quartet’s musical number, the tiger issues applause and praises them.
Shere Khan’s regal manners quickly dissolve however into irritation after Mowgli stands up to him and refuses to run. Enraged by the boy’s defiance, the big cat leaps at the child in an attempt to murder him, but is stopped by Baloo’s intervention. Khan unleashes his fury, first attacking the bear, next Mowgli, and then the vultures as each try to save the others’ lives. The striped feline’s irritability becomes his down fall. In his violent anger, Khan fails to notice a flaming tree branch being tied to his tail by Mowgli. When he does though, the tiger is confronted by his fear of fire, and attempts to run away from the fiery limb only to have it strike and burn him multiple times as he goes.
Rajah: Bold Expression and Brave
As a loyal B.F.F., Rajah doesn’t hesitate to boldly express his dissatisfaction with suitors who fail to value and respect Princess Jasmine. He is unafraid to bite off the seat of Prince Achmed’s trousers or threaten to maul Aladdin (disguised as Prince Ali) if they will not leave the tiger’s royal bestie alone. While affectionate and supportive of Jasmine and her positions on love and marriage, Rajah readily reminds her that while she may not have experienced other friendships, he is still one of her “real friends.” He also will not let the unhappy princess run away without confronting her about it first.
Coupled with his bold expression is Rajah’s bravery. If Jasmine encounters distress or danger, the courageous cat springs into action to protect her. At the sound of Prince Ali’s voice, the large feline extends his claws, has teeth bared, and directs warning growls at the unwanted visitor. Rajah’s biggest display of courage occurs when Jafar takes over Agrabah. After the wicked sultan turned sorcerer forces the deposed royal family to grovel before him with magic, Rajah rushes toward and lunges at the villain. While Jafar prevents the attack by magically transforming the big cat into a small kitten and subsequently placing him in a cage, Rajah readily came to the defense of his human family.
Rajah, Shere Khan, and Tigger are only a few of several tigers that appear in Disney films and television shows. There are also many Zodiac Tiger characteristics that could be discussed. However, it’s interesting and entertaining to see that the big cats featured here in this post exhibit some of the same personality traits as the animal in the Chinese calendar. “Best wishes, wishing you happiness and prosperity.”
Frozen II was a really great film. But can we all agree that the best part of that movie is Olaf? ("I don't even know a Samantha!") And Olaf's best segment was when he retells the events of Frozen to the Northuldra people. Josh Gad, as Olaf, was so popular that he was asked to recap so many things, including Star Wars, Endgame, and even 2020! Disney got the bright idea to have Olaf retell five other movies in pure Olafian style! Here are the best parts of each short.
"The Little Mermaid"
Parental summary: "You'll be half a fish and you'll like it, young lady!"
Best character synopsis: "Hey, I'm Octalady. Gimme your voice for some legs!"
Grossest funny gag: Ariel sings, and spits out her larynx, hairball style. And then Octalady eats it.
Dramatic Olaf: "Papa's an emaciated shrimp."
Summed up: "Now I'm married an have feet."
"Moana"
Exposition: "I stole a rock, which unbeknownst to me was actually the heart organ of a giant, raging lava lady who knocked my hook into the ocean, which takes place before the events of this story."
Potty humor: "Peeing in the ocean. Hehe!"
Breaking the 4th wall: "I know everyone here probably knows this already, but in case you don't, 🎶I am Moana!🎶"
"The Lion King"
Relatable caption: [OLAF SINGING IN FAKE ZULU]
Dose of reality: "I, Mufasa, rule in equity and justice over all my subjects. And also eat some of them!"
Questionable summary: "I must run away now. And eat bugs!"
So THAT'S why it's special!: "This is no ordinary lamp because it's filled with a magical, blue, smoky man!"
HISHE line: "If only your dad had full authority to literally change any of the rules he came up with in the first place."
Winking nod to Robin Williams: "Now you have to live in a pot forever and learn a few modern impressions."
"Tangled"
Easter Egg nod: "A story about a close personal friend of mine."
Running gag: Olaf's toothy smolder
Setting summary: "A mysterious tower to hide from vindictive horses in."
It's true, though: "Look! New parents who aren't soul-crushing monsters!"
Long live Olaf. And let's hope he comes back for a second season of Olaf Presents where he retells Beauty and the Beast, Hunchback, Zootopia, and Wreck-It Ralph. What a warm hug that would be!
