The Best Disney Villain Songs

Disney villain songs are some of the most iconic and memorable numbers in animation history. They set the stage for the antagonist’s motives, drip with charisma, and, in many cases, serve as a musical masterclass in manipulation. While songs like Be Prepared from The Lion King embrace full-fledged villainy, most of the best Disney villain songs share a common, insidious trait—they gaslight the protagonist into doubting their own reality. 

1. Gaston – Beauty and the Beast

Gaston is the ultimate egotistical buffoon, and his titular song is a hype anthem of self-delusion. In this tavern singalong, his loyal lackey, LeFou, reassures him that he’s the greatest man in town—nay, the world!—as Gaston recovers from the shock of being rejected by Belle. The manipulation here? The entire village is swept into his warped reality, where Belle’s lack of interest is framed as her problem, not his. Instead of self-reflection, Gaston chooses self-aggrandizement, setting the stage for his descent into full-fledged villainy.

2. Be Prepared – The Lion King

The exception to the gaslighting trend, Be Prepared is a rare villain song where Scar isn’t trying to manipulate the hero—he’s manipulating his own goons. This song is an outright declaration of treachery, complete with Nazi-inspired imagery and Shakespearean grandeur. Scar is already a lost cause, fully embracing the dark side and plotting his ascension to the throne. There’s no subtle deception here—just a villain reveling in his own genius.

3. Out There / Hellfire – The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Frollo is the king of religious hypocrisy, and his two songs, Out There and Hellfire, perfectly capture his brand of psychological warfare. In Out There, he convinces Quasimodo that the outside world is cruel and that he should be grateful for his prison-like existence. It’s classic gaslighting—twisting concern into control. Later, in Hellfire, Frollo turns that manipulation inward, blaming Esmeralda for his own desires and spiraling into self-righteous villainy. These two songs are a chilling look at how gaslighting isn’t just a tool for villains—it’s a mindset.

4. Mother Knows Best – Tangled

Gothel’s entire method of working is built on gaslighting, and Mother Knows Best is her magnum opus. She weaves a tapestry of fear, mocking Rapunzel’s dreams while pretending it’s all for her own good. Every lyric is designed to make Rapunzel doubt herself and believe that Gothel is her only source of love and protection. This song is so effective that even when Rapunzel starts breaking free, she still struggles with the belief that Gothel might have been right. That’s some top-tier emotional manipulation.

5. Poor Unfortunate Souls – The Little Mermaid

Ursula doesn’t just gaslight Ariel—she cons her. Poor Unfortunate Souls is a masterclass in the art of the villain sales pitch. She frames the deal in a way that makes it sound like Ariel is the one making the right choice, twisting the truth just enough to make giving up her voice seem reasonable. The best part? Ursula presents herself as a benevolent benefactor, acting as though she’s doing Ariel a favor when, in reality, she’s setting her up for failure. By the time Ariel realizes the truth, she’s already too deep in the contract to back out.

6. Dos Oruguitas – Encanto (Wait, what?)

Okay, hear me out. Dos Oruguitas isn’t a traditional villain song, but if you think about it, Abuela is the antagonist of Encanto. The song plays during the most tragic moment in her backstory, painting her actions as understandable, even noble. But let’s be real—she spent years emotionally repressing her family, making Mirabel feel inadequate and convincing everyone that their worth was tied to their magical gifts. Dos Oruguitas gaslights us into sympathizing with her, excusing years of emotional damage because of one moment of loss. See? Villain song.

Conclusion

Disney villain songs are at their best when they don’t just showcase evil but actively manipulate both the protagonist and the audience. Whether it’s Gaston twisting reality, Gothel feigning love, or even Encanto subtly framing Abuela’s past to justify her actions, gaslighting is a powerful storytelling tool. And if you still don’t believe Dos Oruguitas is a villain song—well, maybe you just weren’t paying attention. ;)

PS: Don't forget to check out our ongoing playlist of Disney villain songs.

LDS Geeks Podcast #35: Disney Songs (4)

Happy Valentine's Day! They're a bit sappy at times, but Disney has some great love songs. So check out our latest Disney song podcast episode. And check out our ongoing playlist of Disney love songs here.

--Spencer

Listen to Episode 35 on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

Check out Spencer's recent blog posts: click here

Check out Russell's recent blog posts: click here

Show Notes:

00:15 - Introduction
        "Friendship Lessons" by Russell
01:39 - Spencer's Recommendation: Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
        Available for streaming on Disney Plus
05:42 - Russell's Recommendation: Harry Potter and the Curse Child
        "Potter and Friends" by Russell

09:27 - “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” from The Lion King

14:33 - "I See the Light" from Tangled
17:50 - “I Won't Say I'm in Love” from Hercules

22:29 - “That's How You Know” from Enchanted
25:10 - “A Girl Worth Fighting For” from Mulan
28:34 - Conclusion

LDS Geeks Podcast #32: Disney Songs (3)

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.

--Spencer

Listen to Episode 32 on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

Check out Spencer's recent blog posts: click here

Check out Russell's recent blog posts: click here

Show Notes:

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 

09:38 -  “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana
            "Is it the Holy Ghost or Me?" by David A. Bednar
            "Your Potential, Your Privilege" by Dieter F. Uchtdorf

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

Captain Marvel is a Disney Princess (Like It or Not)

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.

LDS Geeks Podcast #27: Disney Songs (2)

Spooky season has begun. Despite the fact that neither of us are into horror (though I'm enjoying Agatha All Along), Russell and I got together to discuss some notable Disney villain songs. Perfect additions to your October playlist. And check out our ongoing playlist of favorite villain songs here.

--Spencer

Listen to Episode 27 on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

Check out Spencer's recent blog posts: click here

Check out Russell's recent blog posts: click here

Show Notes:

00:10 - Introduction

01:43 - Russell's Recommendation: Star Wars Gangsta Rap
            Listen on YouTube

03:47 - Spencer's Recommendation: Halloweentown
            Available for streaming on Disney Plus
06:31 - Halloween costumes
09:40 - "Be Prepared" from The Lion King
13:52 - "Mother Knows Best" from Tangled
22:08 - "Hellfire" from The Hunchback of Notre Dame
27:45 - "Poor Unfortunate Souls" from The Little Mermaid
32:06 - "Shiny" from Moana

34:37 - Closing Thoughts
36:11 - Conclusion

We've Got a Dream!

(Guest Post by Russell)

My daughter loves music. It is one of the joys of my day to see her look at the blank TV and start waving her hand as if directing music. This is her cue that she is ready for listening to music on the TV. We have introduced her to the likes of the Tabernacle Choir, Home Free and their many guests, BYU’s Vocal Point and Noteworthy, and, of course, a myriad of Disney music. One favorite has become “I’ve got a Dream” from Disney’s Tangled. In one of the more recent viewings of this song, I received a insight that reminded me of Elder Sabin’s October 2023 General Conference talk, “Hallmarks of Happiness.” Let me set the stage and make the connection.

In his attempts to scare Rapunzel away from the real world, Flynn Ryder takes Rapunzel to “The Snuggly Duckling,” a tavern of sorts with all sorts of ne'er-do wells. Initially, things look bleak as no one seems to be in the mood to help an innocent looking girl and her vest wearing accomplice. But, in a stroke of chance, her mentioning that she is on a quest of sorts to fulfill her dream, these ruffians’ hearts are pricked and the ensuing song, “I’ve Got a Dream” begins. The number opens with a Hook handed thug (that is how he is referenced in the credits, no name, just “Hook Hand Thug”) expounding on his harsh nature but inner desire to be a concert pianist. Let me pause a moment to reference Elder Sabin’s talk. He shared the following story:

“Several years ago, on a flight home from a Church assignment, Sister Sabin and I found ourselves seated directly behind a very large man who had a big, angry face tattooed on the back of his bald head as well as the number 439.

"When we landed, I said, 'Excuse me, sir. Do you mind if I ask the significance of the number tattooed on the back of your head?’ I didn’t dare ask about the angry face.

"He said, ‘That’s me. That’s who I am. I own that territory: 219!’

"Four hundred and thirty-nine was the actual number on his head, so I was surprised he got it wrong since it was so important to him.

"I thought how sad it was that this man’s identity and self-esteem were based on a number associated with a gang territory. I thought to myself: This tough-looking man was once someone’s little boy who still needed to feel valued and to belong. If only he knew who he really was and to whom he really belonged, for we have all been ‘bought with a price.’”

I suppose I made the connection between these 2 stories because of the follicular challenged nature of the men in both stories, Hook Hand Thug, and Unnamed Man with 439 on his head. I think both the song and Elder Sabin’s commentary after the story highlight the truth that each person is a child of God and that at some point, everyone was someone’s little boy or little girl with dreams much bigger than how their life may have gone. So the next time you see someone who is “malicious, mean, or scary,” has a “sneer that could curdle dairy” try to remember that “way down deep inside” they’ve got a dream.

D&D Class Breakdown: Sorcerer

 For new players, it can be hard to choose your first class. For veteran players, it can be hard to choose a class and not fall into stereotypes everyone's seen a thousand times. So now I'm going to deconstruct the 5E Player's Handbook classes (Sorry Artificer, you'll come later) and talk about what works, what doesn't, and some interesting ways to play the classes. 

I won't be going into game mechanics as much as I'll be going into roleplay. 

Let's talk about Sorcerers! 

What Is a Sorcerer? 

Now we get into the arcane magic users, AKA sorcerers, wizards and warlocks, we have to ask: What's the difference? In most fictions the the three words are used interchangeably but in Dungeons and Dragons each is a distinct class and mislabeling one for another is a faux paus you do not want to make at the table. I usually don't get into the game stuff so early but with the magic users I have to just so we know what we're talking about. 

In game, sorcerers gain their access to magic through their bloodline, meaning someone in their family once upon a time was a dragon, demon, angel, eldrich abomination etc. and now they've been blessed with the magic gene (Don't think about the logistics on how this happened. It'll just ruin your day).

Historically sorcerers are like the demigods in Greek and Roman myth, children of a god or other mythical creature and a human and are therefore blessed with powers (We also won't get into how that happened). Celtic myths talk about people who have fairy blood in them, dating back to some weird ancestor that disappeared down a rabbit hole or was replaced with a doppelganger while still an infant, and now they are good at growing plants. To this day we still contribute ability with genetics, as anyone who's done their family history and found anyone of historical significance on the family tree will remind you every time you come in contact with them. We expect the children and grandchildren of great people to themselves be great, even if Albert Einstein's great-grand nephew just wants to play Fortnite. 

In the Game

Sorcerers in Dungeons and Dragons are usually the outsiders in the group. Their power manifests in youth and most of the time they're left to figure out magic on their own. Take the backstory of any of the X-Men and find and replace the word "Mutant" with the word "Sorcerer" and you'll have most of the common backstories. While the sorcerer doesn't have to do much to acquire their magic besides being born, they are limited on the number of spells they know. Since Dungeons and Dragons tends to have a lot of combat, this means that the sorcerer usually knows spells that are of a "do damage to as many people as possible as fast as possible" variety. Sorcerers can also cast the most frequently in a day without needing to recharge their mana batteries so they're usually used as the damage dealer in the group. 

Most players who pick up the sorcerer tend to go the mutant route, making the sorcerer the outcast of society because they were born different, or because they remind their families about how weird great grandpa Albert dated that succubus back in the day. It doesn't help that one of the subclasses for sorcerer is the wild magic sorcerer, which has to roll on a random magic effect table every time they do something cool to see what wacky/detrimental effect befalls the entire party. 

Breaking the Trope

Roleplaying as your favorite X-Men character but with magic can be fun, but the diversity of the class means that they're can be so many more interesting options to try out. Here are a few ideas.

Controller: Instead of focusing on damage spells, focus on spells that effect the enemies in different ways. Cast Grease and knock an enemy squad prone, or use Enlarge/Reduce to disorient the enemy and give your party members a better advantage. 

Illusionist: Things aren't always what they seem, and when you're a sorcerer illusionist things never are as they seem. Turn any situation to your advantage by confusing and tricking your opponents with illusions. A good illusionist can win a battle without ever dealing damage. A great illusionist can avoid the battle altogether. 

Showman: Bards don't have to be the only class who like to put on a show. Be a magician but with real magic, always willing to leave your audiences stunned and amazed and your enemies enthralled until you hit them with that perfect fireball. 

Famous Sorcerers

Elsa and Rapunzel (Disney) I'm just going to list them both together. Both gained their powers from something in their lineage, Elsa from her mom's honoring the spirits and Rapunzel from her mom drinking tea made from the magic sunflower. 

Benders (Avatar The Last Airbender/Legend of Korra) In the series people of different nations are born with the ability to manipulate different elements. As demonstrated in Korra when people move from those areas their children still have the predisposition to have the bending abilities of their native homes, as demonstrated with Mako and Bolin, brothers whose parents were Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom and who each became a bender from one of their respective parent nations. 

X-Men (Marvel) Okay I've danced around it long enough: Mutants from the X-Men franchise are basically sorcerers due to their powers coming almost strictly from their genetics. 

-JOE

The Tales of Flynnigan Rider

When Disney Plus first came out, I thought it would be fun to watch the Tangled TV series entitled Rapunzel’s Tangle Adventures. I remembered watching Aladdin, Timon and Pumbaa, and other Disney cartoons while growing up, so I expected a low-key Disney kids show to watch with my newborn. What I got was much more than a kids show. In fact, some of the scenes were dark enough that I was kind of surprised it was for children. 

The story follows Rapunzel and Eugene following the movie Tangled. It goes into this deep mythology of where Rapunzel’s powers came from and what her destiny would entail. However, as intriguing as the mystery of the Sun Drop was, I was more interested in the development of the conman formally known as Flynn Rider. 

In addition to the backstory of Gothel’s magical flower, we got some backstory on our beloved rogue. Before he was Eugune or Flynn, he was Prince Horace of the Dark Kingdom. Without giving too much away, baby Prince Horace was sent away from his father for his protection and was raised as an orphan named Eugene Fitzherbert. 

Now I could take a super cheesy twist on this and create an analogy of Eugene as a prince with no knowledge of his heritage being like us in mortality… but instead I’m going to focus on how agency is involved with his story.

When we first met Eugene in Tangled, he was a low life thief who was only out to help himself. By the end of the movie, he’d found something (and someone) he wanted to fight for. Throughout Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventures, he spent the years following making a name for himself in Corona, as the princess’s boyfriend and as a reformed man.

Later when he found out his true heritage as Prince of the Dark Kingdom, it could have been easy for him to get wrapped up in that. With this pride, he could have gotten a big head about being a prince, when he always believed he was a lowly peasant. He could have demanded respect from the castle staff because of his title. Alternatively, with how mad he was at his father, he could have let his pride swing him to the other side of the pendulum and forget what he learned in the Dark Kingdom. 

Instead, he kept being Eugene. He didn’t let the way he was born or the circumstances of his life define his life. I mentioned this before in reference to Rise of Skywalker, but who we choose to be has little to do with our genetics or our upbringing. Your family name only speaks to your history, not your future. And just like Eugene left behind the names Prince Horace and Flynn Rider, there’s a future, change, and progression for all of us.

Contrast Eugene’s experience with Cassandra. When Cass found out the identity of her birth mother, it sent her spiraling. She let her history and her mom put her into a dark place that pitted her against her closest friends. Because she craved her late mother’s love, she became like her mother, instead of forging her own path like Eugene and his smolder.

D&D Class Breakdown: Rogue

For new players, it can be hard to choose your first class. For veteran players, it can be hard to choose a class and not fall into stereotypes everyone's seen a thousand times. So now I'm going to deconstruct the 5E Player's Handbook classes (Sorry Artificer, you'll come later) and talk about what works, what doesn't, and some interesting ways to play the classes. 

I won't be going into game mechanics as much as I'll be going into roleplay. 

Let's talk about Rogues! 

What is a Rogue? 

We have yet another class based off basic pre-industrial jobs. I kind of love how what was an everyday job 500 years ago is now a fantasy aspiration, like having physical skill is only obtainable in fiction. 

Well that's a mood. 

Anyway, like the fighter and ranger, every culture has someone able to blend into the shadows for one reason for another. The need in criminal circles is obvious, since being able to sneak is handy for thieves and assassins, but the skill also comes in handy for those who need to spy, hunt animals silently, and even protect the innocent by infiltrating bad guy spaces.  

Professional criminals are of course commonly tied to rogues, with burglars being the most in need of the skills. This isn't the "Give up your GP or your HP" sort of thug that mugs people on the streets, but the one that slips into the governor's manor in the dark of the night, taking only the truly valuable jewels, and leaving before anyone even realizes he's there. That's the spirit of the rogue. 

Quick note: the X-Men Rogue, the southern belle mutant who steals people's memories and abilities with a touch, is obviously not the kind of rogue we're talking about. Her name is in reference to the more ambiguous rogue, someone who is on the outskirts of society or the group. Since Rogue can never have a physical relationship without causing harm, she took up the name to express that she will always be an outsider. 

In The Game

Always looking for the next take, the rogue is the unsavory element in society that everyone regrets to admit that they need. The rogue knows how to get into the most guarded dungeons, infiltrate the enemies bases, and deal the lethal blow quickly and effectively. 

Most other classes see the rogue as an unstable wild-card, never quite sure weather or not the rogue can stay loyal if the right about of gold is offered, or if the dangerous individual with the unsettling amount of knives may become the next big bad. 

Players generally play three types of rogues: the murder-hobo, the kleptomaniac and the edge-lord. The murder hobo is the immoral psychopath with a lust for blood and who takes any slight as an excuse to execute the countless NPCs who cross their path. The kleptomaniac will steal anything that's either not nailed down or on fire, sometimes regardless of their value or how much trouble it could cause. The edge-lord wants everyone at the table to know that their character is dark and mysterious, constantly talking about sulking alone in a dark corner and taking a no-nonsense attitude to the parties shannegains. 

Annoying, all of them. 

Breaking the Trope

People playing this class tend to focus only on the criminal aspect of the rogue, rarely exploring the possibilities the class truly has. The following ideas will break away from the basic criminal element and show what can be done with the rogue class. 

Thrillseeker: There's a certain thrill of being somewhere you're not supposed to and seeing things only certain people can see. The thrillseeker may take a trinket here or there, but their main goal is to see what they can find, see how far in they can get before they get caught, and see what dirty little secrets they can reveal. 

Scout: Having someone to scout ahead is an unappreciated strategy for parties. You're basically breaking the DM's game by taking a peek ahead and setting off traps, accessing enemy strengths and weaknesses, and taking out an annoying guard ahead of time. 

Master of Disguise: You can hide in the shadows, yes, but what if you blended into a crowd? What if you got close to the cultist leader by pretending to be one of his inner circle? Slip into the king's party, dance with the queen, taste some crudités, take out the corrupt duke, then slip out with the rest of the shocked party guests. 

Famous Rogues

Vax'ildan (Critical Role): The rangers twin from Vox Machina, Vax is prone to breaking and entering to find the bad guy's lair and getting into trouble, including being hypnotized by a vampire. He's handy in a fight, but don't put him up against a door. 

Catwoman (DC) Selina Kyle is a literal cat burglar, so much so that at one point she put on cat ears and started owning the nickname. She's robbed every bank, museum and penthouse in Gotham, broken into and out of Arkham Asylum, and robbed billionaires like Bruce Wayne and Lex Luthor. The only thing you find after one of Catwoman's burglaries are some shredded curtains and your valuables missing. 

Flynn Ryder (Tangled)

I'd put Aladdin on here to represent Disney, but honestly Aladdin's a shoplifter compared to Flynn, who we meet completing a successful heist to steal a crown. He's a charismatic thief who can talk his way into and out of most situations. Not content to steal everything of value, Flynn focuses on the high value targets to get what he really wants, though his biggest prize is when he stole Rapunzel's heart. 

-JOE

Olaf Presents...

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!" Details, please!: Mufasa: "Simba!" Simba: "That explains everything!"

"Aladdin" 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!

Mother Gothel is the Devil

C’mon, let’s all agree: Tangled is the best Disney movie out there. Sure, I love me some Frozen, but Tangled is where it’s at. (Of course we aren’t counting Pixar movies, that would be sacrilege!) ‘Sides, nobody does smolder like Flynn Rider!

But let’s be real for a second. Part of what makes Tangled so amazing is Mother Gothel. Not just because she’s so nefarious, so well written, and a fashion icon ... but because Mother Gothel is Satan. And no, not just because she walks down a candle-filled staircase without catching fire (Satan isn’t flammable, y’all), or because she’s the most narcissistic Disney villain out there. Mother Gothel straight up she abuses, manipulates, enslaves, and gaslights Rapunzel. She’s pure evil!

Like Satan, Mother Gothel presents herself as something she’s not (I mean, she’s what, 400 years old?) and probably more insidious, she presents a view of the world that is misleading. Where God loves us and accepts us where we are at, Satan works to put us down and make us feel less than. For years, Rapunzel’s inner voice is simply Mother Gothel’s voice: there are false declarations of love, mixed with terribly degrading put downs. Comments designed to control and keep us down.

But then there’s the bright side. Tangled literally starts with the Sun (the Son) coming from heaven, with the ability to heal the sick and injured. When the Queen got sick, she looked for this miracle. And that gift, that miracle, is passed on to Rapunzel. Even when her normal way of healing is taken from her, that gift is still inside her. Isn’t that beautiful? She loses her hair, but she can still heal. That’s because God’s gift isn’t housed in a prayer, or the laying on of hands, or in consecrated oil; it’s within us. 

Gothel wanted Rapunzel to believe that her gift was something to be hidden, something that should be covered up in shame. God wants us to use our gifts, to not hide them under a bushel, but to let our light shine so all can see. Rapunzel was much better off when she used her divine gifts to help others. God wants us to use our light to guide others home, much like the glowing lanterns guide Rapunzel back home. God is always there, always looking out for us, wanting us to come home. It’s Satan who wants us to believe that there is no way home, that God’s light is meaningless, that we are better off hiding ourselves away, that we just aren’t good enough as we are.

And that we should just stop with that incessant mumbling! You know how I feel about the mumbling. Blah blah blah, it's very annoying! I'm just teasing, you're adorable, I love you so much.