Disney's Pocahontas: A Well-Meaning but Flawed Attempt at Historical Epic

The Disney princess franchise has had its share of well-meaning but flawed films. In this essay, we'll examine how 'Pocahontas' became a failure despite good intentions.

In the 1990s, Disney was making an effort to increase diversity in their films. The studio released five white princesses between 1937 and 1991, but their next four princesses would be women of color: Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, and Tiana.

The film 'Pocahontas' was intended to be a historical epic about the real-life person who saved English colonist John Smith. The filmmakers took research trips to Jamestown Settlement and Pamunkey Indian Reservation, consulted with historians, and hired Native American consultants to ensure authenticity. They also cast Irene Bedard as the speaking voice of Pocahontas.

However, Disney's chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg had other plans. He wanted a sweeping love story between grown-up Pocahontas and John Smith that would appeal to adults and compete for Best Picture at the Oscars. This led to significant changes in the film's storyline, including the introduction of romantic feelings between Pocahontas and John Smith.

The result was a film that 'carries the name Pocahontas' but fails to do justice to her story. As consultant Shirley 'Little Dove' Custalow said, 'It's a beautiful story, if it didn't carry the name Pocahontas.'