11 Historical Details That Disney Movies Intentionally Ignore

For more than a century, The Walt Disney Company has been taking people on journeys to dream kingdoms and wonderlands in their classic movies. Disney has captivated us with its engaging animation, meaningful stories, and fantastic music from the debut cartoon "Steamboat Willie" (1928) to the latest movie "Encanto" (2021).
But do you know that Disney has been criticized in the past for distorting the facts of Pocahontas' story? They have disregarded the horrors of slavery and discrimination.
Of course, to create children's stories, Disney makes the original stories simpler and more understandable. Therefore, the stories about heroes and villains, and the triumph of Good over Evil have become the theme in most Disney films. As the result, there have been a few details in which Disney films have been historically inaccurate.
Even if there are mistakes there, they do not prevent us from enjoying our favorite movies. After all, rather than learning about history, the majority of Disney fans are delighted to experience nostalgia. No matter what the mistakes are, we still love Disney! Scroll down to discover 11 historical errors that you might have missed in your favorite Disney films!

#1 Mulan's parents agreed with her plan to pose as a man, and no one in the army knew that she was actually a woman

Source: Mulan / Walt Disney Pictures

The story of a real woman named Mulan served as inspiration for the Disney animated film. She enlisted in the military since her father was old and sick, and her brother was too young. However, she had been groomed to be a warrior since she was a little child, so she was already a competent fighter before joining the army. She didn't have to flee her house because her family knew about her idea and backed her up.

Source: Mulan / Walt Disney Pictures

Mulan served in the military for 12 years, got a lot of medals, and nobody realized she was a woman until she returned home with a group of people and appeared to them dressed as a woman.

Source: Mulan / Walt Disney Pictures

Do you remember we mentioned earlier that she had a little brother? He appeared in the film as Little Brother, Mulan's dog.

#2 Pocahontas and John Smith didn't fall in love with each other

Source: Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World / Walt Disney Pictures

When Pocahontas meeting John Smith, she was just about 11 years old, while John himself was 27.
Native Americans captured John Smith, but they did not hold him for very long. Nevertheless, while in captivity, he spent time with Pocahontas, and they were teaching each other language. She did eventually wed an Englishman, but his name was John Rolfe, and their union was the first one to be officially recorded between a European and a Native American.

Source: Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World / Walt Disney Pictures

Pocahontas (actual name Matoaka), later changed her name to Rebecca and became a Christian.

#3 The characters in "Frozen" should have guns

Source: Frozen / Walt Disney Pictures

The "Frozen" story took place in 1839 when guns had already replaced swords (people just used swords for parades and maybe duels). So, the characters should have carried guns instead of swords.
Though, if they’ve made this part historically correct, Elsa would probably have been killed. So we believe swords are all right.

#4 The dancing of Aurora and Philip in the final scene was inappropriate

Source: Sleeping Beauty / Walt Disney Productions

In Sleeping Beauty's final scene, Philip gently puts his arm around Princess Aurora's waist in their dancing. But at that time, 14th century, it was not appropriate. It was only fine for a boy and a girl to touch their hands while dancing.

#5 Tiana couldn't marry Naveen or open a restaurant

Source: The Princess and the Frog / Walt Disney Pictures

In the early 1990s in New Orleans, it was not impossible for a black girl like Tiana to open her own restaurant and marry a white man (Naveen) were illegal.

#6 In "Atlantis: The Lost Empire", extinct animals are shown for a reason

Source: Atlantis: The Lost Empire / Walt Disney Pictures

In the action in Atlantis: The Lost Empire in 1914, we could see Coelacanths, which were known to be extinct at the time. However, we found them once again in 1938. The situation relates to the lost city of Atlantis itself, which wasn’t believed to be true.

#7 Jasmine’s clothing doesn’t fit into the era

Source: Aladdin / Walt Disney Pictures

Although Disney typically tries to be accurate when it comes to clothes people wore in the specific era, with Aladdin they didn’t follow that policy. In the around 4th-7th century, Arabian girls wore in a more conservative way, even their faces were covered but their eyes. Therefore, Jasmine's clothing was not appropriate at the time.

#8 Aladdin's dream was not suitable

Source: Aladdin / Walt Disney Pictures

At the beginning of the movie, Aladdin told Abu about his dream that he could live in a castle, but that was what exactly happened later. But we could think that Disney was trying to express a modern view and deliver a message that everyone should raise their hope for a better life.
However, in fact, the thought was what never come to mind to a person who has been living on the street at the time. It's because those who were poor since they were born would never have any chances to change their life. They knew this and probably they couldn't imagine or dream of a different life.

#9 The origin of Hercules is not exactly as described

Source: Hercules / Walt Disney Pictures

In the film, Hercules is the son of Zeus and Hera. The stories, however, claim that a mortal mother who had a relationship with Zeus gave birth to Hercules. Hera was obviously incredibly envious of that. She despised Hercules, and it was her, not Hades, who wanted Hercules dead.
Moreover, Hercules was given the chance to marry Megara after he overcame their competitors by King Creon of Thebes, who was her father.

#10 Hercules killed Megara and their children

Source: Hercules / Walt Disney Pictures

According to myth, Hercules took a journey to the underworld, but when returning, he discovered that Lycus, a tyrant who had usurped the throne, intended to murder his family. But Hera convinced him that his sons were actually Lycus's children, so in a rage, Hercules killed the kids and Megara.

#11 In Dinosaur, lemurs couldn't raise the dinosaur

Source: Dinosaur / Walt Disney Pictures

Lemurs and all other primates first appeared millions of years after the dinosaur era. They did not coexist throughout the same time frame. But its cute and makes a great storyDí