How does Disney do it?
Disney's use of historical stories and traditional narratives
Although Disney is often associated with original, magical storytelling, many of its most successful films are rooted in stories that predate the company by centuries. Rather than inventing entirely new narratives, Disney frequently adapts myths, folklore, fairy tales, legends, historical events, and classic literature, reshaping them into stories that appeal to modern audiences.
This approach reflects a long literary tradition. Stories have always evolved as they pass from one generation to the next, with each retelling adapting characters, themes, and settings to reflect the values and expectations of a new audience. Disney's films are simply another stage in this process.
Fairy Tales
The foundation of Disney's early success was built on European fairy tales, many of which were collected rather than originally written by authors such as the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault.
Examples include:
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Brothers Grimm)
Cinderella (Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm)
Sleeping Beauty (Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm)
Beauty and the Beast (Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont)
Rapunzel (Tangled) (Brothers Grimm)
The Little Mermaid (Hans Christian Andersen)
These original tales were often considerably darker than Disney's adaptations, featuring tragic endings, violence, or explicit moral lessons. Disney retained the central premise while softening the tone, increasing humour, and emphasising hope, love, and personal growth.
Myths and Legends
Disney also draws heavily from mythology and legendary traditions, using well-known narratives as a foundation for entirely new interpretations.
Examples include:
Hercules — based on the Greek hero Heracles.
Moana — inspired by Polynesian mythology and voyaging traditions, while telling an original story.
Frozen — loosely inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen, borrowing its central concept rather than faithfully adapting the original.
The Sword in the Stone — adapted from Arthurian legend through T. H. White's novel.
Rather than recreating myths exactly, Disney simplifies complex narratives into character-driven stories that focus on universal emotional themes.
Historical Inspiration
Some Disney films are inspired by historical people, cultures, or events rather than directly adapting a specific historical account.
Examples include:
Pocahontas — inspired by the historical Powhatan woman Pocahontas and the arrival of English settlers in Virginia.
Mulan — based on the ancient Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, which itself reflects historical traditions and may have been inspired by a real warrior.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame — adapted from Victor Hugo's novel, which is deeply rooted in fifteenth-century Paris.
Newsies — inspired by the New York newsboys' strike of 1899.
These films should not be viewed as historical documentaries. Disney regularly compresses timelines, combines historical figures, invents fictional characters, and reshapes events to serve the emotional journey of the protagonist.
Literature as a Foundation
Disney has also adapted numerous classic novels, often simplifying complex plots for family audiences.
Examples include:
Pinocchio (Carlo Collodi)
Alice in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll)
Peter Pan (J. M. Barrie)
Treasure Planet (Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson)
The Black Cauldron (The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander)
The Jungle Book (Rudyard Kipling)
Tarzan (Edgar Rice Burroughs)
In many cases, Disney preserves the central conflict while reducing narrative complexity and placing greater emphasis on humour, relationships, and emotional resolution.
Why Disney Adapts Existing Stories
Adapting established stories provides a few different creative advantages.
First, these stories have already demonstrated their ability to endure across generations. Themes such as courage, sacrifice, identity, family, and belonging remain relevant regardless of the period in which they are retold.
Second, familiar narratives give audiences an immediate emotional connection. Viewers may already recognise the characters or understand the central conflict, allowing the film to spend more time developing relationships and emotional growth.
Finally, adapting older stories gives writers a strong structural framework. Rather than beginning with a blank page, they can build upon a narrative that has already survived centuries of retelling, refining it to suit a new audience and medium.
Lessons for Writers
Disney's success demonstrates that originality does not require inventing an entirely new premise. Many of the world's most enduring stories share common foundations, archetypes, and themes. What distinguishes one version from another is the perspective, characters, emotional depth, and cultural context brought to the retelling.
For writers, this offers an important lesson: some of the strongest stories begin not by asking, "What has never been written before?" but by asking, "How can I tell this timeless story in a way that feels fresh, meaningful, and uniquely my own?"
Write your own Disney story
Disney stories have evolved over the decades, but they tend to follow a highly recognisable narrative framework that blends classical storytelling (especially the Hero's Journey and Three-Act Structure) with a strong emotional arc. Unlike many action-driven stories, Disney narratives are almost always character-driven: external events matter because they force the protagonist to change internally.
Here's a breakdown.
1. The Base Story
Nearly every Disney story can be reduced to a simple foundation:
Someone who feels incomplete discovers who they truly are through love, courage, sacrifice, and connection.
The plot can vary wildly — from princesses to superheroes to toys — but this emotional journey remains remarkably consistent.
The protagonist usually begins with:
A longing
A flaw or misconception
A life that feels constrained
Something emotionally missing
The story isn't really about defeating the villain.
It's about becoming the person capable of defeating the villain.
2. Premise
A premise combines character, conflict, and transformation.
Disney premises often follow this formula:
When an unlikely protagonist is forced into an unfamiliar world, they must overcome their greatest fear to discover who they truly are.
Examples:
Moana
When a chief's daughter leaves her island to save her people, she must discover that leadership comes from trusting herself rather than living up to impossible expectations.
Frozen
When magical powers accidentally trap a kingdom in eternal winter, two sisters must learn that love — not fear — is the true source of strength.
The Lion King
When a young lion prince blames himself for his father's death, he must reclaim his identity before his kingdom falls into darkness.
Encanto
A girl without magical powers must discover that her family's greatest strength isn't magic but unconditional love.
3. Structural Breakdown
Opening Image
Show normal life.
This immediately establishes:
world
personality
problem
emotional wound
Examples
The Lion King
Pride Lands
Simba is carefree
Beauty and the Beast
Belle longs for more than village life
Moana
Moana loves the ocean but is trapped by duty
Theme Stated
Usually within the first ten minutes.
Someone unknowingly tells the protagonist what they'll need to learn.
Examples:
"You are more than what you have become."
"Follow your heart."
"The past can hurt."
The protagonist ignores it.
The Want
Disney protagonists nearly always want something tangible.
Examples:
Belle wants adventure.
Ariel wants the human world.
Rapunzel wants to see the lanterns.
Moana wants to sail.
Simba wants to be king.
This is not what they actually need.
Inciting Incident
Life changes forever.
Examples:
Mufasa dies.
The Beast imprisons Belle.
Anna meets Elsa again.
Maui steals the heart.
The family miracle begins to fail.
There is now no returning to normal.
Refusal
Fear is the driver in this part of the story, with the protagonist feeling hopeless.
"I'm not ready."
"I can't."
"This isn't my responsibility."
Disney often keeps this section short.
Crossing the Threshold
The protagonist leaves the familiar world. Sometimes literally. Sometimes emotionally.
Examples
Moana sails.
Belle enters the castle.
Simba leaves home.
Elsa flees Arendelle.
Adventure officially begins.
4. The Fun Section
Often the most recognisable Disney act and what makes them most appealing to children and viral exposure across media channels.
Songs.
Comedy.
Friendships.
Learning.
Wonder.
Sidekicks appear.
The audience falls in love with the world.
Examples
Hakuna Matata
Under the Sea
A Whole New World
We Don't Talk About Bruno
These moments are entertaining, but they also deepen relationships and prepare the protagonist for the challenges ahead.
5. Midpoint
Something major changes. The goal feels closer... or impossible.
Often:
first victory
revelation
romance
huge setback
The protagonist believes they understand everything. They're wrong.
6. Things Fall Apart
The internal flaw creates external disaster.
Examples:
Elsa freezes everything.
Simba runs away.
Ralph destroys his friendship.
Woody loses Buzz.
Mirabel breaks the family apart.
The hero now faces both:
external problem
internal problem
7. Darkest Moment
Everything appears lost. Disney usually creates strong emotional isolation here.
The protagonist often loses:
hope
family
mentor
identity
Examples:
Simba believes he's unworthy.
Moana loses faith.
Belle thinks the Beast is dying.
Miguel loses his family's trust.
8. Revelation
The protagonist finally understands.
Not:
"I can win."
But:
"I finally know who I am."
This is the emotional climax. Often accompanied by a reprise of an earlier song or a visual callback.
9. Final Battle
Now transformed, the protagonist confronts the antagonist or central conflict. The external victory is only possible because the internal lesson has been learned. Disney frequently resolves conflicts through compassion, sacrifice, or understanding rather than brute force. The climax proves the theme established at the beginning.
Examples:
Elsa saves Anna through love.
Simba embraces his role as king.
Moana returns Te Fiti's heart with empathy rather than violence.
Mirabel heals her family through acceptance and honesty.
10. New Normal
The world reflects the protagonist's growth. The ending mirrors the opening image, but everything important has changed.
Examples:
The kingdom is restored.
Families reunite.
The protagonist finds belonging.
The hero no longer seeks what they once wanted because they have gained what they truly needed.
The Emotional Formula
Disney stories frequently follow this emotional progression:
Wonder
Curiosity
Joy
Discovery
Friendship
Hope
Failure
Loss
Self-discovery
Sacrifice
Love
Celebration
This rhythm creates an emotional "roller coaster" that appeals to audiences of all ages.
Disney Character Arc Formula
The protagonist typically follows this pattern:
Lie they believe → Desire → Challenge → Failure → Truth → Transformation
For example, in The Lion King:
Lie: "I caused my father's death and don't deserve to be king."
Desire: Live a carefree life free from responsibility.
Challenge: Scar's tyranny threatens the Pride Lands.
Failure: Simba initially refuses to return home.
Truth: His past does not define him; accepting responsibility does.
Transformation: He embraces his identity and restores the kingdom.
The Disney Story Blueprint
A simplified structural template for a Disney story looks like this:
| Story Beat | Purpose | Typical Questions Answered |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary World | Introduce the protagonist, their world, and their emotional wound or flaw. | Who are they? What is missing from their life? |
| Theme Stated | Hint at the central lesson the protagonist will eventually learn. | What truth will they need to accept? |
| Desire (Want) | Establish the external goal the protagonist believes will make them happy. | What do they think they want? |
| Inciting Incident | Disrupt the protagonist's ordinary life and force change. | What event starts the story? |
| Refusal of the Call | Show hesitation, fear, or resistance to the journey. | Why don't they want to leave? |
| Crossing the Threshold | The protagonist commits to the adventure and enters a new world. | When is there no turning back? |
| Exploration & Relationships | Develop the world, supporting characters, friendships, and challenges. | Who helps them? What do they learn? |
| Midpoint | A major revelation, victory, defeat, or turning point that changes the direction of the story. | What raises the stakes? |
| Escalation | The protagonist's flaw begins causing greater consequences and obstacles intensify. | Why is the original approach failing? |
| Darkest Moment | Everything appears lost, leaving the protagonist emotionally defeated. | What is their lowest point? |
| Self-Revelation | The protagonist discovers the truth about themselves and overcomes their internal flaw. | How have they changed? |
| Final Confrontation | The external conflict is resolved using the protagonist's newfound growth. | Can they now overcome the challenge? |
| New Equilibrium | Show the transformed world and how the protagonist's life has changed. | What does the new normal look like? |
As you can see, the Disney story structure follows the general plot structure most fiction books follow. The main difference in a Disney story is their unique ability to created stories that are paired with exceptional visuals, well-developed characters, and are aimed predominantly at children.
The Core Principle
One of Disney's defining storytelling strengths is that the external plot and the internal character arc are inseparable. The adventure is never just a sequence of obstacles; every challenge is designed to force the protagonist to confront a mistaken belief about themselves or the world. By the climax, defeating the villain, restoring the kingdom, or saving loved ones is only possible because the protagonist has first changed internally. This fusion of emotional transformation with plot is what gives Disney stories their enduring resonance across generations.
Lesson
Find a fairytale, folktale or historical legend and write your own Disney version of the story, based on the principles outlined above. This is a lesson on structuring, storytelling and adaptation. The important part of this lesson is choosing a story and retelling it in your own words through a tried and tested method, used by Disney.
