Disney reveals first plus-size heroine in new short film ‘Reflect’

The Walt Disney Company has released a new short film featuring its first ever plus-size heroine, and the move has viewers divided.

Disney has introduced its first plus-size female protagonist in a new short film about body dysmorphia.

The animated movie, Reflect, tells the story of Bianca, a ballet dancer who “battles her own reflection, overcoming doubt and fear by channelling her inner strength, grace and power,” the New York Post reports.

Directed by Hillary Bradfield – whose credits including the hit Disney movies Frozen 2 and Encanto – Reflect is part of the Mouse House’s “Short Circuit” series of experimental films devoted to topics such as developing one’s self-esteem and promoting “body positivity,” or acceptance of physiques regardless of size and shape.

Disney’s new short animated movie, Reflect, tells the story of Bianca.

In a brief clip released by Disney, Bianca is seen practising ballet in the mirror as the image reflected in the mirror breaks apart, symbolising her own negative self-image. Reflect is streaming on Disney+.

The rollout of the plus-sized protagonist has divided public opinion on social media.

Some Twitter users accused Disney of “glorifying obesity” while others disagreed, saying that it was important for media companies to adequately depict a cross-section of society.

“You wouldn’t represent anorexia, Disney, don’t represent obesity either. It’s wrong,” tweeted one person.

Some fans applauded the movie, while others think it sends a dangerous message.

But one Twitter user commented that this sends an important message to young people who may be struggling with self-acceptance.

“Sixteen-year-old me needed this Disney short before I quit ballet because I didn’t want to be the fat girl in class anymore,” one woman tweeted.

“I’m glad little ones will have this.”

An all-new Short Circuit Experimental Film has arrived! Stream “Reflect” and all the Short Circuit Experimental Films by Walt Disney Animation Studios artists now on @DisneyPlus. 🩰 🎆 pic.twitter.com/c0gw5U4ecc

— Disney Animation (@DisneyAnimation) September 14, 2022

Earlier this year, there was outrage after a leaked video of an episode of the kids show Baymax! featured a transgender man who buys tampons at a supermarket.

The moves are part of a corporate strategy laid out by a Disney executive who said the company would produce more entertainment content that featured characters from under-represented groups, such as racial minorities and the LGBTQ+ community.

Karey Burke, president of Disney’s General Entertainment Content, told employees in March that Disney aims to have at least 50 per cent of its regular characters depict those from “under-represented groups”.

The decision thrust Disney into the centre of the debate in America around educating youngsters about gender and sexual identity.

In March, US conservative activist Christopher Rufo reported in City Journal that Latoya Raveneau, an executive producer at Disney, boasted about her team’s “not-at-all-secret gay agenda” which includes “adding queerness” to programming geared towards children.

The company also ignited fierce backlash when it publicly opposed a bill passed by Florida’s GOP-dominated state legislature banning the instruction of gender and sexual identity topics before the fourth grade.

The “Don’t Say Gay” law, as it was dubbed by critics, was signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a potential Republican candidate for president in 2024.

Mr DeSantis and his GOP allies retaliated by stripping Disney of its semi-autonomous status over its theme parks in and around Orlando.

This story originally appeared on New York Post and was reproduced with permission