Slowly but Surely, Disney Is Erasing the Original ‘Cinderella’ Film as We Know It

Cinderella (1950) may be one of Walt Disney Productions’ most iconic films. So, why is The Walt Disney Company determined to erase it from history?

If there’s one thing The Walt Disney Company specializes in, it’s nostalgia. In its centenary year, Walt Disney Animated Studios rolled out restored original works on Disney+ for families to enjoy. With these animated classics, multiple generations of Disney fans can experience the magic together on the small screen.

In addition to the 28 Disney shorts released last summer, Disney’s flagship animated film is headed to Disney+ in an all-new hue.

Making its mark on the world when Walt Disney Animated Studios released Cinderella to the public in 1950, the adaptation of Charles Perrault’s version of the classic fairytale cemented itself in Disney’s Hall of Fame.

With Cinderella Castle serving as Disney’s emblem, the princess film is synonymous with Disney. And while the best intentions guided the summer releases on Disney+, many Disney fans lamented the changes made to the iconic movie.

Can Fans’ Faith Be Restored?

Journalist Scott Gustin shared a first look at the 4K restoration on social media. You can view new restoration images on his post here:

The 4K restoration of Cinderella will start streaming on #DisneyPlus on August 25.

The new restoration was spearheaded by Walt Disney Studios Restoration and Preservation team, including the team currently working on a restoration of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. pic.twitter.com/6iOXCWISTZ

— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) July 12, 2023

The 4K restoration of Cinderella will start streaming on #DisneyPlus on August 25. The new restoration was spearheaded by Walt Disney Studios Restoration and Preservation team, including the team currently working on a restoration of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Although Disney aims to build excitement about the 4K Cinderella release, fans who saw the previous efforts to restore the film on Blu-Ray have pent-up resentment. Entering into a similar territory to the lamented live-action remakes, the 2005 Cinderella restoration was criticized for erasing original animated elements from its hand-drawn origins.

A related article by Boredpanda depicted side-by-side images of the original animated film and Disney’s new Blu-Ray adaptation. Check out the differences in this image below.

Destroyed linework and film grain were among the details that put a bad taste in Disney fans’ mouths. Despite the goal being a sharper image acquiescing to larger TV screens and younger audiences, avid Disney fans were disappointed in the erasure of precious illustrations.

Based on initial glimpses into the 4K restoration, this iteration reflects the original animated film more closely, but fans are still skeptical.

Changes Made to Original ‘Cinderella’ Film

Scott Gustin shared more detailed images of the renowned glass slipper and evil stepsisters in the 4K version compared to the high-contrast changes from 2005:

fwiw they also turned the knob down in several cases after the 2005 restoration. The new restoration looks really good.

fwiw they also turned the knob down in several cases after the 2005 restoration. The new restoration looks really good. pic.twitter.com/ju5x6E8cKB

— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) July 12, 2023

Citing more subtle tweaks to the Cinderella scenes, this version appears more promising than the last. The Disney animation legends taking on the restoration include special projects and 2D animation producer Dorothy McKim, color supervisor Mike Giaimo, and animator Eric Goldberg.

The same group worked on Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. They’re also the same crew that delivered the Blu-Ray Cinderella from 2005.

Initial responses from fans like Agustin Macias point out the ever-changing color of Cinderella’s most iconic look:

Sigh…the dress is getting more bluer with each “restoration.” The dress is supposed to be silver, not blue.

Disney will be hard-pressed to find a die-hard fan who doesn’t spot issues with artistic choices in the 4K version.

What do you think of Disney’s artistic choices regarding its older films? Tell us about it in the comments below for a chance to be featured in a Disney Fanatic article!