Movies

Tolkien’s Furious Rant Against Disney’s Dwarves

BBG News

Generally speaking, J. R. R. Tolkien, the renowned author, was known for his kindness and thoughtfulness towards others. He often chose not to express criticism when encountering work by other creative minds, such as Frank Herbert’s Dune. However, there were exceptions to this rule, notably with Walt Disney. Tolkien had little fondness for Disney or his animated films, but his dislike was particularly sparked by the movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Similar to The Hobbit, which Tolkien published not long before the film’s premiere, Snow White featured a group of dwarves or “dwarfs” as Disney’s title spelled it.

As a dedicated movie connoisseur, I must admit that J.R.R. Tolkien missed the initial screening of the enchanting classic, “Snow White,” but his fellow fantasy luminary, C.S. Lewis, did not. In his correspondences and the esteemed nonfiction work, “A Preface to Paradise Lost, ” Lewis openly criticized the film. Being intrigued by Tolkien’s perspective, Lewis inquired about it, leading them to eventually watch it together. To my surprise, they both found themselves disliking the movie even more than Lewis initially had.

Given its status as a cherished cinematic masterpiece that propelled Walt Disney Productions to unparalleled heights of success, one may wonder what could provoke such vehement criticism from the progenitor of the fantasy genre?

Tolkien Took Issue With Disney’s Dwarves

The Author Disliked The Way They Were Presented as Children

In contrast to Snow White, J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis held strong criticisms regarding the representation of dwarves in that tale. Unlike the goofy and childish seven dwarves in Snow White, who are essentially one-dimensional characters defined by a singular personality trait, the dwarves in The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia were portrayed as proud, stoic warriors with rich cultures and histories. Given Tolkien’s deep affection for Norse mythology, he found Disney’s caricatured depictions of dwarves to be an affront to their historical roots.

To Tolkien, Dwarves were merely a piece in a broader concern he had not just with “Snow White,” but with Disney’s entire collection of animated films. While Tolkien held fairy tales dear, preferring to call them “fairy stories,” the enchantment and mystery of traditional fairy tales served as one of his primary influences for “The Lord of the Rings.” He found that Disney simplified these stories excessively, diluting them for the sake of attracting young audiences. In comparison, the Snow White tale penned by the Brothers Grimm was more intricate and markedly darker than Disney’s animated film.

Tolkien Believed That Walt Disney Was Morally Corrupt

According to Tolkien, Disney Was Exploitative and Vulgar

J.R.R. Tolkien believed that fairy tales were beneficial for both children and adults, and he felt strongly that young readers should be exposed to mature stories. This belief is evident in “The Hobbit,” a book initially intended for children, but filled with dark and intense scenes, which director Peter Jackson emphasized even more in his film adaptations. Tolkien was concerned that by omitting such elements from stories like Snow White, the essence of the original tales was being stripped away. He feared that Disney’s fairy tale adaptations would overshadow the originals, and with their widespread popularity, it seems they have done just that.

Tolkien’s strong dislike for Disney’s films originated from his personal distaste towards Walt Disney. He found Disney’s business practices distasteful and deemed him as a greedy, manipulative individual who lacked passion in his work. In one of his letters, Tolkien referred to Disney as a “cheat,” stating that he was willing to deceive the less experienced through legal trickery, avoiding jail time. The theme of greed being harmful and corruptive, which is central to “The Hobbit,” might have led Tolkien to perceive Disney as embodying the same destructive greed that had consumed Thorin in his final days, much like a dragon-like sickness.

In his correspondence, J.R.R. Tolkien frequently expressed disdain for Disney’s creations, labeling them as “deeply corrupted,” “disgusting,” and even “nauseating.” He was firm in his stance that neither Disney nor anyone imitating their style should be involved in the illustrations for The Lord of the Rings. He suggested, “It might be wise… to let the Americans decide what they wish to do so long as it can be prevented (I would suggest) anything originating or influenced by the Disney studios (as I have an intense dislike for all their work).

Tolkien Refused to Let Disney Anywhere Near The Lord of the Rings

Two Other Animation Studios Attempted to Adapt His Stories

J.R.R. Tolkien’s dislike for Disney may have influenced his perspective on animated movies as a whole, given that he explicitly requested United Artists not to animate his work when it was sold. However, the animation didn’t come from Disney, but rather from Animator Ralph Bakshi. He acquired the rights for The Lord of the Rings trilogy after a live-action script by John Boorman failed, resulting in the 1978 film titled The Lord of the Rings. Unfortunately, he lost funding for the second part of the epic, leaving only the first half. This version, though shorter than Peter Jackson’s films, offers a truncated take on and The Two Towers, and despite its flaws, it portrays a captivating image of Middle-earth, with mature themes that Tolkien might have appreciated as an alternative to the overly sweet Disney films he disdained.

Two years after the initial release, the animation studio Rankin/Bass created an animated adaptation of “The Return of the King“, following up on their 1977 production based on “The Hobbit“. Similar to its predecessor, this version offers a more kid-friendly interpretation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work. Regrettably, it fails to provide a comprehensive outline of the story due to time constraints, resulting in a disjointed summary. However, despite these flaws, it manages to differ significantly from Disney’s style of storytelling, which was criticized by both the studio and Tolkien himself. Both the Rankin/Bass and the Bakshi version meticulously adhere to the tone and narrative structure established by Tolkien, as opposed to altering the story for their own purposes like Disney frequently does.

Essentially, their struggles stem from insufficient finances and limited time to adequately bring the expansive tale to life on the big screen. With visual effects yet to fully capture Tolkien’s vision, even in the era dominated by spectacle following , animation was the most viable approach for an adaptation. The commercial disappointments of Bakshi and Rankin/Bass adaptations protected the books from further attempts until Jackson was prepared to take on the project.

In essence, while Disney often focused on what was to come – embracing modern technology and envisioning future worlds – Tolkien tended to cherish the past, expressing concerns about industrialization and infusing his stories with a deep appreciation for ancient and medieval history. This contrast in perspectives led to Tolkien’s strong disapproval of Disney’s work. However, despite Tolkien’s criticisms, Disney’s success was not halted, and today, both Snow White and The Lord of the Rings have left lasting cultural impacts.

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2025-05-06 02:34

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