Disney’s new short film features a plus-size belly dancer with body image issues

Walt Disney has released an animated short film, Reflect, featuring a plus-size female protagonist on Disney+. Though the film was released on the platform on September 14, it caught the attention of netizens more than a month later, garnering mixed views from the audience.

The six-minute short film is part of Short Circuit Experimental Films series. It stars Bianca who is a young ballet dancer who struggles with body image. Through her story the issue of body dysmorphia has been explored in the film. It is imperative to note that Bianca is the first ‘plus-size’ protagonist of Disney+; but better late than never!

According to Guardian, the Disney animation artist and director Hillary Bradfield, who also worked on Encanto and Frozen II, said she hoped viewers could “feel more positively about themselves and how they look” after watching the short.

“Sometimes you go to the dark place to get to the good place. And that just makes the good place that much more beautiful,” she said in an interview before the film’s release.

The film received mixed views from the audience. While some appreciated and acknowledged Disney’s incentive to break the stereotypes, others thought the film was too short.

“REFLECT on Disney+ (Series: Short Circuit). Do recommend for anyone that struggles with the image they see in the mirror. So, everyone. But this is especially for those of us that society shuns for having a body that doesn’t match the alleged “perfect” image. #bodypositivity“

REFLECT on Disney+ (Series: Short Circuit). Do recommend for anyone that struggles with the image they see in the mirror. So, everyone. But this is especially for those of us that society shuns for having a body that doesn’t match the alleged “perfect” image. #bodypositivity pic.twitter.com/fxr4gy9EPT

— Katie. (@vintage_katie_) October 27, 2022

“I just watched reflect on Disney+ and it portrays body positivity and exactly how I felt as a child and now so well god I hate how I look but watching this can help me understand it’ll be okay to just be myself.”

I just watched reflect on Disney+ and it portrays body positivity and exactly how I felt as a child and now so well god I hate how I look but watching this can help me understand it’ll be okay to just be myself

— megs 🚨 (@SPRlNGFILMS) October 28, 2022

“Disney’s #Reflect on @DisneyPlus isn’t long enough to parse nuances of the message. I don’t think there is anything particularly wrong with it. She’s active. That’s a positive. She ploughs though & isn’t daunted. Also good. The message shouldn’t be to remain satisfied in obesity.”

Disney’s #Reflect on @DisneyPlus isn’t long enough to parse nuances of the message. I don’t think there is anything particularly wrong with it. She’s active. That’s a positive. She ploughs though & isn’t daunted. Also good. The message shouldn’t be to remain satisfied in obesity. https://t.co/nhdXu5y9Wl

— Author Adam Bray (@authoradambray) October 27, 2022

“Am I the only one upset that @Disney made #Reflect a short and not a feature length film?”

Am I the only one upset that @Disney made #Reflect a short and not a feature length film? pic.twitter.com/ZLqbFJWcvy

— El Stripo (@StockMark5) October 28, 2022

Needless to say, this incentive taken by Disney+ to break the norm which it has set for decades of portraying the protagonist who has a ‘perfect body shape’ is appreciated. Such examples on television and online streaming platforms break stereotypes and encourage others to feel more comfortable in their own skin and embrace themselves the way they are. However, as rightly pointed out, the film was too short to leave a long-lasting impact. We urge Disney to produce films with unconventional protagonists who can have a striking impact on a large audience.