This is not the first time a Disney movie has been caught up in backward controversies about the gender of its characters. But what is new for the major children’s and youth entertainment company is having to deal with the ban in 14 countries (so far) from screening one of its big blockbusters: Lightyear. In Spain, it was already released on June 17 without much fuss.
It seems like something from another century to think that, just because two animated characters of the same gender share a kiss, the laws of a country could censor the screening of a children’s movie. But that is exactly what has happened in 14 countries in the Middle East and Asia with Pixar’s latest blockbuster, owned by Disney.
The Toy Story prequel, Lightyear, will not be released in countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, or Malaysia. All because of the scene where Alisha, one of the main characters, kisses her wife on the lips, with whom she also has a child. This scene, full of sentimentality and affection, has made Disney a symbol in the anti-LGBTQI+ fight.
Adding to this situation is the controversial anti-rights law in Florida, a state where Disney owns no less than six theme parks. This measure, popularly known as “Don’t Say Gay,” supported by Republicans, prohibits teaching gender and homosexuality topics to younger students in schools.
In this context, and with all these obstacles blocking the path to the release of Lightyear in the USA and many other countries, the entertainment giant accepted the censorship and removed the sequence from the film, which caused serious unrest among Pixar employees. Finally, after pressure from the staff, Disney’s management reinstated the full sequence in the film.
The same fate seems likely in China, the country most strict in enforcing its audiovisual regulations. However, after the crisis caused by this film in the United States, it is unlikely that Disney will yield to Chinese censors.
There were also delicate moments in Peru regarding the release of Lightyear. The country issued a warning in cinemas about "scenes with gender ideology," which they later had to retract and remove.
A good promotion for the film in other countries? Whatever the first weeks of release of the film telling the true story of Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy’s creator, this is the first movie the animation studio has released in theaters after two years of the pandemic. With this new animated work in the saga started almost three decades ago, Disney will gauge the audience’s response after these months of restrictions and social distancing measures.
You can watch the trailer on your tablet if you want to get a closer look at the story before going to the cinema.
