The creepy elements often came from the original fairy tales. Disney was adapting these old tales, and many of them had dark themes from the start. For example, the Grimm's fairy tales had lots of violence and disturbing concepts, and Disney took some of those elements when creating their animated versions.
The creators of Disney stories sometimes added their own interpretations of what would make a story engaging. They might have thought that a bit of creepiness would add depth to the characters and the plot. For instance, in 'Peter Pan', Captain Hook is a very menacing character. His hook for a hand and his constant pursuit of Peter Pan is quite scary. This was created to add excitement and a sense of danger to the story, which was based on the original play but with Disney's own creative twists to make it more appealing and also a bit creepy at times.
The 'dark stories' often arose from a combination of speculation and over - analysis. For example, the backstories of Disney parks' attractions were sometimes blown out of proportion. The Haunted Mansion was designed to be spooky and fun, but some people started to create wild stories about it having real - life horror origins. Also, the fact that Disney adapted many classic stories which had their own dark elements in the original versions led to some of these ideas about 'dark stories'. For example, when Disney made 'Pinocchio', the original story had some harsher elements that could be misconstrued as part of a 'dark Disney' narrative.
One creepy original Disney story is 'Snow White'. The idea of an evil queen who wants to kill Snow White out of jealousy is quite dark. She uses a poisoned apple, which is a very sinister plot device. Another is 'Pinocchio', with the concept of boys turning into donkeys in Pleasure Island, which can be a bit disturbing for kids.
Disney softened the violence. For example, in the original 'Snow White', the Queen's attempts to kill Snow White were more brutal, but Disney made it less graphic for a younger audience. They also made the characters more likeable. The stepsisters in the original 'Cinderella' were extremely cruel, and Disney toned that down a bit.
The modern Disney adaptations are often a reaction to the darkness of the originals. They tend to tone down the harsher elements. For example, the punishments for villains are made less extreme. Instead of the queen in 'Snow White' dying a cruel death, modern versions focus more on the positive aspects like Snow White's kindness.
Original dark Disney stories influenced modern ones in terms of character design. For example, modern villains may draw inspiration from the complex and menacing characters in the old dark stories. The Queen in 'Snow White' might have influenced the design of some of today's more sophisticated villains.
The original versions of Disney stories were a starting point for character development in modern movies. The original traits of characters like Mickey Mouse, which evolved from a more mischievous character in early concepts to a more family - friendly icon today, were based on the initial ideas from the original Disney stories. Moreover, the original stories' use of magic and fantastical elements inspired the elaborate and magical worlds created in modern Disney movies.
The original scary Disney stories introduced certain archetypes. For example, the evil witch or queen in stories like 'Snow White' became a common horror trope. These characters with their dark magic and malicious intents are often seen in modern horror. Also, the idea of curses, as in 'Sleeping Beauty', has influenced modern horror's use of hexes and dark spells.
The 'Dark Disney Original Stories' have had a significant impact on modern storytelling. They introduced the idea that children's stories don't have to be all sunshine and rainbows. By including elements such as danger, jealousy, and revenge, they made stories more engaging and relatable. Modern storytellers have learned from Disney's use of these dark elements to add depth to their own works. They have also been influenced by Disney's ability to balance the dark with the light, creating stories that are both entertaining and thought - provoking. For instance, many modern animated movies now include complex villains with understandable motives, just like in Disney's originals.
The original endings made modern interpretations more aware of the potential for darker themes. For instance, the original 'Snow White' ending with the Queen's cruel death shows how far they could go with punishment. Modern interpretations might tone it down but still keep the essence of good vs evil.
Original scary Disney stories influenced modern horror by introducing classic horror elements. For example, the use of villains like the evil queen in 'Snow White' set a pattern for menacing antagonists. Her vanity and the lengths she'd go to in order to be the fairest of them all became a template for complex and evil characters in horror.