Disney’s Untapped Gem: Little Red Riding Hood

As with all fairy tales, we have been enchanted and pampered by quite a number of Disney fairy tales that have hit our screens. Right from the ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Snow White’ tales to ‘Moana’ and ‘Elsa’, the ‘House of Mouse’ truly brightened people’s days. However, there is a relic of a fairy tale that has not been brought to Disney Animation the way the others have—Little Red Riding Hood.[ez-toc]

Today, let’s take a closer look at why this timeless fairy tale is long overdue for the Disney treatment and fantasize about what Disney’s Little Red Riding Hood could potentially contribute.

The Untapped Potential of Little Red Riding Hood

As much as Little Red Riding Hood is a fable that was first told in the 17th century, the basis of the story is rooted in European folklore. And yet, it is one of those old tales that have been cinically told dozens of times and that Disney, as a film maker, never ventures into. It can be seen that Disney loves these kinds of stories where there is an adventure, danger involved, and the moral of the story to be taught to those little minds.

Picture the Disney version of Little Red Riding Hood; it’s a young girl who is curious and very brave and going through the dark forest. By Disney standards, Red could be made into yet another independent, spirited female character who manages to outsmart the Big Bad Wolf and the other inhabitants of the forest.

Why Now is the Perfect Time

To my mind, Disney has a special gift to discern when it is high time to retell or rewrite the beloved tale. Specifically, if we consider the past few years, it is possible to state that there has been a certain trend of specification in the selection of fairy tales, making them darker and more oppressive. Such films as Maleficent and Frozen prove that there is demand for films where black-and-white divisions of good and evil are resistant to definition. Little Red Riding Hood gives exactly that: a story of the dangers that exist in the world but where everyone has the potential to be a hero and a survivor.

Given the current climate of obsessions with power and overcoming life’s adversities, one can to some extent imagine a Disney take on Little Red Riding Hood. It is probably possible to stress in the story proactivity, trust, and courage—values that are still as valuable today as they were centuries ago.

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Casting the Characters: Who Could Bring These Icons to Life?

Of course, one of the many wonderful things about creating a Disney Little Red Riding Hood is dreaming of who might provide the voice for these cherished characters. In the case of Little Red, Disney could offer a new comer the role that can depict a young girl who is both innocent and tough. Consider a woman in the same league as Auli’i Cravalho, the voice behind Moana or Hailee Steinfeld.

If the Big Bad Wolf play has been handed to an actor who can best render complex characters, then such a character is bound to be unforgettable. Just think about how peaceful, slick, and sly Idris Elba’s voice from The Jungle Book can be or how ominously alluring Benedict Cumberbatc can be.

We must not rule out the roles of the queen and the grandmother, which might open vast possibilities other than for a helpless princess. Imagine a beautiful woman like Julie Andrews, give her some maternal personality, and put her in charge of the transition of Red as the grandmother figure in the movie.

A Fresh Take on the Tale

Despite the fact that the main plot of Little Red Riding Hood is rather malicious for children, telling them not to trust strangers, many aspects of it can be developed in a Disney manner. They could bring in new characters, side plots, or even an opposite turn of events to the whole series.

It may not be just the intelligence of Red outplaying the wolf in some instances, but the ways she mobilizes the forest animals or learns values that make her help her family stay safe. This would also be relevant to a modern adaptation where one would add meaning to the existence of the wolf, therefore informing the audience that the notion of the wolf as an absolute villain is incorrect.

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The Disney Magic Touch

A movie based on Little Red Riding Hood can easily achieve what Disney Animation always does: give the viewers a visually appealing picture to enjoy and combine it with a set of catchy tunes to hear.

Picture the detailed, almost surreal picture of the forest, the bright red of Red’s shawl against the background of darkness, and the thrill of moments when the girl meets the wolf. It can combine some comedy with the action and the pursuits of Red, and it can become one of the best Disney’s productions adapted from the fairy tales.

Final Thoughts: Should Disney Take the Leap?

As we immerse ourselves in Disney’s ever-growing multiverse of animated narratives, it’s quite impossible not to imagine what they can derive from Little Red Riding Hood.

The basic plot provides a large field of opportunities, making the story agreeably varied and productive—a combination of adventure and moral fable plus memorable characters. But if there is one fairy tale that was begging for a Disney makeover, this has to be it.

Well, folks, that is your cue to share your thoughts, whether you are a Disney fan or not. Is Little Red Riding Hood destined to be the next fairy tale to undergo that Disney glow? Feel free to leave your comments below about this post; we’d be pleased to hear from you!