erm Here are some more mundane tasks that Disney movies jazz up.
*Disclaimer: I went through YouTube to find all of these clips I wanted to talk about, but at some point, some of these videos may be removed abruptly from YouTube because, well, Disney. Posting straight clips like this doesn’t count as fair use because they aren’t transformative… but they’re so short I personally doubt that they cause any financial harm to the behemoth that is Disney. But. Copyright law is important.
Anyway, if one of these is missing but my hilarious descriptions of what goes on make you want to watch that clip RIGHT NOW just search YouTube. Someone will probably have reuploaded it by then. Or, if you’re like me, you already have access to all of these on DVD or Bluray or something, so hakuna matata.*
Cleaning outdoors/drawing water/being rudely interrupted
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlUbWNpg1os
It’s always nice to take a break from cleaning to talk to woodland critters and daydream a bit. Even better, I think, if it’s outside and there’s a well involved. On the other hand, when some jerk comes up suddenly behind you that’s a bit less stellar.
In real life this would suck. Large. But hey, good for Snow I guess. It’s what she said she wanted, after all.
Cleaning the floor
Snow and Cinderella could stand to invest in a mop.
But also, this scene is fabulous. And it’s cool how Lucifer ties it all together as he does. There is nothing more magical than a cat ruining your clean floor – because at least it’s not a dog. Dogs are worse.
“Doing your chores” while finding time to “study”
Dogs are worse.
Little Brother may be one of the top three Disney dogs. Also, Mulan’s a genius for saving time by cheating and by tying chicken feed to her dog. Although she still ended up late. But hey, she’d be much later if she had actually studied thoroughly enough to not need her notes, and if she’d carefully fed the chickens herself.
Dig dig dig dig dig dig digging in a mine the whole day through/commuting
Mining is awful. Don’t ask how I’d know, because I don’t. But I’m assuming it’s awful. It’s probably not as glittery as this. Also walking to and from work is less than ideal.
Street performance
It’s rough being a street performer. Don’t ask how I’d know, because I don’t. But I’m assuming it’s rough. Here, it’s not as though Esmeralda has it easy, but on the other hand, until the stupid guards show up and apart from the occasional glimpse of hereditary bigotry, it seems like it’s going OK. Except maybe don’t have Djali be the one in charge of carrying the money.
Washing someone else’s stupid dishes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ07eIuy6qA
This is a better method. Why we don’t all just do it this way is beyond me.
Also the way Merlin says, “Rubbity scrubbity sweepity, flow,” makes me laugh. I think he’s a little too into it.
“Gathering corn”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDNu7AUDRv0
The magic here is in having a friend that doesn’t drop you when you a) only pick one thing of corn, and b) didn’t tell her about the invader you met and befriended the other day so that she’s stunned when he shows up and you run off with him like it’s nothing and ask her not to do anything about it. Please.
Cleaning someone else’s ridiculous mess
This is a little too much fun to truly be a parody of Snow White at the dwarves’ house. It’s more of an updated version that acknowledges its relentless cheeriness but doesn’t apologize for it.
I know I’m a little out there with my lack of hatred for cockroaches but still, I’d be thrilled if a cockroach/pigeon/rat team showed up to help with the housework.
Cooking
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq0DtugXMkA
Remy loves cooking but I’d prefer if the food would just magically appear on dishes that would magically clean themselves afterwards. But this, and all of the other Remy-cooks-something scenes, make me appreciate the actual act of cooking.
Still. If Remy wants to invade my kitchen and become my personal chef, that’s more than fine with me.
Making gumbo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2NHYIrAYas
Princess and the Frog focuses less on food preparation than does Ratatouille, but it still makes cooking seem magical and not tedious by highlighting the “good food brings people together” thing that Tiana is obsessed with as an adult without quite understanding what it means to her now that she’s grown.
Making gumbo as a frog in a swamp
Cooking is annoying enough as a human with opposable thumbs and… appliances, and stuff. But again, the movie shows it as being something that connects people, even if Tiana’s the one doing all of the hard work, like figuring out how to heat a pumpkin. In the middle of a swamp. As a frog.
Being forced to appreciate art
This is a bit much. They’re kittens.
Indulging in every hobby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Loo41xVIb_I
Even though Rapunzel is just feverishly trying to give her life meaning, I admire her daily productivity and aspire to it. An achievable goal, if ever there was one.
Indulging in your hobby with just a dash of self-loathing on the side
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTGuhAuGH68
“No face as hideous as my face was ever meant for heaven’s light.” Aw, come on, Quasi.
The whittling of the Esmeralda figure is the best thing. And it’s much better than the smoke version of her that Frollo conjures up, because Frollo is and will always be the worst.
Indulging in your totally normal, not concerning at all hobby
Lady.
Why can’t you make skiving snackboxes or something.
Pigeons and rats -yes. Cockroaches? Never met one yet so it’s a bit harsh to judge, but I have a feeling we might not hit it off! Thanks for the fun! x