By By: CHRISTINE AIKEN
Columnist
aikenc@umail.iu.edu
Some say it is childish for adults to watch children’s movies and television shows unless they are watching them with an actual child.
To those people I would ask, “Aren’t we all still children somewhere deep down inside?” If we are not, it seems to me that we should find that part of ourselves since being a child was so much more simple and fun.
For many of us, Disney and Pixar created magical worlds that presented a sense of hope and wonder. Anyone who saw “The Little Mermaid” as a child probably wanted to be a mermaid at some point and we were all likely disappointed when we found out that it was never going to happen. For me though, what it did do is cultivate a love of swimming.
This of course isn’t the only movie that passed valuable life lessons on to those who watched it. “Toy Story” taught us about friendship, loyalty and working together. “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin” taught us how to look past others’ outside appearances. “How to Train Your Dragon” taught us that brains can beat brawn and sometimes our enemies are only enemies in our minds.
Adults are definitely more likely to treasure what they grew up on as opposed to watching any of the new stuff coming out unless they have kids of their own. I will admit that I still have not seen “Frozen,” even though it seems 98 percent of the other humans on Earth have seen it. This is likely due to the fact that I have heard “Let It Go” so many times I am not sure if I can withstand one more exposure to it.
As childish as it may seem, there is nothing wrong with anyone feeling the need to refresh their sense of wonder. It is still possible to realize that the real world isn’t a magical kingdom where animals talk while, somewhere inside, wishing it was.
There is a reason why so many adults venture to theme parks such as Disney World and Universal Studios every year without kids in tow. It is a much needed escape to a simpler time when the princess could always count on rescue and there was always a happy ending.
After watching one of your childhood favorites, if you look into your heart, it is hard to deny that you feel something there that wasn’t there before.
