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Representatives from some countries have asked Disney and PIXAR to cut or modify parts of its newest animated film because of content that either depicts a criminal offense or violates media content standards in their respective countries, but PIXAR refuses to do so, though the studios have made multiple content changes in other films over the years.
Credit: PIXAR Animation Studios
PIXAR’s upcoming Lightyear film will not be seen in at least 14 countries in which parts of the film are extremely controversial.
Lightyear depicts a same-sex couple within its storyline. While such content is not considered illegal in any way in many countries, including the United States, some countries have laws against it, meaning theaters in those countries cannot show PIXAR’s newest film unless modifications are made to the film that would remove the content altogether.
But PIXAR producer Galyn Susman strongly refuses to consider such cuts: “Disney isn’t going to modify the material,” Susman told Reuters. “We’re not going to cut out anything.”
Earlier in production, Disney did remove a same-sex kiss in the film, only to restore it to the film at a later time before its release.
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Susman also said that the new film could be banned in China as well, which holds the world’s largest movie market. Representatives asked Disney to make changes that would allow the film to be shown in theaters there, but Disney rejected the requests.
Credit: PIXAR Animation Studios
“We haven’t heard from China,” said Lightyear producer Galyn Susman. “I’m assuming that it will not make it to China. I know that we’ve gotten requests for things to cut.”
The new film has been banned in several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Lebanon.
Chris Evans, who lends his voice to Buzz Lightyear in the new film about the space ranger behind the action figures in the Toy Story franchise, says the bans are frustrating.
“It’s great that we are part of something that’s making steps forward in the social inclusion capacity, but it’s frustrating that there are still places that aren’t where they should be.”
Credit: TheDirect
Over the years, Disney and PIXAR have changed details in their films so that the content and storyline make more sense to the audience, depending on their respective countries. In a scene from PIXAR’s Inside Out, a change was made to the vegetable on baby Riley’s high chair tray during a flashback to a childhood memory.
Credit: BoredPanda/PIXAR Animation Studios
In the United States version of Inside Out, Riley’s dad attempts to feed her broccoli. But in the Japanese version of the film, the broccoli is exchanged for green bell peppers because it made more sense to the audience.
Disney’s Moana only debuted as Moana in countries outside of Italy. In Italy, the film’s name was changed to Oceana, as there was concern that the Disney film would be confused with an adult film already released in the country with the title of Moana.
Credit: BoredPanda/Disney Animation Studios
In PIXAR’s Planes, animators created five different versions of the plane named Rochelle. She has a different appearance, depending on which country you’re in when you see the film.
Credit: BoredPanda/PIXAR Animation Studios
Each of these changes required new drawings and new animation, which was time-consuming, but clearly, something that both movie houses were willing to undertake so that the film could be better understood and better received in other countries. The requests from representatives of other countries for Disney and PIXAR to modify Lightyear would require no new animation.
But producer Galyn Susman says there will be zero changes made to the film.
“We’re not going to cut out anything,” she said, ” especially something as important as the loving and inspirational relationship that shows Buzz what he’s missing by the choices that he’s making.”
While same-sex relationships are legal in the United States, homosexuality is considered a punishable criminal offense in some countries, including the United Arab Emirates, which claims the Lightyear film violates the country’s media content standards.
Lightyear opens in the United States and Canada on Friday.
