VOL. 61, BOOK 1, PART C, 2023, pp. 221 – 235 Full text (En)
Author: Sava Stamenković
Affiliation: St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo
Abstract
In 1995 Walt Disney Animation Studios produced an animated film that remains the most popular artistic creation about Pocahontas. The creators of the film tried to strike a balance between historical truth, political correctness and profit, but as is often the case in the industry, profit won out. Much of what we know about Pocahontas’ life has been omitted or “creatively altered,” such as her age. The 1998 sequel, “Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World,” was a failed attempt to correct some of these mistakes. We analyse the elements of these films in which Disney drew on the facts of the life of Matoaka, the daughter of the Powhatan paramount chief, on the myth about her, and on Native American mythology. We also look at the songs, the eco-critical awareness of the screenwriters and the didactic side of the films, all of which have been praised by the critics.
Key words: Pocahontas, Walt Disney Animation, “Pocahontas” (1995), “Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World” (1998), animated film
