Life Lessons

Themes, Morales, and Life Lessons to Take Away from Animated Media

Live life to the fullest

"Life's not a spectator sport. If watchin' is all you're gonna do, then you're gonna watch your life go by without ya."- The Hunchback of Notre Dame"

"Adventure is out there"- Up

 Get the most out of life and enjoy every moment of it, for you only live once and life is a gift. The world is waiting- go experience it. You want to be able to look back on life satisfied that you lived it to the fullest.

True friends are one of life's greatest gifts- treasure the time you spend together

"You've got a friend in me"- Toy Story

"Some people are worth melting for"- Frozen

" Please, you... are my best friend, bud. My best friend."- How to Train Your Dragon 2

"If there ever comes a day when we can't be together, keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever."- Winnie the Pooh

Friendship is a very prevalent theme across animation, and some of the friends we are presented with have the best, strongest relationship. We can learn that friends are worth keeping and your true friends will stick with you through thick and thin, and never give up on you. Those friends are a true gift, so treasure the time you spend together.

Keep moving forward

"Just keep swimming"- Finding Nemo

"There's no such thing as a painless lesson, they just don't exist. Sacrifices are necessary. You can't gain anything without losing something first. Although if you can endure that pain and walk away from it, you'll find that you now have a heart strong enough to overcome any obstacle. Yeah... a heart made Fullmetal."- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood 

"The only thing predictable about life is its unpredictability"- Ratatouille 

No matter what life throws at you, or what hand you've been dealt, if you keep moving forward, better times are waiting. Through determination, one can overcome anything. If you can overcome your obstacles, you will find you are stronger and can withstand anything. 

Learn from your past, plan for your future, and live in the present

"Oh yes, the past can hurt. But from the way I see it, you can either run from it, or... learn from it."- The Lion King

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."- Kung Fu Panda

"I never look back, darling. It distracts from the now." –The Incredibles 

By following this recipe, one can avoid becoming stuck in the past and scarred from it, and scared for the future. If you live in the present, every moment is special and memorable.


For the parents: let your children live their own life

"Children have got to be free to live their own lives"- The Little Mermaid

"Well, you can't never let anything happen to him. Then nothing would ever happen to him."- Finding Nemo

It's rare that the parents get a theme for them in an animated movie, since they are usually made for children, but when they do exist, it's usually to tell them not to be overprotective of your child. You can't shield them from the world forever- they have to go out and experience it for themselves.

Be your true self

"There's no one I'd rather be than me"- Wreck-it Ralph

 "Have I gone mad? I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret, all the best people are"- Alice in Wonderland

"She warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within"- Beauty and the Beast

Don't try to fit in and be like everybody else. Embrace what makes you different, since that is what makes you you. If everyone were the same, then the world would be a boring place. Also, it's what's on the inside that counts, not the outside. 

Never stop dreaming

"A dream is a wish your heart makes"- Cinderella

"Reach for the sky"- Toy Story

"There is a world where hope and dreams can last for all time"- The Little Mermaid 

"You got the makings of greatness in you, but you got to take the helm and chart your own course. Stick to it, no matter the squalls!"- Treasure Planet 

"All it takes is faith and trust"- Peter Pan

"I remember daddy told me, fairytales can come true. But you gotta make 'em happen, it all depends on you"- The Princess and the Frog 

Alas, the motto of Walt Disney. He himself said "It's kind of fun to do the impossible". It's the entire idea behind Disney. But, we can also learn from it- if you keep dreaming and reaching for the stars, you will live a happy, fulfilling life. You can accomplish your dreams if you work towards it, no matter how crazy they may seem.