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Fans are emotional about a recent release of a short film from Disney Animation, 'Reflect,' which features a plus-size main character as a ballerina. Bianca struggles with body image issues.
According to the film's director in an interview at the beginning of the film—now out on Disney+—the use of ballet in particular was on purpose.
“It’s a part of the craft to be looking at your posture and checking things in the mirror, so it just seemed like a really good way to put her in that environment where she has to look at herself and she doesn’t want to."
\u201cAn all-new Short Circuit Experimental Film has arrived! Stream \u201cReflect\u201d and all the Short Circuit Experimental Films by Walt Disney Animation Studios artists now on @DisneyPlus. \ud83e\ude70 \ud83c\udf86\u201d— Disney Animation (@Disney Animation) 1663164001
Reactions to the video have been quite mixed.
But most emotional are the fans who are just excited to see this sort of representation of themselves on screen.
One commenter on TikTok was quite excited.
@milkyywaves__ This plus size Disney ballet dancer will mean so much to so many people. This piece is part of Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Circuit Experimental Films and is an animated short called Reflect #disney #disneyanimation #waltdisneystudios #disneyshort #animation #plussize #bodypositivity #milkyywaves__
Many wished this short could have been around when they were young dancers, empathizing with the character's body image issues.
\u201c@PopBase These negative ppl can mind their business. She is the representation I needed when I was a kid because I DID have body image issues. It isn\u2019t encouraging people to be fat, it\u2019s encouraging people of all sizes to LOVE and RESPECT themselves regardless of weight\u201d— Pop Base (@Pop Base) 1666885207
\u201cIt's no coincidence that I stopped enjoying dance around the time I started being bullied about, and started hating, my body. I quit dance when I was 9.\nI cannot imagine how differently things would have turned out for me if this existed when I was a kid. Thank you @disney\u201d— Jamie The Human (@Jamie The Human) 1667023598
\u201cWish it was made 20 years ago but my innerchild is dancing for joy that an animation like #Reflect has been made! My younger dancer self needed to watch something like that \ud83d\udc83\u2764\ufe0f\n\n#dysmorphia #bodypositivity @Disney @DisneyPlus\u201d— Ananya Ria Roy (@Ananya Ria Roy) 1666940379
\u201c16 year old me needed this Disney short before I quit ballet because I didn\u2019t want to be the fat girl in class anymore. I\u2019m glad little ones will have this. 10/10 for Reflect!\u201d— Meg Potter (@Meg Potter) 1666744271
Many of the reactions to the initial post were deeply fatphobic.
People were disheartened to read those responses.
\u201cim so excited but some of the responses its getting are so \u2639\ufe0f\u2639\ufe0f\u201d— \ud83d\udcbb\ua731\u1d04\u0280\u026a\u0299\ud83d\udce1 (@\ud83d\udcbb\ua731\u1d04\u0280\u026a\u0299\ud83d\udce1) 1666874727
\u201c@DisneyAnimation @DisneyPlus So many bullies on here. You should be ashamed of yourselves!\u201d— Disney Animation (@Disney Animation) 1663164001
In a more nuanced critique, several people were not enthused by Disney's first larger protagonist being in a short about body image issues, rather than any other theme.
\u201c@PopBase Honestly this is extremely depressing. Disney has been making films for almost a century and only now are they having a plus size protagonist and her whole story line is about hating her body???\u201d— Pop Base (@Pop Base) 1666885207
\u201c@PopBase Nice but it would be better if they made a plus size character who\u2019s story doesn\u2019t revolve around their body image.\u201d— Pop Base (@Pop Base) 1666885207
\u201c@liasmultiverse @PopBase disney try making a story about a non white skinny pretty girl without it centering around her struggles and stereotypes challenge (impossible)\u201d— Pop Base (@Pop Base) 1666885207
'Reflect' can be seen on Disney+ in addition to several other short films.