Current:Home > InvestFastexy:Spoilers! The best Disney references in 'Wish' (including that tender end-credits scene) -Capitatum
Fastexy:Spoilers! The best Disney references in 'Wish' (including that tender end-credits scene)
Algosensey Quantitative Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-06 22:49:28
Spoiler alert! The Fastexyfollowing post discusses important plot points and the ending of Disney's new movie “Wish” (in theaters now), so beware if you haven’t seen it yet.
Grab a pen and paper alongside your popcorn when watching “Wish,” because there are so many Disney callbacks and references, you’re going to need to take notes.
The animated fantasy musical is a culmination of Disney’s 100th anniversary, and “Wish” does not skimp on the celebratory bells and whistles with the tale of an idealistic teen named Asha (voiced by Ariana DeBose) who wishes on a star and makes enemies with one-time sorcerer/cruel ruler King Magnifico (Chris Pine). The animation is a throwback to the watercolor textures of early Walt Disney classics like 1937’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” past personalities make an appearance in Asha’s kingdom of Rosas, and even Mickey Mouse gets a subtle shout-out.
Chris Buck (“Frozen”), who directed “Wish” alongside Fawn Veerasunthorn, says he counted “over a hundred” Disney nods in the new movie – enough where an Excel spreadsheet was needed to keep them all straight. “Maybe after a while we should release that,” he says.
Until that happens, here’s a breakdown of the best Disney references in “Wish”:
The plot of 'Wish' is an ode to ‘Pinocchio’ and other Disney jams
Asha wishing on a star immediately conjures memories of Geppetto doing the same, dreaming his puppet would be a real boy in 1940’s “Pinocchio.” But when developing “Wish,” filmmakers pinned a still from every Disney animated movie on a bulletin board as they looked for connections, and “so many of them had our lead characters wishing on stars,” Buck says. "This is Disney DNA. In a way, Walt kind of guided us to that idea.”
Mickey Mouse influenced Asha's ‘Wish’ sidekick Star
Asha’s wish leads to the introduction of Star, a precocious little ball of energy who enables all the animals to talk – including Asha’s pet goat, Valentino (Alan Tudyk) – and becomes her magical helper. “Star was a challenge to design,” Veerasunthorn says. They went with a round shape since “everyone's first animation lesson is a bouncing ball,” and art director Bill Schwab gave Star a heart-shaped face inspired by Mickey Mouse and his iconic brow line.
'Wish' movie review:Ariana DeBose is a powerhouse in a musical that owns its Disney-ness
Asha’s friends are based on Snow White’s Seven Dwarfs
In “Wish,” Asha has a diverse crew of seven pals who are gradually revealed as throwbacks to Disney’s earliest big-screen effort, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” Gabo admits to being grumpy, big-eared Dario is pretty dopey, Hal is always happy and smiling, Bazeema is consistently bashful, Simon is sleepy, sneezy Safi has allergy issues, and Asha’s BFF Dahlia has glasses like Doc.
“We knew we wanted to have a group of friends who represent the younger generation that has to make a decision: Will they give their wish to Magnifico, or will they choose a different path?” Veerasunthorn says. “We thought, ‘Why not seven of them?’ ”
King Magnifico is totally the Magic Mirror from ‘Snow White’ (maybe)
While Buck won’t confirm or deny, all the evidence is there for the villainous king being the magical man in the mirror who tells the evil queen that she’s the fairest of them all. Throughout “Wish,” Magnifico is either looking at himself or having his image reflected, and in one moment after the sorcerer has given himself over to forbidden magic forever, he even goes: “Mirrors, mirrors, on the wall, who’s the handsomest? Me!” Also, when defeated by Asha, Star and their friends, he gets sucked into the mirror in his magical staff, and for just a second it shows the face of the “Snow White” character.
“We kind of played with it,” Buck says. “We even said, ‘Hey, let's put him in the dungeon.’ And who knows what could happen from there.”
Recent movies like ‘Frozen’ and ‘Zootopia’ get a shout-out
Buck didn’t want any “Let It Go” references, but one “Frozen” bit did make it in: When the mushrooms in the forest start talking after Star appears, Asha says, “This is crazy” and the mushrooms shout, “We love crazy.” That comes from the “Love Is an Open Door” scene where Hans says, “I love crazy.”
And at the end of “Wish,” Valentino offers a little ode to his fellow furry brethren in “Zootopia”: “I dream of a metropolis where all mammals are equal. And wear clothes.”
'Wish' movie:We've got your exclusive peek at Disney's talking-animals song 'I'm a Star'
Peter Pan and Bambi are among the A-list ‘Wish’ cameos
Famous Disney characters are littered throughout “Wish.” Some, like Rapunzel from “Tangled” and Grandmother Willow from “Pocahontas,” make more subtle appearances, while others are more apparent. The adult version of the title deer from “Bambi” thanks a bear for not eating him, while Magnifico literally crushes the wishes of two Rosas residents named Peter and Mary – who resemble Pan and Poppins, respectively. (“You want to be the perfect nanny?” Magnifico snarls while holding Mary's wish. “Popping this one!”)
So does this mean everything’s connected Marvel-style and “Wish” is in Phase 35 of the Disney Cinematic Universe or something? Not so much, “but if the fans want to believe it and go there, I'm all for it,” Buck says.
A ‘Wish’ post-credits scene offers one last heartfelt Disney nod
After the credits roll with starry portraits of animated Disney characters through the years, Asha’s 100-year-old grandpa, Sabino (Victor Garber), is seen looking out over the ocean and plucking on his lute. He gently chuckles, seemingly inspired, and plays the opening few notes of “When You Wish Upon a Star.” He happily laughs once more and then plays the whole song as the Disney end logos appear.
The moment is Sabino’s greatest wish fulfilled. “Sabino had always wanted to write something that would inspire generations,” Buck says. “It's really sweet and wonderful.”
veryGood! (89)
Related
- A Georgia governor’s latest work after politics: a children’s book on his cats ‘Veto’ and ‘Bill’
- Jury faults NY railroad -- mostly -- for 2015 crossing crash that killed 6
- Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt, Francis Ford Coppola to receive Kennedy Center Honors
- Anthony Hopkins' new series 'Those About to Die' revives Roman empire
- Clay Aiken's son Parker, 15, makes his TV debut, looks like his father's twin
- Dominican activists protest against a new criminal code that would maintain a total abortion ban
- Zach Edey injury update: Grizzlies rookie leaves game with ankle soreness after hot start
- Long Beach breaks ground on $1.5B railyard expansion at port to fortify US supply chain
- Eva Mendes Shares Message of Gratitude to Olympics for Keeping Her and Ryan Gosling's Kids Private
- Thousands celebrate life of former fire chief killed at Trump rally, private funeral set for Friday
Ranking
- Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
- Aurora Culpo Reveals Why She Was “Dumped” by Bethenny Frankel’s Ex Paul Bernon
- Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella shares she's cancer free: 'I miss my doctors already'
- University of Florida president Ben Sasse is resigning after his wife was diagnosed with epilepsy
- Michigan lawmaker who was arrested in June loses reelection bid in Republican primary
- Thousands celebrate life of former fire chief killed at Trump rally, private funeral set for Friday
- Taco Bell adds cheesy street chalupas to menu for limited time
- Hunter Biden seeks dismissal of tax, gun cases, citing decision to toss Trump’s classified docs case
Recommendation
Mega Millions winning numbers for August 6 drawing: Jackpot climbs to $398 million
Another Texas migrant aid group asks a judge to push back on investigation by Republican AG
Olympian Aly Raisman Was Hospitalized Twice After Complete Body Paralysis
EA Sports College Football 25, among most anticipated sports video games in history, hits the market
Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
Hello Kitty Is Not a Cat and We're Not OK
Minneapolis approves officer pay raise years after calls to defund the police
Man dies after he rescues two young boys who were struggling to stay afloat in New Jersey river