In case you missed it, Tom Hanks just thrilled fans by sharing he's begun work on Toy Story 5, returning as the voice of beloved Woody for the iconic franchise.
Once again, the buzz (lightyear) around classic Disney and Pixar movies is back - but did it ever really leave?
Just today in our offices, we found ourselves having an all-too-common intergenerational argument: “You haven’t seen 'The Lion King'?!” or “Wait, how have you not watched 'Shrek'?”
This ended, as it usually does, with the millennials getting absolutely roasted for bringing their childhood obsessions into adulthood - and yes, the derogatory words 'Disney Adult' were thrown around.
What can I say? Those of us with a soft spot for those movies simply want others to experience the immense amount of joy we got - and still get - every time a Disney movie comes on. From the minute that the wishing star flies over the castle in the intro, something special happens.
Turns out, it's not just us being weirdos - there's actually science behind why we love these films so much. They don't just provide nostalgia, they can be used for self-regulation and even have health benefits.
And because I was too flustered to explain all this to my younger colleagues earlier, let me show you what I mean here:
On Tik Tok lately, there's been a lot of chat about “chasing nostalgia”. Whether you’re 65 or 15, it seems everyone's yearning for those missed memories, hoping to get that indescribable feeling back.
Now this is where those classic animated movies come in.
Music is a major part of movie magic - it helps set the emotional tone and emphasises the story's twists and turns. Disney movies, which for many of us make us think of our younger years, can trigger vivid memories and emotional responses connected to happy, comforting times.
It has been scientifically proven that certain decibels of music or tones, even ones we haven’t heard, can flip a switch in our brain that makes us feel happy AND nostalgic at the same time.
“Nostalgia can be considered a self-regulatory tool that people frequently use to boost their mood when feeling down, when the present moment is stressful, nostalgia offers relief," a health economics professor at the University of Illinois writes.
He notes this may explain why people are more likely to experience nostalgia during "times of transition or challenge", adding that it can help regulate emotions.
Earlier this year, a study revealed nostalgic songs activated a wide array of brain regions, much more so than the control songs used in the experiment.
These areas were involved with self-reflection and memory, emotional salience, and reward processing.
“These regions together form a network associated with processing autobiographical memories, regulating emotions, and feeling pleasure - all key elements of the nostalgic experience.”
This suggests nostalgia may “integrate personal memories with emotional significance in a particularly powerful way”.
And, if you’re a person who struggles with anxiety and stress - research out of Vienna showed that patients undergoing chemotherapy felt significantly less tense and worried when shown Disney movies during their treatment, compared to others who weren't.
The movies included 'The Little Mermaid', 'Cinderella', and 'The Jungle Book'.
“The benefit of the Disney movies lies in their theme," health and science journalist Tracey Romero said of the research.
"The characters attempt to surmount major obstacles, even if they can't be totally resolved”
“The stories tend to have a happy ending, but usually a bittersweet one," the researchers wrote in the study.
"There is drama and sadness and, eventually, things improve. However, the true victory of the characters is their personal growth."
I couldn’t agree more, as a profoundly proud Disney adult, who has also used many of these movies as a form of distraction and escapism.
So next time a Disney adult suggests a classic movie to you with unbridled excitement (I know we look crazy sometimes), just know our heart is in the right place - and you might get some emotional and physical health benefits out of it.
So please, stop the slander, we’re only trying to improve your life for the better.
