**Disney Live-Action Remakes: Behind-the-Scenes Nuggets and Key Insights**

- **Power of Nostalgia & Brand Legacy**: Disney leverages its deep library of classic animated films because the brands and characters hold powerful nostalgic value for multiple generations.

By revisiting beloved characters like the Genie (Aladdin) or the Little Mermaid, Disney connects older audiences to their childhoods and introduces timeless tales to new fans, creating cross-generational cultural touchpoints.

- **Financial Motivation**: Nostalgia translates into financial profit.

Disney’s remakes are consistently major box office draws (The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast grossed over $1B worldwide each), demonstrating that audiences are eager for familiar stories presented in new, visually updated forms.

- **Artistic & Technological Evolution**: Advances in technology enable new interpretations—‘technology and the artistry are merging.’ Live-action and photorealistic remakes offer new visual experiences but struggle to find the same magic as animation for some, with animators and directors bringing their own creative souls to each project.

- **Story & Character Adaptation**: Modern remakes aren't direct copies.

Examples include integrating new characters (e.g.

Queen Salina), giving greater nuance or agency to princesses (e.g.

Mulan’s transformation to a warrior), and updating themes to reflect contemporary values—such as diversity (Halle Bailey as Ariel), gender norms, and social justice.

Casting choices (like the new Little Mermaid), voice, and spirit are prioritized over strict visual similarity to the original, resulting in both praise and debate.

- **Public & Critical Reaction**: Responses to remakes are mixed—some facelifts (like new characters or expanded backgrounds) are welcomed, others (casting or story changes) create controversies, as with Peter Dinklage’s criticism of the planned Seven Dwarfs.

**Disney Live-Action Remakes: Behind-the-Scenes Nuggets and Key Insights**

- **Power of Nostalgia & Brand Legacy**: Disney leverages its deep library of classic animated films because the brands and characters hold powerful nostalgic value for multiple generations.

Title:

Content: The Wonderful World of Disney’s 100th Anniversary Special: A Joyful Reunion of Beloved Characters

News

The highly anticipated Disney’s 100th Anniversary Special is set to air on ABC at 8 p.m. on Sunday, October 15, 2023. Hosted Kelly Ripa, the special will kick off with an episode of “America’s Funniest Videos” before bringing together an all-star ensemble of beloved characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Titled “Once Upon a Studio,” the special aims to create a joyful, entertaining, and emotional reunion as more than 500 characters from over 85 Disney feature-length and short films come together for a spectacular group photo. This gathering serves as a momentous milestone to celebrate not only Disney’s rich history but also its cultural impact.

“Once Upon a Studio” promises to showcase new hand-drawn and computer-generated animation, highlighting 10 decades of storytelling, artistry, and technological achievements. In addition to the reunion, the special will include sneak peeks of upcoming Disney projects, as well as world broadcast premieres of the new animated short film, “Once Upon a Studio,” and the beloved Oscar-winning feature, “Encanto.”

To catch the special, viewers have the option to live stream ABC on fuboTV or DirecTV Stream. FuboTV offers over 100 live and on-demand channels, including popular networks like AMC, ESPN, HGTV, and NBC Sports. Their plans range from $69.99 to $99.99 a month, with a seven-day free trial available. On the other hand, DirecTV Stream provides access to more than 100 channels, unlimited Cloud DVR storage, and the ability to stream on up to three devices simultaneously. Their packages start from $64.99 to $154.99 a month, with a five-day free trial.

Join the festivities and witness this once-in-a-lifetime gathering of Disney’s most iconic characters as they commemorate the magic, wonder, and legacy of Disney’s 100th anniversary.

Sources:
– ABC
– FuboTV
– DirecTV Stream

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

By turning classic animations into live-action films with major stars

By revisiting beloved characters like the Genie (Aladdin) or the Little Mermaid, Disney connects older audiences to their childhoods and introduces timeless tales to new fans, creating cross-generational cultural touchpoints.

- **Financial Motivation**: Nostalgia translates into financial profit.

Title:

Content: Walt Disney Animation Head Jennifer Lee On Setting Up The Next Generation Of Artists [Exclusive Interview]

We're technically in the middle of Disney's centennial celebration, but for the iconic animation studio, the party is just getting started. After news came out earlier this month that nearly 30 restored animated shorts from the Walt Disney Animation Studios vault will be released on Disney+, the studio had a triumphant presentation at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival to reminisce on the past while also looking at the future.

First, the studio presented their latest animated short, "Once Upon a Studio," directed by Dan Abraham and Trent Correy, possibly the most magical thing they've done in years and a short that pays homage to the studio's 100-year-old history, the characters, and the animators that made the studio what it is. Then, audiences were treated to about 20 minutes of "Wish," the upcoming Disney animated musical feature which brings back the Disney villain, and does some cool things with its visuals. That film is directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn (in her feature directorial debut), and written by Allison Moore and Jennifer Lee, the latter of whom also wrote and co-directed "Frozen" and serves as chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios.

/Film caught up with Lee shortly after the footage presentation of "Wish," where she talked about the future of Walt Disney Animation Studios, bringing back an actual villain for "Wish," and why animation is so special.

Note: This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.

'Technology and the artistry are merging'

The short film "Once Upon a Studio" includes a lot of different animation styles, while "Wish" looks different than many Disney films. What sort of experimentation is in store for the studio going into its second century?

Well, what I think particularly with the short and "Wish" is, and I think it's happening across animation, we're finally arriving at that place where technology and the artistry are merging in a way that I think is everyone's dream. I think of the incredible production designer, Lisa Keen, and the painting she did for "Frozen," but then they'd be translated into CG and they'd sort of be degrees away. But now, those paintings, that look, can make it onto the screen. And we've all been working on this for a long time. It's mattered. And with us, we were able to build it on a short scale, but to build it for a feature, we started, I think, when we met with the design team, the dream they said would be to be able to honor those watercolors from "Sleeping Beauty." "Sleeping Beauty" was such an inspiration for "Frozen" in terms of framing, but to get to do it, and we said, "Well, it's our hundredth, we have to have that goal, and they've been working on the technology for years."

I was saying just a couple months ago, we bumped into an issue where we didn't have it lined up to do water. So we had to brainstorm and work together and they figured it out because the scene was too important and they wanted to earn it, and there's nothing like a challenge for a technologist. That's what they want. "What's the next challenge?" So now we're hitting this place, we're going, "Okay, the look can go in many directions. That is so exciting," and it's really going to come down to the identity of the artists themselves coming through more. I think that is the best case scenario.

Building foundations

You talked during the studio presentation about the pairing of fresh talent with veterans, and you yourself were mentored by a veteran of the studio. Why is that important not just at an animator level, but on a key role like a director?

Well, I mean, all of these films are hard. Every one of them is hard to make. One of the things that our veteran filmmakers have is, they've been through it. They've been through a lot. They've had to redo things a lot. They felt the pain of failure, they felt the joy of success, and they have the layers of life. The new generation has talent. I mean, more and more talent out there. And they come in, and to go through your first film, I always say it's going to break your heart a little bit, over and over again, because it's not enough to dream. We all have dreams that we think, "Oh, if we could only make that." You look back at Walt and what it took for him to make "Snow White," and how it almost failed and it was a fight for every frame. There's never a shortcut in every movie.

So with our veteran filmmakers — and obviously you have someone like Eric [Goldberg, veteran Disney animator] who is everything, he is the talent and the years and the fight in him, and we've got an apprentice program that we've formed for the new generation of hand-drawn. And he's not just bringing skill this way, he's bringing those layers of life. To me, none of this is for the faint of heart. I think being creative, you are always vulnerable. So what we can do is build a good foundation and it's just important. For me, that's the big focus of where I want to go from here, is getting those voices that I'm finding so fresh and exciting, but how do you help them succeed? Because that takes more than just talent. [laughs] We all know, it's a fight. So I think that's what I'm most excited about.

'We've wanted to really celebrate a delicious villain for a while'

One thing that was really exciting about the footage was the villain. Why was that important to have in the film, and from your perspective, what makes a great Disney villain?

Yeah. We've wanted to really celebrate a delicious villain for a while. And we've had fun really straying where, I think in life, for a period of time we were exploring how the villain is not always so clear. Sometimes it's ourselves or thematic. But that idea of those villains, and the song, and we love that deliciousness of their evil. [laughs] So the daunting task of creating one, I think what really worked for us with this is we listened to our story artists, we listened to our audience, and people are saying, "I want him not just to be arch, though, I want to know" what we didn't always do, which was tell you why or how did they make those choices? You sort of meet them fully formed and they could be wonderful, but what makes Magnifico different? So we said, "Okay, from the first frame of the film, you're going to feel the journey of this person from the relatable part of ourselves." You get to see, as you saw in a scene when the villain and the protagonists are completely aligned and then you see as their philosophies diverge, you get to watch ... because we never want to say, "Anyone like this will make this choice." It's that this man makes this choice, this woman makes that choice, and it's so fun to watch. And Chris Pine was big on that and it's part of why we wanted to work with him. He's so smart, he holds the character accountable. So it was just so fun to build Magnifico with him, because you couldn't just take anything for granted. So for me, what's been great is getting ... you only saw the first couple of scenes, but getting to that place with him that we think is delicious, but watching him get there has been such a thrill ride for us.

'That did a lot for us in terms of trust'

From a production standpoint, we're three years into the pandemic. How has that impacted the way the studio looks at new projects? Has anything changed in your approach to either the stories you want to tell or the animation pipeline?

I think, in a good way, what we learned about ourselves during Covid was, we built "Raya" and "Encanto" completely [separately]. No one was together and the whole productions were done from home. So I felt like we showed that we understood each other enough and we could carry the same vision from multiple homes. And that did a lot for us in terms of trust. So what we have now is this place where, as people are coming back and this collaboration that it's kind of like we've been through a lot together, so there's no formality, and that makes, for me, I think that makes for a much more wonderful creative space. But I think the big thing is, it's not even about Covid, it's about, as I say, that new generation. I'm more aware than ever of their power and what they can do, but I'm also more aware of that responsibility.

So where I look at is what excites people about storytelling evolves and it's hard when you're getting old to look to yourself. I have certain things I can bring, but it's my job to make sure that I'm spotting that talent and giving them that platform and support and then letting them take it. And I think that's how Eric is helping new generations. That's what we've done that keeps us Disney, is continuing to let that new generation help us evolve, but setting them up for success. So I feel like that has less to do with Covid and just more to do with, here we are. I mean, I've been in this role five years. I've been in the studio 12 years. I came in under 40 and now I'm over 50. So it's time. I think of that. And you hear them banging on the door and they challenge the storytelling, and it's great.

'They're artists. They're not Disney artists. They do work for Disney, but they bring their soul and their tastes come with them'

Serving as both a writer and a producer on "Wish," what was the key element that made this right for the hundredth year celebration?

Well, what I love though is we all started talking as a group, all the directors would get together and we'd meet with story artists and just leave it open and talk about all these fantastical fun ideas. But what kept coming back were certain things — yes, the villain, but this idea of the wishing on stars. That little clip we showed [a montage of Disney characters throughout the years looking at the stars], that was put together before we had the film. Someone just put it together who was inspired to say, "This is something that's a part of us." And you felt it come. Then Chris, he didn't set out to direct it originally, but it spoke to him so clearly. And Fawn, she was such a powerhouse right away.

Then what happened with us is as we were developing the character, Star changed quite a bit. Star originally could talk and took different forms, sometimes human form. And it was really saying, "But that's not what Star is. Star is hope, possibility, wonder — those things don't have the power, they have the power to inspire you." And then I started watching panda bears and how ridiculously funny they were and felt that curious innocence and we said, "What if Star is just that?" And then they said, "You can see this. I think you need to write a draft." And luckily Allison Moore was there in the room every day, but I could come in. But it didn't happen where it was no moment of an order. It was more of, as people were drawn to it and they got it, they just formed the team. And I felt very lucky that, when they asked me to write it and I had no time, but how could I not? It was such an honor.

Disney has always been a studio strong in its traditions, and its recognizability. I'm curious, with something like "Wish," where do you look for pushing boundaries while also keeping those traditions?

All our artists are looking all the time. They're artists. They're not Disney artists. They do work for Disney, but they bring their soul and their tastes come with them, and what they see in the world inspires them. That's great about this industry. Every day there's always buzzes of what's going on. But I think if I look at "Tangled" as a good example of understanding the fairytale, our first sort of CG princess and this nod to the past, but this embracing of this technology, which was a little scary, I'm sure. I wasn't there, so I can only guess. But to say, the approach they took, it kind of showed us where we could go and be more playful. If there hadn't been "Tangled," there would not have been "Frozen." So I'm very grateful that we took some bold steps.

'It's the greatest form of flattery, I guess'

There's been a lot of live-action remakes of Disney movies, both classics and newer ones. From an animation standpoint, does that push you to make visuals more distinct or even just "easier" to adapt? Does it at all affect the mentality going into a new project?

No, I mean, very, very politely, we completely build these independently. We don't think ahead of the live-action. We're honored if it happens. It's the greatest form of flattery, I guess. But I do think, one of the things I love — to me, what defines animation is it is truly transportive in a way that it speaks to your imagination, not to your reality. And so I think in terms of, personally, the looks that I'm inspired by, of where I do feel I'm in a believable world and it feels alive, but it is wholly nothing of our world. It's a place that I can truly escape to. I think that means a lot to a lot of us. So to me, the easy part of it is, if the goal is reality, the technology can go that way. But animation is not about that. What I love about animation is, it starts with a dream and everything is built and the more we can be transported to something we've never seen, the more excited I get.

Lastly, when it comes to "Wish" or any future projects as you are working through development, especially just that first brainstorming phase, what is the balance or even just your personal feelings in terms of wanting to look back at the history of Disney versus looking at what is possible now with new technology and new ideas?

Yeah, yeah. For me, there's not an overall philosophy about it. I do think it's director and artist by artist. And so what we'll do on one film, we won't do on another, and we'll try a whole different ... "Zootopia" and "Wreck-It-Ralph" are nothing like "Frozen." And I think that we'll do that for everything where we take it one film at a time. I think what I always have to trust is what inspires those artists. But I do think when we think about the legacy, to me, there are certain things that I think are wholly Disney, which are films that give hope. Films where you can escape, where you feel like you belong, that you feel that it can become yours. And there's always an element, hopefully, of joy. But we're not afraid to go into deep, dark places. All fairytales do.

But I think that's what we do say is a part of who we are. And I think for so many of us there, it's this thing we share, which is for so much of our lives, starting from our first memories to now, Disney was a place for us to go no matter what was happening in the world, and we could feel this escape. And it was an escape that left you feeling things are possible. I do think that's part of who we are, foundationally, that we all think about. How we get there should be very different each time. And obviously the musicals, the musicals, the musicals, because we love them.

"Wish" arrives in theaters on November 22, 2023.

How successful was the 2019 live-action version of The Lion King?

Worldwide revenues exceeded one billion dollars

What motivates Disney to keep producing live-action remakes despite mixed reviews?

Disney’s remakes are consistently major box office draws (The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast grossed over $1B worldwide each), demonstrating that audiences are eager for familiar stories presented in new, visually updated forms.

Title:

Content: How Disney Brought Back Robin Williams' Genie for 2023's Once Upon a Studio (Exclusive)

By Russ Milheim Posted:

Two key producers from Disney Animation revealed how they brought the late Robin Williams’ Genie back for the company’s newest short, Once Upon a Studio.

In 2023, Disney is celebrating its 100th anniversary. To do that, the studio is dipping into its extensive history to create a new short that pulls from over 85 of the company’s previous feature-length films and shorts.

This new project is called Once Upon a Studio, and it will see 543 Disney Animation characters come to life in a whole new way. Not only that, but it will even feature crossovers that fans have only ever dreamed of.

Have you ever wanted to see Moana and Flounder share a moment together, or Tinker Bell with Mickey Mouse?

Many things became possible when Disney set its eyes on making this impressive new short a reality, which also served as the opportunity to bring together scores of classic characters.

Bringing Back the Genie

Brad Simonsen and Yvett Merino, the producers for Disney Animation’s newest short, Once Upon a Studio, spoke exclusively to The Direct about the new project and revealed how they worked to bring Robin Williams’ Genie back for a brief moment.

Robin Williams debuted as the voice of the legendary Genie in 1992's Aladdin but refused to return for 1994's Aladdin 2 due to a merchandising-related fallout. The disagreement was later settled and the comedy icon returned as the Genie for the 1996 direct-to-video threequel, Aladdin and the King of Thieves.

Simonsen shared that “[they] knew from the beginning” that Williams’ iconic Genie needed to partake in the fun, so the team “reached out almost immediately to [the late actor’s] estate:”

“... We knew from the beginning that the Genie needed to be in this movie, right? So we reached out almost immediately to [Robin William's] estate. And we started sharing with them what we were up to. And then what we did is we actually looked at outtakes. Dan Abraham, our director, looked at outtakes from the recorded sessions and then chose those lines.”

He continued, noting that they quickly “went back to the family” to “[make] sure that [they] were on the journey together:”

“And then we went back to the family and the estate and shared, 'Hey, this is the specificity. [Disney animator] Eric Goldberg is going to be part of this.' So it was really a collaboration with them. And us making sure that we were on the journey together.”

As for the short itself, Merino added how the “first cut was about 12 minutes long” and figuring the final version out quickly became “a balancing act:”

“I think [the] first cut [with Directors Dan Abraham and Trent Correy] was about 12 minutes long. It was like, we can't make a 12-minute short in this amount of time. So we had to really make sure, be careful, that every interaction that we have was timed specifically to that interaction. It became as like, 'Oh, we're spending a little bit more time on this, and it takes away from this.' So, it became like a balancing act of doing that.”

But with such an ambitious short, Merino confirmed that Once Upon a Studio unsurprisingly posed “a lot of unique challenges,” namely in marrying multiple styles of animation while also taking place in a live-action setting:

“There were a lot of unique challenges in this one. I think bringing in the various styles of hand-drawn and CG into our studio and making it feel like they actually are walking in our studio and walking the halls and making them blend seamlessly.”

The producer continued, pointing out the shot with “Moana and Flounder,” an interaction that was “difficult to make them look like they’re living in the same world:”

“There's the shot… the Moana shot because that's in the trailer; like the Moana and Flounder shot, right. And when you're interacting, you're not only having them in the same scene, which is difficult to make them look like they're living in the same world, but they're actually interacting, holding, and touching. And so it's really a credit to the incredible talent of artists and technicians and production people that we have here in the studio to make sure it all works together.”

Simonsen jumped in to explain how they worked closely with production designer Ryan Long, the directors, and animator Eric Goldberg “to make sure that everything was working:”

“I was just gonna say, Ryan Lang, our production designer, we worked really, you know, closely, Dan and Trent worked really closely with him and Eric Goldberg to really do these tests. So we'd take, like, a single frame, and he'd paint over, and we'd really work with the artists to make sure that everything was working together. So each shot had kind of that love.”

One key element of many Disney animated projects is the musical elements. While there is a moment towards the end of the short, fans shouldn’t expect these many characters to be consistently singing tunes as they glide through the halls of the Roy E. Disney Animation Building.

But were more songs ever considered? Simonsen shared that maintaining the balance between all these character moments and musical numbers “would be very hard to do:”

“What we realized was with every second you're with a character, you're taking away time from another character when you're trying to get as many in as possible. So it would be very hard to do musical numbers and still keep that pace that we have.”

Merino expressed how Once Upon a Studio “was a fun one to screen [internally]” because many of the notes would center around adding new characters or moments into the story:

“This one… was a fun one to screen [internally] because the notes were more about like, 'Oh, well, remember this character? Oh, try to get this character.' And there were some good story notes about making sure that we keep a drive alive within the short. It was really fun because we have so many great directors and writers in our studio who have such a history here. They were like, 'Oh, you can put this character in there. Oh, what about this?' So it was a lot of fun. Yeah.”

Brad Simonsen added how they “did a survey to the entire studio” that encouraged people to pitch their ideas to the team:

“Yeah... And we even did a survey actually, after the original pitch, we did a survey to the entire studio and said, 'Hey, if you have ideas, please, please pitch them.' And one of those ideas that came out of that was the moment near the end of the short as they're all gathering. Where Oswald actually tips his hat to Mickey, and Mickey says, 'After you.' That was literally--someone suggested that as one of our team members, yeah.”

The conversation then pivoted to two of Disney Animation’s biggest franchises and their future.

The first topic at hand was Encanto, a film that quickly became a fan favorite after it debuted in 2021. The Direct asked the producers what audiences should expect from the franchise going forward, to which Yvett Merino confirmed that the team is “[continuing] to kind of look at different ways that [they] can keep the world alive:”

“I think we will continue to work on what that actually means. But we are so blown away by the reaction and how 'Encanto' kind of connected with so many people. We continue to kind of look at different ways that we can keep the world alive. I know they teased a little bit of Destination D23 about something 'Encanto' coming, possibly to one of the parks. And we love that…”

The producer continued, admitting she “[doesn’t] have anything official to say” but she’s excited to see the franchise “expand across the company:”

“… There's different—we're working closely with our friends in publishing and consumer products to make sure—there's always different ideas and needs and wants for, for it to stay alive out there. But I don't have anything official to say, but I love the 'Encanto' world and can't wait to see it expand across the company.”

The Direct then asked about the studio's upcoming animated sequel Zootopia 2 to see if the producers could share any fun teases.

Brad Simonsen was able to say he “know[s] that this next one’s going to take it to another level” compared to the original:

“We're all super excited about it. And it's a world that, you know, I was part of the first movie, and it was one of the most amazing experiences in my life, to be honest. And I know that this next one's going to take it to another level and be, as you know, as good or better than the first. So we're super excited about that project.”

More Disney Crossovers to Come?

Once Upon a Studio is definitely different than Disney Animation’s usual shorts, but fans are undoubtedly going to fall in love with it. Seeing all of these classic characters interact in previously inconceivable ways scratches an itch many never realized they had.

Maybe if the short really catches on, Disney Animation could commission a larger project that would allow Disney’s large library of characters to interact in similarly unique ways. Hopefully, fans won’t have to wait another hundred years before some more crossovers like this happen again.

The next step in celebrating Disney’s 100th anniversary will be the release of Wish, the company’s next animated movie, which will be released on November 22. The film follows Asha, a young girl who wishes for a star, only to get a much more direct and magical response than she ever would have thought.

Once Upon a Studio will make its Disney+ debut on Monday, October 16.

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

By turning classic animations into live-action films with major stars

How successful was the 2019 live-action version of The Lion King?

Worldwide revenues exceeded one billion dollars

What motivates Disney to keep producing live-action remakes despite mixed reviews?

- **Artistic & Technological Evolution**: Advances in technology enable new interpretations—‘technology and the artistry are merging.’ Live-action and photorealistic remakes offer new visual experiences but struggle to find the same magic as animation for some, with animators and directors bringing their own creative souls to each project.

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

By turning classic animations into live-action films with major stars

- **Story & Character Adaptation**: Modern remakes aren't direct copies.

Title:

Content: It’s possible that being an only child was one reason I was not exposed to the phenomenon of Disney princess worship during my youth. On the other hand, the lack of a coordinated merchandising effort during the 1970s probably had much more to do with the fact that the company’s princess lineup wasn’t yet emerging as a cultural trend.

In that decade, Disney focused most of its marketing on the so-called “Sensational Six” core characters, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Goofy, Donald Duck, and Daisy Duck; along with product tie-ins to the 1977’s “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.”

Of course, Disney had only made three princess movies up to that time. Those included 1937’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” 1950’s “Cinderella,” and 1959’s “Sleeping Beauty.” Following the introduction of Aurora in 1959, Disney would make moviegoers wait 30 years for the next princess to arrive in a film that would herald the start of the Disney Renaissance.

And that film was 1989’s “The Little Mermaid.”

Written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, the 28th Disney animated feature film was very loosely based on the 1837 Danish fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen. It boasted a string of memorable songs that brought imbued the production with Broadway panache. Alan Menken wrote the score, and collaborated with Howard Ashman on the songs. The film scored three Academy Award nominations, winning two for Best Original Score and Best Original Song for “Under the Sea.”

The animated film featured the voices of Jodi Benson, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Pat Carroll, Samuel E. Wright, Jason Marin, Kenneth Mars, and Buddy Hackett.

Buoyed by the success of “The Little Mermaid,” the Disney Renaissance ran from the late 1980s to the late 1990s and unleashed a series of critically and commercially successful animated films. Of the 10 films considered part of this period, five were Disney princess films. By 2000, the list of Disney princess included Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, and Mulan. Andy Mooney, a former Nike executive who had been named president of Walt Disney Company's Disney Consumer Products division, saw an opportunity. He pitched the Disney Princess franchise line — and a generation of children became entranced consumers.

More than 20 years have gone by since the end of the Disney Renaissance and the official launch of Disney’s Princess Line. These days, Walt Disney Pictures is focused on making live-action adaptations of its animated films. The latest of these is “The Little Mermaid,” directed by Rob Marshall from a screenplay written by David Magee. The film was released theatrically on May 26.

When evaluating a remake, adaptation, or reinterpretation of a classic film, one must consider not only the quality of the new film, but also how it compares to the original. It’s not enough to ask if the film entertaining and well executed. One must also determine what makes the remake valuable in its own right.

“The Little Mermaid” is set in the 1830s in the Caribbean. Ariel (Halle Bailey), youngest child of King Triton (Javier Bardem), lives in an underwater kingdom. Disney wisely mentions in its synopsis of the film that Ariel is 18 years old — not 16, as she was in the animated version.

Unlike her older sisters, Ariel is defiant and rebellious. She is captivated by a world beyond her reach, defying her father’s orders to study humans and collect their possessions from shipwrecks. She is often joined in this endeavor by her aquatic companions Flounder and Sebastian (voiced by Jacob Tremblay and Daveed Diggs, respectively); as well as by the birdbrained Scuttle (voiced by Awkwafina), a seabird whose understanding of human culture is amusingly erroneous.

When a sailing ship she has been watching is destroyed in a storm, she rescues Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King). When Triton learns Ariel interacted with the surface world, he goes on an overprotective father rampage, destroying her collection of bric-a-bracs, baubles, and curios while reiterating his mandate that she should not indulge her inclination to learn, explore, or meet new people. Ironically, Prince Eric’s adoptive mother, Queen Salina (Noma Dumezweni) places similar constraints upon him because she is fearful of the outside world and of losing her son.

Desperate to be reunited with Prince Eric — who she is in love with despite the fact that the two haven’t even actually met at this point — Ariel turns to Triton’s evil sister Ursula (Melissa McCarthy), a scheming sea witch who sees this as an opportunity to oust Triton and take power over all the world’s oceans. Ursula strikes a deal with Ariel, giving her legs in exchange for her voice. There’s a catch: If Ariel fails to receive true love’s kiss from Eric before the end of three days, she will become Ursula’s property. To make sure Ariel fails, Ursula also causes her to forget about needing to score that kiss.

That’s just the setup. If it seems a bit drawn out, imagine how it feels watching it on the screen. With a runtime of 2 hours and 15 minutes — 53 minutes longer than the 1989 animated version — it sometimes feels like we’re treading water. One wonders if, in a post-pandemic world filled with ADHD brains, kids can manage to maintain focus on this narrative that meanders its way from scene to scene without a sense of urgency. Sebastian and Flounder know that there is a looming deadline, but in this version of the story, Ariel has been robbed of that knowledge. In the animated version, she at least had a specific objective. She actively worked toward that goal. In this version, she is a starry-eyed young woman crushing on someone she barely knows, drifting dreamily between infatuation and limerence.

Because it is both a retelling of a classic fairy tale and a redesign of a beloved Disney property, the film suffers from a pronounced scarcity of creativity and originality. There are updates to the story, changes in individual characters, and a few additional songs. Some of these facelifts work, such as the addition of Queen Salina. Some of these addendum fall flat, such as Eric’s song “Wild Uncharted Waters,” written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda’s song “The Scuttlebutt,” performed by Awkwafina and Diggs, is a more palatable add-on, despite that fact that it is jarringly different tonally from other music in the film.

All the film’s flaws and miscalculations can be forgiven by its most impressive saving grace: Bailey’s performance is as remarkable as it is enchanting. Bailey stands out again and again in the murky, sketchy CGI undersea sequences, glowing with charisma and agency. She brings the magic that is noticeably lacking in elsewhere in the film, balancing the nostalgia of childhood memories with a contemporary attitude. She carries this film on her shoulders, filling it with a sense of wonder and awe that will inspire children to seek out unexplored horizons and work toward achieving their dreams.

Mind you: I’d prefer Ariel did not have to literally transform — for a man — to be deemed successful. This version somewhat mitigates that theme. Personal transformation is fine when prompted by a desire to become a better person, while self-change enacted strictly to please an individual or a group is unwise and unhealthy.

The film also features recurring examples — both subtle and palpable — that show gender equity, diversity, and inclusivity are beneficial to society. These are the very same principled concepts extremist legislators and ultraconservative judicial officials currently vilify as “woke,” as if being socially aware, compassionate, and empathetic has somehow become objectionable. If you ascribe to that mindset, you should probably skip this movie.

The bottom line is “The Little Mermaid” may not be as artistically inspired as the animated version, but a standout performance by Bailey keeps the film afloat. It frequently captures the kinetic energy of a Broadway stage production, delighting audiences both with signature songs and newly added sequences that enhance the story and the characters. It is consistently entertaining, with sporadic moments of dazzling brilliance.

If you don’t trust an old curmudgeon to properly evaluate a Disney Princess film, I’ll share a few points my 16-year-old daughter made.

According to B.C. Zumpe, the film’s CGI could have been better. She particularly enjoyed a scene in which Ariel and Eric are dancing in a village near his castle, while a Caribbean band plays.

“Some people want all the characters to look exactly like the originals,” she said. “It wouldn’t be fair if Disney excluded Halle just because of her skin color. They chose her for her voice and her spirit. Even if you’re only upset because she looks different from the Ariel you grew up with, you can’t expect them to keep everything the way you want it.”

My daughter also felt that Awkwafina did a good job in voicing Scuttle. She appreciated how the film promoted the idea that it is good to interact with other cultures and be open to new ideas.

She’s a good kid.

Photo courtesy of DISNEY

Halle Bailey stars as Ariel and Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric in “The Little Mermaid.”

Photo courtesy of DISNEY

Melissa McCarthy stars as Ursula in “The Little Mermaid.”

Examples include integrating new characters (e.g.

According to John Musker, what should Disney prioritize in its remakes?

What criticisms did the live-action Little Mermaid face from reviewers?

Adding redundant and uninteresting elements

Queen Salina), giving greater nuance or agency to princesses (e.g.

According to John Musker, what should Disney prioritize in its remakes?

Mulan’s transformation to a warrior), and updating themes to reflect contemporary values—such as diversity (Halle Bailey as Ariel), gender norms, and social justice.

Casting choices (like the new Little Mermaid), voice, and spirit are prioritized over strict visual similarity to the original, resulting in both praise and debate.

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

By turning classic animations into live-action films with major stars

What aspect of Disney's strategy has been questioned due to the mixed reception of The Little Mermaid?

What controversy did Disney's The Little Mermaid spark globally?

Debate over both Ariel's casting and racial representation.

- **Public & Critical Reaction**: Responses to remakes are mixed—some facelifts (like new characters or expanded backgrounds) are welcomed, others (casting or story changes) create controversies, as with Peter Dinklage’s criticism of the planned Seven Dwarfs.

Title:

Content: Skip to main content Skip to header navigation

Peter Dinklage Has Every Right to Be Outraged Over the Live-Action Seven Dwarfs Movie Planned by Disney

Disney is finding itself in the hot seat after actor Peter Dinklage called them out for their upcoming live-action remake of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It seems that the film company was patting themselves on the back for casting Rachel Zegler, who is of Colombian descent, as Snow White while not giving much thought to how the seven dwarfs would be portrayed.

Dinklage started the conversation on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast, sharing his displeasure with how Disney has handled the situation from the get-go. “Literally no offense to anyone,” he said. “But I was a little taken aback when they were very proud to cast a Latina actress as Snow White — but you’re still telling the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” The four-time Emmy winner is right about this because without the seven dwarfs, there is no story. At the same time, the depiction of the characters doesn’t hold up in 2022.

“Take a step back and look at what you’re doing there. It makes no sense to me,” Dinklage explained. “You’re progressive in one way, but then you’re still making that f**king backward story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together? What the f**k are you doing, man? Have I done nothing to advance the cause from my soapbox? I guess I’m not loud enough.” Disney heard him loud and clear, but they were a bit vague in their response to The Game of Thrones actor’s concerns.

“To avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, we are taking a different approach with these seven characters and have been consulting with members of the dwarfism community,” the statement to The Hollywood Reporter read, “We look forward to sharing more as the film heads into production after a lengthy development period.” It sounds like they are having to do a hard pivot before they begin filming. Did they really give the dwarfs any thought before Dinklage’s comments were heard on the podcast? It seems like the characters were just an afterthought until Dinklage’s call to action woke Disney up from a deep sleep on their societal contributions as to how the dwarfs are portrayed in the media.

Before you go, click here to see all the nostalgic hits getting movie and TV reboots.


**Nugget Summary: Tai Chi, Balance, and Fall Prevention for Older Adults**

- **Falls in Older Adults:** Falls are a significant health risk for seniors, often leading to serious injuries like hip fractures or head trauma.

Once an older adult falls, their risk for future falls increases, potentially resulting in loss of independence and increased likelihood of nursing home placement.

Not only physical harm, but also a fear of falling can develop after an incident, reducing activity and confidence.

- **Risk Factors & Prevention:** Modifiable risk factors for falls include poor balance, gait instability, weakness, and alcohol use.

Regular assessment by a physician or physical therapist is key; discussing any new balance or gait issues or musculoskeletal pain is important.

- **Evidence for Exercise:** Exercise programs specifically designed to prevent falls have been shown in reviews to reduce the number and severity of fall-related injuries.

These programs help maintain functional independence and reduce the economic burden related to falls.

- **Tai Chi for Balance:** Tai Chi, a gentle mind-body exercise involving slow, controlled movements and shifts in weight, is repeatedly recommended for improving stability and coordination in older adults.

Studies indicate Tai Chi and similar balance exercises (including yoga or balance drills like standing on one leg) are effective for fall prevention and can also enhance overall longevity and physical function.

- **Supporting Research:** A study published in the BMJ highlighted that the ability to balance on one leg was a robust predictor of longevity.

The benefits of Tai Chi and balance exercises extend beyond fall prevention, also engaging the brain and muscles and supporting overall health.

- **Practical Aspects:** Tai Chi can be accessible for most older adults, providing improvement in energy, focus, and muscular coordination without requiring intense effort.

**Nugget Summary: Tai Chi, Balance, and Fall Prevention for Older Adults**

- **Falls in Older Adults:** Falls are a significant health risk for seniors, often leading to serious injuries like hip fractures or head trauma.

Title:

Content: Diet and wellbeing guru Dr Michael Mosley has revealed that doing one thing for four minutes a day is almost guaranteed to make you live longer. The TV doctor who has recently published his Just One Thing book in paperback said the simple practice of standing on one leg was the ‘number one’ predictor in a scientific study which predicted if a person lived longer.

Speaking on the 15.5 stories broadcast to Masterchef winner Thomasina Miers he said that if people build it into their everyday lives - he does it when brushing his teeth - it was a brilliant way to improve their chances of staying alive for longer.

He explained that it tested the brain in many different ways, improving balance, helping leg muscles and co-ordinating with the inner ear. One reason it is successful in helping with a longer life is balance - if people have falls when they are elderly it is potentially lethal - and can cause serious health problems and injuries.

Dr Mosley, who is famous for creating the 5:2 and Fast 800 eating plans, said the extensive survey - published in the British Medical Journal - involved running lots of tests on some middle aged people - and then following up 20 years later. And the people who lived longer had mostly performed the best in the balance test.

Speaking about exercises which people find help with their health, Dr Mosley told Thomasina Miers: “We talked about resistance exercise - the squat and the press-up - to build up your muscles. There’s also aerobic exercise where you go for a run, walk or cycle and that works your heart and your lungs.

“But balance is something we don’t really think about that much because we take it for granted. But actually balance is an extraordinary thing. We are pretty much the only mammal that can stand on two legs.

“That was an enormous achievement - it freed up our hands. Arguably it was the beginning of the human race as we know it when the first apes stood upright.

“There is a practical reason why you want to work on your balance. That is because falling over accidentally is the second most common preventable cause of death worldwide after road traffic accidents.

“Particularly as people get older they fall, they break a hip or something like that so you kind of want to work on your balance. You can do it by doing tai chi or yoga but I like to do it by standing on one leg when I’m brushing my teeth.

“So it’s another example of something I already do which is I brush my teeth for two minutes in the morning and the evening and so why not incorporate standing on one leg?

“I stand on one leg for 30 seconds then I switch to the other one.” Dr Mosley said using an electric toothbrush was the best method as doing it with a normal manual brush was ‘really tough’.

“There are lots of benefits to it, not just in terms of balance. There was a study done some years ago which was published in the BMJ where they got a group of middle-aged people and they ran a bunch of tests on them and one of them was their ability to stand on one leg. Could they do it for a minute or not.

“20 years later they followed them up to see what had become of them. And that was the single best predictor of who would still be alive. Of live expectancy that was it.” Thomasina Miers was stunned replying: “Wow.”

“It’s partly because when you are standing on one leg you are combining so many different things. It’s cognitively challenging, it’s challenging to your brain. Your brain has to co-ordinate three things.

“You’re getting inputs from your eyes, you’re getting information from your inner ear, and you’re also getting information from the leg. Your brain has to co-ordinate all those things and it’s really quite hard.

“Practicing it is good for the brain, it’s good for your sense of balance, it’s good for your leg muscles and if you try doing it with your eyes shut you will discover just how hard it really is.

“Most people aged under 60 can probably do 20-30 seconds with their eyes open. If you can do more than 10 seconds with your eyes closed, you are doing really well.”

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Once an older adult falls, their risk for future falls increases, potentially resulting in loss of independence and increased likelihood of nursing home placement.

Title:

Content: Falls by seniors represent serious health concern

NEW YORK, April 11 (UPI) -- For seniors, life can change in the blink of an eye if they trip on a rug or slip on a wet floor.

Injuries from falls represent a significant source of pain, disability, loss of independence and early death in order adults, according to the World Health Organization.

About 1 in 4 Americans age 65 and older -- more than 14 million -- reports falling every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the rate is increasing, the CDC says.

"Every second of every day, an older adult (age 65+) suffers a fall in the U.S --making falls the leading cause of injury and injury death in this age group," the agency says.

And the National Institute on Aging reports that "the risk of falling -- and fall-related problems -- rises with age."

In late March, former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman's death at age 82 due to complications from a fall at his home cast the spotlight on serious injuries that can affect seniors.

Another celebrity who endured falls was the late Nancy Reagan. The former first lady stumbled multiple times in her senior years, fracturing her pelvis, tailbone and ribs.

The reasons people are more likely to fall as they age stem in part from age-related changes in gait, strength and balance, said Dr. Elizabeth Phelan, a falls expert and founding director of the Fall Prevention Clinic at UW Medicine in Seattle.

"However, falls are not inevitable," said Phelan, who also is a professor of geriatrics. "They are largely preventable. Awareness of what contributes to falls is critical to preventing them."

Vision and hearing impairments contribute to falls. So does the accumulation of chronic conditions that affect cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and neurological systems. And a drop in blood pressure -- which may happen when someone stands up after lying down or sitting -- also raises fall risk, Phelan said.

Medications that cloud people's thinking or make them feel sleepy or off-balance are another major risk factor for falls. People who die from a fall tend to take multiple medications -- six on average, she said.

"It's important for people to understand the link between medications and falls, and to initiate conversations with their doctors about whether there is an ongoing need for each of their medications," Phelan said. "There are safer alternatives to medications for many symptoms."

Alcohol use also is a risk factor that can be controlled. Recent research has found an increase in alcohol consumption among older adults and a rise in emergency department visits for alcohol-related fall injuries, she said.

Identifying and addressing modifiable risk factors reduces the chances of falling. Among people who fall repeatedly, falls "are not purely accidental," Phelan said. "This is a commonly held, but false belief. In fact, falls result from the interaction of a person with their environment."

People who experience fatal falls may have had preceding decline in their functional ability -- physical, cognitive or both -- that led them to limit their outdoor mobility, so their falls occur indoors, Phelan said.

While hip fractures are associated with more advanced age and an underlying neurological condition, she noted that head injuries are more common among men, people who take blood thinners and those without a musculoskeletal diagnosis.

Even improper footwear can play a role in falls, said Dr. Amanda Lathia, a geriatrician who helps manage the interdisciplinary falls clinic at University Hospitals in Cleveland.

"Wearing slippers or socks in the home increases the risk for falling," Lathia said. "It is best to wear shoes with good support in the home and outside the home."

Other hazards include a lack of handrails, clutter, stairs, poor lighting, ice, snow and pets, Lathia said, noting that "the bathroom is the location of most falls as we get older."

She suggested installing handrails in the bathroom and along all stairwells, using a raised toilet seat, and avoiding going outside in bad weather.

Although most falls don't cause injury, potentially serious ones can occur. Fractures are the most common. Having a hip fracture increases the risk of dying, particularly within the first year afterward, Lathia said.

Fall-induced head trauma, such as a brain bleed, can lead to death if left treated. And if older adults fall and remain stuck on the ground for a long time, they can suffer a traumatic breakdown of muscle, which can lead to serious kidney failure and even death, she said.

Once an older adult falls, the risk for future falls rises. This "unfortunately leads to the double-edged sword of people starting to restrict their activities because they're afraid to fall," said Dr. Laurie Theriot, chief of geriatric medicine at Prisma Health's upstate region in Greenville, S.C.

"It's counterintuitive, but we actually want to see that patient walk more, create a support system and get more active to improve balance and mobility," Theriot said.

"In the hospital, we consult on so many falls that involve broken hips," she said, cautioning that health professionals need "to be really careful how we obtain [a patient's] history because, especially with osteoporosis, we may find that you fractured your hip before you fell."

That's because "osteoporosis is often undiagnosed because gradual loss of bone density is not painful until the bone actually breaks," Theriot said.

Falls that lead to death are most often due to hip fractures or head injuries. People who die after a fall that results in a hip fracture tend to be older and have an underlying neurological condition, Phelan said.

On the other hand, she noted that fatal falls stemming from a head injury are more common among men, people who take blood thinners and those without a musculoskeletal diagnosis.

Another problem arises when people forget if they took their medications, said Andrea Fleischman, an assistant professor in the department of occupational therapy at Creighton University Health Sciences Campus-Phoenix.

"Sometimes, older individuals will double up on their medication regimen, which can make them increasingly lethargic or dizzy," Fleischman said. She said she recommends that older adults regularly review medications with their clinicians and family members, especially if they have memory issues.

Fall prevention strategies include regular exercise to maintain muscle mass and bone density. Routine physicals and vision checkups are also important, Fleischman said.

She also cited the importance of ensuring the home is safe from tripping hazards, such as throw rugs. That's because older adults may not be able to catch themselves or cushion a fall as easily as younger or middle-aged people.

But whether injuries lead to death depends to a large extent on the person's age and overall health status, Fleischman said.

Even so, "the unfortunate statistic is that the morbidity rate for a person who falls and breaks a hip is upwards of 50%," she said. "It's due to decreased mobility."

Older adults often hit their head because protective reflexes -- which prompt people to put their hands out to stop or cushion a fall -- diminish with advanced age, Fleischman said.

After a fall, timely medical care and follow-up can make a difference. "Hopefully you're able to recover, but you need that additional support to determine your risks and prevent future falls," Theriot said.

She added that "physical therapy, occupational therapy and interventions like a fall risk assessment in your home environment are all important."

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Not only physical harm, but also a fear of falling can develop after an incident, reducing activity and confidence.

Title:

Content: Healthy aging comes with challenges. For a variety of reasons, as each year passes, the likelihood of falling increases.

According to Dr. Boris Goralnik, a geriatric specialist at UPMC in North Central Pa, a fall is defined as an unexpected event in which a person comes to rest on the ground, floor, or a lower level.

“Falls result in fall-related injuries, progression of gait impairments, loss of independence, depression,” Goralnik said. “It is a leading cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality among older adults.”

By preventing falls, providers try to prevent related injuries such as fractures, hematomas, and skin lacerations. From practice and literature, said Goralnik, the most important risk factor of falls is a previous history of falls.

According to Janine Fee, MS, MPT, a physical therapist who is certified in vestibular rehabilitation at Evangelical Community Hospital, physical balance, which is important to avoid falling, can be complicated.

“I like to use the analogy of a baseball field,’’ Fee said. “Every player on the field is important and if a player is not working, then your team — your balance — is going to be impacted.”

Fee said many systems have a direct impact on balance. Eyes, ears, sense of touch — especially with our feet, muscle strength, flexibility, and posture are a few. And, the brain can have a major impact on our ability to avoid falling.

Fee said any weakening of one or more of these areas will significantly increase the risk of falling.

According to the Centers for Disease Control website, one out of four seniors over the age of 65 will fall each year. One out of five of those falls will cause serious injuries such as broken bones or head injuries.

“This can then lead to serious consequences that may significantly impact a person’s overall quality of life,” said Fee. “Even if the fall didn’t cause harm, it is likely that the person now develops a fear of falling.”

Many factorsIn many cases, Goralnik said, falls and fall-related injuries lead to substantial deficiency in activities of daily living and the need for supportive care for older adults. He agreed with Fee that a fear of falling leads to things like not participating in activities that require balance, causing weaknesses and furthering the risk of repeated falls. Paying attention to the body and being more aware of areas contributing to balance is a big step in preventing falls.

Age alone should not be blamed as a factor regarding balance, said Fee.

“I strongly believe that if you stay active, you can minimize the effects that aging has on all of these players,” Fee said.

Diseases and underlying medical conditions like Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, neuropathy, strokes, vision problems, and pain can impact a person’s balance. Other factors such as medications, fear of falling, and environmental factors.

It is very important for older patients to discuss with their providers any changes in the gait, possible new onset gait unsteadiness, or if they start to experience new musculoskeletal pain, Goralnik advised.

“Some of the medications may increase the risk of falls,” said Goralnik. “It is very important for people to have a complete list of all current medications when they visit their medical providers.”

Having detailed information, he said, about existing and potential risk factors may help reduce the risk of future falls.

Fee added that testing can be completed to assess balance and what kind of treatment or therapy might be available to assist with balance. Fee said a fall risk assessment is a good first step to preventing falls.

“You can talk to your doctor or health care provider to refer you to a physical therapist to evaluate your risk for falling,” said Fee.

She said a physical therapist will measure/evaluate strength, flexibility, analyzation of posture and feet, how you walk and perform specific balance measures to determine your areas of weakness. The therapist may also ask about fall history and possible home hazards like uneven pavement, rugs, steps, clutter or pets.

“Then a physical therapist can design a specialized treatment program to help you reduce your risk of falls,” Fee said. “Other recommendations to improve overall balance is getting involved in a local gym where you can perform strength and balance exercises like Tai Chi or yoga.”

Temporary conditionsIn addition to medical conditions such as strokes, brain injuries, etc., other temporary conditions also have effects on an individual’s balance.

Fee, a physical therapist who specializes in inner ear disorders, said the most common inner ear problem is a condition known as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). Classic symptoms include brief episodes of spinning or imbalance that occur when lying down, rolling over in bed, or looking up.

“BPPV can significantly increase a person’s risk for falling especially if they have other balance risk factors. This problem is easily identified by the physical therapist that is trained in detecting inner ear problems,” she added.

Fee said a physical therapist with specialized training can provide the most appropriate intervention to reduce or resolve these symptoms in as little as one to three sessions.

Fee said physical therapists can often identify risk factors and provide specific recommendations to improve balance.

“Physical therapists are like coaches, but you have to do the work. In order for your balance to improve, you have to challenge the team!”

Goralnik added, that in many cases, falls and fall-related injuries lead to substantial deficiency with activities of daily living and the need for supportive care for older adults.

The economic burdens from falls are substantial and likely to increase with the growth of the older population, according to Goralnik.

Fall-related health care costs include hospital bills, fees for professional service, and costs of prescription medications, home health services, long-term care facilities, and durable medical equipment.

“Always inform your doctor about recent falls and fall-related injuries,” concluded Gorainik.

It is very important for seniors to discuss any changes of the gait, possible new onset gait unsteadiness, or if they started to experience new musculoskeletal pain with their doctor.

Trending Video

- **Risk Factors & Prevention:** Modifiable risk factors for falls include poor balance, gait instability, weakness, and alcohol use.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Regular assessment by a physician or physical therapist is key; discussing any new balance or gait issues or musculoskeletal pain is important.

- **Evidence for Exercise:** Exercise programs specifically designed to prevent falls have been shown in reviews to reduce the number and severity of fall-related injuries.

Title:

Content: Exercise programs meant to prevent falls in seniors may also help prevent injuries caused by falls, according to a new review.

Fall-related injuries are common among seniors and a major cause of long-term pain and disability. They also increase the risk of having to go to a nursing home and have a high economic cost.

The new findings, published online Oct. 29 in the journal bmj.com, suggest that "reducing the risk of falling and improving protective responses during a fall may be an important and feasible means of preventing fractures and other serious injuries in the elderly," the study authors wrote in a journal news release.

Well-designed exercise programs can prevent falls in seniors living at home, but there is a lack of evidence on whether such programs can help prevent fall-related injuries, said French researchers Fabienne El-Khoury and colleagues.

In this review, they analyzed 17 studies that looked at whether fall-prevention exercises lowered seniors' risk of fractures and other injuries caused by falls. More than 4,000 participants were involved in all.

Tai Chi was the exercise in two of the studies, but most of them used gait, balance, strength and functional training, which involves workouts that help people do normal daily activities.

Most of the programs reduced fall-related injuries and appeared to significantly curb falls that lead to fractures, serious injuries and medical care.

Balance training was emphasized in all of the exercises that were effective in preventing falls, the researchers noted.

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about older adults and falls.

Latest videos

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

These programs help maintain functional independence and reduce the economic burden related to falls.

How does Tai Chi help people with Parkinson's disease?

It can effectively improve the movement symptoms that may cause falls of elderly patients.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

- **Tai Chi for Balance:** Tai Chi, a gentle mind-body exercise involving slow, controlled movements and shifts in weight, is repeatedly recommended for improving stability and coordination in older adults.

How does Tai Chi enhance balance and body coordination?

It incorporates a lot of weight shifting and deliberate walking into its routines.

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It improves the balance of older people.

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Studies indicate Tai Chi and similar balance exercises (including yoga or balance drills like standing on one leg) are effective for fall prevention and can also enhance overall longevity and physical function.

How does Tai Chi help people with Parkinson's disease?

It can effectively improve the movement symptoms that may cause falls of elderly patients.

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It improves the balance of older people.

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

- **Supporting Research:** A study published in the BMJ highlighted that the ability to balance on one leg was a robust predictor of longevity.

The benefits of Tai Chi and balance exercises extend beyond fall prevention, also engaging the brain and muscles and supporting overall health.

How does Tai Chi help people with Parkinson's disease?

It can effectively improve the movement symptoms that may cause falls of elderly patients.

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It improves the balance of older people.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

What health advantages have been linked to regular practice of Tai Chi?

An overall sense of well-being.
Higher mental clarity.

What study was included in trials combining excercise with a cognitive compoent?

Cognitively enhanced tai chi in older adults at risk for dementia.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

- **Practical Aspects:** Tai Chi can be accessible for most older adults, providing improvement in energy, focus, and muscular coordination without requiring intense effort.

Title:

Content: Homepage

A financial analyst explains how tai chi 'stress bending' helped her avoid burnout in her high-stakes career

  • Former financial analyst Shirley Chock said tai chi helped her thrive in a career prone to burnout.
  • She now teaches tai chi full-time to help others boost their focus and energy while reducing stress.
  • Tai chi has been linked to a longer life, lower risk of illness, and better mental health, research suggests.
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Former Yale financial analyst Shirley Chock is no stranger to stress.

Throughout her career, she saw her peers crumbling from the pressure of juggling a heavy workload and high-stakes assignments while trying to keep their health and their personal lives afloat.

In contrast, Chock found herself much better off, working her way up through the ranks to a manager position and even netting a Working Mother of the Year award, with energy to spare.

Her "secret" to success? Tai chi, a traditional Chinese martial art known for slow, gentle movements, which she said helped her stress-proof her routine.

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"I realized I was applying what I was learning in the martial art to my career and my life," she told Business Insider. "It was like I discovered a secret scroll because no one talked about tai chi in this way."

Tai chi was the key to staying healthy, focused, and energized in a career that left colleagues burned out, according to Chock.

"They just seemed like they were beaten down and facing obstacles all the time. And it was a much easier road for me to navigate the career," she said. "I had energy at the end of the day."

The experience was so profound that Chock left her finance career to teach the art full time with Aiping Tai Chi, a Connecticut-based school with a growing social media presence.

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Now her goal is to create an "army of stress-benders," demonstrating how to use tai chi to reduce stress, improve focus, and boost physical and mental health even (or especially) in a fast-paced, ambitious lifestyle.

"It helps you to stay centered so that you don't get distracted by all of these things that are trying to pull you away from your focus," Chock said.

How tai chi can make you mentally and physically stronger as you age

Chock found tai chi by accident. She initially used the deliberate, graceful movements of the practice to recover from an injury while training and competing in mixed martial arts and kung fu.

"I thought it would just be a recovery thing for me because I really wanted to do the cool acrobatic moves," Chock said. "I had this misconception that had was for old people like everybody else."

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It's true that tai chi has some serious benefits for healthy aging, helping to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability. Evidence also suggests it can help lower blood pressure, even in younger people. Practicing tai chi has been linked to better wellbeing, lower risk of anxiety, and fewer symptoms of depression in some studies.

But Chock was most excited about how learning tai chi was teaching her about habits to improve focus and energy in the rest of her life, and became hooked on the challenge of mastering the subtly of the art.

For instance, the tai chi concept of allowing your body to flow with gravity instead of resisting it beautifully illustrates how you can choose to respond to life challenges too, prioritizing what matters instead of becoming distracted by conflicts that ultimately aren't worth your energy.

Practicing stress management and focus through movement not only gives you the physical benefits of the exercise, but a deeper understanding of what it means than you might get from picking up a self-help book.

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"You might learn it in theory, but then when you need to apply it, you don't actually have it," Chock said. "Tai chi is a way for you to understand these philosophies in life by learning them through your body. In that moment where you're overloaded, the body just knows what to do."

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How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

What health advantages have been linked to regular practice of Tai Chi?

An overall sense of well-being.
Higher mental clarity.