**Summary (Key Nuggets – Disney Live-Action Remakes):**

1.

**Nostalgia as a Financial Lever:**
Disney leverages nostalgia to drive engagement and profits.

The cyclical nature of beloved characters and stories (e.g., Genie in Aladdin) attracts both original fans and new generations, ensuring sustained audience interest and cross-generational appeal.

**Business Motivation for Remakes:**
Remakes are a strategic effort to “keep the world alive”—refreshing intellectual properties, creating new revenue streams from well-known brands, and expanding related franchises (streams, merchandise, attractions).

**Modernization and Adaptation:**
Recent remakes (Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Lion King, Mulan, Little Mermaid) adapt stories for contemporary audiences by updating themes, visuals, casting (diverse, more inclusive), and technology (CGI/live-action hybrid).

Dialogue and character motivations are often adjusted (e.g., Ariel’s agency in Little Mermaid; more complex villains) to resonate with current social values and expectations.

**Balancing Authenticity and Relevance:**
Disney faces tension between preserving core elements (iconic visuals or songs) and making bold changes (casting, story arcs) for relevance.

Some criticize remakes for being too faithful and unoriginal, while others feel that changes stray too far from the source.

**Critical and Public Responses:**
Reactions are mixed.

Some fans desire exact visual replication; others value fresh takes or new thematic focus (seen in reactions to Little Mermaid, Mulan, etc.).

The diversity of public opinion is a testament to the strong attachment to classic originals.

**Creative Process and Challenges:**
Remakes are not strictly formulaic; individual directors and artists imprint their own tastes and vision (“they bring their soul and their tastes come with them”).

Technology aids in realism, but animators and directors remain committed to inspirational storytelling rather than photorealism alone.

**Summary (Key Nuggets – Disney Live-Action Remakes):**

1.

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

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

**Nostalgia as a Financial Lever:**
Disney leverages nostalgia to drive engagement and profits.

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 has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

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

The cyclical nature of beloved characters and stories (e.g., Genie in Aladdin) attracts both original fans and new generations, ensuring sustained audience interest and cross-generational appeal.

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.”

**Business Motivation for Remakes:**
Remakes are a strategic effort to “keep the world alive”—refreshing intellectual properties, creating new revenue streams from well-known brands, and expanding related franchises (streams, merchandise, attractions).

**Modernization and Adaptation:**
Recent remakes (Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Lion King, Mulan, Little Mermaid) adapt stories for contemporary audiences by updating themes, visuals, casting (diverse, more inclusive), and technology (CGI/live-action hybrid).

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

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

Dialogue and character motivations are often adjusted (e.g., Ariel’s agency in Little Mermaid; more complex villains) to resonate with current social values and expectations.

**Balancing Authenticity and Relevance:**
Disney faces tension between preserving core elements (iconic visuals or songs) and making bold changes (casting, story arcs) for relevance.

Some criticize remakes for being too faithful and unoriginal, while others feel that changes stray too far from the source.

**Critical and Public Responses:**
Reactions are mixed.

Some fans desire exact visual replication; others value fresh takes or new thematic focus (seen in reactions to Little Mermaid, Mulan, etc.).

How did audiences react to the 2020 Mulan live-action remake?

Some positive reactions praising both changes and additions

The diversity of public opinion is a testament to the strong attachment to classic originals.

Title:

Content: Exclusive

My Date With the President's Daughter Star Elisabeth Harnois Imagines Where Her Character Is Today

Twenty-six years after Elisabeth Harnois starred in the Disney movie My Date With the President's Daughter with Will Friedle, the actress told E! where she thinks her character Hallie is now.

By Elyse Dupre Apr 13, 2024 2:00 PMTags
Watch: Boy Meets World Cast Mends Rift With Trina McGee

Let's take a vote: Who would like to know where Hallie Richmond from My Date With the President's Daughter is now?

Well, we can't think of a better candidate to come up with that answer than Elisabeth Harnois, who played the character in The Wonderful World of Disney movie 26 years ago.

"Hopefully, she's doing something to change the way things are right now," the actress told E! News in an exclusive interview, "whether or not she's in politics."

Although, Harnois could picture Hallie serving in a public office.

"I could see her being like a senator, maybe even president," she continued. "But I definitely think that she would be wanting to fix the way things are right now. She's a very passionate, willful person, so I imagine that she would be very involved in, hopefully, the right side of things—not that I'm going to say what that is. But yeah, I think that she would be potentially in the business."

photos
Ranking Disney Channel's Best and Worst Original Movies

For those who haven't seen the movie, Hallie Richmond, the daughter of President Richmond (Dabney Coleman), and Duncan Fletcher, a high school student who loves magic played by Will Friedle, meet at the mall and he asks her to be his date to a dance. While they both have ulterior motives—her using him for a night out of the White House and him inviting her to win a bet with his friends—they form a genuine connection after they ditch her secret service agents and have a night out in the town.

Disney Channel

As for whether Hallie is still dating Duncan?

"I don't know if she's with Duncan anymore, but that would be cute, too," Harnois mused. "I think maybe we separated for a long time. You know, we had our fling, and then we possibly meet by chance again in the future and have another adventure. That's how I see it."

And if you see it as the perfect idea for a sequel, no need to campaign for Harnois to reprise her role as she'd be totally down for a My Date With the President's Daughter 2.

"I would love to make it," the 44-year-old shared. "It would be so much fun, and I think people would actually tune in. I think there's enough people that would go, ‘Yeah, I'm curious.'"

For those curious if Harnois still has the iconic pink dress she wore in the film, sadly, she does not. "I thought I had it in storage. I don't," she admitted. "I have another outfit from the movie, but I didn't get that."

Then again, Harnois doesn't think the costume department ever offered it to her in the first place.

"For the record, I did ask to keep the pink dress," she said, "and they were like, 'No, we have to keep this in the archive,' blah, blah, blah. So, they gave me the blue skirt and shirt that I wore on my final date with him at the end of the film."

Disney Channel

However, the pink dress wasn't a wardrobe choice Harnois would have initially elected for herself as she revealed on Friedle's Magical Rewind podcast that she felt self-conscious in it.

"When the costume designer showed it to me, I wasn't fully comfortable with how skintight it was, how short it was," the Disney star further explained to E! News. "I was a tomboy as a kid and then kind of not that way as a teenager—like not that comfortable to wear clothes like that. Not that it wasn't cute, I just was self-conscious. I was at the most self-conscious age I could be."

And Harnois, who was 18 when she made the film, remembers asking the costume designer if she could wear something else.

"She was like, ‘Absolutely not. Everybody loves this dress. This is the dress,'" she recalled. "I was like, ‘OK,' and I wasn't gonna fight her on it. Look what happened: It ended up being this iconic thing that people wear for Halloween."

Eventually, Harnois grew to love the frock, too.

"I feel grateful that we got to use that dress," she added, "because I think that's part of what brought the movie so much attention was those reveals with our characters getting our new clothes. I think she did a really good job, our costume designer."

The look is one of many fond memories Harnois—who also got to keep a clock from the Oval Office set—has from the film, with others including working with Friedle.

"He was so much fun, so funny, and I was a fan of his from Boy Meets World," she shared. "I had worked on Boy Meets World also, but we didn't really have scenes together. So it was exciting to actually get to work with him every day. And he just has a level of comedy that just raised my game. So that every day for me was just as much a learning experience as it was just absolute fun. We had a lot of fun just on our own when we weren't working. We did a lot of karaoke, and we just became good friends."

And Harnois' career has only grown from there. Not only has she appeared in front of the camera in shows like CSI and movies like The Christmas Contract, but she also wants to do more behind it through writing, directing and producing.

Still, she's grateful for all the love (and all the TikToks) fans have for My Date With the President's Daughter more than a quarter of a century later.

"I don't wanna say it makes me feel old, but it kind of makes me feel old," she said. "But it feels very special. It's a testament to social media, and just what it can do to bring things back to life."

For a further trip down memory lane, keep reading and see Disney stars then and now.

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App

**Creative Process and Challenges:**
Remakes are not strictly formulaic; individual directors and artists imprint their own tastes and vision (“they bring their soul and their tastes come with them”).

Technology aids in realism, but animators and directors remain committed to inspirational storytelling rather than photorealism alone.

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

What approach makes Disney's classics successful according to John Musker?

Immersing audiences in story-driven worlds rather than pushing preconceived ideas.


**Nugget Summary:**

- Falls are a major risk for older adults: 1 in 4 seniors over 65 falls every year, often leading to injuries like hip fractures or head injuries, and are a leading cause of loss of independence and nursing home admission.

- Factors contributing to falls include both physical (musculoskeletal, neurological conditions, blood pressure issues) and environmental risks (like tripping hazards such as rugs).

Alcohol use also increases fall risk.

- The psychological effects of falling (e.g., fear of falling) can further limit activity and independence.

- A fall risk assessment by a healthcare provider or physical therapist is recommended as a first step in prevention.

- Exercise programs designed to prevent falls can also reduce the severity of injuries if a fall does happen.

They work by improving how the body responds to slips or trips—teaching effective balance recovery, which is a skill that can be trained.

- Effective exercise programs often mimic real-life situations where trips or balance loss occur so that seniors learn to "recover" balance in realistic scenarios.

- Maintaining physical and mental health is vital for quality of life and fall prevention.

- Preventive measures should also include making the home safer and removing hazards.

- There is a need for ongoing efforts to translate scientific knowledge into practical fall prevention strategies in daily life.

- Staying active—through specialized exercise programs—helps preserve strength, stability, and confidence and may protect against the negative cycle of inactivity and social withdrawal caused by fear of falling.

**Context for Tai Chi:**
While this extract does not mention Tai Chi specifically, it highlights exercise programs that challenge balance and train the body's responses to tripping as being effective for fall prevention.

This is consistent with what Tai Chi offers: low-impact, balance-focused movement, often recommended to improve stability in older adults.

**Nugget Summary:**

- Falls are a major risk for older adults: 1 in 4 seniors over 65 falls every year, often leading to injuries like hip fractures or head injuries, and are a leading cause of loss of independence and nursing home admission.

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

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.

- Factors contributing to falls include both physical (musculoskeletal, neurological conditions, blood pressure issues) and environmental risks (like tripping hazards such as rugs).

Title:

Content: HEALTH-WISE: Preventing and treating falls

Dr Aditi Malpani, Geriatric Specialist, Sancheti Hospital
Dr Aditi Malpani, Geriatric Specialist, Sancheti Hospital

Physical, as well as mental well-being, is very important for a healthy and quality life. Ageing can cause a few physiologic changes in the body which interact with disease conditions. Therefore, timely diagnosing and managing the problem is the best form of prevention.

Falls and osteoporosis
Most older adults tend to fall and the outcome may be an exacerbation of existing illness, fractures, or injuries; eventually the rate of hospitalisation increases.

Risk factors for falls include
Reduced muscle mass and strength - weak muscles
Poor balance and depth perception
Impaired vision and reduced dark adaptation
Reduced sensations - Peripheral neuropathy due to diabetes, Vit B12 deficiency
Confusion and reduced attention span
Hypoglycemia
Postural drop in blood pressure
Arrhythmias - variation in heart rate - too low or too fast
Dehydration and infections
Anemia
Medication side effects
Urine incontinence/urgency
Chronic health conditions like arthritis, Parkinson¡¦s, dementia, heart diseases
Pain in joints or sudden onset pain
Environmental factors like slippery surfaces, wet floor, rugs, uneven ground

Ten tips for fall prevention in the elderly:
Tell your doctor about a previous fall and undergo a risk assessment.
Getting up suddenly, walking hurriedly, and wearing improper footwear should be avoided.
Remove unwanted furniture, keep the floor dry and do away with dim lighting. Install grab bars and handrails wherever needed.
If unsteady while walking, use assistive devices like canes or walkers.
Being physically active and practicing yoga can help.
Blood pressure, blood sugar and vision should be tested periodically.
Avoid smoking and restrict alcohol intake. Maintain good sleep hygiene.
Never take excess medications.
Avoid psychoactive medications and include adequate amounts of calcium, Vitamin D, B12 and iron in your diet.
If treatment of any disease mandates the use of steroids, it is a definite indication to screen for osteoporosis with the help of bone densitometry.

What to do when a fall occurs?
Stay calm and do not try to get up suddenly.
If able to move, stand up slowly with the support of the nearest sturdy object. Call for help if you can't.
Check blood sugar, blood pressure, complete blood count, and serum electrolytes.
Inform your doctor and assess for any internal injury. Revise the medications periodically.
Implement preventive measures at the earliest.

Share this story

Alcohol use also increases fall risk.

- The psychological effects of falling (e.g., fear of falling) can further limit activity and independence.

Title:

Content: SAFETYLIT WEEKLY UPDATE

We compile citations and summaries of about 400 new articles every week.
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Journal Article

Citation

Aloraini SM, Alothaim NK, Alsalamah NM, Aldaihan MM. PM R 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1002/pmrj.12888

PMID

35982513

Abstract

Falls are a major problem all over the world. Falls may result in bone fractures, fear of falling and reduced participation in activities of daily living and in social activities. Thus, an increased cost of healthcare to the individual and the society. Falls occur as a result of compounding factors that combine and overwhelm an individual's ability to maintain or regain his or her balance. However, fall rates are often reported as high, suggesting the presence of a gap between clinical practices related to fall prevention and the knowledge of the best available evidence related to fall prevention. The science of knowledge translation (KT) offers a variety of theories that can facilitate the implementation of up-to-date knowledge among clinicians. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify and review the use of knowledge translation theories, namely the Knowledge to Action Framework (KTA), Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services framework (PARIHS), Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), in studies related to fall prevention and balance control. A scoping review was conducted to identify studies related to fall prevention and balance control that utilized one of these four KT theories. An extensive literature search was performed up to January 2021. Two independent reviewers conducted a study selection process followed by data extraction of the search results.

RESULTS of the review identified 16 studies that were related to the scope of our review, with three studies utilizing KTA, two studies utilizing PARIHS, four studies utilizing CFIR and seven studies utilized the TDF. Overall, it appears that the use of KT theories is helpful to guide interventions for fall prevention and improve balance control. Future efforts are needed to facilitate the use of KT theories for guiding clinical practices related to fall prevention and balance control. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Language: en

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Print

- A fall risk assessment by a healthcare provider or physical therapist is recommended as a first step in prevention.

- Exercise programs designed to prevent falls can also reduce the severity of injuries if a fall does happen.

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.

They work by improving how the body responds to slips or trips—teaching effective balance recovery, which is a skill that can be trained.

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.

- Effective exercise programs often mimic real-life situations where trips or balance loss occur so that seniors learn to "recover" balance in realistic scenarios.

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.

- Maintaining physical and mental health is vital for quality of life and fall prevention.

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.

- Preventive measures should also include making the home safer and removing hazards.

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.

- There is a need for ongoing efforts to translate scientific knowledge into practical fall prevention strategies in daily life.

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.

- Staying active—through specialized exercise programs—helps preserve strength, stability, and confidence and may protect against the negative cycle of inactivity and social withdrawal caused by fear of falling.

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 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.

**Context for Tai Chi:**
While this extract does not mention Tai Chi specifically, it highlights exercise programs that challenge balance and train the body's responses to tripping as being effective for fall prevention.

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 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.

This is consistent with what Tai Chi offers: low-impact, balance-focused movement, often recommended to improve stability in older adults.

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.

What does Ruth Taylor-Piliae of University of Arizona's College of Nursin say about Tai Chi?

She tells NPR that Tai Chi's gentle, slow movements and controlled breathing tend to activate what's known as the parasympathetic nervous system, which relaxes the body during times of stress.

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.