Wish is self-consciously attempting to be the most Disney Disney animated feature of all time. Designed for release in the studio's 100th year, Wish is meticulously crafted to reference almost every Disney animated feature that has proceeded, specifically borrowing from their very first feature, Snow White and the Sever Dwarfs, while incorporating animation and musical styles that invoke the studio's historic output. Its story is focused on one of Disney's central recurring themes, making a wish on a star, exploring the very idea of wishes and what they mean to us. It also touches on our very modern understanding of how we are all made of stars, bringing this story of liberation by tying all these ideas together.
The film uses a mix of the current CGI animation which dominates the market, and the studio's traditional watercolour technique to create something that looks both familiar and brand new. Most of the time this visually worked very well, creating quite a fascinating visual pallet for the fairy tale, but occasionally it didn't quite come together which felt jarring in moments. Overall it is quite beautiful to watch and despite the current trend of audiences waiting for Disney films to hit streaming to enjoy at home, Wish does beg to be seen on a big screen.
The story is bold but often feels a bit too esoteric to truly set the stakes (similar to a problem I had with Encanto) as it's not always clear what needs to happen to "stop the bad guy" meaning the resolution feels a bit dues ex machina. Pine's bad guy is somewhat over the top and there is a talking goat that feels more annoying than charming. But otherwise the character design is well done especially the heroine Asha who basically leads a rebellion against tyranny while looking gorgeously counter culture. Her friend group is a little tribute to the Seven Dwarfs with each one modelled after the famous Grumpy, Happy, Doc... etc, in a clever and fun twist that is subtler than some of the other deep pulls so it doesn't take us out of the film.
That's certainly one of Wish's signature themes; references. Some will really enjoy this tribute while others may find it tedious. Besides the Snow White stuff (which is heavily laid throughout) there are many obvious (a citizen in town is named "Peter" and dressed just like Pan) while others are more subtle (the previously referred to goat dreams of a Zootopia). Pine's villain employs many signature moves and lines of your favourite Disney Villains. The film even starts and ends with the book opening and closing and the credits give us images from all the back catalogue. So for someone who considers themselves a Disney fan, Wish will offer much to be nostalgic about.
The music falls very much in to the recents tradition of Disney musicals with songs that feel like they could be right out of Frozen or Encanto. Only time will tell is any catch on and become the classics that we associate with these films. I'm not sure there is anything that rivals the legends like Be Our Guest, Cruella DeVil, or especially When You Wish Upon a Star. But they certainly have a hook and can be quite catchy; there's even a song clearly trying to capture some of the Bruno earworm energy.
So while overall Wish isn't the perfect Disney Animated Feature, it was certainly enjoyable and memorable. Perhaps it relies a little too much on sentimentality for all things Mouse but, if that's the worst crime it commits, then it comes off pretty good indeed.
Wish
Starring: Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk, Angelique Cabral, Victor Garber, Harvey Guillén, Jennifer Kumiyama, Evan Peters, Ramy Youssef, Jon Rudnitsky, Niko Vargas
Directors: Chris Buck, Fawn Veerasunthorn
Writers: Jennifer Lee, Allison Moore
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