10 Disney Movies & The Iconic Object That Represents Them

Disney has made its mark on society with its heartwarming and family-friendly tales of adventure, love, and empowerment. Even years later, viewers remember the characters and scenes fondly. As a kid, some fans remember asking for glass slippers for Christmas, or the Heart of Tafiti necklace for their birthdays. Most Disney movies come with wonderful stories involving objects that are specific to that tale.

For Aladdin, the genie bottle, for Toy Story, a boot with andy’s signature. It makes it so much more fun to view the film, watching for that object to appear and disappear as the story progresses. Without these signature objects, these classic Disney films just wouldn’t be the same.

Snow White: The Apple

In arguably one of the best Disney fairytales, a wicked queen in a jealous rage set out to murder her step-daughter, Snow White, in order to remain “the fairest in all the land.” What fans might remember most, is the object that both symbolizes the overarching plot and propels the story to its end: the poison apple.

Snow White is full of catchy songs and friendly dwarves, but at its core, it is a story about vanity and jealously clogging the hearts and minds of those who care for nothing but themselves. The apple serves as a significant object in the film but also represents trickery and deceit, jealousy, and vanity, but also the hope that the cruel will never win.

Cinderella: The Glass Slipper

Cinderella at its core teaches viewers to show kindness toward all, that beauty comes from the heart and that forgiveness is key. Despite the mistreatment she receives from her stepmother and step-sisters, Cinderella maintains a positive attitude, she never tells, and she continues to do the work that is asked of her. For fans of Cinderella, it is impossible to reminisce on the fairytale without thinking of the glass slipper.

Because of Cinderella’s clean heart and open mind, the prince still loves her even though she is not the same girl he met on the ballroom floor. The slipper fits because of her effortless ability to be kind and loving.

Beauty & The Beast: The Rose

In a race against time, the Beast must fall in love in order to lift the curse that had fallen on his castle. Luckily for him, a young girl and her father stumbled upon the castle and the rest of the classic story unfolds from there. The Beast may not start off as a great guy, because of his bitterness and how he’s grown to hate the world, but he comes around, eventually falling in love and lifting the curse.

Without the rose, Beauty and the Beast would not have as much of a sense of urgency. It represents time, but also the beauty that the Beast has to learn to find in everything that he sees, does, and learns. The rose signifies the beauty that people have on the inside, which is the lesson the Beast must learn – to let go of vanity and learn to love for and from the heart.

Aladdin: Genie’s Lamp

Aladdin’s entire life changes when he rubs the side of Genie’s lamp. In fact, this action is what saves Aladdin’s life. The bottle makes its way into the story of Aladdin as a valuable artifact for those that seek the magical power of Genie’s three wishes. It’s hard for fans of this fairytale to imagine the film without Genie’s bottle and the Genie that comes with it.

His magical presence on screen is irresistible and Robin Williams’ improv and amazing voice-over are what make the Genie who he is. The lamp represents good fortune, wisdom, and life for Aladdin. It teaches him that with a good heart and good intentions, he can have all the wishes in the world, not just three.

Tangled: The Flower

Like a lot of Disney movies, Tangled has elements of both good and evil. The very adult themes in this Disney movie, like toxic relationships and finding one’s identity, are shown through the contrast of light and dark. Rapunzel represents that light, especially through the powers she obtained from the flower.

The flower finds its way into almost every frame of the movie, from the flower itself to the lanterns and even the sun symbol that Rapunzel paints on the walls. The light that comes from the flower symbolizes life and healing, both concepts that propel the plot of the story and help lead Rapunzel back to her family.

Hercules: Zeus’ Medal

Hercules tells the tale of the ancient Greek war hero who proved himself the strongest warrior of them all. Disney puts their own spin on the story, of course, making the tale of heroism a favorite amongst Disney fans.

In early scenes when Hercules is a baby, viewers get their first glimpse of the medallion with the lightning bolt coming from a cloud, a gift Zeus hopes will propel his son toward a victorious life as a god. It is only through the medallion that he is led to his true destiny. This symbol of the gods acts as an anchor for Hercules and guides him on his quest to find where he belongs.

Peter Pan: The Hook

There are many great objects and symbols in Peter Pan, like the thimble, Peter Pan’s famous green hat with the red feather, and even a pirate ship. But in every rendition of the famous story, there is never a version without the shiny and sharp hook replacing the hand of a mean old pirate.

Captain Hook’s hook is the mark of a dictator and represents the great lengths Peter and his friends must go through to keep their people safe. Even more than that, Captain Hook is named after his famous extremity, furthering the notion that how one behaves is a reflection of who one is.

Toy Story: Andy’s Signature

Toy Story focuses on the adventures, growth, and love of a group of toys. The biggest lesson to learn from Buzz, Woody, and Jesse is that it is admirable to be loyal and it is important to love and be loved. Their owner, Andy, writes his name on the bottom of all their feet, to claim them as his own.

The toys use this as a sort of agreement that they must do everything in their power to make Andy happy and be there for him. In one of Toy Story‘s most memorable quotes, Andy himself says, “the thing that makes Woody special is he’ll never give up on you.” Toy Story wouldn’t be the same without Andy’s very sloppy signature on the bottom of Woody’s boot.

Moana: The Heart of Te Fiti

From a young age, Moana felt a deep connection to the water. The ocean spoke to her one day, playing and laughing with her when it presented her with a stone. It wasn’t until later that Moana learned that this stone was the heart of an island that had been stolen. She carries the stone with her throughout her journey to return it and restore the deteriorating land and ocean that she calls home.

The stone and the designs that are engraved in it represent the preciousness of the earth. Moana quickly learns that in order to live with the land, she and her people must learn to respect its power and work with it. The heart of Te Fiti is the heart of Moana.

Brother Bear: The Totem

Although it’s not considered one of the best Disney animation movies, Brother Bear is full of important lessons and inspiring storylines. When a brother’s life is taken by a bear, another brother loses his way, and the spirits force him to find himself again by transforming him into the very beast that took his brother’s life. This story is very spiritual to begin with, with spirits leading each member of the tribe to their destiny through the power of an animal.

Kenai was disappointed to learn that his totem is a bear, the very animal he and his tribe resented for threatening their lives, but he learns through his experience living amongst them, that nothing is as it seems, and that he must act with love rather than hatred. The totem is more than just a carved piece of wood, it represents the lessons Brother Bear attempts to teach and leads the characters along in their journey.

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