After Enduring The 500th Disney Movie Marathon With His Daughters, Artist Decides To Shake Up Their Favorite Disney Princesses

Having two daughters, you're bound to watch a LOT of Disney movies. After about the 500th time watching the Little Mermaid I decided I would redraw a series of them in my Inktober illness dark style. Kind of passive aggressive but whatever.

Damjan

• Published in Disney
• April 4, 2024

Being a parent often means sitting through endless repetitions of Disney movies, especially when you have two daughters. For one dad, the umpteenth viewing of "The Little Mermaid" sparked a mischievous idea that would give a whole new meaning to family movie night.

After enduring what felt like the 500th rendition of Ariel's underwater adventures, this dad decided he'd had enough of the saccharine sweetness. Instead of succumbing to another round of Sebastian's calypso tunes, he opted for a different approach: injecting a dose of darkness into the beloved classics.

Enter Inktober, an annual drawing challenge where artists produce ink-based illustrations throughout October. Our dad, also the author of these works of art, armed with his trusty pen and a hint of passive aggression, embarked on a mission to reimagine iconic Disney scenes in his signature eerie style.

While some may view his endeavor as a tad unconventional, our dad sees it as a form of artistic expression and a way to inject some variety into his role as a parent. Sure, he loves his girls, but he also relishes the opportunity to put his spin on their cherished movies.

From a brooding rendition of "Beauty and the Beast" to a sinister take on "Cinderella," each drawing is a testament to his creativity and his ability to find humor in the mundane. And while his daughters may initially recoil at the sight of their favorite characters sporting a darker aesthetic, deep down, they know it's all in good fun.

Mulan

The image presents a stylized depiction of a character resembling Mulan, portrayed in a darker and more gothic style than the traditional representation. This artwork has a feeling of intensity and a touch of the ominous, a far cry from the usual light-hearted or heroic themes associated with such characters.

Snow White

Snow White in a darker, more avant-garde style. The portrayal borders on the surreal, merging elements of the familiar fairytale with a haunting aesthetic, evoking a sense of unease and intrigue.

Ariel

Ariel is re-envisioned with a haunting allure, her traditional vibrant undersea world now steeped in mystery and darkness. The image casts her not as the carefree mermaid familiar in bright animations but as a siren from old seafarer's tales, where beauty entwines with danger.

Belle

This interpretation of Belle and the Beast carries a much more gothic and somber tone than the well-known tale. The artist's rendition invites viewers to look beyond the surface, to the deeper, perhaps more unnerving layers of the story, where the romance intertwines with the uncanny.

Rapunzel

Rapunzel and her iconic long hair are no longer a mere beautiful feature but a swirling force that envelops her. The whole composition invites the viewer to reconsider the character of Rapunzel, contemplating the darker, more complex emotions that might lurk beneath her fairytale surface.

Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping Beauty with a compelling gothic twist, far from the gentle dreamer she’s often portrayed as. This illustration could symbolize the darker shades of her story—themes of time passing, of life paused, and the somber magic at the heart of her story.

Our dad's way of making Disney characters a bit darker reminds us that it's okay to have some fun with even the happiest memories. While Disney usually keeps things cheery, there's nothing wrong with adding a little mystery now and then.

So, next time you're watching princess movies with your family, why not try to reimagine things like our dad did? Life's too short to stick to just one way of doing things, especially when a little mischief can make things more interesting.

Damjan