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Deconstructing Disney

Rachel Casey, Erin Casey

Two life-long Disney fans take on the Disney film catalog, beginning with the animated features, and discuss with a critical lens. @DeconDisney on social media.

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21 episodes
every few months
Avg 1 hr 34 min
English

Episodes 21

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S1 · E69
October 14 · 1 hr 34 min
Brave
Erin and Rachel discuss Pixar’s first princess movie, Brave (2012), debating whether protagonist Merida is a feminist icon or just another subjugated female character. Of course, no trip to these fictional Scottish highlands would be complete without mentions of ableism and heterosexism.
S1 · E67
July 20 · 1 hr 2 min
Winnie the Pooh (2011)
Erin and Rachel return to the Hundred Acre Wood for Winnie the Pooh (2011), the sequel to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977). Although it’s stuffed with as much fluff as its protagonist, nostalgia and a 69-minute run time make this benign film pleasantly watchable.
S1 · E66
June 17 · 1 hr 26 min
Cars 2
Erin and Rachel follow Lightning McQueen and Mater around the globe in this discussion of Cars 2, a spy-themed sequel with a convoluted plot and disappointing politics.
S1 · E65
April 22 · 2 hr
Tangled
Erin and Rachel discuss Tangled (2010), the 50th animated film from Walt Disney Animation Studios and one of Rachel’s favorites. Based on the fairytale of Rapunzel, this coming-of-age tale features songs from Disney veteran Alan Menken and impressive computer animation. Although Erin and Rachel disagree about the viability of the romantic plot, they agree that Mother Gothel is an effective villain and Pascal is a delightful sidekick.
S1 · E64
February 10 · 1 hr 32 min
Toy Story 3
Erin and Rachel discuss Toy Story 3 (2010), the third and allegedly final installment in the Toy Story franchise. Despite some minor misogyny and heteronormativity, the film manages to delight (and emotionally devastate) the hosts.
S1 · E63
January 14 · 1 hr 11 min
Research Alert: Fat Characters in Disney Movies
In this very special episode, Erin talks to Rachel and her research assistant, Grace, about a study they recently published about the portrayal of fat characters in Disney animated films. Spoiler alert: the depictions of fat characters are rife with harmful stereotypes, and the hosts have something to say about it!
S1 · E62
Nov 24, 2025 · 2 hr 20 min
The Princess and the Frog
Erin and Rachel hop on down to 1920’s New Orleans, where Disney’s first Black princess spends most of her time as a frog in the Louisiana bayou. The Princess and the Frog (2010) provided much needed representation, but leaves a lot to be desired in terms of its race, class, and gender politics.
S1 · E61
Sep 4, 2025 · 1 hr 44 min
Up
Erin and Rachel wallow through an elderly man’s grief journey with Pixar’s critically acclaimed Up (2009). They argue the beautiful art and cute sidekicks aren’t enough to redeem this (admittedly beloved) film, especially since the (admittedly moving) love story invokes the classic “dead wife” trope. We’ll keep sailing our balloon house onto the next one, please and thank you.
S1 · E60
Jul 15, 2025 · 1 hr 8 min
Bolt
Erin and Rachel discuss Bolt (2008), a lesser known film about a dog who thinks he’s a super hero. Under new leadership, Disney Animation Studios starts to come out of their slump with this film that some people found boring (Erin) and others found heartwarming (Rachel).
S1 · E59
May 25, 2025 · 1 hr 57 min
WALL-E
Erin and Rachel travel 700 years into the future to discuss WALL-E (2008), Pixar’s robot romance with an unintentionally anti-capitalist message. Fatphobia and misogyny make this dystopian tale unwatchable despite its endearing protagonist, striking animation, and moments of nostalgia.
S1 · E58
Apr 2, 2025 · 1 hr 56 min
Ratatouille
Erin and Rachel discuss Ratatouille (2007), a Pixar film about a French rat who wants to be a chef. Their discussion includes a fine stew of food politics, meritocracy, and sexism with a garnish of fatphobia. Bon appetit!
S1 · E57
Mar 4, 2025 · 1 hr 22 min
Meet the Robinsons
Erin and Rachel travel to a frenetic future to discuss Meet the Robinsons (2007), a fever dream of a film that performed poorly at the box office despite intervention from John Lasseter, newly seated Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios. Sexist and fatphobic content are only minimally present, but that doesn’t mean Erin and Rachel enjoyed this chaotic whirlwind of characters and colors any more than the critics who panned it in 2007.
S1 · E56
Feb 4, 2025 · 1 hr 44 min
Cars
In this episode about Cars (2006), Erin and Rachel take a road trip to Radiator Springs, discussing Pixar history, environmentalism, and masculinity along the way. Ka-chow!
S1 · E55
Oct 15, 2024 · 1 hr 17 min
Chicken Little
Chicken Little (2005), the modern retelling of the classic folk tale, will make you wish the sky was falling so the movie would end. Erin and Rachel discuss the gender dynamics and fatphobia in this story about a father and son (and also baseball and aliens).
S1 · E54
Aug 30, 2024 · 1 hr 49 min
The Incredibles
Family superhero saga, The Incredibles (2004), was another smash hit for Pixar. Although fun to watch, the focus on a middle aged male protagonist leads Erin and Rachel to ask once again, who is this movie really for?
S1 · E52
Jul 3, 2024 · 1 hr 20 min
Home on the Range
Erin and Rachel venture to the Old West to discuss the oft forgotten 2004 flop Home on the Range. The convoluted plot, juvenile humor, and unsympathetic characters make for a frustrating viewing experience. Most critics and audience members seem to agree this movie would be best put out to pasture.
S1 · E51
May 19, 2024 · 1 hr 18 min
Brother Bear
Welcome to our family time! Erin and Rachel discuss Brother Bear (2003), another entry in the canon of Disney’s flop era. Despite disappointingly little effort on the part of the filmmakers to ensure cultural authenticity, Brother Bear manages to tell a sweet story with surprisingly little offensive content.
S1 · E50
Apr 2, 2024 · 1 hr 37 min
Finding Nemo
Erin and Rachel dive into a discussion of Finding Nemo (2003), the box office splash that enthralled audiences and critics alike. This movie about fish offers a surprising amount to wade through in terms of environmentalism, gender politics, and ableism.
S1 · E49
Mar 5, 2024 · 1 hr 44 min
Treasure Planet
Erin and Rachel explore Treasure Planet (2002), the biggest flop in Disney animation since The Black Cauldron. The hosts discuss what went wrong with this pet project of veteran directors Ron Clements and John Musker, beyond just the usual misogyny, that is.
S1 · E48
Feb 6, 2024 · 1 hr 48 min
Lilo & Stitch
Much like family dynamics and intergalactic diplomacy, Lilo & Stitch (2002) is a complicated movie. Erin and Rachel surf through the topics of Hawaiian culture and representation, colonialism, and Elvis.

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