No Sidekick Left Behind

The documentary Life, Animated, follows the story of an autistic man named Owen and his struggles from childhood to adulthood. Throughout his life, one theme remains existent; his love for Disney films. The documentary showcases the various impacts that Disney movies can have on autistic people such as Owen and many others.

From a young age, there was always a language barrier between Owen’s parents, older brother and himself. Desperately trying to find ways to communicate with Owen, his parents came across what seemed to be a miracle. His father shares an intimate moment with his son, where he learns that his son communicates through movie dialogue using a Iago puppet, popular from the movie, Aladdin. From then on, Owen’s Disney obsession truly blossomed. He was taken to Disney World, Disney Broadway shows, and even part of an adult Disney club. Throughout the film, his prized Disney merchandise and experiences have been showcased in many ways. Much like his mom said early on in the film, “Disney is the only consistent factor in Owen’s life despite everything around him.”

With having things such as merchandise, experiences and memories with Disney, it is much like a comfort to Owen, something that feels like home. With the positive effects it has, such as giving him the ability to communicate and connect with others, it also has its negative effects. An example of this would be when Owen’s counselor had mentioned that it is hard for Owen to have daily conversations without it being Disney reated, with the example of his conversations with his girlfriend. 

In many ways, the main goal of this film was to show that simple things such as a Disney movie, can do so much more than entertain. It can build character, help someone communicate, and even build relationships with others. This film also shows that television and movies can impact a child’s life, as it helps them navigate the world around them through relatable characters, imaginary worlds and situations they might relate to. Much like Owen creates in the film, his own relatable book about sidekicks where no one is left behind, being a metaphor for his own autobiography.