Throughout its century-long history, Disney has been able to create both its own and acquired characters to appeal to large audiences, from Mickey to Darth Vader.

A wide smile appeared on the face of 35-year-old Englishman Stuart Emery as he watched a parade of Disney characters from Aladdin, Pinocchio and others at Disneyland Paris this week to celebrate the centenary of the entertainment specialist group. field.

Stuart Emery, who has been visiting the amusement park once a month for the past six years, cannot miss the event. “I won’t be at the next centenary, so it’s imperative that I be at this centenary,” he said.

As for Barbara Corbisier, who is close to him, she gets excited when the Musu and Mulan characters she has tattooed on her body walk in front of her in procession.

She reckons there’s “no reason to be ashamed” of her 21-year-old self being a fan of Disney characters because it’s “a passion like any other”.

Between movies, series, theme parks, musical projects and derivative products for collectors, Laurent Armand Zuniga (age 52) noted that “there is always something to appeal to adults” in the “Disney” world. Chronic Disney” website has about 200 monthly visitors. A thousand people, most of them between the ages of 25 and 45.

There are many forums, specialized websites, YouTube channels, and social media accounts dedicated to Disney-loving adults.

Zuniga repeated what company founder Walt Disney once said: “Adults are nothing but grown children.”

Praise and criticism

The American company turned this audience into its strength, and grew it through an expansion strategy represented by large acquisitions, which allowed it to take over the “Pixar” studio (producers of “Toy Story” and “Cars” and others) in 2006. And in 2009 the rights to produce films about superheroes “Marvel” superheroes, then in 2012 the world famous “Star Wars” film franchise and its branches in the climate of the “Star Wars” universe.

According to Alexander Buhas, a professor of international affairs at ESSCA Business School, these acquisitions helped diversify Disney’s portfolio of films.

There is no clearer evidence of this than its streaming platform “Disney”, which was launched in 2019 to compete with “Netflix”, since the programs it offers include movies and series, in addition to the traditional animation produced by the company. Star Wars” series or spin-offs therefrom, and original productions, documentaries by National Geographic.

Elaine Itzi, head of France for The Walt Disney Company, highlighted the “significance” that distinguishes “Disney” as its extension “across generations”.

However, great enthusiasm for the hundred-year-old institution does not prevent criticism.

“Just because someone is a fan of the magic that Walt Disney created doesn’t mean,” said Margot Nabel (26), a volunteer editor on the “Disneyville” website, an online forum with about 200,000 users that covers company news. He should be a fan of everything you do.” “Company”.

For example, he cited the historic strike of actors and screenwriters in Hollywood or the company’s significant environmental impact.

Another issue that fueled discontent was the high cost of the annual ticket, which “entitles its holder to enter Disneyland Paris.” “Disney” fans criticized it on social media and signed petitions about it. “A bitter price.”