I absolutely love a good back story, and Disney always seems to excel at them. I grew up watching Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Sleeping Beauty on repeat, and when Disney released Maleficent last year, it felt like a beautiful mix of modern nostalgia. The intricacies of the mind of a villain are fascinating both in fiction and in real life, and I can think of a better way to introduce a modern generation to the likes of Maleficent and Jafar than through a film that bridges the gap between good and evil.
The Disney Channel Original Movie Descendants recently debuted, immersing families in an original story that follows the teenage children of Maleficent, Cruella de Vil, and the Evil Queen as they adjust to life outside of the Isle of the Lost. This forbidden island holds the villains, sidekicks, evil stepmothers and step-sisters banned from the kingdom. In this contemporary musical fantasy film, the son of Beast and Belle is set to take the throne. His first decree is to offer the villainous descendants a chance at redemption. Allowed to enter the kingdom and attend Auradon Prep along with the teen children of Disney’s iconic heroes, these descendants face an imminent dilemma…follow in the footsteps of their nefarious parents and help the villains regain power or embrace their innate goodness and save the kingdom.
Part of what makes a film memorable and relatable is the closure one feels, but there are times when I want to know what happens to my favorite characters. Conversely, sometimes only a small bit of historical information is provided at the beginning of the film, enough to provide context but not enough to really delve into why someone becomes who they are. As a family, we discussed the evil villains that cause conflict within our favorite stories. We talked about whether or not they were always “bad” and if they could ever change their persona and become “good.” It’s a larger theme I appreciate Disney exploring, modeling to children that people can change.
Without giving away too much, after you watch Disney’s Descendants, you’ll likely walk away knowing that this isn’t the last you’ll see of them. You can own the film now on Blu-ray and DVD which includes never-before-seen bonus features.
In honor of the film’s release, here are a handful of free Disney Descendants Printables including games and activities.
You can keep up with Disney’s Descendants by following on Twitter and Facebook.
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