I want to live in a world where characters’ waists aren’t as small as their necks. (look up the classic princess designs for a reminder). My petition will give me an opportunity to meet with the current head of Disney animation studios, Jennifer Lee, and initiate change in the way characters (especially females) are portrayed. Change needs to happen in creating characters not only of different sizes and colors but also disabilities, skin conditions, heights, etc. Disney stylized ideals as shown by the photo above, are not only ridiculous but damaging. There is no reason for this, beyond marketing gone wrong. Not only this, but Disney needs to be more mindful of NOT portraying plus sized people, aged people, or people with limb differences as villains, which they have done several times both in and out of animated films (Ursula, Yzma, The witches). More…

This isn’t even a call to make characters “big” (although frankly, if they claim to be diverse, they should portray all sorts of heroes who reflect the diversity of real life) - just realistic enough to not be destructive!
I am a character designer and know how easy it is to create diverse, unique, and imperfect characters who are charming and cartooned without being harmful to children’s thinking patterns. Why are all Disney heroes impossibly thin, perfectly smooth in skin, petite, button nosed, and foolishly designed to make children believe that that is the standard of attractiveness? 
If I’m able to meet with Jennifer or another member of Disney Animation studios, I want to bring before her staggering eating disorder statistics and discuss how visual messages play a big role in them, compare Disney characters with real bodies, and challenge her and the entire animation team to start creating a more balanced character base. Balanced means everyone is included.

We all know Disney won’t be disappearing any time soon, so let’s change it for the better!
I want to live in a world where inclusive characters are the norm.
If this doesn’t happen, we risk more eating disorders and body dysmorphia, more body fear, less difference acceptance, and an atmosphere where children are afraid to not be up to the Cinderella Standard. We also allow a huge corporation to continue to engage in unethical behavior and be unaccountable.

It’s 2022! We’re far overdue.

Disney, it’s time to wake up, size up, grow up, and build up.