What if Elsa from Frozen and Woody from Toy Story were not the good characters we know? What if Cruella De Vil brought a terrifying vibe, despite being over 30 years old? We often forget that many iconic Disney characters have undergone significant transformations during their development stages. From beautiful princesses to wicked villains, these characters often have entirely different designs in the early drafts of their animated films.
Below are 11 Disney characters that went through considerable “makeovers” before officially appearing on the big screen:
1. Ursula from “The Little Mermaid” is a completely different sea creature
Ursula was inspired by the drag queen Divine, but in the earliest drafts, she didn’t have eight tentacles. The early concept of “The Little Mermaid” depicted her as a more fish-like creature with numerous spines protruding from her body.
2. Aladdin was originally more of a street urchin
Aladdin was not always the charming young man we see today; he was initially envisioned as a scrappy little boy. In discussions surrounding the 2004 DVD release of “Aladdin,” it was revealed that he was originally based on the likeness of actor Michael J. Fox. Ultimately, the animation studios decided that Aladdin needed to be slightly older to suit Jasmine’s love interest, designed to resemble Tom Cruise at the time.
3. Cruella De Vil was meant to be much younger
The female antagonist in “101 Dalmatians” was originally designed as a much younger and fashionable woman. According to the initial design by animator Marc Davis, Cruella was depicted as a wealthy, beautiful woman with a strong fashion sense. Later, Disney decided to portray her as an older character to better match the villainous traits of her character.
4. Snow White was once more voluptuous
Snow White was initially designed to have a more voluptuous look, at least according to standards from the 1930s. According to The Daily Mail, the original version of this character was inspired by the flapper style, featuring long lashes, full lips, and a rounder body. Animator Grim Natwick was tasked with making Snow White appear more delicate as we see today.
5. Gaston from “Beauty and the Beast” was not always a muscular brute
One of Gaston’s most notable traits is his overwhelming physical presence, being a broad, muscular man. However, in an earlier video draft, Gaston was designed quite differently from what we see in the film. The changes made by the animation studios were necessary to align him with the character of “Beauty and the Beast,” emphasizing his handsome exterior, while internally he was much less attractive.
6. Beast was originally more dog-like
In earlier drafts, Beast was depicted as a combination of various animals, including a bear, lion, and boar. However, the original concept was more dog-like, resembling a dog but with a more refined and complex character arc than just a simple brute.
7. Maleficent from “Sleeping Beauty” was originally more of a dragon-like creature
Maleficent is one of the most iconic Disney villains created by the studio. However, if you look at the earlier designs, you can see significant differences between the final version and the initial drafts. Early sketches show her with a more dragon-like appearance, complete with horns and a more monstrous design.
8. Genie from “Aladdin” was originally a different shade
The iconic character portrayed by Robin Williams in “Aladdin” had a design similar to a ghost from “Ghostbusters” in earlier drafts. Later, Disney decided to change his appearance to better fit Williams’ personality, incorporating a friendly blue tone.
9. King Triton from “The Little Mermaid” had a different appearance
Ariel’s father, who is based on Greek mythology, was not originally depicted as a muscular figure. Early drafts showed him resembling a fish more than a merman. Fortunately, Disney decided to give him a longer hairstyle and more robust physique to create a sense of authority and strength befitting a king.
10. Elsa was originally a villain in “Frozen”
In the original concept, Elsa was based on Hans Christian Andersen’s story “The Snow Queen,” where she had no relationship with Anna. She was depicted with green skin, green hair, and a more imposing gown, appearing much more sinister. Through the development stages, Disney decided to transform Elsa into a central character who embodies the importance of family and sisterly love, moving away from the traditional evil queen archetype. This change made “Frozen” more relatable and added depth to the original storyline.
11. Woody from “Toy Story” was not originally a hero
Woody is a tall, cowboy doll known as one of the most iconic characters in animation history. Although he shows jealousy throughout “Toy Story,” he remains a genuinely good-hearted character who stands by his friends. However, in the early stages of production, Woody was created with a much more sinister design, looking untrustworthy. Fortunately, Pixar decided to pivot his design to align better with the character’s personality.
Source: Hollywood
