Where did the Animated Classics take place ?

[Prudence]

I'd say Snow White is definitely a fantasy Germany, even from little details like the beer steins in the dwarves cottage. Also, I saw a historic German dress that had similiar sleeves to Snow's.

Ja. I knew the thread would go like this. Ack, why oh why is this impossible guessing of Prince Eric's kingdom here?

[veu]

Pinocchio original fairy tale is set in Italy.
Disney's version of Pinocchio is set in Bavaria, the town is based on a town called Rothenbourg.

Snow White is set in Bavaria.

I read that creators of The Little Mermaid told this: Prince Eric's kingdom is similar to old Monaco/MonteCarlo...

[tsom]

So, we've talked about the where.

What about the When?

When did these movies take place? Cinderella, Snow White, Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast?

They are kinda hard to tell.

[2099net]

Well, presumably Beauty and the Beast took place before 1789.

[Touchstone84]

Well, presumably Beauty and the Beast took place before 1789.

Not necessarily, it could be the very reason why the castle is isolated from the rest of society (even without the spell). But it is more likely, assumed that it takes place in France, that it is in the reigns of Louis XIV – Louis XVI. The former King through various measures marginalized the once independent power structure and role of the high nobility to that of an obedient court nobility.

By the way, Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont published the famous rendition of the tale in 1756…

[Disney Duster]

Now Sleeping Beauty, on the other hand is tricky. The name Aurora is a Roman name; Aurora was the goddesses of dawn in ancient roman tradition. The narrator says “they named her after the dawn for she filled their lives with sunshine.” In order to name their child after the dawn, King Stefan and his fair Queen must have had to know something about the Roman gods. Rome is mentioned again during the ‘Skumps’ song. King Stefan speaks of building “a palace in Rome” for Aurora and Phillip. I don’t think the story takes place in Rome- it just seems like King Stefan is referencing Rome’s wonder.

Well, since the name Aurora came from the French Perrault tale, they probably still set it in France, because Perrault still wrote a story about a French King and his Queen naming their daughter Aurora.

[Disney Villain]

Now Sleeping Beauty, on the other hand is tricky. The name Aurora is a Roman name; Aurora was the goddesses of dawn in ancient roman tradition. The narrator says “they named her after the dawn for she filled their lives with sunshine.” In order to name their child after the dawn, King Stefan and his fair Queen must have had to know something about the Roman gods. Rome is mentioned again during the ‘Skumps’ song. King Stefan speaks of building “a palace in Rome” for Aurora and Phillip. I don’t think the story takes place in Rome- it just seems like King Stefan is referencing Rome’s wonder.

Well, since the name Aurora came from the French Perrault tale, they probably still set it in France, because Perrault still wrote a story about a French King and his Queen naming their daughter Aurora.

Whoa! I forgot I even wrote that, it’s been a while. You’re probably right, I was just trying to dig a little deeper into the meanings and origins of names. While it’s easy to pinpoint a few Disney Princess Kingdoms easily, others are almost impossible. Snow White is from Germany, Cinderella is from France, Tiana is from the good ole’ USA, Belle is from France, Jasmine is from the Middle East, Pocahontas is from North America.

Ariel is another story entirely. She’s from “under the sea”, but exactly where, is the question. As it’s been discussed before, Eric has Mediterranean or Spanish (as in Spain not South America) features. Eric seemed t live right above Ariel’s kingdom. This is one story I’ve actually given up on trying to pin point where exactly it takes place.

As for Princess Aurora, I was merely trying to look for the origin of her name. True Perrault was the first to call the Sleeping Beauty Aurora, and he is French, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he meant the characters to be French. Getting away from the original fairytale and sticking with the Disney version, when Mary Costa auditioned for the role of Princess Aurora, Marc Davis asked her to imitate a British accent. Does this mean Disney had their fairytale set in Medieval England? I don’t know; it was most likely done to keep Mary Costa’s beautiful southern accent at bay. Since Princess Aurora is my favorite thing on the planet , I’ve actually spent time trying to figure out where her story (specifically the Disney version) takes place, and I still don’t have a clue. Your theory a lot of sense, but I still wonder.

[ajmrowland]

Well, to point out the obvious, we at least know when Sleeping Beauty takes place, which is in the early 1300's/14th century.

[cms382]

I'm working on a "map" of the DAC's.

Map

The classic European fairy tales as well as TBC and TSITSwould go in Europa

Movies that do not take place in modern times, i.e. Televison era on, and do not have fantastical elements go in Centuria.

Movies that do not take place in modern times or in an unspecified time that have fantastical and adventurous elements go in Adventura

Alice in Wonderland Fantasia/2k go in Fantasia arbitrarily.

Movies that take place in modern times, regardless of fantastical elements go in Moderna.

TPatF presents a problem, it will have to be on the border of Centuria and Europa.
The Package films and Shorts go in Mousia.

[Goliath]

Ariel is another story entirely. She’s from “under the sea”, but exactly where, is the question. As it’s been discussed before, Eric has Mediterranean or Spanish (as in Spain not South America) features. Eric seemed t live right above Ariel’s kingdom. This is one story I’ve actually given up on trying to pin point where exactly it takes place.

I've always thought it took place in Denmark, since that's where Hans Christian Andersen came from. But you're right, Eric hardly comes off as Scandanavian (no blond hair and blue eyes).

[Princess Forever]

Doesn't Eric have blue eyes?

[Disney Duster]

Oh, I wasn't sure you'd be around Disney Villain, I'm glad.

It is true Perrault could have imagined or intended the characters to be some place other than France, or just any anywhere in general, or some faraway fantasy place, but as far as Disney is concerned, they probably set it in France because it came from a French story with a French author. I like PhillipFan's idea of the border between Germany and France, with Phillip from Germany. They use the French and German stories. So does Cinderella use the French and German versions, actually, and I read that the castle and all the guards in it are of German influence. Not entirely sure about that as Disney sent Mary Blair and...some other artists to France for the film. I can't look it up now...but hey, at least that gives me even more reason to believe it's set in France! Yay!

Oh, and Perrault actually named the sleeping princess' duaghter Aurora, not the sleeping princess herself. And she had a son called...something that meant "day", and he was more beautiful than his sister like the day is more beautiful than the done...or something...weird, I know.

Also, they told Mary Costa to have an "English" accent, which I don't think specifically means British. I mean, she definately doesn't sound like Mary Poppins or any British lady to me!

[Jack Skellington]

I edited the title for this topic, since everyone here agrees that Snow White does take place in Germany.

So now we can discuss any other Disney animated classic's time and location without being off-topic.

[Jan<3]

I don't know where Eric might be located, but I think Atlantica is in the Caspian Sea. In the song 'Poor Unfortunate Sea' Ursula mentions the "winds of the Caspian Sea" so I always though Ariel and them were located in the Caspian Sea...

[SpringHeelJack]

It mentions winds of the Caspian Sea, but that just means, you know, winds. Frankly, she could have said it because it has a nice ring to it. Anyhow, I never pictured "Mermaid" taking place in a land-locked body of water, no matter the size.

[Mooky]

I'll give it a try, someone correct me if I'm wrong.

(I'm leaving out package features and "Fantasia" movies)

- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Germany, 14th century (even though there are no raccoons in Europe)
- Pinocchio - Italy, late 18th century
- Dumbo - USA, early 20th century
- Bambi - I would say Austria, just because Felix Salten is from Austria, 20th century
- Cinderella - either France or Belgium, 19th century
- Alice in Wonderland - England, late 19th century
- Peter Pan - England, early 20th century
- Lady and the Tramp - USA, late 19th/early 20th century
- Sleeping Beauty - this is a tricky one, I'll go with whomever said France/Germany, 14th century
- 101 Dalmatians - England, 1950s
- The Sword in the Stone - Medieval England
- The Jungle Book - India, 19th century
- The Aristocats - France, 1910
- Robin Hood - Medieval England
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - ???
- The Rescuers - USA, 1970s
- The Rescuers Down Under - Australia, 1990s
- The Fox and the Hound - USA, 1950s
- The Black Cauldron - Prydain (mythical Britain)
- The Great Mouse Detective - England, 19th century
- Oliver & Company - USA, 1980s
- The Little Mermaid - somewhere in the Mediterranean, 18th century
- Beauty and the Beast - France, 18th century
- Aladdin - Middle East (possibly Morocco, Jordan or Iraq), 16th century
- The Lion King - Kenya, no time period set
- Pocahontas - USA, 17th century (1607)
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame - France, 16th or 17th century
- Hercules - Ancient Greece
- Mulan - China, ???
- Tarzan - West Africa, 1910s
- The Emperor's New Groove - Peru, ???
- Atlantis: The Lost Empire - USA/Atlantis - 1910s
- Lilo & Stitch - USA, present time
- Treasure Planet - distant future
- Brother Bear - USA/Canada, after the ice age
- Home on the Range - USA, late 19th century
- Chicken Little - ???
- Meet the Robinsons - USA, 2007/2037
- Bolt - USA, present time
- The Princess and the Frog - USA, 1920s

[Princess Forever]

Cinderella *has* to be France, because of the words they use--chateau, mademoiselle.

[Jack Skellington]

I think it's France too, Charles Perault is from France, so he would probably write a story which takes place there.

But Belgium's national language is French though.

[Princess Forever]

But Belgium's national language is French though.

oooh I didn't know that!

[toonaspie]

I'll give it a try, someone correct me if I'm wrong.

(I'm leaving out package features and "Fantasia" movies)

I will bold any corrections or thoughts I have

- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Germany, 14th century (even though there are no raccoons in Europe)
- Pinocchio - Italy, late 18th century
- Dumbo - USA, early 20th century (In the beginning of the film you see a map of Florida. So I think the film was intended to take place in Florida. I dunno about time period though it could be anytime even contemporary.)
- Bambi - I would say Austria, just because Felix Salten is from Austria, 20th century (The original book is set in Austria but Disney changed it to a North American setting for the film. Most likely contemporary US)
- Cinderella - either France or Belgium, 19th century (I'm thinking more 17th or 18th century France but I am just guessing from the artistic and clothing styles of the characters)- Alice in Wonderland - England, late 19th century
- Alice in Wonderland - England 1800s
- Peter Pan - England, early 20th century
- Lady and the Tramp - USA, late 19th/early 20th century
- Sleeping Beauty - this is a tricky one, I'll go with whomever said France/Germany, 14th century
- 101 Dalmatians - England, 1950s (contemporary)
- The Sword in the Stone - Medieval England
- The Jungle Book - India, 19th century
- The Aristocats - France, 1910
- Robin Hood - Medieval England
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - ??? (England, if you want to go with the books settings, mid 1920s but it could be anytime here)
- The Rescuers - USA, 1970s (NYC, Southern US possibly Louisiana, contemporary)
- The Rescuers Down Under - Australia, 1990s (Contemporary)
- The Fox and the Hound - USA, 1950s (no idea as far as time setting I'm thinking Appalachia maybe either Kentucky or Tennesee 1930s)
- The Black Cauldron - Prydain (mythical Britain)
- The Great Mouse Detective - England, 19th century (1898)
- Oliver & Company - USA, 1980s (NYC, contemporary)
- The Little Mermaid - somewhere in the Mediterranean, 18th century
- Beauty and the Beast - France, 18th century (or possibly 17th century)
- Aladdin - Middle East (possibly Morocco, Jordan or Iraq), 16th century (no idea)
- The Lion King - Kenya, no time period set (I think it was meant to be a contemporary setting, I read somewhere that Ed was intended to be named after a human who rescued him.)
- Pocahontas - USA, 17th century (1607)
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame - France, 16th or 17th century (I would go back earlier than that, say around the 1400s)
- Hercules - Ancient Greece
- Mulan - China, ??? (possibly 6th century but could be earlier or later than that)
- Tarzan - West Africa, 1910s
- The Emperor's New Groove - Peru, ??? (no intended time setting, IMO given the style of this film)
- Atlantis: The Lost Empire - USA/Atlantis - 1910s
- Lilo & Stitch - USA, present time
- Treasure Planet - distant future (no actual setting)
- Brother Bear - USA/Canada (most likely Alaska), after the ice age
- Home on the Range - USA, late 19th century
- Chicken Little - ??? (no actual setting)- Meet the Robinsons - USA, 2007/2037
- Bolt - USA, present time
- The Princess and the Frog - USA (New Orleans), 1920s

Take it all with a grain of salt.