35+ Details of Disney Cartoons That Make Us Look At Them Differently

This article appeared in instantlymodern.com and has been published here with permission.
Ariel Was Modeled After Alyssa Milano!

There is no denying that Disney’s animated movies are some of the most iconic stories ever told on the big screen. It seems like every myth and fable has been transformed into an animated feature full of color, magic, and wonder. But there are tons of little details that you might have missed from these unforgettable movies. From the old classics to the latest Pixar flicks, here are some of the coolest details about Disney animated features that will make you look at them differently.

Ariel Was Modeled After Alyssa Milano!

It’s always a mystery as to how Disney’s creators envision the appearance of their iconic characters. When it comes to the main character of The Little Mermaid, Disney had a pretty random choice of who they wanted to model Ariel on.

Ariel Was Modeled After Alyssa Milano!

That’s right, even though she isn’t a red-head, ’80s child star Alyssa Milano was the talk of the town around the time the movie was being made and the studio wanted to base Ariel on both her looks and her character traits!

Simba Roars Like a Tiger, Not a Lion

It might seem like a strange fact to include on this list but it is fascinating, nonetheless. When using sound effects for the animal sounds in The Lion King, grown Simba’s roar at the end of the movie wasn’t actually that of a lion.

Simba Roars Like a Tiger, Not a Lion

It turns out that Disney used a tiger’s roar instead. Despite what the MGM lion might suggest, a typical lion’s roar is considered to be a bit too quiet.

Lilo and Stitch Are Obsessed With Elvis

Some Disney movies have the most random pop culture references in them and Lilo and Stitch is a good example. While the King was famous for having songs in his movies, the popular animated movie features many of his tunes.

Lilo and Stitch Are Obsessed With Elvis

Ironically, Elvis’s movies were rarely well-received by critics, while Lilo and Stitch was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film back in 2002. Not to mention that Stitch dressed up as Elvis in the movie!

Sleeping Beauty Only Had 18 Lines

OK, we probably need to be a little bit more specific. There are more than 18 lines in the classic Disney flick Sleeping Beauty. However, the main character, Aurora, is the one who only had 18 lines in the entire movie.

Sleeping Beauty Only Had 18 Lines

We knew that she didn’t say that much but that is kind of crazy! Apparently, Aurora has the second-lowest number of lines in any Disney movie. Dumbo is number one. To be fair though, he is a baby elephant.