The Disney Generation

Millennials! Who are we? We are the generation born from 1990 to 2000. For awhile, we were known as Generation Y, because no one really knew what to call us. Nothing really defined us, but then, with the new millennium, they decided on the name Millennials. I, for one, think that name rocks! It's cool and different and no one else has ever been known as that before. I knew the 90's were awesome, but this just makes them better!

In past generations, there have been significant situations or moments in history to define those born in that time. The best known is pretty obvious, The Baby Boomers! They are a well known generation, however, the generation that came after them aren't so well known. They are simply called Generation X. It's pretty lame (no offense guys), but I mean, your parents were The Baby Boomers and your kids are the Millennials. Not having a defining title is pretty rough, I think. Anyway, like I said, most generations had something happen to define them, however Generation X really didn't have anything big and significant that was worth naming them after. 

Many people thought the same of the Millennials, that was why we were known as Generation Y for so long. However, the new millennium isn't much to be known for, but, in Chuck Klosterman's article, he tried to change that for Gen. X and tried to define Generation X with a pop culture phenomenon, which was the StarWars Trilogy. That is actually a pretty cool thing to be known for actually. Too bad that's not what they are actually called. So in keeping with the pop culture theme, what popular culture event has happened that could defined the Millennials?

Well, I think there are a few obvious options that could define the current generation pretty well. However, there is one that is near and dear to my heart. Cue the African music! In 1994 Walt Disney Animated Studios released the now Disney classic, The Lion King. This movie was basically my whole world growing up. I watched it probably 5 to 10 times a day! My mom would stick it into the VCR (remember those?!) and I'd sit there mesmerized by the films wonder and amazing animation. Then when it was over, she'd rewind it and I'd watch it again. I can quote this movie beginning to end perfectly. The Lion King earned $987,483,777 worldwide at the box office. It is the 18th highest grossing film, the 2nd highest grossing animated film of all time worldwide and the highest grossing film of the Walt Disney Animated Studios [The Lion King: Wikipedia]. 

Now, the reason I believe this movie should define a whole generation is simple. It is one of the best known Disney movies ever and it was part of a time known as the Disney Renaissance, which was a period when Disney animated films brought back Disney's credibility using well-known stories. The movies in the Disney Renaissance were, The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Mulan, and Tarzan. However, if singling The Lion King out isn't really something you are comfortable with, then we can just call it The Disney Generation. Because many Disney classics and masterpieces were created in this time period [Disney Renaissance: Wikipedia].

So, here we are, with vision of Scar killing his brother and saying those famous words, "Long live the King!", Arial leaving her home to find true love, Mulan defying her "place" to save her father and in the end her country, and several other classic characters shinning in their respective movies. I am now in the biggest Disney movie mood, it's crazy! Go Disney Generation!