Sexual innuendos in Disney movies

When it comes to subliminal messages in Disney movies, there’s always going to be controversial views. Personally we find the adult-based hidden messages funny – but then again we’re inappropriate at the best of times, so what do we know?

Here’s the thing: The Disney subliminal messages are just the animators way of having a little bit of fun (trying to sneak something hidden that’s highly inappropriate into a children’s film). But, there’s a reason these animated movies have a “U” (universal) rating.

Either way: They are either Disney trying to stick it to the man, or viewers’ imaginations.

Note: In newer copies of the movies some hidden messages have been remove, but if you still own an original VHS copy then you can still see some of them.

Scroll down for videos

10. Tangled: Hidden Word S-E-X

Back in 2010, the anticipated Disney movie Tangled was released. And included in one of the promotional posters the initials S, E and X can be depicted. The movie poster that included characters: Flynn, Rapunzel Maximus and Pascal looks like a “fun” interpretation of the movie until at a further glance it looks like another Lion King incident.

Another one due to viewers’ imaginations, or simple another hidden message by Disney? Either way, what was the chances all three initials being present?

9. Aladdin: Good Teenagers, Take Off Your Clothes

In the scene where Aladdin flies up to Jasmine’s balcony using his magic carpet and is greeted by Jasmine’s tiger Rajah, you can hear a subtle voice in the background that supposedly says: “Good teenagers, take off your clothes.” You will need to turn the volume up as it’s hard to hear without.

Disney has since said the script written for Aladdin says he should have said “C’mon…good kitty. Take off and go” in that scene. But why have him whisper it? Maybe due to power of suggestions, but the rumour started back in 1993 after Aladdin was released on home video.

8. The Lion King: Sex Message

A 4-year-old boy from New York spotted this image but we bet you never did as a kid – smart kid.

Just around after half way through the movie The Lion King there is a cloud of dust that forms when Simba, Pumbaa and Timon are chilling out, gazing at the stars while on a cliff. If you watch carefully the newly-formed dust-cloud seems to spell out S-E-X.

Some say the hidden message is supposed to spell S-F-X as it was inserted by a special effects group.

7. The Wabbit Who Came to Dinner: Bugs Bunny’s Little Fella

In 1942 a Merrie Melodies cartoon was aired called Wabbit Who Came To Dinner which showed a lot more than we wished to see. Pay attention to the shower scene: Did you see what looked like Bugs Bunny’s penis? Some of you are saying it’s merely the gap between his legs, but if so, the scene was created in such a way it was supposed to look like a penis.

6. The Little Mermaid: Minister’s Erection

In The Little Mermaid during Ursula’s wedding scene you will notice what looks like a “penis-shaped” object protruding from the minister’s pelvic region.

When comparing this still with others in the same scene you can see the alleged “erection” may in fact be the minister’s knee. Although this is probably true, it was done in a way to suggest an erection, but a way of getting away with it – Nice thinking, Disney.

5. The Lion King: Thong Front Cover

In 2002, The Lion King was re-released in the cinema for a limited time only. During its time in the cinema the movie made $15,686,262 — $1,825,849 being made on the opening weekend.

At first glance, the movie post looks quite innocent as it depicts Simba. But on closer inspection, does that look like a semi-naked girl wearing what seems to be a thong? Either a very cleverly placed Disney hidden message, or simple too many people with dirty minds?

4. The Little Mermaid: The Phallic Palace

On copies of The Little Mermaid home video (VHS), it seems that one of the castle’s spires resembles who looks like a phallus – hence The Phallic Palace.

It was reported that an angry artist tried to sneak in the phallic as a way of revenge after he heard news of his upcoming redundancy. The artists has since stated that he wasn’t about to lose his job and the cover was due to a time frame he had to abide by – the coincidence of the resemblance was just unlucky…apparently.

3. Who Framed Roger Rabbit: Jessica Rabbit’s Private Parts

If you are the kind of guy that gets turned on by cartoon characters such as Jessica Rabbit the best thing to do is keep it to yourself. But luckily for you the animators at Disney have thrown a few stills of Jessica Rabbit without any underwear on.

In the scene where Jessica Rabbit is cruising around Toon Town in an animated cab with Bob Hoskins, take note of the part where Jessica Rabbit is throw out of the cab. You should see her red dress lift up and what looks like Britney Spears moment.

2. The Rescuers: Naked Woman

Around 38 minutes into the movies The Rescuers, when Bianca and Bernard ride around the city in an empty sardine tin which is attached to Orville, if you pay attention you will notice a naked woman in the background. But unless you are pausing and going frame by frame then the chances are you will miss it. In fact it was down to Disney making the subliminal message public that people noticed it.

In 1999, Disney studios announced that they would be recalling the home video version of the 1977 movie The Rescuers because a few shots contained an “objectional background image”. During the scene in which the mousy heroes Bernard and Bianca fly through the city in a sardine tin (about 38 minutes into the movie) a photographic image of a topless woman can be seen in the windows they pass. While some of the items on this list are objectionable and some have been proven wrong, this one is pretty clear and Disney studios had to hang their heads in shame. It was confirmed by a Disney spokesperson who simply said that the tampering “was done more than twenty years ago” and the company recalled 3.4 million copies of the video that had been sold.

1. Donald Duck Swears

Everyone knows that Donald Duck is known for having a speech impediment which means some words could be easily mistaken for others.

Well, back in 1937 the short animation film The Clock Cleaners was released. In this short Disney animation it seems that our favorite duck not only got away with us not questioning why he wasn’t wearing any pants, but he is angered to the point of saying the phrase “f#ck you.”

Even though we can take a joke, it seems some of you can’t: Around 1995-96, an Arkansas woman named Janet Gilmer filed a lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company and Buena Vista Home Video in Washington County Circuit Court:

Through its marketing efforts, the use of the Disney name, and a ‘G’ rating, the defendants represented to the public that ‘The Lion King’ and ‘The Little Mermaid’ videocassettes were suitable for use and viewing by young children.

Furthermore, the defendants never stated or suggested to the public that these videocassettes contained drawings and animated scenes that depicted sexual messages or other material that was unsuitable for young children.

Sexy Beast

In the movie Beauty and the Beast we see many references to sex (as in some of the previous items), but we also see some satanic references. Pay special attention to the clip above from about the 02:55 mark to see some very blatant symbols of evil such as a skull and the sign of the horns. The latter part of the clip deals with morality and I think the narrator may be stretching things a little, but it is an interesting clip nevertheless.

Aladdin’s Sexual Suggestion in Aladdin (1992)

When you have a guy like Robin Williams voicing one of the supporting characters, you know there’s going to be some throw-away jokes for the parents of the audience. The scene of Aladdin first trying to woo Jasmine is something entirely different. As in, maybe brainwashing.

It’s been written off as just a misheard whisper, but we’re unconvinced. When Aladdin is whispering to Jasmine’s pet tiger, “Good kitty, take off and go,” it sounds an awful lot like “Good teenagers take off your clothes.” You heard it here first: MTV’s Teen Mom owes everything to Disney.

The Genie’s Gay Joke in Aladdin (1992)

After the Genie once again saved Aladdin’s life, he explains that he was getting pretty fond of him, but then clarified by adding, “Not that I want to pick out curtains, or anything.” We know a gay joke isn’t too classy, but we guess a guy who lives in a satin-filled golden lamp, wears no shirt, and has a ponytail needs to set the record straight.

The Toy Hooker in Toy Story (1995)

This joke is truly on the sly. Sid’s toys in Toy Story are a thing of nightmares, taking two creatures and making them one, like a duck head on top of a GI Joe or the doll with mechanical spider legs. But the one we notice now are the Barbie legs and dangling hook—a very, very subtle suggestion that it’s a “hooker.”

The Genie’s Honeymoon Joke in Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996)

Aladdin and the King of Thieves went straight to DVD, but that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten Genie’s reference to sex. During Aladdin and Jasmine’s wedding, there’s an earthquake and Genie mumbles, “I thought the Earth wasn’t supposed to move until the honeymoon.”

The Butt Joke in Toy Story 3 (2010)

We haven’t seen an ascot rocked so hard in animation since Freddy in Scooby Doo. And apparently, neither has Barbie, who compliments her new beau Ken with something that sounds at least PG: “Nice ascot.”

Pixar’s ability to sneak stuff under the radar is what makes its movies so enjoyable, even when we’re way past its usual demographic. Case in point: When Lotso, the pink stuffed bear, takes Mrs. Potato Head’s lips off of her body when she’s talking too much, Mr. Potato Head says, “Hey, nobody takes my wife’s mouth except me!”

As kids, we thought he was just being a protective husband. As adults, all we hear is an oral sex joke.

The Sex Joke in Robots (2005)

In a world where robots rule, Herb Copperbottom is introduced while he’s running home from work to make it in time to see his baby delivered. Unfortunately, when he arrives, his wife Lydia tells him, “You missed the delivery but it’s OK, making the baby is the fun part.” Well done, Robots writers.

The Oral Sex Joke in Ratatouille (2007)

As if giving a lesson to all the young love birds out there, rather than aspiring food critics, the infamous critic Anton Ego says to Linguini about his food, “If I don’t love it, I don’t swallow.” Preach.

The Penis Joke in Ratatouille (2007)

Once you get over how gross it would actually be if a rat was part of the creation of your food, Ratatouille is another Pixar classic. Plus, let’s not forget it has one of the most brilliantly, and subtly, executed tiny penis jokes. When Linguini begins to explain his rat friend to his love interest as, “I have this tiny…” she briefly looks down to his pants with worry.