Animation Celebration Double Feature - Pocahontas & Pocahontas II: Journey to the New World

On this Saturday before Thanksgiving in the US, we're doing another Disney animated classic from the 90's and it's direct-to-video sequel. These are a bit more controversial, with their themes of racial and environmental insensitivity, colonialism, and duty weighed against personal freedom. Not to mention, like Anastasia, they take a rather inaccurate and romanticized view of historical facts and figures. Why don't we take a ride around the river bend to see whether they're worthy of being presented at court, or if they should be knocked overboard?

Pocahontas
Disney, 1995
Voices of Irene Bedard, Mel Gibson, Christian Bale, and Russell Means
Directed by Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg
Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Steven Schwartz

The Story: Pocahontas (Bedard) is the strong-willed daughter of Chief Powhatan (Means), of the Powahatan tribe in what we now know as Virginia. The Chief wants her to marry his bravest warrior Kocoum (James Apaumut Fall), but she sees him as much too serious. She visits the wise tree spirit Grandmother Willow (Linda Hunt) to discuss a dream about a spinning arrow. It's Grandmother who warns her of an approaching ship filled with strangers. These rough and ready sailors are lead by greedy Governor Radcliffe (David Ogden Stiers), who is desperate to find gold, and John Smith (Gibson), who just wants adventure. Ever-curious Pocahontas follows Smith, and after she explains her culture to him, they find themselves falling for each other.

Meanwhile, two of Radcliffe's men have attacked Powhatan warriors, leading to both Radcliffe and Powahatan to forbid either group from speaking to one another. As they learn more about each other's worlds, the Powahatan princess and the explorer realize how much they have in common. Pocahontas' friend Nakoma (Michelle St. John) sees her with Smith and, worried, tells Kocoum. Smith's young sailor friend Thomas (Bale) kills the warrior before he can harm Smith. Now both sides are ready for war, unless these star-crossed lovers can show that there's a better way

The Animation: This is some of Disney's most fluid and vibrant work of the 90's. The use of color here is truly outstanding, especially during the sequences with Grandmother Willow and the "Color of the Wind" number. The character animation is also quite fluid and as graceful as that wind that dances around Pocahontas throughout the film. The rainbow of colors in the forest and corn fields make for a stark and startling contrast to the darker colors of the sailors and Radcliffe's extravagant jewel tones.

The Song and Dance: I can see what Disney was trying to do here. This is a genuine epic, and almost as dark at times as The Hunchback of Notre Dame. At the very least, they didn't go for the intrusive comedy relief that marred that film. Pocahontas' animal friends Meeko the hungry raccoon and Flit the Hummingbird and Radcliffe's pampered pooch Percy are normal, silent animals, who not only fit in a tad better than the gargoyles did in Hunchback, but have some bearing on the plot.

Along with the music, the best thing about this movie is the title character. Pocahontas remains one of Disney's strongest princesses to date. She's determined, independent, bold, and quick-thinking. Nothing stops her from following her heart, including two groups threatening war. Several later adventurous Disney lasses owe a great deal to her, including Moana, Mulan, and Merida.

If nothing else, I give Disney credit for trying something entirely different. The movie is unique in its depiction of early American history. I don't know of many other musicals that have tackled the Native American experience and how it was impacted by the arrival of Europeans in the US. Not to mention, there aren't too many musicals out there with an unhappy or bittersweet ending, either.

Favorite Number: For all the film's problems, it does have a genuinely good score. I love Pocahontas' "I want" song "Just Around the River Bend," which flows and ebbs like the body of water in the title. "Mine, Mine, Mine" and the brutal "Savages" are the best of the chorus numbers. "Colors of the Wind" won an Oscar, likely for the gorgeously animated sequence where Pocahontas introduces John Smith to the wonders of the New World.

What I Don't Like: Let's discuss those historical inaccuracies, starting with the real Pocahontas was a child when she met John Smith and saved him from death. Neither she nor Smith were said to be the most gorgeous or pleasant people in existence, either. Executives at Disney, including Jeffery Katzenberg, wanted to go the Beauty and the Beast route and place emphasis on the romance, hence Pocahontas being aged-up into an older teen. Radcliffe was a captain with royal connections, but he's played more as a combination of several real-life sea captains (one of whom did genuinely dislike Smith).

My bigger problem with Radcliffe is he's a really dull villain. All he cares about is gold, gold, and more gold. Stiers does give him a certain gravity, but he mostly comes off as an annoying and pompous windbag. Most of the other characters barely register. I would have loved to have seen more of Thomas, Nakoma, and even Grandmother Willow. The animals' antics are cute and work better with the plot than the chattier sidekicks in some other Disney movies, but they still can come off as too goofy at times.

The Big Finale: I first saw this movie when it debuted on TV as part of The Wonderful World of Disney in the late 90's. It was the only Disney movie from that decade that I didn't like then. The historical fudging was annoying, the characters were boring, and only the music redeemed anything.

Having seen it again for the first time in over 20 years, I can say that I enjoyed it a little bit more this time around (especially its heroine), but it's still not one of my favorites. This might be interesting for older kids and young teens...but do talk with them beforehand to explain the historical fudging.

Home Media: The solo DVD is out of print, but it's on Amazon Prime. My recommendation would be to grab it in the recent release with its sequel Journey to the New World, which we'll get into shortly.

DVD
Amazon Prime
Pocahontas/Pocahontas II 2-Pack Blu-Ray

Pocahontas II: Journey to the New World
Disney, 1998
Voices of Irene Bedard, Billy Zane, Donal Gibson, and Jean Stapleton
Directed by Tom Ellery and Bradley Raymond
Music Larry Grossman; Lyrics by Marty Panzer

The Story: Pocahontas (Bedard) is grieving for John Smith (Gibson), who was announced dead in England, when a ship arrives from London with diplomat John Rolfe (Zane). He's supposed to bring the Chief to meet King James (Jim Cummings), a personal friend of Governor Radcliffe (David Ogden Stiers). Radcliffe lied to the King about what happened in the New World and ordered Smith arrested. Rolfe is hoping that bringing the Chief to England will allow for peaceful negotiations. Powhatan won't leave his tribe, so Pocahontas and her bodyguard Ulti (Brad Garrett) go in his place.
She's delighted by the sights, sounds, and smells of the Old World at first, at least until the King insists on her coming to the Hunt Ball to prove she can be "civilized." John and his sight-challenged maid Mrs. Jenkins (Stapleton) try to teach her the ways of the royal court. It all goes well, until Radcliffe orders a bear-baiting hunt. Pocahontas can't stand such animal cruelty and angrily protests.

She and Ulti are locked up in the Tower of London, but are rescued by Rolfe and, to their surprise, Smith. Turns out Radcliffe set up the entire incident in order to send an armada to destroy the tribes and get his hands on the non-existent "gold." Smith wants her to run, but she can't let her people down. She finally confronts the king...and proves to him who the real savage is.

The Animation: While it's just as colorful as the previous film, it's otherwise a comedown. The designs and the backgrounds aren't nearly as fluid or as interesting, although some of the sequences that show a bustling London have some decent character animation. Otherwise, it's pretty obvious this was done by a studio that mostly specialized in TV productions.

The Song and Dance: The first half sneaks into "retread" territory, as we pretty much have the same set-up as last time, with Pocahontas meeting and starting a forbidden romance with a good-looking but otherwise bland white guy. It's the second half where things get interesting. Her fish-out-of-water story is actually kind of fun, especially in London and during the ball. In some ways, I enjoyed it more than the first film, with it's commentary on animal rights and just how "savage" supposedly civilized people can be.

At least they tried to be slightly more historically accurate this time. The older Pocahontas did go to London as a diplomat for her people, was received by King James at court, and ultimately married a man named John Rolfe.

Favorite Number: Alas, the music is only slightly more memorable than the score for Little Mermaid II. The chorus number "What a Day In London" as Pocahontas explores the bustling streets, is the best of a boring lot. Her solo "Where Do I Go From Here?" is supposed to be "Just Around the River Bend," but lacks the emotional core and flowing melody.

What I Didn't Like: They couldn't have found a better villain? Radcliffe isn't any less annoying this time around. He's such a contemptible idiot, one wonders why King James even listens to him. The King doesn't come off much better. He's mostly an easily manipulated clod. Zane's character is a boring generic "Disney prince," and the running gag with Mrs. Jenkins and her bad eyesight gets ridiculous after a while. I'm not sure why they even had Meeko, Percy, and Flit accompany Pocahontas, other than to fill the cute animal quotient.

The Big Finale: This one was actually a rather pleasant surprise. While not great, it is one of the better made-for-home-media sequels and is certainly an improvement on Little Mermaid II. Once again, if you have older kids and young teens who love American history or the first film, they may want to give this one a try.

Home Media: This one has only seen a solo DVD release as part of the old Golden Collection, but it's since been re-released as part of a 2-pack with Pocahontas (see above), and it's available for streaming.

DVD
Amazon Prime