We are 27 days away from the release day of Disney's Wish, which is the movie to celebrate 100 years of wonder. This movie is getting a lot of hype with a killer soundtrack so far, the return of a classic villain, and possibly a new Disney Princess. I'm super excited because I haven't watched anything but Encanto for the past 2 years. As of right now, Disney seems to be pushing out Wish content to positive feedback, but there have been some exceptions. I know there are many negative things people have been saying about Asha, how the villain is going to be redeemed at the end instead of killed, and how this movie will just flop, so I'm here to give my opinion on some of these and at the end I'll tell you what mindset to have walking into the theater for this movie.

   One criticism people have is that the art style makes everything look unfinished. Compared to the hand-drawn animations of old and the computer animations of the recent decade, it looks very horrible. I have to disagree as the visuals are outstanding! Yes, it's not fully 2D or 3D, but there has to be a middle ground somewhere. Remember that this is a tribute to the 100 years that this company has been alive. Even the creative team says this in an article from MiceChat: “...it’s intended to appear hand-drawn, making it a modern tribute to classic films like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Pinocchio. Director, Chris Buck shares, “We’re embracing our legacy along with moving toward the future.” [Jennifer] Lee adds that the intention is to “connect the artistry of our artists with the technology, to honor the past and get stronger and stronger as storytellers.” If it's not to your liking, that's ok. Everyone has a different opinion, but when we refuse to say it, who will say it for us?

     Next, I want to mention the whole "adorkable" thing that started with Tangled in 2010 and has been in every princess movie since. For those who don't know, adorkable is a word used for characters(mostly female ones) that are adorable and clumsy, quirky, socially awkward, etc. as well. They are meant to be relatable and add humor to a movie. I have no problems with this stereotype as I am too clumsy and quirky. It's why I love Mirabel so much: she's all that, but she doesn't let it be her definitive personality. According to Disney themselves, Asha is a "sharp-witted idealist", shown in that scene when Chris Pi-King Magnifico shows the wishes of the people to her and she says they deserve more after hearing that most of them won't be granted. She wants the best for her community, and granting all their wishes would be what she thinks is right. In an article from ScreenRant, Angel Shaw writes "While relatable heroines have their place, Disney's excessive focus on the adorkable character archetype lacks variety and limits the representation of different personalities." Take a look at Elsa. She isn't adorkable like Anna as she's a completely different archetype, but she still resonates with the audience. So is this whole adorkable thing bad? No, but it shouldn't be a thing for every female character. Maybe have a girl who knows what she wants and how she'll get it, but has many things telling her not to do it for their reasons. It'll be awesome.

     Finally, I've saved the big one for last: Asha and her ethnicity. When I read this, I did the biggest eye roll you've ever seen. This says that Wish is "woke trash" as it stars an Afro-Latina in a Spain-inspired city who doesn't want to fall in love with someone like female characters are supposed to do. For those people who have this opinion, I have a question: would you rather live in a world where everyone is the same race, very bland, and everything goes your way because life is easy for you, or a world where we have different races and cultures, they're very expressive, and we have to work to get to where we want? If you choose the 1st option, may God have mercy on your soul. But if you choose the 2nd option, you get my point. The world isn't just one race; it's multiple races living in harmony with each other. We have our own culture, our own traditions, and our own identity. Who is it for someone to take that from us because we need to go back to Hitler's ideas in WWII? Option 1 choosers, you are denying so many actual Afro-Latina girls from seeing themselves in Asha and the world from seeing those same girls in her too. You are taking the freedom we have for telling stories and limiting it so all characters and plots are the same boring ones we hear over and over again. Why do you make single stories when there are no single stories? If you have an answer to that, keep it to yourself. I already know why.

    So what should you keep in mind on that fateful day you see Wish? First, keep an open mind. This will help you to accept the way the movie's story changes and the decisions the team made. Second, remember the 100 years. This is what 100 years has led up to, from story to idea. Don't let the previous god-tier works overshadow what this movie can be. And lastly, once the credits roll and you go home, ponder on the movie and form your own opinion. If so desired, share it with family, friends, or your favorite social media. Who knows, maybe your opinion can encourage someone to see the movie and form their own. As the song Start a Wave says, "Will you be the one to start it; The one to start it all".