One of the stories is about the Haunted Mansion. It's said that the ghosts there are based on real spirits. Another is the story behind Ursula in 'The Little Mermaid'. She was inspired by some really evil sea creatures in old tales. And then there's the idea that Maleficent from 'Sleeping Beauty' was once a good fairy but was wronged and turned evil, which adds a dark layer to her character.
In 'Hercules', Hades' plan to take over Olympus is a dark story line. He's constantly plotting and trying to manipulate Hercules. In 'Cinderella', the stepmother's mistreatment of Cinderella is a sad and dark part of the story. Also, in 'Dumbo', Dumbo's isolation and the way he's made fun of at the circus has a dark undertone. These are just some of the aspects that contribute to the scary and dark Disney stories.
Some Disney stories have dark origins. For example, 'Snow White'. In the original Grimm's version, the queen was much more brutal and the dwarfs had some rather different characteristics. Also, 'The Little Mermaid' in the original Hans Christian Andersen story ended with the mermaid turning into sea foam instead of getting a happy ending like in the Disney version.
Well, in Dark Disney, the real stories could involve the historical and cultural context of the time when the stories were created. Take Pinocchio. The idea of a puppet trying to become a real boy can be seen as a metaphor for the struggle of individuals to find their true identity in a society that often tries to mold them. There were also some darker undertones in the original versions that were later softened for a younger audience.
Well, in the real stories behind Disney, there are aspects like the cultural and historical influences on the creation of characters. Take 'The Little Mermaid' for instance. The original fairy tale had a much darker ending where the mermaid turns into sea foam. Disney changed it to a more positive, romantic conclusion. Also, the design of villains in Disney was sometimes based on real - life fears or negative stereotypes, which adds a 'dark' undertone to their backstories.
Some of the real dark Disney stories include the original 'Snow White' where the Evil Queen tries to have Snow White's heart cut out. In 'The Little Mermaid', Ariel gives up her voice for a chance at love with a human, which is a rather extreme sacrifice. Also, in 'Beauty and the Beast', Belle is essentially held captive by the Beast at first.
One of the dark secrets is that in some of the original fairy tales that Disney stories are based on, there are much darker and more violent elements. For example, in the original 'Snow White', the queen not only tries to poison Snow White but also demands her heart and liver as proof of her death. Disney had to tone down these elements to make the stories more suitable for a younger audience.
One of the dark Disney stories is the origin of Ursula in 'The Little Mermaid'. Ursula was banished from King Triton's court and she harbors a deep hatred. She uses Ariel's naivete to try and take over the underwater kingdom. Another is the backstory of Scar in 'The Lion King'. His jealousy of Mufasa led him to commit fratricide to gain the throne.
Well, one reason could be that darkness adds depth and drama. It helps kids understand that life has challenges and that facing them is part of growing up. Also, it makes the happy endings more meaningful.