Conservatives watch cartoons: The rise of Disney, the right and cultural criticism in the 1990s.

This article examines the complex relationship between American conservatism and Disney animation during the 1990s, focusing on conservative film critics’ responses to Disney’s evolving cultural and corporate identity. It highlights conservative concerns about the “Disneyfication” of traditional narratives, perceived feminist themes, challenges to familial and societal hierarchies, and alleged anti-Christian or anti-adult messages in key Disney films such as *Beauty and the Beast*, *The Lion King*, *Pocahontas*, and *The Hunchback of Notre Dame*. The study reveals a diversity of conservative perspectives, ranging from appreciation of Disney’s entertainment value to sharp criticism of its ideological content, situating the 1990s as a pivotal decade when Disney shifted from being seen as a conservative cultural ally to a contested site in the broader American culture wars. The article also contextualizes this conflict within the rise of conservatism as a dominant political and cultural force and traces its continuation into recent controversies involving Disney and conservative political figures.