Plus, with the animators recreating these songs from Encanto, Frozen II, and Moana 2, it goes the extra mile by featuring the characters themselves doing the signing. In order to do this, the animators even collaborated with Deaf West Theater and other deaf actors and actresses to properly animate the signs. The new initiative received praise when announced, making fans hyped to see the full project.
When it officially released on April 27, Songs in Sign Language seemed to be a success. The animation was fluid and the dance choreography was just as good as it was in the original film, allowing the updated song to flow smoothly.
However, when looking closer at these reinterpretations, the execution ends up becoming a major problem because the ASL on display is way too difficult to understand.
Disney's Songs In Sign Language Occasionally Obstructs Important Sign Language Use
The biggest problem with Songs in Sign Language is how it takes a visual language like ASL and actually obstructs important lyrics. This can make it difficult for ASL users to truly comprehend what the lyrics are because the video doesn't properly translate them.
The biggest offender of this is their adaptation of "We Don't Talk About Bruno" from Encanto. For the most part, they do a decent job when the signs are on-screen. However, there are times when the song cuts to a sequence with no characters signing the lyrics whatsoever.
For example, when Pepa sings about how Bruno's vision made her anxious and created a storm on her wedding day, the camera cuts away during the line "married in a hurricane." There is no one signing this lyric, meaning deaf viewers miss this detail as the scene instead focuses on Mirabel fighting a strong wind being blown against her.
Native Sign Language Users Have Cited Disney's Videos As Hard To Understand
On top of the issues that are obviously present for those that may not communicate through ASL, native Sign Language speakers have also been critical about how hard it is to understand Songs in Sign Language. YouTuber Rogan Shannon, in particular, took to the video sharing platform to tell viewers about his biggest issues with the program.
He highlights how the Moana 2 video features dynamic shots used in the original film, making the signs Moana does incredibly difficult to see whenever she's far away from the camera. Meanwhile, he also brings up how the Frozen II video features Anna climbing while she's using Sign Language, occasionally turning away from the camera and hiding her hands.
Above all, the biggest issue he brings up is the stunning lack of exaggerated facial expressions, which are common for Sign Language users because they help showcase tone and intent with what they're saying. The disregard for these important details in representing Sign Language is incredibly disappointing, especially since it pushes away the very people it tries to include.
Disney's Attempt At ASL Inclusivity Is Noble And Should Be Continued, But With Adjustments
The biggest takeaway Disney should make from their first batch of Songs in Sign Language videos is that it's a noble first step. However, they need to make serious adjustments for the future.
Inclusion for ASL users is important, as not every deaf person may be capable of reading English subtitles. ASL is an entirely different language from English, meaning some may find it easier to communicate through an interpreter. Attempts like Songs in Sign Language should be made, but it's important to learn from the mistakes.
One thing Disney could do is look to Warner Brothers for how to be more inclusive of the deaf community. Beginning in 2023, HBO Max began providing versions of their programs with an ASL interpreter in the corner of the screen. This began with Barbie following its big-screen success and has since been added to other movies and shows like Superman, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and The Last of Us.
Representation is important, and providing these accessibility features can mean the world for Disney fans that communicate through ASL. As such, Disney's Songs in Sign Language is a good first step. However, it absolutely launched with a major mistake, which can easily be fixed for future programming.
Sources: Entertainment Tonight, Rogan Shannon
Release Date
November 24, 2021
Runtime
99 minutes
Director
Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Charise Castro Smith
Writers
Charise Castro Smith, Jared Bush
English (US) ·