“Aladdin is as much set in India as Mulan was set in Japan”: Trolls Mistakenly Claim New Disney Movie Set in India is Just Another Aladdin

The world of Disney has never once disappointed when it comes to musicals. With sprawling tales of epic love stories and star-crossed lovers finding their way to each other, the studio has never once failed to craft a saga that doesn’t bring a tear or two to the eye. Fairy tales like Snow White and Sleeping Beauty gave way to more ambitious adaptations such as Aladdin and Pocahontas.

However, without original creations to fill the void left behind by such age-old mythologies, a dozen different adaptations of the same story would mark the downfall of an industry that runs on selling love, hope, and eternity. Now, word through the grapevine suggests that the studio is set on fixing the error of its ways by bringing a new princess into the scene as soon as possible.

Disney Family Expands as a Princess Arrives From India

In the world of musicals and animations, life barely seems harder than it needs to be, considering how stories always find a happy ending, good always triumphs over evil, and the audience leaves the theaters relatively happier than when they walked in. As such, it is hardly a crime to invest in a future built on the backs of the song-filled genre which makes fans around the world – children and adults alike – spin with glee.

However, until now, the enormous chasm that occupied the space between Disney and its multitude of fans was filled with disparity – of race, class, and ethnicity. But with time, such divisions have been crumbling away in the face of a more evolved society. A recent news update from the House of Mouse confirms this as an insider spills the beans on a new Disney princess movie set in India.

According to the latest Disinsider newsletter, Disney Animation Studios looks to instill ideals of inclusivity. The new Indian princess movie could be a step toward enforcing that belief and building a society devoid of cultural divides, where every demography feels represented, and every child can see a version of themselves in the protagonist.

Disney Critics Complain About New Tale’s Originality

With Aladdin being a pioneer in the genre of oriental fairy tales, there have been very few advancements made in the field despite the overflowing love for the Arabian hero. Originally passed down orally from generation to generation, the tale of Aladdin originates in the Middle East.

In the 18th century, French author Antoine Galland composed a European translation of the Middle Eastern folklore known as One Thousand and One Nights or simply Arabian Nights that quickly caught steam among the Western Civilization and was later integrated into mainstream society after Disney acquired the IP and made it into a musical.

However, ignorance surrounding the origin of Aladdin has led many to believe that the story of the boy on the Flying Carpet is actually set in India. With Disney announcing its plans for an original tale based on a princess from India, confusion flooded social media regarding Aladdin’s origin, with many fans blatantly pointing out their own ignorance on the subject and questioning the originality of this new Disney movie.

A disney movie set in India? Isn’t there already one called Aladdin?

— RetroGamer (@JoshuaHochstet2) June 5, 2024

I thought Aladdin was set in India.

— FudgeWilde (@Fudgewilde) June 6, 2024

However, fans were quick to dismiss any such misinformation:

Aladdin is as much set in India as Mulan was set in Japan

— Bibhu Panda (@BibhuPanda555) June 6, 2024

🎶ARABIAN NIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHTS🎶

— Anny Mation (@MationMiss) June 6, 2024

Oh its gonna be a good fun movie with a lot of dancing bollywood music and the cultural aspects that will be featured 🤌🏻

— Mr. Goji (@Mr_goji54) June 5, 2024

That’s in Arabia

— Luciano (@fabianno876) June 6, 2024

With no official announcement regarding the film’s production, script, director, or voice actors, it can be safely assumed that the project is still in the early development phase. However, it seems more than likely that Disney Animation Studios will make an announcement during the D23 Ultimate Fan Event in August 2024.

Disney animated features are available for streaming on Disney+