10 Beloved Disney Movies That Are Not Based On Fairy Tails

Disney may seem synonymous with fairy tales, but these movies prove otherwise

Kylin

• Published in Disney
• August 11, 2023

Walt Disney Animation Studios cemented its place as the most famous animation studio all the way back in 1937 with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Since then, they’ve taken the world by storm with countless well-crafted animated classics that are still beloved by children and adults alike today.

When most folks think about a Disney movie, it’s likely one of their fairy tale adaptations, like the aforementioned Snow White or Cinderella, or even more recently, Tangled or Frozen, comes to mind. It’s unsurprising, as the list of their movies, shorts, and even some television series based on fairy tales is lengthy and continues to grow.

However, fairy tales are only one source of inspiration and creativity that Disney has drawn from for its hit animated features. While the general audience may not realize it, their favorite Disney movie may have a completely different origin than a fairy tale.

Drawing from real-life historical figures, mythology, and even classic novels, Disney story writers and animators have been able to gather inspiration from plenty of other non-fairy tale stories to add to their collection. Keep scrolling to check out ten excellent Disney favorites that aren’t based on fairy tales!

1. Peter Pan (1953)

Peter Pan was adapted from J.M. Barrie's 1904 play Peter Pan; or, The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up. The movie follows the play pretty closely, with the added Disney magic of the colorful depiction of Neverland and memorable songs.

2. The Sword and the Stone (1963)

This film was based on a novel of the same name by T. H. White. Both the film and novel are prequels to the legendary King Arthur of Camelot tales.

3. Robin Hood (1973)

Robin Hood first appeared around the 13th-14th century in ballads about a folk hero. While there have been many iterations of Robin Hood, this animal-led adaptation is a classic that continues to span generations.

4. The Rescuers (1977)

The Rescuers is an adaptation based on a book series written by Margery Sharp. Although the film isn't an exact adaptation like Peter Pan, it still took the concept and various parts of different novels to create this underrated film.

5. The Black Cauldron (1985)

The Black Cauldron is loosely based on the first two books in The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander, a series of five novels that are in turn based on Welsh mythology. Interestingly, this was also the first Disney movie to receive a PG rating!

6. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

While this film contains the same main characters as the French Gothic novel by Victor Hugo that it was adapted from, the story went through some major changes to make it kid-friendly. Regardless, the movie captured the classic novel's main themes and told a compelling story.

7. Pocahontas (1995)

Pocahontas is a wildly romanticized reimagining of the colonization of America by the real-life English colonial settlers from the Virginia Company. John Smith and Pocahontas were real people, but the details about them and their relationship with one another were vastly changed to be palatable for families and children.

8. Hercules (1997)

Hercules may be the most obvious film on this list, as it's based on well-known Greek mythology. This film became an iconic classic with the added Disney musical numbers and humor.

9. Tarzan (1999)

Although the story told in the film is mostly original, the characters were taken from Edgar Rice Burroughs' 1914 novel Tarzan of the Apes. Also, the film had the added bonus of Phil Collins' iconic soundtrack.

10. Treasure Planet (2002)

Although the story was switched to a futuristic, steampunk-esque space setting, Treasure Planet was inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.

Regardless of where Disney Animation Studios may draw inspiration for their films, viewers across the globe will continue to enjoy its massive collection of incredible media. Thankfully, there is no shortage of inspiration for them to continue to draw from.

We want to know what your favorite non-fairy tale Disney film is! Did it make our list, or is it something else?

Let us know in the comments section below!

Kylin