Part 6/9:
Musker also took a critical stance on Disney’s strategy with live-action adaptations, which many see as a risky but predictable way to capitalize on existing properties. He cited The Little Mermaid (2023) as an example, criticizing its failure to emphasize the film's core emotional beats, specifically the father-daughter relationship, which he believes was a missed opportunity to deepen the story.
He pointed out that the appeal of Disney animation lies in the expressive potential of animated characters, something that, in his view, is often lost in the translation to live-action. The Lion King remake, for instance, is referenced as an example where realistic animals lacked the expression of original animated characters, diminishing emotional engagement.