Part 6/9:
Critics argue that the decision to embed themes of gender fluidity and non-binary characters within an animated movie intended for children is an attempt to virtue signal rather than focus on storytelling. The inclusion of Lake Ripple aligns with Disney’s broader strategy seen in Lightyear and Strange World, where LGBTQ+ themes and relationships took center stage at the expense of traditional family appeal.
This approach appears to have backfired, alienating core audiences and resulting in declining ticket sales. The studio's focus on social issues over mass appeal may be costing it dearly, with some estimates suggesting Elemental has only managed to garner around $150-200 million globally—well below the breakeven point, which is projected to be around $550-600 million.