Disney’sSnow Whiteincludes a reimagined version of the Seven Dwarfs from the original film in CGI, though they work better than I initially expected. By the time ofSnow White’s ending, the live-action Disney film separates itself from the source material while still honoring it in several ways. There are manychanges between the animated and live-actionSnow Whitefilms, but the two go hand-in-hand as different versions of the same story, both with strong morals at their center.
When concerning thecomparison of animated and live-actionSnow Whitecharacters, the latter mostly look identical to the former. Rachel Zegler is great as the titular princess, with Gal Gadot’s design as the Evil Queen updating the villain’s look for modern times. As the most popularsong onSnow White’s soundtrackbegins midway through the movie, though, the biggest talking points regarding character appearances make their debut: the Seven Dwarfs. Doc, Bashful, Sneezy, Sleepy, Grumpy, Happy, and Dopey are entirely CGI creations inSnow White, and this worked better than I assumed.
Snow White’s CGI Dwarfs Are Not Perfect, But They Fit The Film’s Setting
Issues Aside, Snow White’s Fantasy Elements Compliment The Dwarfs
Firstly, it is worth noting that I do not thinkSnow White’s live-action Seven Dwarfsare perfect. Being entirely CGI in a movie surrounded by human actors, the Dwarfs do give off a sense of uncanny valley. This can make some scenes jarring, but above all of that, the Dwarfs still work better than I expected them to given the fantastical setting in which they are presented throughoutSnow White.
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The film’s two primary locations are the Evil Queen’s kingdom and the Seven Dwarfs' forest. The latter is filled with CGI animals, fantastical woodlands and glittering caves, and a whimsical cottage where the Dwarfs live. In having the Dwarfs be entirely CGI, they add to the fairytale aspect ofSnow White’s woodland scenes. As alluded to, they are certainly not perfect, but the way the CGI creations feel more fantastical links well to the overall otherworldly feel of the world Disney created long ago.
The CGI Dwarfs Sell One Of Snow White’s Main Themes
Beauty Is Not Superficial & Vain
Beyond linking to their fantastical environment well, the CGI Dwarfs allow one ofSnow White’s core thematic throughlines to shine. The message of the film is similar to that of the original film, being that kindness to others, fairness, mercy, and bravery are what makes a person truly beautiful, rather than superficial and vain beauty. The Evil Queen represents the latter, with her kingdom reflecting that throughout the film by being presented as a dull, grey, boring expanse of houses and buildings.
Snow White is the representation of the true kind of beauty the film explores, as are the things she resonates with like the CGI animals, their homes, and, of course, the Seven Dwarfs.The Dwarf’s forest is colorful and beautiful in a way the Evil Queen’s city is not, emulating the theme that kindness can make the world around someone much prettierand fairer to live in. The Dwarfs link to these fantastical elements and that theme because of their similarly fairytale-like design, selling a key message ofSnow Whiteand proving the CGI to be a good choice.
Snow White’s CGI Dwarfs Give The Film A Good Dose Of Nostalgia
By Calling Back To The Original Film
The final reason as to why I believeSnow White’s CGI Dwarfs turned out better than I expected is the nostalgia they bring. WhileSnow Whiteis similar in many ways to the original film, it is equally different at points, given how it updates a potentially dated story for modern times. Where the Seven Dwarfs are concerned, the CGI designs allow them to emulate the original film more than any other aspect of the remake. The CGI models allow all seven to look almost identical to how they do in the original movie and, despite the uncanny valley, provide a heap of nostalgia.
All of this makes the Dwarfs feel strangely comforting in a film that tries to stand on its own…
This continues with the more popular songs of the original film, be it “Heigh Ho” or “Whistle While You Work.” The former is incredibly nostalgic and the CGI Dwarfs only add to this fact, while the latter is reimagined so that the Dwarfs aid Snow White in cleaning their cottage. All of this makes the Dwarfs feel strangely comforting in a film that tries to stand on its own from the source material. For this reason, combined with the others I have mentioned, I am glad thatSnow White’s CGI Seven Dwarfs worked better than most assumed they would.
