Toy Story’s Woody and Buzz are renowned for being two of the most iconic characters in movie history. Their storylines have taught us about friendship, bravery, and loyalty, but there is another important message we can learn from their characters – emotional maturity. In life, we learn about emotional maturity through our experiences, and who better than these characters, who have gone through so much, to teach us about it?
Emotional maturity is the ability to take responsibility for oneself, understand their own emotions, and handle situations effectively. Woody has certainly been a character who has struggled with emotional maturity right from the start of the Toy Story movies. In the first Toy Story, Woody’s jealousy of Buzz when he comes into his life stems from his inability to understand his emotions and why he is feeling that way. Similarly, in Toy Story 2, Woody has an existential crisis when he realizes that he might be replaced by another toy. He struggles to accept the reality that everyone is replaceable and doesn’t understand the weight of his responsibilities as the leader of the toys. For emotional growth, he needs to realize that he must accept change and be confident in his own abilities without letting envy cloud his judgment.
Buzz, on the other hand, arrives in Andy family’s as a new toy and quickly becomes an object of envy for Woody. Buzz, being a technologically advanced toy, takes himself too seriously at the start, believing that he is a real space ranger. However, his emotional growth can be seen through his character arc – he begins to embrace his new status as a toy and makes friends with the other toys and becomes aware of his new identity. In Toy Story 3, Buzz had an existential crisis like Woody in the second part but approaches it differently. Instead of questioning his existence like Woody, Buzz is willing to accept the new reality that all toys grow old, and their owners eventually move on. The death-defying escape from the dumpster in Toy Story 3 was also a great example of emotional maturity as Buzz took the lead, trusted the others to follow, and urged them to work together as a team.
The ‘Hakuna Matata’ philosophy of life from The Lion King can also provide valuable lessons on emotional maturity. The character who best exemplifies this philosophy is Timon, who teaches young Simba to forget about his past and worries and live carefree in the present. Although Timon’s approach to life isn’t realistic and ignores the consequences of actions. However, there is some truth to let go of the past, face your fears and move forward. Living in the present and enjoying life is an essential part of emotional maturity.
Disney’s Inside Out provides a more comprehensive view of emotional maturity and how it can develop in a person. The characters in this movie, Joy and Sadness, deal with emotional growth and how it can bring balance into our lives. Joy, as the personification of the emotion joy, learned as the story progresses, that sadness is important and that it is sometimes necessary to experience sadness to find happiness. She learns that with self-reflection and acceptance on our emotions, we can become healthier and more emotionally mature, leading to better decision-making and resilience in the face of challenges.
Frozen’s Anna learns a crucial lesson about emotional maturity in the movie. After becoming infatuated with the prince, she is heartbroken when he professes love to her and betrays her trust. She quickly learns that true love is equal and that beautiful love cannot happen overnight. Elsa, on the other hand, goes on a journey of self-discovery after running away from her family’s castles, giving us a good lesson about emotional maturity. The most important thing was facing her fears by embracing who she is and her powers – and that is what made her understand that love and forgiveness matter the most.
It is also important to mention that emotional maturity is not limited to animated characters but can be applied in real life too. We can learn a lot from Disney characters about taking responsibility for our emotions, accepting change, and handling challenging situations with grace and calm. As we grow emotionally mature, we become more effective in our relationships, work environments, and it lays the foundation for a healthier and more fulfilled life. It might be a cliché, but it’s true: we are never too old to learn from these teachable moments.
Toy Story’s Woody and Buzz teach us about emotional maturity through their character arcs. Disney films like The Lion King, Inside Out and Frozen also provide valuable lessons on emotional growth. Emotional maturity is crucial in real life for effective relationships and a fulfilled life.
“Growing up means adapting to change. It means making difficult decisions and owning the consequences. It means putting in the work and facing your fears. And it means understanding your emotions and using them to make yourself and the world a better place.”