Colin Snow
Walt Disney's 1959 animated feature film Sleeping Beauty is based on the 1697 fairy tale by Charles Perrault. The film's production spanned most of the 1950s, with story work beginning in 1951 and animation production taking place from 1953 to 1958. The film is set in a fantasy kingdom in the 14th century, with some viewers speculating the location to be Medieval France, England, or Northern Italy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Setting | Medieval Europe, France, England, Northern Italy, or an unspecified fantasy kingdom |
| Time Period | 14th Century |
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What You'll Learn
The movie is set in the 14th century
The 1959 Disney film Sleeping Beauty is based on Charles Perrault's 1697 fairy tale of the same name. The film is set in the 14th century, as explicitly stated by Prince Phillip, who says, "Now, Father, you're living in the past! This is the 14th century!". This places the film's events between the mid to late 1300s.
The setting of Sleeping Beauty is a fantasy kingdom in Europe, with some clues in the film pointing towards England as the location. The manuscript with gold leafing at the opening of the film, for example, was common in England in the late 1300s. The architecture, clothing, and symbols in the film also suggest France as a possible location. The film's art style was inspired by pre-Renaissance European art, and the score and songs were based on Pyotr Tchaikovsky's 1889 ballet.
The story of Sleeping Beauty centres on Princess Aurora, who is cursed by the evil fairy Maleficent to die from pricking her finger on a spinning wheel on her 16th birthday. Three good fairies alter the curse so that Aurora will fall into a deep sleep and be awakened by true love's kiss. To protect her, Aurora is raised in a secluded location by the fairies, who rename her Briar Rose.
The film took nearly a decade to produce and was Disney's most expensive animated feature at the time. It is known for its tapestry-like art style and was the first animated film to use the Super Technirama 70 widescreen process. Sleeping Beauty was selected for preservation in the United States Library of Congress' National Film Registry for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.
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The setting is a fantasy kingdom
The setting of the 1959 Disney film Sleeping Beauty is a fantasy kingdom. The film is based on the 1697 fairy tale by Charles Perrault and was the last animated feature produced by Walt Disney to be based upon a fairy tale.
The story follows the classic tale of a princess cursed by a malevolent fairy, who is only saved by the love of a prince. The three good fairies, Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, each bless Princess Aurora with a gift. After Flora and Fauna give her beauty and song, the evil fairy Maleficent appears, angry at not being invited to the celebration. She places a curse on Aurora, declaring that before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday, she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die. Merryweather changes the curse so that Aurora will fall into a deep sleep, only to be awoken by true love's kiss. The fairies take Aurora into the forest, where she is raised as a peasant girl, renamed Briar Rose, and knows nothing of her royal heritage.
The film's visual design was inspired by the Unicorn Tapestries at the Cloisters, with soft colours and ethereal styling. The background paintings were designed to be complex and detailed, taking seven to ten times longer to paint than average. The characters were designed to match the backgrounds, and the film's style is often described as having a "moving illustration" quality. The film's score was composed by George Bruns and was the first true-stereo soundtrack.
The setting of the film is a fantasy kingdom, with no specific location or time period intended by the creators. However, some fans have speculated that the architecture, clothing, and symbols in the film suggest a French or English setting in the 14th century. The film's events take place between the mid to late 1300s, as stated by Prince Phillip in the dialogue. This is further supported by the waltz, a dance featured in the film that was not invented until the early 18th century, suggesting a pre-1700s setting.
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Some say it takes place in Medieval France
The 1959 Disney film Sleeping Beauty is based on the 1697 fairy tale by Charles Perrault. The film's production was heavily influenced by Perrault's story, as well as artwork by Kay Nielsen, and the Unicorn Tapestries series.
Some say that the movie takes place in Medieval France. This theory is supported by several pieces of evidence. Firstly, the architecture, clothing, and symbols in the film are reminiscent of French culture. Additionally, Prince Phillip explicitly mentions living in the 14th century, placing the events of the film between the mid to late 1300s. Furthermore, Disney has acknowledged the French setting by having Aurora meet guests in the France pavilion at Epcot. Finally, the artists who worked on the film took inspiration from the French medieval manuscript, "Les Riches Heures du Duc du Berry", written by the Limbourg Brothers.
However, it is important to note that the film is set in an unspecified fantasy kingdom, and there is no indication that the creators intended for a specific historical setting. The interpretation of the setting may vary depending on individual perspectives and interpretations.
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Another theory is Northern Italy
There are several theories about the setting of the Disney film Sleeping Beauty. One theory is that the film is set in Northern Italy in the 1300s. This is based on the architecture and language used in the film. The film's background paintings were created to match the characters, and the artists took inspiration from the French medieval manuscript "Les Riches Heures du Duc du Berry", written by the Limbourg Brothers. This has led some to believe that the film is set in Medieval France in the 14th century. This is also supported by a line in the film where Prince Phillip says, "Now, father, you're living in the past. This is the 14th century!".
However, some fans have pointed out that the architecture, clothing, and symbols in the film suggest a French setting. The Disney Wiki also places the location in England, while others argue that the film is set in a fantasy kingdom with no specific historical setting. Ultimately, the creators of the film may not have intended for a particular historical setting, and the debate over the film's setting remains a subject of speculation among fans.
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The architecture and clothing resemble France
The 1959 Disney film Sleeping Beauty is based on the 1697 fairy tale by Charles Perrault. The film's setting is a point of contention among fans, with some arguing for England and others for France. While the Disney Wiki puts the location in England, many fans argue that the architecture, clothing, symbols, and even some of the music in the film suggest a French setting.
The architecture and clothing in Sleeping Beauty do resemble French styles from the 14th century, which is the time period in which the film is explicitly set. This is evidenced by the grand chateaus and French names of characters such as King Hubert and Prince Phillip. Additionally, the song "Be Our Guest" includes the line "They can sing, they can dance, after all, miss, this is France," which further suggests a French influence on the film's setting.
The film's production designer, Ken Anderson, was impressed with Kay Nielsen's initial styling sketches, which suggested an ethereal design with soft colors. However, Anderson felt that these pastel paintings would be challenging to translate into animation. John Hench was then tasked with interpreting Nielsen's artwork with opaque cel paint. Hench's visit to the Cloisters and his subsequent sketches inspired by the Unicorn Tapestries series also influenced the film's design.
The clothing in Sleeping Beauty also resembles French fashion from the 14th century, with lush fabrics and a sense of carefree maidenly pursuits. The character of Princess Aurora, for example, is often depicted in elegant gowns and with her hair styled in intricate braids and buns, which could be reflective of French fashion during that time. Additionally, the three good fairies, Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, are dressed in flowing robes and delicate headpieces, which could also draw inspiration from French medieval clothing.
Overall, while the setting of Sleeping Beauty is never explicitly stated to be France, the architectural designs, clothing, and other cultural indicators in the film strongly resemble French influences. The film's creators may have drawn inspiration from French culture and history to develop the visual design and aesthetic of the movie, contributing to its unique and enchanting atmosphere.
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Frequently asked questions
The movie Sleeping Beauty is set in a fantasy kingdom in the 14th century.
Yes, there is reference to the 14th century in the movie, when Phillip says to his father, "Now, father, you're living in the past. This is the 14th century!".
There is speculation that the movie is based in France, as the meet-and-greet character Aurora appears in the France pavilion at Epcot.
Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast are also set in France.
Snow White is set in Germany, and The Little Mermaid is thought to be set in Denmark or the Mediterranean.
