Summary

Wish is a love letter to Disney fans, embodying the company’s concept of wishing on a star and honoring the heart of Disney entertainment. The film is filled with Easter Eggs and references to Disney films and characters, making it a must-watch for keen-eyed viewers. Wish features impeccable songs that are emblematic of Disney’s long history with music, adding to the magical experience of the film.

The latest animated film from Disney, aptly titled Wish, follows Asha (Ariana DeBose), a young girl in the kingdom of Rosas whose powerful wish is answered by a little ball of boundless energy named Star, a delightful character with the ability to make certain dreams come true. Along with her friends and goat sidekick, Valentino (Alan Tudyk), who can now speak thanks to their new friend, Asha must stop King Magnifico (Chris Pine) before he destroys the hopes and dreams of his subjects. After discovering Magnifico takes the wishes of those living in the kingdom without any real plan to grant all of them, she seeks to return the wishes to their rightful owners and restore the internal spark they each lost upon giving their wish to the king.

Unlike the many Disney films before, Wish was specifically made for Disney fans. The movie feels like a culmination of everything the Walt Disney Company has created in the past century and rightly hit theaters during the company’s 100th-anniversary celebration. As such, the film is the perfect movie for every Disney lover. Wish honors the heart of what Disney seeks to accomplish with its ideology about dreams and wishing on a star. It contains a multitude of Easter Eggs and references to all things Disney. There are quite a few hidden Mickeys littered throughout the film, and its songs are impeccable and emblematic of a classic Disney film.

Wish Honors the Heart of Disney
Wish Release Date November 22, 2023 Director Chris Buck , Fawn Veerasunthorn Studio Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures

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In many ways, Wish is a love letter to Disney fans. It embodies the company’s driving concept of wishing on a star and culminates the past 100 years of Disney entertainment and history. While it’s easy to criticize such a massive global brand, there’s no denying the magical feeling Disney lovers feel when watching a Disney film or visiting a Disney Resort.

There’s nothing quite like Disney and the emotions from watching one of their films. Wish sets out to honor the heart of that concept. The film highlights all the warm and fuzzy parts of Disney that have remained so alluring to children and adults throughout the years and does so in quintessential Disney fashion.

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Wish Has a Multitude of Disney Easter Eggs

With overt references to Peter Pan, Snow White, and the fairy godmother from Cinderella, the film also includes more subtle nods to films like Tangled, Pocahontas, and Beauty and the Beast for keen-eyed viewers. Given the film contains well over 100 Easter Eggs and Disney references, it’s no wonder Wish feels heavily steeped in Disney magic.

It’s done so with purpose and intent. The animated feature is the only one set for release during the company’s centennial celebration, which speaks to the importance of the film and the desire for its Easter Eggs to represent the company’s vast magical history. Wish even includes a post-credit scene of Asha’s grandfather, who happens to be 100 years old, playing the iconic Disney song “When You Wish Upon a Star” on his mandolin.

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Wish Features a Myriad of Hidden Mickeys
Disney

Fans of Disney who have traveled to the company’s theme parks will understand the concept of hidden Mickeys well and their prominence everywhere throughout the most magical place on Earth. Wish utilizes such a concept and scatters many hidden Mickeys within the film, which makes it feel more like a Disney World or Disneyland attraction than a simple movie on a big screen. While other Disney films have contained a hidden Mickey or two, Wish takes the cake.

Without spoiling the fun of discovering where they are throughout the film, fans who have yet to see the movie should keep an eye out from the beginning. They enter the fray as soon as Wish begins and don’t cease until after the credits roll. While some are easy to find, others require a bit more concentration but are fun to search for, nonetheless.

Wish Has Impeccable Songs Emblematic of Disney

If the Disney brand is known for anything, it’s known for its music and songs throughout its long history with animation. Disney’s animated features are notorious for their musical tracks, and Wish is no exception. Thanks to the talents of Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Julia Michaels and Grammy-winning producer-songwriter Benjamin Rice, the songs of Wish are top-notch and emblematic of what it means to be an animated Disney film.

While Wish is definitely a movie even a Disney novice can easily enjoy, the added elements throughout the film make it all the more special for long-time fans of all things Disney as they celebrate 100 years of Disney love and magic. That being said, everyone could enjoy such an adorable, animated film.

Wish is currently in theaters.

If you love Wish, check out MovieWeb’s interview with lead actress Ariana DeBose below.