Artist Tom Ward has used his incredible illustration techniques to give us some new perspective on modern life through popular Disney characters. “Disney characters are so iconic that I thought transporting them to our modern world could help us see it through new eyes,” he told The Metro.
Tom says he wanted to bring to life “the times we live in and communicate topical issues in a relatable way.”
In Ward’s “Alt Disney” series, Prince Charming and Pinocchio have fallen victim to smart phone addiction. Ariel is living in a polluted ocean, and Simba and Baloo have been abused by humans.
Not all the news is bad though. LeFou form “Beauty and the Beast” has finally come out of the closet and his crush, Gaston, appears to be pretty accepting of the revelation.
Although, was it really such a shock?
Ward believes that his illustration of Artur from “Sword and the Stone makes” a particularly strong point. “I also think the message of Arthur from The Sword in the Stone sitting on his phone has some resonance today,” he said. “He’s too engrossed in his phone to experience other opportunities and realize his true potential in life.”
You can see more of Ward’s work on Instagram.
This article originally appeared eight years ago.
