7 Things You Never Knew About Disney’s ‘Pocahontas’
When Pocahontas premiered in theaters on June 23, 1995, it marked one of Disney’s most ambitious animated films to date. Loosely inspired by the real-life Powhatan woman Pocahontas and the arrival of English settlers in Virginia, the movie took great creative liberties to tell a sweeping romantic tale between Pocahontas and John Smith.
The film featured a star-studded voice cast that included Irene Bedard, Mel Gibson, David Ogden Stiers and Russell Means with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. The soundtrack became one of its standout features, earning Oscars for both its score and the song “Colors of the Wind.”
While critics praised the animation and music, many debated its historical inaccuracies and romanticized version of events. Still, Pocahontas left a lasting impact, especially with its portrayal of a strong, independent heroine who would help pave the way for future Disney leads like Mulan and Frozen‘s Elsa. The movie went on to earn over $346 million worldwide and even inspired a sequel, Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World, released in 1998.
In honor of its anniversary and it being one of my personal favorites from my childhood, let’s learn some interesting facts about the ’90s Disney classic:
1 Grandmother Willow was almost an entirely different character
Buena Vista Pictures/Everett Collection
In the early drafts, Pocahontas’ wise confidante was not the gentle Grandmother Willow we know today. Instead, the filmmakers originally envisioned the character as “Old Man River,” a male spirit of the river who would serve as her guide. The song “Just Around the Riverbend” was even written for this version of the character to sing. Gregory Peck was reportedly offered the role, but he turned it down, believing Pocahontas needed a nurturing, motherly figure rather than a fatherly one, since her mother had passed away.
His instincts struck a chord with the filmmakers, and they ultimately reworked the character into Grandmother Willow. Peck later said it was one of the hardest roles he ever declined according to Screen Rant, but his input clearly made a lasting impact on the film.
2 The release date had a deeper meaning
Walt Disney Pictures/Everett Collection
The release of Pocahontas on June 23, 1995 was not just a random summer movie debut. The date actually marked the 400th anniversary of the real Pocahontas’ birth. Though the film makes significant changes to her true story, this intentional release date was Disney’s way of honoring the historical figure who inspired the movie.
3 The animation was very challenging
Buena Vista Pictures/Everett Collection
The animators behind Pocahontas often describe it as one of Disney’s most difficult projects of the time period. The film’s intricate color schemes, sharp angles and emotional facial expressions pushed the team’s skills to the limit. The entire production took around five years, with much of the work focused on perfecting Pocahontas herself. Many of her fluid, natural movements were achieved through rotoscoping, a technique that involved tracing over live-action footage.
4 Disney brought in Native American voices and consultants
Everett Collection
Determined to add authenticity, Disney made a serious effort to involve Native American voices in the film’s creation. Many of the characters were voiced by Native American actors, and consultants, including a practicing shaman, were brought in to advise on cultural details.
Despite these efforts, the film was not without its critics. Several Native American activists publicly condemned the movie for its inaccuracies and stereotypes. However, actor and activist Russell Means, who voiced Chief Powhatan, praised the film’s opening sequence, calling it one of the best portrayals of Native Americans in Hollywood at the time.
5 The Powhatan dialogue was carefully crafted
Buena Vista Pictures/Everett Collection
Speaking of Disney’s efforts to find authenticity, one of the lesser-known details is how much care went into the Powhatan language used in the film. Although the language itself has largely been lost, the filmmakers attempted to reconstruct it as accurately as possible. Voice actors like James Apaumut Fall, who played Kocoum, worked closely with the team to make sure the dialogue sounded authentic.
The actors often requested changes, choosing phrases like “my father” or “my friend” instead of using character names, to reflect how their characters would have naturally spoken. Although it likely wasn’t perfect, they still put in a huge effort to make it as authentic and respectful as possible.
6 John Candy was originally cast in the film
Everett Collection
Long before Meeko and Flit became Pocahontas’ adorable animal companions, Disney had planned a very different sidekick. The character was named Redfeather, a talking turkey who was meant to bring comic relief to the film. Beloved comedian John Candy had recorded a significant amount of dialogue for the role. Sadly, after Candy’s sudden death in 1994, the character was scrapped entirely, and the filmmakers chose to go with silent animal sidekicks instead says Far Out Magazine.
7 “Colors of the Wind” set the tone for the movie
Buena Vista Pictures/Everett Collection
The now-iconic song “Colors of the Wind” was actually the first piece written for Pocahontas. Its powerful message about respecting nature and different cultures helped shape the direction of the entire film. Schwartz and Menken used the song to establish the movie’s emotional core early on.
Interestingly, while the song mentions mountains, the real Pocahontas herself likely never saw the kind featured in the film. Born in what is now Virginia, she might have seen the Appalachian Mountains, which are fairly different than those depicted in the movie.
Still, the song’s message resonated deeply with audiences and earned an Academy Award for Best Original Song, becoming one of Disney’s most memorable anthems. Listen to it below! Then comment and tell me your favorite character from the film.
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