50 Times People Caught Adorable Animals Flashing Their “Disney Eyes” And Just Had To Take A Picture
If you take a closer look at some of Disney's animal characters, like Bambi, Simba, or the adorable 101 Dalmatians, you’ll notice they share one prominent feature.
It’s the eyes bigger than the world itself. No wonder that Snapchat filter that gave people exaggerated facial features with prominent eyes was such a hit on social media not so long ago.
This Reddit community named “Disney Eyes” is dedicated to pets that look like real-life Disney characters with impawsibly cute features. Below we wrapped up some of the most wholesome pictures shared on the community, so scroll down and upvote your favorite ones!
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Shall We All Agree That What Ever She Wants She Can Have It?
Bored Panda reached out to Lisa Yaszek, a Regents Professor of Science Fiction Studies at Georgia Tech where she researches and teaches science fiction as a global language crossing centuries, continents, and cultures, who shared some very interesting insights into why Disney characters are universally cute, and what it is about their eyes that captivates us.
“Disney animal characters are universally appealing because they are anthropomorphic, familiar, and depicted as naturally helpful,” Lisa said.
She explained further: “Humans have told stories about animals and other nonhuman beings with human characteristics since the beginning of recorded civilization, often to promote some kind of sympathetic identification with something that otherwise seems truly alien and unknowable, so it's no surprise Disney artists would do this as well.”
I Hope One Eye Will Do
He Is Not A Cat Or Dog, But I Think He Belongs Here, Too! (Not Mine Btw, But So Cute!)
Moreover, according to Lisa, it makes sense that Disney animals often have big eyes and chubby cheeks, but smaller ears and button noses. “That way they remind us of babies and make us want to care for them!”
“Of course, Disney artists also hedge their bets by generally filling their worlds with animals we already know from our daily experiences—household animals such as chipmunks, mice, and puppies; garden animals including rabbits and lizards, even some common forest and zoo animals, such as deer and bears,” Lisa explained.
However, while many Disney animals look like babies, they are not nearly as helpless! “Instead, their attractive features are outward expressions of their natural morality and their natural willingness to assist the Disney protagonist on their journey.”
Those Are Some Eyes
Ying Yang
Just Found Out About Japanese Flying Squirrels
We also asked why characters with prominent eyes look so captivating, and Lisa said there are two reasons. “First, of course, there is the biological response: most mammals seem to be hardwired to respond to small creatures with big eyes because they look like babies and prompt our innate caretaking responses.”
“Second, and perhaps more poetically, people across cultures tend to think of eyes as the windows to the soul! Creatures with large eyes seem to invite us to peer into souls that will be equally beautiful; maybe we even hope that their eyes will reflect back the beauty of our own souls as well,” the professor concluded.
She Really Knows How To Pose For A Photo
Pearl
Everyone Says He Looks Like A Disney Character, So Here’s Snoot!
For most people, the cutest thing you have ever seen involves a baby, a puppy, or any other adorable animal. The chances are they have big captivating eyes that make them forever ingrained in your memory. This phenomenon has been observed for years, and scientists research this powerful attractive force that makes things appear intensely cute.
Morten L. Kringelbach, an associate professor and senior research fellow in neuroscience, together with colleagues Marc Bornstein from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and Catherine Alexander from the University of Oxford, assert that cuteness is a purely visual thing.
Big Blues
He Is Only Here To Spread Joy. This Is Yohji, My Special Boi
Oh Lawd
“It works by involving all the senses and strongly attracting our attention by sparking rapid brain activity. In fact, cuteness may be one of the strongest forces that shape our behavior – potentially making us more compassionate,” the authors explain in their article for The Conversation.
Scientists believe that cuteness facilitates well-being and complex social relationships by activating brain networks associated with emotion and pleasure and triggering empathy and compassion.
“When we encounter something cute, it ignites fast brain activity in regions such as the orbitofrontal cortex, which are linked to emotion and pleasure. It also attracts our attention in a biased way: babies have privileged access to entering conscious awareness in our brains.”
I Thought You All Would Appreciate This Little Guy~
It Was A Rough Start For Nimbus, But She Grew Into Her Disney Eyes
Ohh... ...oh My! Aren’t You The Most Adorable Thing That’s Just About To Eviscerate That Tree?!?
Meanwhile, Eloise Stark from the psychiatry department at the University of Oxford argues that from the research scientists have so far, cuteness response is inclusive of everyone, regardless of whether you are a parent or not. The same goes for cute animals.
"This is why people are able to capitalize on cuteness in marketing, selling 'cute' toys like Hello Kitty. The cuteness activates the same brain mechanisms, regardless of whether the object is a baby, a puppy, or an object."
"We know that [when we see a young animal or child] there is a really fast burst of activity in the orbitofrontal cortex, an area of the brain involved in reward," Eloise says. "We think this early activity biases the brain towards processing the cute stimulus – for example, by making sure we give it our full attention. The effect of this may be to approach the infant or cute animal, wanting to pick it up or look after it."
She Has The Disney Eyes Down Pat
*stares At You In Cute*
He Only Has The One Disney Eye, Still Counts Right?
We also reached out to the founder and moderator of the Disney Eyes community on Reddit, who told us that the idea for the subreddit came after someone simply commented on a post with “Disney Eyes.” “I then used that post’s image as r/DisneyEyes’ first post, crediting the OP. Here’s that first post,” the founder recounted.
The founder explained that the community is “dedicated to eyes that would fit well into Disney's (or other similar animators) visual styling”. “These animation studios tend to exaggerate the size of their characters’ eyes to invoke and convey more emotion. Some cute animals out there naturally have eyes that would fit into a Disney movie.”
Little Boba Looks Like She Came Straight Out Of A Disney Movie
Just Aww
I Posted And Then Deleted Cause I Thought This Was A Cat-Only Subreddit But I Think Everyone Deserves To See This Beauty
According to the Redditor, “cats tend to have big peepers, and Reddit loves cats (so do I), so it all seemed a natural fit to create the sub.”
He continued: “More so, baby and juvenile animals tend to have disproportionately large eyes compared to their adult versions, and most warm-blooded animals have the inclination to coddle, protect, and admire their young - so when we see animals with big eyes, instinctively we find them more ‘adorable.’”
The author argues that the audience is all there for the same reason, “to get a nice serotonin boost from seeing cute animals with big eyes, so bad actors are few and far between.” As for the community’s management, there are one to two more moderators who check in every few months to monitor the content, but overall, the subreddit runs itself pretty well.
I Haven't Seen A Dog On This Subreddit In A While
Ferocious!
My Baby Got His First Jewelry Today. Never Seen A Better Mix Of Posh And Derpiness
Sectoral Heterochromia
My, What Big Eyes
Apparently, This Little Guy Also Belongs Here
She Was Just Rescued From The Streets. Finding Her A New Home Shouldn't Be Too Hard With That Sweet Face
Someone Suggested Z’s Ocean Eyes Belong Here 🌊
Practicing Her Perfect Princess Pose
Too Precious Omg
Ovo
The Face She Makes When My Husband Holds Her
The Void Would Like Some Snackies
Cross Posting My Sweet Girl
Penny Is A Gift
Shower Time For Lil Fella
My Baby Domino Looks Like The Little Vampire!
Ella’s Disney Eyes
It's This Little Princess's Birthday Today
Onyx Eyes
Someone Suggested To Post This Pic Of Lucy Here:)
Say Hi To Our New Kitten, Lieutenant Dan!
Wife Took This, Sent It To Me At Work, And I Knew Exactly Where It Belongs. Our Sweet Boy Meeko In His Obnoxiously Photogenic Glory
This Is Zelda. Unfortunately, I Couldn’t Keep Him. He Was Born On A Farm And I Lived In An Apartment In The City, And He Was Not Happy There. He Now Loves With A New Family In A Big House With His Human Little Brother
My Princess, Caterpillar
My Silver Bengal Kitty, Mr. Meow
Not To Be Dramatic But I'd Die For Her
There Once Was A Princess
My Little Luna
Stare Into The Soul
Mike When You Shake The Treat Box Lol
Posted To R/Cats And Someone Said To Post Here. This Is Four Month Old Jelly Bean. She's Queen Of The House Now
Adorable Meow
Boba Pokes Her Head Out And Stares At Me When It Gets Too Hot Under The Blanket
This Is The Only Picture I Got Of Him That Isn't A Blur, He's So Sweet!
She Got Scolded By My Husband And Then Came To Me To Give Me Her Apologetic Disney Eyes
When We First Adopted Charlie
Disney Eyes With A Side Of Airplane Ears
Those Eyes Are Reserved For Cheese, And Cheese Only
Saw A Thing
Was Encouraged By R/Blackcats To Post This Pic Of Salem And His New Mustard Toy
Sally, My 20 Year Old Cat, Aging Beautifully
Princess Cake Must Wear A Onesie Instead Of A Cone (She Keeps Taking It Off) To Let A Cut Heal
The Look She Gives Me When It's Sleepy Time
Kiwi And Her Big Eyes
My Boba Is Dabbling In Anime Eyes Territory
Kitten Disney Eyes
My Friend Caught Her Cats Cuddling In The Closet. So Wholesome
She May Be A Senior Kitty, But She Still Has Eyes For That Dang Red Dot
Lily Has The Purest Eyes!
Found This Cutie In The Middle Of A Protest
My Friends Cat Has The Most Adorable Disney Eyes!
7 Month Kitty With A Spark In The Eyes
Oh, Hello There, Princess
This Is Bella! Have Been Told She'd Fit In Here!
His Eyes Look Disney But They’re Actually Just Asking Me For Snacccs
My Cat Is Actually Puss In Boots
Tulip Doing Her Best Puss In Boots Impression!
She Has The Puzzled Look Spot On!
He Outgrew His Favourite Spot
On Popular Demand Of Someone Commenting How This Qt3.14 Looks Like A Irl Puss In The Boots. Here We Are
Remy Under My Desk, Ca. 4 Months Old
This Is The "I Want Whatever You're Eating" Pose
My Girl Is So Happy I Stopped Working Overtime
Mikey Who Desperately Wants Me To Throw His Favorite Toy - A Twist Tie
Someone Enjoys The Fact That Everyone Has To Be Home
Our Baby Winston From Christmas Last Year. He Routinely Knocked The Star Down And Climbed To The Top Because He Is The Star
Those Eyes Hold A Universe
My Lil Lady Asking For More Kisses
A Princess Who Has Never Done Anything Wrong In Her Life
Azula On The Highest Cat Tree!
This Is Malia. She Love Pictures, And Will Stare Right At The Camera For Me!
Meet Finnegan, A Sweet Adoptable Boy In Austin, Tx!
I Was Told Nimbus Might Belong Here??
We Get It, You’re A Perfect Angel
I Just Learned About This Sub, Hope My Little Kitty Belongs!
Scared Kitten At The Vet
My very chonky cat has giant eyes that remind me of the character Puss in Boots from the Shrek.
My very chonky cat has giant eyes that remind me of the character Puss in Boots from the Shrek.