Editing Aladdin (1992 Disney film) (section)

== Reception ==
=== Critical reception ===
Upon release, ''Aladdin'' received positive reviews from film critics.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Ascher-Walsh |first1=Rebecca |last2=Daly |first2=Steve |date=March 12, 1993 |title=Marketing 'Aladdin' |url=https://ew.com/article/1993/03/12/marketing-aladdin/ |access-date=January 22, 2025 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |quote=critical acclaim and word of mouth have played important parts in the film’s success.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 31, 2018 |title=Aladdin - Howard Ashman |url=https://www.howardashman.com/howards-work/aladdin |access-date=January 22, 2025 |website=Howard Ashman}}</ref> The [[review aggregator]] website, [[Rotten Tomatoes]], reports that {{RT data|score}} of {{RT data|count}} critics give the film a positive review, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The site's consensus reads: "A highly entertaining entry in Disney's renaissance era, ''Aladdin'' is beautifully drawn, with near-classic songs and a cast of scene-stealing characters."<ref name="RTfresh">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/disneys_aladdin|title=Aladdin (1992)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date={{RT data|access date}}|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916155448/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1042582_aladdin|archive-date=September 16, 2020|url-status=live}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 86 out of 100, based on 25 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/aladdin |title=Aladdin Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=October 11, 2018 |archive-date=October 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011211145/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/aladdin |url-status=live }}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film a rare "A+" grade, on a scale of A+ to F.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Pamela |last=McClintock |title=Why CinemaScore Matters for Box Office |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/why-cinemascore-matters-box-office-225563/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=August 19, 2011 |access-date=December 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719145918/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/why-cinemascore-matters-box-office-225563/ |archive-date=July 19, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Most critics praised Robin Williams's performance as the Genie,<ref name="RTfresh"/> with [[Janet Maslin]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' declaring that children "needn't know precisely what Mr. Williams is evoking to understand how funny he is".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/11/movies/review-film-disney-puts-its-magic-touch-on-aladdin.html|title=Disney Puts Its Magic Touch on 'Aladdin'|work=The New York Times|first=Janet|last=Maslin|author-link=Janet Maslin|date=November 11, 1992|access-date=June 12, 2009|archive-date=August 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828130757/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/11/movies/review-film-disney-puts-its-magic-touch-on-aladdin.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Brian Lowry of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' praised the cast of characters, describing the expressive magic carpet as "its most remarkable accomplishment", and considered that "''Aladdin'' overcomes most story flaws thanks to sheer technical virtuosity".<ref>{{cite news
| url = https://variety.com/review/VE1117900071.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 |title=Aladdin|work=Variety |first=Brian|last=Lowry |date=November 4, 1992 |access-date=May 26, 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090602052954/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117900071.html?categoryid=31&cs=1| archive-date= June 2, 2009 | url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Peter Travers]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' stated that the film's comedic aspect made it accessible to both children and adults,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5947957/review/5947958/aladdin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618163432/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5947957/review/5947958/aladdin|archive-date=June 18, 2008|title=Aladdin|author=Travers, Peter | author-link = Peter Travers |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|issue=644|date=November 1992|url-status=dead|access-date=May 26, 2009 }}</ref> a vision shared with [[Desson Howe]] of ''[[The Washington Post]]'', who also said that "kids are still going to be entranced by the magic and adventure".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/aladdinghowe_a0af3c.htm|title=Aladdin|first=Desson|last=Howe|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=November 27, 1992|access-date=May 26, 2009|archive-date=December 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211220819/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/aladdinghowe_a0af3c.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Warner Bros. Cartoons]] director [[Chuck Jones]] called the film "the funniest feature ever made",<ref name="time" /> and [[James Berardinelli]] gave the film three and a half stars out of four, praising the "crisp visuals and wonderful song-and-dance numbers".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/a/aladdin.html|title=Aladdin|author=Berardinelli, James|author-link=James Berardinelli|publisher=Reelviews|year=1992|access-date=May 26, 2009|archive-date=August 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831014747/http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/a/aladdin.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' awarded the film 3 stars out of 4, and commented that Williams and animation "were born for one another." However, he considered the music to be inferior to ''[[The Little Mermaid (1989 film)|The Little Mermaid]]'' and ''Beauty and the Beast'', and claimed that Aladdin and Jasmine were "pale and routine". He criticized what he saw as the film's use of ethnic stereotypes, writing, "Most of the Arab characters have exaggerated facial characteristics—hooked noses, glowering brows, thick lips—but Aladdin and the princess look like white American teenagers."<ref name="Ebert, Roger">{{cite news |author=Ebert, Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |url=https://rogerebert.com/reviews/aladdin-1992 |title=Aladdin review |date=November 25, 1992 |access-date=March 17, 2007 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |archive-date=April 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412115500/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/aladdin-1992 |url-status=live }}</ref> Olly Richards of ''[[Empire Magazine]]'' awarded the film 5 stars out of 5, and said "The movie that brought a hip new sensibility to animated features and which still stands up in the age of Pixar and DreamWorks thanks largely to a blistering improv turn from Robin Williams."<ref>{{cite news |author=Olly Richards |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/aladdin-review/ |title=Aladdin Review |date=January 1, 2000 |access-date=May 12, 2025 |work=Empire Magazine }}</ref>

The film did not go without criticism. In a scathing review, Ed Gonzalez of ''[[Slant Magazine]]'' described the film as racist, ridiculous, and a "narcissistic circus act" from Robin Williams.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://slantmagazine.com/film/review/aladdin | title=Aladdin | work=[[Slant Magazine]] | date=September 23, 2004 | access-date=June 16, 2015 | author=Gonzalez, Ed | archive-date=June 27, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627095413/http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/aladdin | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Accolades ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! colspan="6" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | List of awards and nominations
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Award
! Category
! Nominee(s)
! Result
! Ref.
|-
| rowspan="5"| [[65th Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]]
| [[Alan Menken]]
| {{won}}
| rowspan="5" align="center"| <ref name="Oscars1993">{{Cite news |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1993 |title=The 65th Academy Awards (1993) Nominees and Winners |access-date=October 22, 2011 |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]]}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]]
| "[[A Whole New World]]" <br /> Music by Alan Menken; <br /> Lyrics by [[Tim Rice]]
| {{won}}
|-
| "[[Friend Like Me]]" <br /> Music by Alan Menken; <br /> Lyrics by [[Howard Ashman]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]]
| [[Terry Porter (sound engineer)|Terry Porter]], [[Mel Metcalfe]], [[David J. Hudson]], and [[Doc Kane]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Effects Editing]]
| [[Mark Mangini]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[21st Annie Awards|Annie Awards]]
| colspan="2"| [[Annie Award for Best Animated Feature|Best Animated Feature]]
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://annieawards.org/legacy/21st-annie-awards |title=21st Annual Annie Awards |publisher=[[Annie Awards]] |access-date=June 6, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers|ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards]]
| Top Box Office Films
| Howard Ashman, Alan Menken, and Tim Rice
| {{won}}
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 
|-
| {{nowrap|Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures}}
| "A Whole New World" <br /> Music by Alan Menken; <br /> Lyrics by Tim Rice
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[BMI Film & TV Awards]]
| Film Music Award
| Alan Menken
| {{won}}
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 
|-
| Most Performed Song from a Film
| "A Whole New World" <br /> Music by Alan Menken; <br /> Lyrics by Tim Rice
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| {{nowrap|[[47th British Academy Film Awards|British Academy Film Awards]]}}
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Original Music|Best Score]]
| Alan Menken
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="2" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1994/film |title=BAFTA Awards: Film in 1994 |publisher=[[BAFTA]] |year=1994 |access-date=September 16, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects|Best Special Visual Effects]]
| Don Paul and Steve Goldberg
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association|Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards]]
| colspan="2"| [[Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 
|-
| colspan="2"| [[Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film|Best Animated Film]]
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="6"| [[50th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]]
| colspan="2"| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy|Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy]]
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="6" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/aladdin |title=Aladdin |publisher=[[Golden Globe Awards]] |access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref> 
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]]
| Alan Menken
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]]
| "A Whole New World" <br /> Music by Alan Menken; <br /> Lyrics by Tim Rice
| {{won}}
|-
| "Friend Like Me" <br /> Music by Alan Menken; <br /> Lyrics by Howard Ashman
| {{nom}}
|-
| "[[Prince Ali (song)|Prince Ali]]" <br /> Music by Alan Menken; <br /> Lyrics by Howard Ashman
| {{nom}}
|-
| Special Achievement Award
| [[Robin Williams]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Motion Picture Sound Editors#Golden Reel Awards|Golden Reel Awards]]
| [[Golden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Sound Effects, Foley, Dialogue and ADR for Animated Feature Film|Best Sound Editing – Animated Feature]]
| Doc Kane, Vince Caro, and Mark Mangini
| {{won}}
| align="center"| 
|-
| colspan="3"| [[Goldene Leinwand|Golden Screen Awards]]
| {{won}}
| align="center"| 
|-
| rowspan="8"| [[36th Annual Grammy Awards|Grammy Awards]]
| [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]]
| "A Whole New World" – [[Peabo Bryson]], [[Regina Belle]], and [[Walter Afanasieff]]
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="8" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/36th-annual-grammy-awards |title=36th Annual GRAMMY Awards |publisher=[[Grammy Awards]] |access-date=May 1, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]]
| "A Whole New World" – Alan Menken and Tim Rice
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals|Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals]]
| "A Whole New World" – Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children|Best Musical Album for Children]]
| ''[[Aladdin (1992 soundtrack)|Aladdin: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]]'' – Various Artists
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children|Best Spoken Word Album for Children]]
| ''Aladdin Sound & Story Theatre'' – Various Artists
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media|Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television]]
| ''Aladdin: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack'' – Alan Menken
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media|Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television]]
| "A Whole New World" – Alan Menken and Tim Rice
| {{won}}
|-
| "Friend Like Me" – Alan Menken and Howard Ashman
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Hugo Award]]s
| [[Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation|Best Dramatic Presentation]]
| [[Ron Clements]], [[John Musker]], [[Ted Elliott (screenwriter)|Ted Elliott]], [[Terry Rossio]], [[Burny Mattinson]], [[Roger Allers]], [[Daan Jippes]], Kevin Harkey, [[Sue Nichols]], [[Francis Glebas]], [[Darrell Rooney]], Larry Leker, James Fujii, Kirk Hanson, [[Kevin Lima]], Rebecca Rees, David S. Smith, [[Chris Sanders]], [[Brian Pimental]], and Patrick A. Ventura
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1993-hugo-awards/ |publisher=[[Hugo Award]]s |title=1993 Hugo Awards |date=July 26, 2007 |access-date=November 1, 2008}}</ref>
|-
| ICG Publicists Awards
| colspan="2"| Maxwell Weinberg Publicist Showmanship Award
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.icg600.com/ABOUT-US/Awards/Publicists-Awards/Maxwell-Weinberg-Publicist-Showmanship-Awards |title=Maxwell Weinberg Publicist Showmanship Award |publisher=ICG Publicists Awards |access-date=May 15, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[1992 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards|Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards]]
| [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film|Best Animation]]
| John Musker and Ron Clements
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lafca.net/Years/1992.php |title=The 18th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards |publisher=[[Los Angeles Film Critics Association]] |access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[1993 MTV Movie Awards|MTV Movie Awards]]
| colspan="2"| [[MTV Movie Award for Movie of the Year|Best Movie]]
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="3" align="center"| 
|-
| [[MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance|Best Comedic Performance]]
| Robin Williams
| {{won}}
|-
| [[MTV Movie Award for Best Musical Moment|Best Song From a Movie]]
| Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle – "A Whole New World"
| {{nom}}
|-
| Online Film & Television Association Awards
| colspan="2"| Film Hall of Fame: Productions
| {{won|Inducted}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oftaawards.com/film-hall-of-fame/film-hall-of-fame-productions/ |title=Film Hall of Fame: Productions |publisher=Online Film & Television Association |access-date=May 15, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[9th Golden Satellite Awards|Satellite Awards]]
| colspan="2"| [[Satellite Award for Outstanding Youth Blu-Ray/DVD|Outstanding Youth DVD]]
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2005a.shtml |title=International Press Academy website – 2005 9th Annual SATELLITE Awards |publisher=[[International Press Academy]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201175700/http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2005a.shtml |archive-date=February 1, 2008}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="4"| [[19th Saturn Awards|Saturn Awards]] {{small|(1992)}}
| colspan="2"| [[Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film|Best Fantasy Film]]
| {{won}}
| rowspan="5" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |title=Past Saturn Awards |publisher=[[Saturn Awards]] |access-date=May 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914184217/http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |archive-date=September 14, 2008 |df=mdy}}</ref>
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| Robin Williams
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor|Best Performance by a Younger Actor]]
| [[Scott Weinger]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Music|Best Music]]
| Alan Menken
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[31st Saturn Awards|Saturn Awards]] {{small|(2004)}}
| colspan="2"| [[Saturn Award for Best Classic Film DVD Release|Best Classic Film DVD Release]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards
| colspan="2"| Best Picture
| {{draw|3rd place}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sefca.net/winners#/1992 |title=1992 SEFA Awards |publisher=Southeastern Film Critics Association |access-date=May 15, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[14th Youth in Film Awards|Young Artist Awards]]
| colspan="2"| Outstanding Family Entertainment of the Year
| {{won}}{{efn|Tied with ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]''.}}
| align="center"| <ref name="Young Artist Awards">{{cite web |url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms14.htm |title=14th Annual Youth in Film Awards |access-date=March 31, 2011 |publisher=[[Young Artist Award]]s |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409024401/http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms14.htm |archive-date=April 9, 2014}}</ref>
|}

=== Controversies ===
One of the verses of the opening song "Arabian Nights", in which the speaker uses the lyric "where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face" to describe his homeland, was altered to "where it's flat and immense and the heat is intense" following complaints from the [[American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee]] (ADC). The revision first appeared on the 1993 video release.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fox |first=David J. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-07-10-ca-11747-story.html |title=Disney Will Alter Song in 'Aladdin' |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 10, 1993 |access-date=September 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922162834/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-07-10-ca-11747-story.html |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="adc">{{cite web|url=http://www.adc.org/index.php?id=283|title=Arab Stereotypes and American Educators|website=[[American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee]]|access-date=March 16, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070405005650/http://www.adc.org/index.php?id=283|archive-date=April 5, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The original lyric was intact on the initial [[Compact disc|CD]] soundtrack release, but the rereleases use the edited lyric. The [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] adaptation also uses the edited line.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://adamjacobs.net/aladdin-gets-big-changes-broadway-debut/|title=Aladdin gets big changes for Broadway debut|first=Gregory|last=Miller|work=[[New York Post]]|date=March 9, 2014|access-date=May 8, 2016|archive-date=August 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816093003/http://adamjacobs.net/aladdin-gets-big-changes-broadway-debut/|url-status=live}}</ref> The subsequent line, however, "It's barbaric, but hey, it's home", was left intact.

The film has also been subject to criticism for its use of [[Orientalism|Orientalist]] stereotypes that depict Arab societies as exotic and foreign.<ref name="h476">{{cite web | title=Arab Stereotypes and American Educators | website=ADC - Truly Arab, Fully American. | date=November 18, 2009 | url=https://adc.org/arab-stereotypes-and-american-educators/ | access-date=May 17, 2024}}</ref> The [[American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee|ADC]] has pointed out that the characters in the movie that the viewer is supposed to identify and sympathize with are generally presented with more [[White people|white]] features, while the villains are presented with more [[Arab]] features.<ref name="h476"/> Other people have pointed out that the movie is quite inaccurate in its depictions of Arab societies. The main palace is inspired by [[Mughal architecture]], but many of the clothes are [[Ottoman Empire|Turkish]] in origin, and the outside environment is closer to that of the [[Arabian Desert]].<ref name="j430">{{cite web | title=Orientalism in Film: Aladdin Over the Last Century. – Orientalism in Pop Culture | website=Orientalism in Pop Culture – Christina, Angelissa, Grace, Diamond | date=November 29, 2020 | url=https://wgst2013.domains.drew.edu/christina-bevianos-post/film-aladdin/ | access-date=May 17, 2024}}</ref>

''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' ranked ''Aladdin'' in a list of the most controversial films in history due to this incident.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/ew/article/0,,1202224,00.html |title=The 25 Most Controversial Movies Ever |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=March 16, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314000859/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C1202224%2C00.html |archive-date=March 14, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The number has been described in reviews as "simultaneously glamorizing and barbarizing the Arab world".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/69162/Soundtrack-Disney-Aladdin/|title=Soundtrack (Disney) - Aladdin (album review) {{!}} Sputnikmusic|website=www.sputnikmusic.com|access-date=August 11, 2018|archive-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512082213/https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/69162/Soundtrack-Disney-Aladdin/|url-status=live}}</ref> The ADC also complained about the portrayal of the lead characters, Aladdin and Jasmine. They accused the filmmakers of [[anglicize]]ing their features and giving them Anglo-American accents, in contrast to the other characters, which have "foreign accents, grotesque facial features, and appear villainous or greedy".<ref name="adc" /> In October 2020, in response to the criticism and in acknowledgment of racial stereotypes in the wake of the [[George Floyd protests]], Disney added a disclaimer to many of their features, including ''Aladdin'', on [[Disney+]], acknowledging the content as racist.<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Kane |first=Caitlin |date=October 19, 2020 |title=Disney adding disclaimer about racist stereotypes to some old movies |work=[[CBS News]] |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/disney-disclaimer-racist-stereotypes-old-movies/ |access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref>

Another scene in which Aladdin is threatened by the tiger Rajah on the palace balcony was controversial as well. In the scene, some viewers reported hearing Aladdin quietly utter the phrase, "Good teenagers, take off your clothes",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/disney/info/aladwsj.htm |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091001072715/http://www.snopes.com/disney/info/aladwsj.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 1, 2009 |title=Take Off Your Clothes! |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=October 25, 1995 |access-date=April 2, 2013 |publisher=[[Snopes]] }}</ref> which they considered a [[subliminal message|subliminal reference]] to [[promiscuity]]. However, according to the commentary track on the 2004 [[DVD]], while Musker and Clements did admit that Scott Weinger [[Ad libitum#Drama|ad-libbed]] during the scene, they claimed that "we did not record that, we would not record that", and said that the line was, "Good tiger, take off and go...", and that the word, "tiger", is overlapped by Rajah's snarl.<ref>Ron Clements and John Musker, "Filmmaker's Commentary". ''Aladdin: Platinum Edition'' DVD, Disc 1, Bonus Features, Backstage Disney, Walt Disney Home Entertainment.</ref> After the word "tiger", a second voice can be heard that can be assumed to have been accidentally grafted into the soundtrack.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/disney/films/aladdin.asp|title=Disney (Take Off Your Clothes!)|date=April 24, 2000 |publisher=[[Snopes]]|access-date=March 24, 2007}}. The source compiles and cites four major newspaper references.</ref> Later editions of the movie edit the line to avoid further speculation.

Animation enthusiasts have noticed similarities between ''Aladdin'' and [[Richard Williams (animator)|Richard Williams]]'s unfinished film, ''[[The Thief and the Cobbler]]'' (also known as ''The Princess and the Cobbler'' under [[Allied Filmmakers]] and ''Arabian Knight'' under [[Miramax]] Films). These similarities include a similar plot, similar characters, scenes, and background designs, and the antagonist Zig-Zag's resemblance to character design and mannerisms to the Genie and Jafar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdsnapshot.com/January07Review/ThiefAndCobbler.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216141735/http://www.dvdsnapshot.com/January07Review/ThiefAndCobbler.html|archive-date=December 16, 2008|title=The Thief and the Cobbler review|publisher=DVD snapshot|author=Savino, Cris}}</ref><ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/26/movies/film-review-a-late-finisher-about-old-araby.html|title=A Late Finisher About Old Araby|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 26, 1995|first=Caryn|last=James|access-date=February 14, 2017|archive-date=July 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717100319/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/26/movies/film-review-a-late-finisher-about-old-araby.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Although ''Aladdin'' was released first, ''The Thief and the Cobbler'' initially began production in the 1960s, and was mired in difficulties, including financial problems, copyright issues, story revisions and late production times caused by separate studios trying to finish the film after Richard Williams was fired from the project for lack of finished work.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://movies.tvguide.com/movie-news/Best-Animated-Movie-7953.aspx|title=The Best Animated Movie You've Never Heard Of|magazine=[[TV Guide]]|date=November 28, 2006|access-date=March 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615171326/http://movies.tvguide.com/movie-news/Best-Animated-Movie-7953.aspx|archive-date=June 15, 2012}}</ref> The late release, coupled with Miramax purchasing and re-editing the film, has sometimes resulted in ''The Thief and the Cobbler'' being labeled a rip-off of ''Aladdin''.<ref name="nytimes" />