Summary
Disney Dreamlight Valleyplayers are showing a sharp divide over whether publisher and developer Gameloft should introduce the version of Pocahontas featured in the 1995 Disney film of the same name.Disney Dreamlight Valleyunites heroes and villains from two dozen different Disney and Pixar properties, and while some would like to see the prominent Powhatan figure join the game’s roster, others would find it blatantly disrespectful.
Launched in early access in September 2022 before its full release near the end of 2023, the life simulator and adventure game hybrid allows players to build a bustling community filled with classic Disney characters. After a very busy 2024 filled with numerous paid and free content expansions, 2025 has already seen characters fromAladdinandAlice in Wonderlandmake their debuts throughDisney Dreamlight Valley’s Tales of AgrabahUpdate in February and its Wonderland Whimsy Update in April.
With the developers already dipping into one classic movie from the ’90s this year, some fans are anticipating the eventual arrival of Pocahontas and her friends as recruitableDisney Dreamlight Valleycharacters. However, despite the nostalgia generated by the original film, which spawned a 1998 sequel and multiple Disney theme park attractions, others posting on Reddit would see such a move as culturally insensitive to indigenous Americans. Unlike the leading characters of many other films in the Disney Animated Classics collection, Pocahontas is the nickname of an actual historical figure, Matoaka, and the filmmakers took several liberties with her. These include the problematic aging up of the film character from around ten to young adult age, which allowed for a romantic connection with English explorer John Smith.
Dreamlight Valley Fans Argue Over Pocahontas
The debate over nostalgia versus racial sensitivity is divisive even among those identifying themselves as coming from a Native American background. Some, while acknowledging problematic elements of the film, still seem to appreciate the representation it grants and view the film version of Pocahontas as a great character and positive role model who stood against cultural divides. Conversely, others perceive the film’s handling of colonization of the Americas as a whitewashed retelling of history, with one saying “the social harm it does outweighs any one individual’s fond memories.” Others have pointed out that whilePeter Pan is coming toDisney Dreamlight Valleythis summer, they don’t expect to see Princess Tiger Lily added for similar reasons.
There has also been mention of trauma associated with the character and the movie. One fan pointed out the support for excludingTangled’s Mother Gothelfrom the game because her abusive parenting style may be triggering for those who have suffered similar traumatic experiences, suggesting that characters fromPocahontascould induce similar negative feelings.
