The Disney Company was founded in 1923 and their first feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, was released in 1937. One of the most interesting things about Snow White is that she is the most “good” character in Disney World.
In the story, the evil queen is jealous of Snow White, who has white skin and is called “the most beautiful person in the world.” The predominant color or brightness of a character helps the audience to better distinguish between good and bad characters. The evil Queen, on the other hand, uses black and purple to highlight her villain status.
But how much influence does color have on Disney heroes and villains? And how much does a color scheme affect our judgment of a character, or a brand?
Color psychology
Color psychology has always been a controversial topic. Because when you interpret certain color schemes (colors and hues) from different cultures, environments, and personal experiences, you come to different conclusions. It’s easy to say “yellow makes you happy” or “red makes you angry”, but these ideas are highly subjective. In China, red means happiness, festivity, auspiciousness and celebration, not anger.
Let’s go back to Disney and take a look at how colors are used for different heroes and villains, and how those colors affect us.
Check out the Disney Infographic below, which lists Disney’s most famous heroes and villains on a color board and categorizes them from good to bad. In general, the “good guys” were mostly yellow, green, and blue, while the “bad guys” were red, black, and purple.
So, what does this mean for you as a designer? Well, if you’re going to send a message in your web design/brand/icon, you can do it with some kind of color scheme. Let’s take a look at 15 Disney color schemes from “Innocent Princess” to “Wicked Queen” to see how color affects us.
15 color schemes from good to Evil
In this section, the 15 color schemes are divided into seven categories, from good to evil. They are arranged from top to bottom on the color wheel, from light to dark.
1. The perfect princessThe color scheme
These “perfect princess” color schemes are apt to describe some of the innocent atmosphere. If your company is a charitable or social enterprise dedicated to helping others, then these are the right colors for you.
Who represents this color scheme?
Snow White and Belle.
2. The explorerThe color scheme
The Explorer color scheme is ideal for brands and companies that focus on travel, nature or the outdoors. Can you guess which famous Disney character they were inspired by?
Who represents this color scheme?
Peter Pan and Mulan.
3. “Brave the World”The color scheme
The “Go For it” color scheme is for people who have an innovative vision and want to change the world. Is your goal the next Tesla or Google? You can express your ambition with this color scheme.
Who represents this color scheme?
Hercules and Nemo.
4. Powerful WomanThe color scheme
Do you want to convey a message of confidence, toughness, high-end and even daring for your brand? Well, this “Powerful Woman” color scheme is just what you need to make your designs more appealing.
Who represents this color scheme?
Maleficent and the Bad Queen.
5. melancholyThe color scheme
If you want to feel smart and independent, try this “blue” color scheme, which is sure to make your innovations stand out.
Who represents this color scheme?
Princess Elsa and Alice.
6. naughtyThe color scheme
Maybe you want to try a bold yet playful atmosphere? If so, try showing off your fashion-forward side with this “naughty” color scheme. First of all, this color scheme may not convey a sense of “trust,” but it certainly makes you stand out!
Who represents this color scheme?
Aladdin and Steve.
7. Dark pastThe color scheme
Finally, let’s take a look at the dark Past color scheme. Maybe your company isn’t out for the greater good, but that doesn’t mean your users and customers aren’t interested in it at all, in which case those naughty color schemes could be right up your street. I recommend this color scheme if you want to express a sense of mystery and seduction.
Who represents this color scheme?
Scar and Ursula.
summary
Remember: No matter which color scheme you want to use in your brand or design, your choice may be slightly different from the one you originally intended to choose due to the psychological perception of different colors. So, be smart about your color schemes and don’t choose ones that don’t reflect your company’s values and goals. Always be prepared for your target audience (especially geographical locations), and if you want to explore and experiment with more different color schemes you should check out 5 Apps to Help You Choose Metate Color Schemes.
About the author
Nadya Khoja is head of marketing at Venngage Infographic Maker, a design software for those with little design expertise. She enjoys teaching her readers how to create better content and often discusses topics related to content marketing, design, and search engine optimization.