***CW: This article contains spoilers from Disney shows

         Over the last decade, Disney has created hundreds of TV shows that include one of the most famous tropes in TV and movies, the 'found family' trope whether we realize it or not. As audience members, we may not pay attention to the literary tropes that are included in our favorite shows because we like the content, characters, and plotlines better. This idea of having a 'found family' is not exclusive to Disney Channel; it can be found in several other channels like CBS, and Nickelodeon. It is important to know about these literary tropes because they can help us relate to and better understand what the characters are going through.

↣ ↣ ↣ ↣ ↣ ↣

So, what exactly is a 'found family'? And what makes them so special compared to a biological family?

            According to the New York Public Library, "The 'Found Family' or 'Family of Choice' trope refers to a device in literature and media where a group of characters find themselves united in a family-bond based on shared experiences, mutual understanding, and interpersonal connection. These arrangements often bring familial love they may have otherwise missed into their lives." For example, a best friend can be seen as a non-biological sister and someone's mom can be seen as another character's non-biological mom if they treat them with more care and respect than their biological mom does. Found families are also important in the plotlines of TV shows because they help characters grow and gain confidence in ways that their biological family might not be able to help them. A character's 'found family' can also be referred to as their 'chosen family' since their friends or other acquaintances may treat them better than their biological family members. Oftentimes, the characters who seek out a 'chosen family'' are the ones who get neglected or are in a minority. We see this happen all the time in our everyday lives but it is also portrayed in TV and movies whether we realize it or not.

↣ ↣ ↣ ↣ ↣ ↣

Now the big question is: why is Disney so obsessed with creating shows that have characters that seek 'found families' or 'chosen families'? What makes this trope so special and important to audience members?

        I think that this trope is common for Disney to use because it tugs at the audience's heartstrings. It makes us feel like we can relate to a specific show or character while also feeling empowered and encouraged because we see something on the screen that we don't have at home. There's something special about characters who seek extra care and support from their friends. Maybe it's the fact that the character's actions and circumstances make you feel bad for the character or maybe it's because you can relate to the character from one of their experiences. In other words, Disney creates these characters who find ' found families' because they tug at the audience's heartstrings.

↣ ↣ ↣ ↣ ↣ ↣

       In a blog post written by Mikayla Buhbe, she states that audience members are compelled to watch this 'found family' trope because,

"You're compelled by both the conflict and the hope for resolution. Which brings us to the second tearjerker of this trope: the making up scenes! When you know these characters truly care for one another, it makes those moments of communication and apology so wholesome. These people are genuinely explaining themselves and seeking to make amends because they value each other's feelings,"

Mikayla has a good point. When we realize that characters care for one another it makes us feel something. It makes us emotional and happy. That is something that Disney attempts to do when they create a new TV show or movie. They create characters who care for each other no matter what circumstance they are in. I believe that this is why they use the 'found family' trope a lot in their shows. They want audience members to feel like they can relate to the story and the characters because this idea of finding a 'found or chosen family' is not a fictional concept. It's something that happens to everyone, in reality, especially people who are in minority groups like LGBTQ+ and disabled communities.

          We can see this trope being used in hundreds of Disney TV shows over the years, but these are just a few of the most unique 'found families' I found from Disney Channel shows. Although, there are hundreds of shows on other channels and streaming platforms that use this trope, not just the Disney company.

In the show, A.N.T Farm, gifted and talented students are trying to navigate high school even though they are middle schoolers. Throughout the series, the three main characters: Olivia, Chyna, and Angus overcome bullies, awkward family situations, and harassment because of their special talents. The show mainly focuses on Chyna's story as an outsider who has a unique voice and ear for all things related to music. She struggles to fit in with her much older, more 'normal' high school students and teachers at her new school making her feel and look like an outcast. However, she soon finds herself friends that are gifted and talented students who are seen as outcasts to the rest of the school when she joins the A.N.T farm program. Olive becomes her sister/weird best friend and Fletcher becomes a second brother figure to her since her brother does not quite understand what it's like to have a special gift as she does.

      Chyna, Olive, and Fletcher are characters who seek 'found families' since they are seen as outcasts and oddballs to their families and peers in school. In several of the episodes from the show, Chyna seeks encouragement and acceptance from Angus and Olive since no one also is cheering her on for having her musical abilities. Whereas, Olive seeks out a 'found family' since is seen as the weird nerd girl for knowing so many facts and having an excellent memory. And last but not least, Fletcher seeks out friends who soon become 'found family' members because he has the most unique artistic abilities that no other student has in high school.

        Audience members can also watch characters go from outcasts to 'found family' members in the iconic show, Austin and Ally. In this show, the main characters Austin, Ally, Dez, and Trish become unlikely friends through their relationship with the Sonic Boom store that Ally's dad owns. Ally is an only child and her mother is not mentioned in the show. This makes it tough for Ally to be social, make ongoing relationships, and have confidence since she doesn't have a motherly support figure or sibling to lean on when she needs support and encouragement.

      Ally's shared experience with her friends is much different than that of Chyna's because she doesn't want encouragement and praise from her peers at the beginning of the show. She would much rather be alone in her own world writing her own songs in her notebook in the Sonic Boom office. We see this happen in the first episode where Austin puts out a viral video of himself singing her song without her permission. When Ally gets the opportunity to confront Austin it is too late because he is about to sing her song on live television. This is where Austin and Ally's friendship begins because he is asked to sing another original song, however, the audience knows that Ally wrote that song that Austin sang. This circumstance is a reason for Austin and Ally to bond together and throughout the rest of the first season, they grow closer and closer to each other like family. Oftentimes audience members see Trish act like Ally's sister and manager and Dez act like Ally's older goofy brother while she is accepting her music career with Austin. This is where the 'found family' part comes in since Ally doesn't have siblings or family members to support her. She is closer to Dez, Trish, and Austin than she is to her dad. Ally may not want this love and acceptance at first but she learns to love the goofy and supportive people in her life when she needs them most.

      This concept of having a character deal with change in setting or a particular situation is not unusual for shows that feature the 'found family' trope. In fact, it can be seen in a lot of Disney Channel shows including Sonny with a Chance, Wizards of Waverly Place, Andi Mack, and Girl Meets World. The characters strive to find acceptance, happiness, and joy from their friends because their family is unable to provide it or is not in the picture. And as a young adult, it is hard to adapt to changes, like when Sonny Monroe from Sonny with a Chance moves to LA with her mom to start her acting career. That is why they lean on their friends for advice, support, and encouragement. Change is normal; and it is okay to be closer to your friends than your family.

Friends are there for you when you need them the most.

Fun Facts:

- Did you know that Wizards of Waverly Place is the longest-running Disney Channel show? It has 4 seasons and 106 episodes

- Ally Dawson almost had a brother in Austin and Ally

- Sonny's character in Sonny With a Chance was originally going to be called Holli

Questions:

- What is your favorite show that features a 'found family'?

- Which character from a show that features the 'found family' trope can you relate to the most and why?

- Tell us about another found family through friends that you know.