I don't know that there was very much flexibility for them as a design team. They had a message they wanted to present, but weren't able to due to the Disney brass shooting it down. The original film was to be a much darker universe, and when they made the switch to a "happier" film, I think they were rather trapped in existing tropes. That and they still had to meet their kid film quota in terms of spectacle and jokes didn't help I'm sure. All in all, I don't think it was a bad film, and it's attempt to handle the subject at all was a step above what the film "had" to do to be successful, so I give them props for that, but you are absolutely right that it's got some major shortcomings.I don't know that there was very much flexibility for them as a design team. They had a message they wanted to present, but weren't able to due to the Disney brass shooting it down. The original film ...See more