Disney Epilepsy Warnings and Consistency
Once again, we thank The Walt Disney Company for taking the initiative to issue an epilepsy warning ahead of the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This is something we are glad to see, but would still like to see more.
Remember: photosensitive epilepsy is not the only health concern that is triggered by strobe light effects. Other potential physical symptoms of extended viewing of strobe lights include headaches and migraines, nausea, vomiting, disorientation, and fainting. Those are just the ones we’ve been told about by our readers.
We would love to see a more consistent pattern of warnings about strobe light effects before the film’s release. In the case of Incredibles 2, the warning only came after the release and a public outcry. But Disney has continued to release films with severe strobe effects without warning. Among the more recent releases are Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, Toy Story 4, Spider-Man: Far From Home, the remakes of Aladdin and Lady and the Tramp (the latter of which did have a warning on Disney+), and Frozen II. Some of them had brief moments of severe strobe effects. Others had them for extended sequences. This consistency would also be greatly appreciated on Disney+, as many titles that should have a warning, including the original version of Dumbo and Lady and the Tramp, should have a warning but don’t. The fact that they’re saying anything at all about the strobe lights means that the scenes featuring these effects are noticeably straining, even on the eyes of people who don’t suffer from photosensitive health concerns.
Disney is not the only studio guilty of this inconsistency. Last year alone, Sony Pictures issued a warning about Slenderman, but failed to do so for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Other studios have failed to issue any warning at all, including Warner Bros., which never published a word about nearly an entire half-hour of It Chapter Two being filled with extreme strobe lights.
One idea we’ve had, that’s been on the back burner for a while, is coming up with a system similar to the MPAA rating system, which shows on the film’s poster how severe the strobe light risk might be. A symbol or logo with a number or a color, or an agreed-upon code that the relevant audience knows beforehand. Something to just tuck in with the other many logos at the bottom of the poster.
If you are planning to see The Rise of Skywalker with someone who suffers from photosensitive health conditions, make sure you know beforehand what to do if they have an episode of said health condition. If they are prone to seizures, look up seizure first aid. If they have a history of vomiting due to strobe effects, ask for an empty popcorn bucket at concessions. If they tell you they need to leave, go with them, no matter how much you need to know what’s going to happen in the movie. The health of your family and friends is more important than if Kylo Ren will be redeemed or not. And above all, make sure your photosensitive friends know that this movie has severe strobe effects. Use those words.
Stay safe everyone, and may the force be with you.
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