It’s also worth remembering that, while Disney deals in a plethora of death scenes, studio bosses have a preferred “kill method” when it comes to the Gastons, Captain Hooks and Wicked Queens of the world: they all fall down.

Why? Because having a villain fall to their death excuses the hero from having to kill them with their own bare hands.

This vindicates the good guy or gal entirely. Firstly, it makes sure they're not guilty of first degree murder (avoiding any complicated, non-family-film-friendly paperwork, arrests or trials) and secondly, it means that they’re still strong hero material – impressionable young viewers are never left with the impression that murder is the answer.

After all, everyone is subject to gravity. And it’s nobody’s fault if gravity happens to do the hero’s job for them now is it?

Images: Rex Features

Science says Disney films have a dark psychological side effect