Yes, there are reasons why Disney uses one-word movie titles. The most surprising reveal at D23 was Disney's Clay, slated for 2028, with a storyline about a reluctant mentor looking after a newborn ball of clay called Musy. Although it will employ 3D CG animation, the film will be designed to look as close as possible to real claymation.

One fan argues these simple titles give no insight or uniqueness to what the film is. However, there are advantages: creating a strong brand identity around a single, punchy word makes it easier for logos and merchandise. Short words also fit cleanly on streaming platforms and are more easily understood by young kids who form a large part of the audience.

Abstract titles like Soul or Brave create more universal comprehension as they carry similar emotional weight across different cultures and languages. Minimalist titles can be easier to translate, often simply left untranslated, avoiding clunky translations and making them gender-neutral too. They also serve as high-concept summaries of the movie, with some Pixar movies playing on words while conveying the thematic core like Inside Out or Elemental.

The trend is not new; early Disney films such as Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo and Bambi were released between 1940 and 1942. The shift from adapting classic fairy tales to producing more original stories has meant using more abstract words for titles, a strategy that seems to be sticking around.