Ultimately, “Snow White” is a cautionary tale for Disney: Not every animated treasure needs a live-action makeover. Revisiting a film as iconic as the 1937 original demands vision, purpose and heart — not just spectacle. This remake suggests that Disney may be running out of both ideas and magic.

Students gathered Thursday night for a presentation that examined racial elements in classic Disney movies and assessed how these messages affect viewers. The presentation, titled Animated Lives Matter:...