Final answer:
The major problem in creating Snow White involved production challenges such as the physical portrayal of props like the magic box not meeting the director's vision. Additionally, Disney faced challenges with evolving the portrayals of female characters from traditional princesses to independent leads in later films.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the biggest problems in creating Disney's Snow White was related to the physical portrayal of elements and their alignment with the director's vision. For instance, the magic box prop used during the production did not meet the director's expectations. It looked more like a doghouse instead of being glittery and red, which would have been more suitable for the film's aesthetic. This highlights the challenge of creating physical objects that both satisfy the director's creative vision and work well within the narrative framework of the movie.
While this illustrates a production challenge specific to an item's appearance, the broader challenge for Disney has been in the portrayals of girls and women in its movies, evolving over time from more passive princesses to characters with substantial agency and roles that do not center on being rescued by a male character or seeking marriage as their ultimate happy ending. This shift in storytelling can be seen in films like 'The Princess and the Frog', 'Brave', 'Moana', and 'Frozen', which feature strong female leads who undertake significant acts to help others, focus on personal accomplishments, or celebrate family bonds.