The Disney Princesses have been inspiring children and adults alike for decades. From Snow White to Moana, these characters have brought joy to many lives with their adventure-filled stories.
Now, it’s time to celebrate them all coming together in one magical place! As of June 2021, fans can experience the “Disney Princesses Together” exhibit at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
Disney Princesses
The Disney Princess franchise is a media franchise owned by the Walt Disney Company. It features a selection of female protagonists from animated films produced by the company, all of whom are royal by birth or marriage. Popularly known as “Disney Princesses,” these characters are generally recognized for their beauty and grace, as well as their courage and determination in the face of adversity.
Appeal and popularity of Disney Princesses
The wide appeal and popularity of the Disney Princess franchise is due to several reasons.
Firstly, each character’s story arc resonates with viewers of all ages, as they journey through difficult situations and ultimately come out triumphant.
Secondly, the characters are always presented in a positive light, often being depicted as strong, independent role models for young viewers.
Moreover, the characters often embody traditional gender roles, which
Evolution of Disney Princesses
Early princesses: Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora
Early Disney Princesses include Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora. These characters are the oldest princesses from the early days of Disney animation. Snow White was released in 1937 and follows a young woman who is exiled from her own kingdom after being pursued by an evil queen.
Cinderella is also about a young girl who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters before she meets her prince charming. Lastly, Aurora was released in 1959 and is the story of a young princess who falls into an enchanted sleep after pricking her finger on a spinning wheel.
Renaissance era princesses: Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, and Pocahontas
The Renaissance era of the Disney Princess franchise began in 1989 with the release of The Little Mermaid. This movie follows a young mermaid named Ariel as she embarks on a journey to become human so that she can be with her true love. The next film, Beauty and the Beast ( 1991) follows Belle, a young woman who is taken prisoner by an enchanted beast before she ultimately frees him from his curse.
Aladdin (1992) stars Jasmine, a brave and independent princess who fights against an evil sorcerer in order to save her kingdom. The final movie of the Renaissance Era is Pocahontas (1995), which tells the story of a Native American princess who falls in love with a white settler and is forced to choose between the two worlds she loves.
Modern era princesses: Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, Moana, and Elsa & Anna
The Modern Era of the Disney Princess franchise began in 1998 with the release of Mulan. This movie follows a young woman who disguises herself as a man to take her father’s place in the Chinese army.
- The Princess and the Frog (2009) stars Tiana, a young African-American woman who dreams of owning her own restaurant.
- Tangled (2010) follows Rapunzel, a young girl with magical hair who embarks on a journey to save her kingdom.
- Brave (2012) is the story of Merida, a Scottish princess who defies tradition in order to discover her true destiny.
- Moana (2016) is about a young Polynesian princess who sets sail on an epic journey to save her people.
- Frozen (2013) follows two sisters, Elsa and Anna, as they embark on an adventure to save their kingdom from an eternal winter.
Common Traits and Themes Among Disney Princesses
Physical appearance
Physical appearance is an important aspect of the Disney Princesses. While each character has unique physical features, they all possess a certain level of beauty that is universally recognized. Generally, most princesses have long hair and fair skin, which can be seen as a representation of traditional beauty standards. Additionally, many characters wear colorful dresses and adorn themselves with jewels and other accessories. This shows that external beauty is often seen as desirable.
Dreams and aspirations
Dreams and aspirations are a common theme among Disney Princesses. Many of the characters have an underlying dream or goal that they strive to achieve and ultimately triumph over. For example, Ariel in The Little Mermaid dreams of being able to walk on land so she can be with her true love; Belle in Beauty and the Beast strives for a better life outside of her small town; Jasmine in Al of her small village; and Merida in Brave embarks on a journey to discover her true destiny. These dreams represent hope and perseverance, which are important values for young viewers to embrace.
Strong-willed and independent
Strong-willed and independent are two of the most important traits that can be found among Disney Princesses. Many of the characters are brave and determined in the face of adversity, showing young viewers that it is possible to stand up for oneself and achieve one’s goals. Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, Moana, and Elsa & Anna all demonstrate this trait in varying degrees. Through these characters, we are reminded that independence and strength are key traits for young people to possess.
Abilities to overcome obstacles and challenges
Abilities to overcome obstacles and challenges are another common trait among Disney Princesses. Each character is faced with various obstacles and challenges throughout their stories, but they all manage to find the inner strength to overcome them.
Ariel must escape from Ursula’s control in order to achieve her dream; Belle must break the Beast’s curse by getting him to fall in love with her; and Mulan must prove her worth and save her kingdom. These stories demonstrate the importance of never giving up, no matter how difficult the challenge may seem.
Theme of love and family
Love and family is a common theme among Disney Princesses. Many of the characters are driven by their love for others, whether it be their family, friends, or romantic interests.
Ariel in The Little Mermaid risks her life to be with her true love; Belle in Beauty and the Beast puts aside her own dreams for the sake of saving her father; Jasmine in Aladdin seeks to find a man who will truly love her for who she is; and Rapunzel in Tangled embarks on an adventure to reunite with her family.
These stories show the importance of cherishing the ones we love and always striving to be there for them.
Cultural Diversity and Representation
Introduction of non-European princesses
In recent years, Disney has moved away from the traditional depiction of European princesses in its films and has begun to introduce more diverse cultural representation. For instance, Disney’s first non-European princess was Jasmine in Aladdin (1992).
She is of Middle Eastern or Arabian heritage, and her story takes place in the fictional city of Agrabah. Additionally, Disney released Mulan (1998) which is based on the Chinese legend and tells the story of a young girl who disguises herself as a man in order to join the army and save her family.
Most recently, Disney released Moana (2016), which follows the journey of a Polynesian princess who embarks on a mission to save her people. These films provide young viewers with important cultural representation and teach them the importance of embracing diversity.
Cultural authenticity and representation in storytelling
Cultural authenticity and representation in storytelling are important aspects of the Disney Princess franchise. While the stories take place in a fantasy world, they often reflect real-world cultures and traditions.
Disney has taken great care to ensure that each film accurately portrays its respective cultural background while also making sure that it does not use stereotypes or misrepresent any culture.
For instance, Mulan was created with the help of a Chinese cultural consultant to ensure that the story and characters were portrayed accurately. Additionally, the film Moana was praised for its accurate depiction of Polynesian culture, particularly with regard to its mythology and religious beliefs.
Impact on children’s perceptions of beauty and diversity
The Disney Princess franchise has had a huge impact on children’s perceptions of beauty and diversity. Through the characters, children are exposed to different types of beauty and learn to appreciate their individual features.
Additionally, these characters demonstrate that one does not need to be conventionally attractive in order to be beautiful. For instance, Ariel is a mermaid with red hair and an adventurous spirit; Poc Pocahontas is a strong and independent Native American woman; and Mulan is a brave warrior who challenges traditional gender roles.
These characters show children that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and that everyone can be beautiful in their own way.
Positive Influence and Empowerment
Lessons of bravery and resilience
The Disney Princess franchise encourages young viewers to be brave and resilient in the face of adversity. Through their stories, characters such as Ariel, Jasmine, Belle, Rapunzel, Mulan, and Pocahontas teach children that it is important to stand up for what you believe in and never give up.
All of these characters demonstrate courage as they face difficult situations and follow their dreams despite the obstacles they have to overcome. This teaches children to be strong and confident, and to never give up on their goals no matter how difficult the situation may seem.
Inspiring role models for young girls
The Disney Princesses are inspiring role models for young girls. These characters demonstrate qualities such as bravery, strength, resilience, and intelligence that are essential for developing young minds.
The princesses also show girls that it is important to stand up for themselves and their beliefs, no matter what the consequences may be. Additionally, they provide positive representations of femininity and provide an opportunity for girls to develop a sense of self-confidence and to dream big.
Encouragement of self-confidence and self-expression
The Disney Princess franchise encourages young viewers to be confident and express themselves. Through their stories, the princesses demonstrate qualities such as courage, resilience, and strength that give children the confidence to pursue their dreams and believe in themselves.
Additionally, these characters show children that it is important to embrace their individuality and be true to themselves regardless of what others may think. The princesses also provide positive examples of strong female characters, showing children that girls can be powerful and successful in their own right.
Criticisms and Controversies
Stereotypes and limited representation
The Disney Princess franchise has come under criticism due to its portrayal of stereotypes and limited representation of diverse characters. While the stories often feature strong female characters, some argue that they perpetuate traditional gender roles and stereotypes about femininity.
Additionally, there is a lack of representation of people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds in the films.
For instance, all the princesses are white and many critics have pointed the few characters of color that are featured often play secondary roles. This has led to criticism that the films fail to portray a diverse range of people and cultures, and as a result, do not provide an accurate representation of reality.
Gender roles and traditional narratives
The Disney Princess franchise has been criticized for its adherence to traditional gender roles and narratives. Many of the princesses are portrayed as being passive, dependent on a male figure for protection or help, and focused solely on romance.
Some of the stories feature characters that adhere strictly to traditional gender roles such as a prince saving a princess from an evil villain. Critics argue that this reinforces traditional ideas about gender and fails to represent the range of roles that women can have in society.
Influence on body image and unrealistic expectations
The Disney Princess franchise has been criticized for promoting unrealistic body standards and expectations. Many of the characters are portrayed as having unattainable physical attributes such as tiny waists, large eyes, and perfectly proportioned bodies.
This has led to some young viewers feeling inadequate or developing a negative view of their own body image. Additionally, many of the princesses are depicted as waiting for a prince to come and save them, which has been argued to set unrealistic expectations for young viewers regarding relationships.
Conclusion
The Disney Princess franchise has been both praised and criticized for its influence on young viewers. On the one hand, the princesses provide positive role models that demonstrate qualities of courage, resilience, and strength. Additionally, these characters often show children that it is important to embrace their individuality and be true to themselves.
However, the franchise also perpetuates traditional gender roles and stereotypes about femininity as well roles and stereotypes, lacks representation of people from different backgrounds, and promotes unrealistic body image expectations. As a result, it is important to be aware of the potential influence that these stories can have on young viewers and consider how best to use them in order to promote positive values.
