When it comes to Disney Princesses, we all know the familiar faces – Cinderella, Snow White, and Belle, just to name a few. But what about the characters who technically don’t qualify as Disney Princesses? In this article, we’ll explore the non-canonical princesses and why they’re not officially recognized as part of the Disney Princess franchise. Get ready to dive into the world of Disney and discover the fascinating stories behind these lesser-known characters.
The Definition of a Disney Princess
Criteria for Becoming a Disney Princess
To become a Disney Princess, a female character must meet certain criteria. These criteria include:
- Being a female character: This is a fundamental requirement for any Disney Princess. A female character must be at the center of the story, driving the plot forward and representing the ideal of femininity that Disney aims to promote.
- Being a protagonist: A Disney Princess must be the main character of her story. She must be the one who goes on the journey, faces challenges, and ultimately triumphs over adversity.
- Having a princess or royal role: A Disney Princess must be royalty or at least have a royal connection. This can be as a member of a royal family, a princess in her own right, or even a commoner with a connection to the royal family.
- Having a Disney film: A Disney Princess must come from a Disney film. This includes films produced by Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Studios.
In summary, a Disney Princess must be a female character who is the protagonist of her story, has a princess or royal role, and comes from a Disney film. These criteria ensure that a Disney Princess embodies the values and ideals that Disney promotes through its films and stories.
The Disney Princess Lineup
- Cinderella
- Cinderella is the protagonist of the classic 1950 Disney film of the same name. She is a kind and gentle girl who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters, but with the help of her fairy godmother, she is able to attend the royal ball and win the heart of the prince.
- Snow White
- Snow White is the protagonist of the 1937 Disney film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. She is a kind and beautiful princess who is poisoned by her jealous stepmother, but is saved by a prince who awakens her with a kiss.
- Aurora
- Aurora is the protagonist of the 1959 Disney film, Sleeping Beauty. She is a kind and gentle princess who is cursed by an evil fairy, but is saved by a prince who awakens her with a kiss.
- Ariel
- Ariel is the protagonist of the 1989 Disney film, The Little Mermaid. She is a curious and adventurous mermaid who trades her voice to a sea witch in exchange for legs, but ultimately finds true love with a prince.
- Belle
- Belle is the protagonist of the 1991 Disney film, Beauty and the Beast. She is a kind and intelligent girl who is imprisoned by a beast, but learns to look beyond his appearance and falls in love with him.
- Jasmine
- Jasmine is the protagonist of the 1992 Disney film, Aladdin. She is a kind and spirited princess who falls in love with a street rat named Aladdin, and helps him defeat an evil sorcerer.
- Pocahontas
- Pocahontas is the protagonist of the 1995 Disney film, Pocahontas. She is a kind and adventurous Native American princess who falls in love with an Englishman named John Smith, and helps to bring peace between their two cultures.
- Mulan
- Mulan is the protagonist of the 1998 Disney film, Mulan. She is a brave and determined young woman who disguises herself as a man in order to take her father’s place in the army, and ultimately saves her country from invading forces.
- Tiana
- Tiana is the protagonist of the 2009 Disney film, The Princess and the Frog. She is a hardworking and determined young woman who dreams of opening her own restaurant, and with the help of a prince, she is able to make her dreams come true.
- Merida
- Merida is the protagonist of the 2012 Disney film, Brave. She is a bold and adventurous young woman who defies tradition and breaks a curse that was placed upon her family, and ultimately learns the importance of family and tradition.
- Moana
- Moana is the protagonist of the 2016 Disney film, Moana. She is a brave and determined young woman who sets sail across the ocean to save her island and her people, and ultimately learns the importance of courage and determination.
Who Doesn’t Qualify as a Disney Princess?
To become a Disney Princess, a female character must meet certain criteria, including being a female character who is the protagonist of her story, has a princess or royal role, and comes from a Disney film. While the Disney Princess lineup may seem straightforward, there are several technicalities that prevent some characters from being officially recognized as Disney Princesses, such as characters from acquired companies, animated films without a “Princess” label, and live-action films with princess characters. Disney has made significant strides in recent years to expand its princess lineup beyond traditional fairy tale characters and include more diverse characters.
Technicality of Non-Canonical Princesses
While the Disney Princess lineup may seem straightforward, there are several technicalities that prevent some characters from being officially recognized as Disney Princesses. Here are some examples:
Princesses from acquired companies
One of the reasons why some characters are not included in the official Disney Princess lineup is due to the acquisition of other companies by Disney. For instance, when Disney acquired Pixar in 2006, the characters from Pixar films such as Merida from Brave were not added to the Disney Princess lineup. This is because Disney only includes characters from its own animated films in the Princess lineup, and not those from acquired companies.
Animated films without a “Princess” label
Another reason why some characters are not included in the Disney Princess lineup is because they come from animated films that do not have the “Princess” label. For example, Mulan is not officially recognized as a Disney Princess because her film does not have the “Princess” label. Instead, she is classified as a “Heroine.”
Live-action films with princess characters
Finally, some characters that are technically princesses are not included in the Disney Princess lineup because they come from live-action films rather than animated films. For example, Meg from Hercules is not considered a Disney Princess because her film is a live-action adaptation of a previous animated film.
In conclusion, while the Disney Princess lineup may seem straightforward, there are several technicalities that prevent some characters from being officially recognized as Disney Princesses. These technicalities include characters from acquired companies, animated films without a “Princess” label, and live-action films with princess characters.
The Case of Pocahontas
History vs. Disney’s portrayal
Pocahontas, also known as Matoaka and Amonute, was a Native American woman born in the early 17th century. She was a member of the Powhatan tribe, which was located in what is now Virginia. Pocahontas was known for her interactions with the English colonists, particularly the Jamestown colony, and for her relationship with the colonist John Smith.
Disney’s 1995 film “Pocahontas” is loosely based on her life story, but it takes significant liberties with the historical facts. For example, the film portrays Pocahontas as a young woman who falls in love with John Smith, when in reality she was likely in her late teens or early twenties and had already been married for several years. Additionally, the film portrays Pocahontas as a strong-willed and independent character, while the historical record suggests that she was more of a diplomat and peacemaker between the Powhatan tribe and the English colonists.
The controversy surrounding her princess status
Despite the differences between the historical Pocahontas and the Disney version of her character, Pocahontas is often included in discussions of Disney princesses. However, some critics argue that she does not qualify as a true Disney princess because she is not a fictional character, but rather a real person whose story has been adapted and fictionalized by Disney. Additionally, some argue that the portrayal of Pocahontas in the film perpetuates harmful stereotypes about Native Americans and reinforces a colonialist perspective on history. As a result, the inclusion of Pocahontas in the Disney princess lineup is a subject of ongoing debate and controversy.
The Evolution of Disney Princesses
Disney has made significant strides in recent years to expand its princess lineup beyond traditional fairy tale characters and include more diverse characters. In 2013, the company announced that it would be introducing its first black princess, Tiana, in the film “The Princess and the Frog.” This move was widely praised as a step in the right direction towards more inclusive storytelling.
However, despite these efforts, there are still some characters who do not technically qualify as Disney princesses due to various reasons. This section will explore the evolution of Disney princesses and the factors that have influenced their inclusion or exclusion from the official princess lineup.
- Inclusion of non-white characters: As mentioned earlier, Disney has made a concerted effort to include more diverse characters in its princess lineup. This has included not only introducing characters of different races, but also featuring characters from different cultures and backgrounds. However, while this is a positive step towards greater representation, it has also led to some confusion over who is and isn’t considered a Disney princess.
- Expansion beyond traditional fairy tale characters: Disney has also expanded its princess lineup beyond traditional fairy tale characters, introducing characters from a variety of sources, including original stories and adaptations of classic literature. This has led to some characters being included in the princess lineup who may not have been considered princesses in the past.
- Re-evaluation of past princesses: Finally, Disney has also re-evaluated its past princesses, removing some characters from the official lineup and adding others. This has been done in part to reflect changes in societal attitudes towards gender and race, as well as to reflect the evolving nature of the Disney brand.
Overall, the evolution of Disney princesses has been a complex and multifaceted process, influenced by a variety of factors. While there have been some positive developments in recent years, there is still work to be done to ensure that all characters are treated fairly and inclusively within the Disney princess lineup.
The Future of Disney Princesses
Continued Evolution
Disney has always been at the forefront of evolution in the world of animation and storytelling. In recent years, the company has made significant strides in diversifying its portrayal of princesses and other female characters. This includes a greater representation of diverse cultures and backgrounds, as well as an expansion beyond the traditional Disney animation style.
One notable example of this evolution is the inclusion of more relatable and diverse characters in newer Disney films. For instance, Moana, a Polynesian princess, and Elsa, a character with a physical disability, have both been introduced in recent years. These characters represent a significant departure from the traditional Disney princess mold, which has historically been dominated by white, European characters.
Another aspect of Disney’s continued evolution is the expansion beyond traditional animation. In recent years, the company has produced several live-action films, including adaptations of classic fairy tales such as Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. These films feature more diverse casts and more realistic portrayals of characters, further expanding the scope of Disney’s portrayal of female characters.
In addition to these changes, Disney has also made efforts to promote greater representation behind the scenes. The company has pledged to increase the number of women and people of color in leadership positions within the company, as well as to create more opportunities for female directors and writers.
Overall, Disney’s continued evolution in the portrayal of female characters represents a significant shift in the company’s approach to storytelling. By expanding beyond traditional animation and promoting greater representation both on and off screen, Disney is helping to reshape the way that women and girls are portrayed in media.
Potential New Additions
New Disney films with potential princess characters
As Disney continues to create new films, there are several upcoming projects that have the potential to introduce new princess characters to the franchise. One of the most highly anticipated is “The Little Mermaid,” a live-action remake of the classic animated film. This adaptation will feature Halle Bailey as Ariel, and it will be interesting to see how her character is portrayed and whether she will be considered a “true” Disney princess.
Another upcoming film that could potentially introduce a new princess character is “The Lion King,” a live-action remake of the 1994 animated film. While this movie will not feature a new character, it will be interesting to see how the existing characters are portrayed and whether they will be considered “official” Disney princesses.
Continued exploration of lesser-known stories
In addition to introducing new characters, Disney has also been exploring lesser-known stories from around the world that could potentially be adapted into future princess films. One example of this is “Raya and the Last Dragon,” an upcoming animated film that is set in the fantasy kingdom of Kumandra and features a young warrior named Raya on a quest to save her homeland. While this film does not feature a traditional princess character, it will be interesting to see how it fits into the larger Disney Princess franchise.
Overall, the future of Disney Princesses is full of potential new additions, and it will be exciting to see how these characters are developed and how they fit into the larger franchise. Whether they are new characters or adaptations of existing stories, these films have the potential to expand the definition of what it means to be a Disney Princess and bring new perspectives to the franchise.
FAQs
1. Who is technically not a Disney Princess?
While the term “Disney Princess” is often used to refer to the franchise’s official lineup of princesses, it is technically inaccurate to refer to all the characters within the franchise as Disney Princesses. Technically, a Disney Princess is defined as a princess character who is either in the public domain or owned by Disney, and who has appeared in a Disney animated feature film. Therefore, any Disney character who does not fit this criteria, such as characters from live-action films or television shows, are not considered Disney Princesses.
2. Who are some examples of non-Disney Princesses?
There are several characters within the Disney franchise who do not qualify as Disney Princesses, despite being popular and well-known. Some examples include:
* Elsa from Frozen: While Elsa is a beloved character, she does not technically qualify as a Disney Princess because she has not appeared in a Disney animated feature film.
* Moana from Moana: Moana is a heroine from a Disney animated film, but she is not a princess, so she does not qualify as a Disney Princess.
* Mulan from Mulan: Mulan is a heroine from a Disney animated film, but she is not a princess, so she does not qualify as a Disney Princess.
* Belle from Beauty and the Beast: While Belle is a beloved character, she is not a princess until the very end of the film, so she does not technically qualify as a Disney Princess.
3. Why is it important to distinguish between Disney Princesses and other Disney characters?
While all Disney characters are beloved by many, it is important to distinguish between Disney Princesses and other Disney characters because the term “Disney Princess” has a specific meaning within the franchise. The official lineup of Disney Princesses includes characters who have appeared in Disney animated feature films and who are either in the public domain or owned by Disney. Any character who does not fit this criteria, regardless of how popular or well-known they may be, is not considered a Disney Princess. This distinction can be important for fans who are interested in the official lineup of Disney Princesses and who want to accurately represent the franchise.
