The Problem with The Princesses
October 28th, 2009 at 03:51pm Will Pfeifer
As the father of a four-year-old girl, I’ve seen my share of Disney princess movies over the past couple of years (and I know I’ll be seeing many more in the years to come). As anyone who’s sat through multiple viewings of SNOW WHITE, SLEEPING BEAUTY and CINDERELLA can confirm, these are some of the absolute worst role models for girls (of any age) in the history of cinema. (Especially CINDERELLA — don’t get me started on CINDERELLA!)
Now, courtesy of a link at Cinematical, someone has condensed the disturbing side of Disney’s moneymaking ladies in one handy image…
OK, maybe the author/artist is simplifying things a tad, but it’s tough to argue with the basics. Thankfully, recent Disney movies have improved things a bit. POCAHONTAS, while undeniably a Disney babe, stands tough to her beliefs and defies both her dad and the European invaders. MULAN is even better, defying Chinese law and convention to fight for her family’s honor and her country. In neither movie do the beauty of the women drive the plot, as in previous efforts, and marriage is not the goal, thank Walt.
Disney’s upcoming movie, THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG, will be its first animated feature to star an African-American character. Let’s hope she’s a step forward in other ways, too.
Entry Filed under: Animation
4 Comments Add your own
1. Brian M | October 28th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
My daughter is 3 going on 4, and I’ve certainly seen my share of Princesses. This author MORE than oversimplifies. ANY movie or character can be broken down to such basic (and many inaccurate) statements. C’mon… Belle’s sexuality?? I didn’t see that version.
I will agree that MULAN (my daughter’s favorite) is one of the better role models. Definitely better than the older ones like Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beaty. But then, the more modern films are far better than those oldies anyway.
2. Robert Swanson Sr. - Rockford Resident | October 29th, 2009 at 2:08 am
My primary complaint with Disney these days isn’t the role-model factor. It’s the poor-quality follow-up. For example, look at Aladdin.
1992: Aladdin: The first movie was pretty good for a kid’s movie. No complaints.
1994: The Return of Jafar: What a piece of crap. Released direct to video. The first mark of a POOR movie, when it’s owners are afraid to put it in the theaters. Robin Williams wouldn’t even do the project. Lacked a few little things like plot, animation quality, writing talent, excitement, etc. Was such a bad movie my Aladdin-crazed daughters (10 and 11 at the time) told me “It sucked”.
1995: Aladdin and the King of Thieves: Somewhat better. At least it had Robin Williams. Still direct to video, and over all totally lacked the quality, originality, or style of the first in my opinion.
** Note: At this point, I stopped watching them or buying them for my kids. Wasn’t hard. They didn’t even WANT them. We returned one that was given as a Christmas gift (their idea). **
2001: Aladdin in Nasira’s Revenge: Yet another Direct to Video release. Once again, no Robin Williams, and we’re back to Dan Castellaneta as the Genie (same as in The Return of Jafar). From what I was told, another bomb. AKA, Revenge of the Wicked Sister!
Did I miss any in there?
I went through the same thing with Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and the Little Mermaid. Same pattern. Release a decent movie, then push lots of crappy direct-to-video sequels. Why? Because they’re cheap to make, and they KNOW that most kids will beg and cry if you don’t get it, despite the lack of almost everything that made the original decent.
3. Will Pfeifer | October 29th, 2009 at 8:26 am
I’d agree. The animation is beautiful in those old movies, but the stories are much better in the new ones. (To be honest, those old ones don’t have much of a story — just a few things that happen.)
4. Megan Ryan | October 30th, 2009 at 1:10 am
In Ariel’s defense, she wanted to be a human before she knew anything about Prince Eric. His statue was just the latest in a collection of human things that clearly had been going for awhile.
Also, while Eric does defeat Ursula in the end, it is Ariel who puts herself in danger to warn Eric that he is about to marry the sea witch. She doesn’t exactly sit on the sidelines and wait to be saved.
Megan Ryan, Register Star copy editor
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