Imagine the headlines (especially ours) that would flood the internet if film studios like Disney were to release a children’s movie in 2017 about a young girl whose only purpose in life is to marry a rich guy and settle down. Taking cues from the zeitgeist, movie executives have undertaken a re-branding of the female heroine presented to young audiences across the world.
Just look at the recently-released trailer of Charming, produced by SC Films, which explores the idea that Prince Charming might not have been that perfect after all. In the movie, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel discover that they are all engaged to the same guy. This fact is pointed out by Lenore (a new character voiced by Demi Lovato) who is probably the only woman in the land not affected by Prince Charming’s, well, charms.
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If the trailer is anything to go by, Lenore is destined to join the list of new-age heroines who flout conventions perpetuated by Disney movies faster than you can ask “Do you wanna build a snowman?”
The Disney princess 2.0
Emma Watson’s Belle in the 2017 live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast was an impactful example of this modern heroine. In a departure from the 1991 cartoon movie, this Belle is an inventor and has more control in her relationship with the Beast (as much as is possible with a half bull-half human, we suppose). Despite a tale as old as time and song as old as rhyme, the smart tweaks in the story line and exploration of the characters’ backgrounds helped the movie gross over $900 million worldwide.
While Beauty and the Beast can be filed under ‘Classic Disney Romance’, studios are finally willing to admit that a female character could have a meaningful relationship other than her ‘one true love’. In Frozen (2013), for instance, the story eschews the tired boy-meets-girl trope and instead, focuses on the special bond shared by sisters, Anna and Elsa. The pay off? The film crossed over $1 billion worldwide and became the fifth highest-grossing film ever.
In Brave (2012), the story follows feisty Scottish princess Merida and the misadventures caused by a broken relationship with her mother. The happy-ever-after, in this case, reunites mother and daughter with a deeper understanding of (and tolerance for) each other’s eccentricities.
While we’re on the subject of empowered fairytale princesses, it would be remiss not to mention one of Disney’s most under-rated characters: Giselle from Enchanted (2007). In the movie, a previously animated Giselle finds herself stranded in the real world in the company of a cynical divorce lawyer and his tween daughter. The story sees Giselle evolving into a strong, independent woman who, ultimately, plays her own white knight in shining armour.
Our favourite fictional heroines
While there’s still a long way to go before Disney princesses can be appointed the face of feminism in mainstream culture, there have been several fictional characters who are perfect for the role. From Harry Potter’s Hermione Granger to Pride and Prejudice’s Elizabeth Bennet, here are some of our favourites.
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