This past weekend, I went to see Disney's new (and very good) animated film Moana. There was a (genre aware) exchange between the title character and the demigod Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Maui regarding whether or not the title character was a princess. Maui's evidence is as follows: she a) is "daughter of a chief," b) "wears a dress," and c) has "an animal sidekick." Of course, the definition of princess is typically understood as a woman who fit one of the two descriptions: is daughter of a monarch, or the wife or widow of a prince (in turn defined as the son of a monarch, a monarch in his own right, or the wife of a princess).
Disney markets 11 individuals as "Disney Princesses": Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel and Merida. They also market the two female protogonists (and daughters of monarchs) of Frozen, Anna and Elsa (who is in fact a monarch), in a similar manner, where it can be assumed they may be eventually join the formal Princess line. It can be assumed that Moana may be marketed in similar manner if her film is as commercially successful.
Spurred on by the exchange in Moana, I decided to compare the Disney Princesses, as well as Elsa, Anna, and Moana, to the two definitions of "princess." The first is whether or not they are legally considered a princess; the second, whether they "wear a dress and have an animal sidekick."
The results are this wonderful chart:
One important fact jumps out: only 93% of these characters (and only 91% of "Disney Princesses") are, in fact, princesses. This is due to the fact Mulan neither has parents who are monarchs nor weds a prince. Surprisingly, despite the fact it's a trope even Disney has poked fun at, even fewer characters fit the definition given by Maui: 71% (and 82% of "Disney Princesses") of them both have animal sidekicks and wear a dress. Neither Elsa nor Anna has an animal sidekick of their own, although Anna spends much of Frozen with a human character who has an animal sidekick. In addition, Belle has no animal sidekick. and Jasmine does not wear a dress (in the primary film); instead, Belle has sidekicks that are household objects and Jasmine's garment has pants. Also, my wife (who is the only source I need to cite for this) and I have decided Prince Ali, Fabulous He, Ali Ababwa does not count as a Prince because he lacks inheritable lands and titles; and on top of that he uses the wish he could have used to become Prince to instead free Genie at the end of the film.
On the bright side for Mulan, she can always pull a Cersei Lannister and assassinate people until she can just declare herself Empress and no one will question it. On second thought, that is a terrible idea and would make her evil. Don't do that. Don't be evil.
Disney markets 11 individuals as "Disney Princesses": Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel and Merida. They also market the two female protogonists (and daughters of monarchs) of Frozen, Anna and Elsa (who is in fact a monarch), in a similar manner, where it can be assumed they may be eventually join the formal Princess line. It can be assumed that Moana may be marketed in similar manner if her film is as commercially successful.
Spurred on by the exchange in Moana, I decided to compare the Disney Princesses, as well as Elsa, Anna, and Moana, to the two definitions of "princess." The first is whether or not they are legally considered a princess; the second, whether they "wear a dress and have an animal sidekick."
The results are this wonderful chart:
One important fact jumps out: only 93% of these characters (and only 91% of "Disney Princesses") are, in fact, princesses. This is due to the fact Mulan neither has parents who are monarchs nor weds a prince. Surprisingly, despite the fact it's a trope even Disney has poked fun at, even fewer characters fit the definition given by Maui: 71% (and 82% of "Disney Princesses") of them both have animal sidekicks and wear a dress. Neither Elsa nor Anna has an animal sidekick of their own, although Anna spends much of Frozen with a human character who has an animal sidekick. In addition, Belle has no animal sidekick. and Jasmine does not wear a dress (in the primary film); instead, Belle has sidekicks that are household objects and Jasmine's garment has pants. Also, my wife (who is the only source I need to cite for this) and I have decided Prince Ali, Fabulous He, Ali Ababwa does not count as a Prince because he lacks inheritable lands and titles; and on top of that he uses the wish he could have used to become Prince to instead free Genie at the end of the film.
On the bright side for Mulan, she can always pull a Cersei Lannister and assassinate people until she can just declare herself Empress and no one will question it. On second thought, that is a terrible idea and would make her evil. Don't do that. Don't be evil.
Does Olaf count as an animal sidekick?
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