A Whole New World

There's a rumor going around that the next TT.TKO debate is going to be over who is the best of the Disney princesses. Well, you're in luck, because that rumor is true. Surely the boys have spent a countless hours thinking about this issue, but as a girl who grew up on Disney princesses and even recently went on a Disney cruise, I thought I'd weigh in on the topic.

According to the Disney princess Wikipedia page, there are nine officially-recognized princesses. Let's see how the line-up looks:

Snow White:
Pros: Proves pale can be in. Tolerates living in a frat house with a bunch of short dudes.
Cons: Weakness for apples. Weakness in general. Seems kind of dumb. "Someday My Prince Will Come."




Cinderella:
Pros: Her dress is pretty. Having a Fairy Godmother seems pretty cool.
Cons: Everything in life is fixed by getting swept off your feet by a prince, right? Also, can't keep track of shoes --> disorganized.






Aurora:
Pros: Sleeping for much of the movie.
Cons: Boring.









Ariel:
Pros: Good singer. Strong-willed. Curious. Has whos-its and whats-its galore.
Cons: Isn't she like 14? Kind of whiny. Also, a ginger, so draw your own conclusions.







Belle:
Pros: She reads. Has my favorite princess song ("Belle [Reprise]," specifically). Strong-willed, longs for adventure rather than a husband. Sees the Beast for who he really is. Marks a turn to more feminist princesses.
Cons: ????



Jasmine:
Pros: Strong-willed again. Headstrong, wants to live her own life. Kind of sassy.
Cons: MC Hammer pants. Will probably be eaten by her tiger at some point.










Pocahontas:
Pros: Another strong one. Based on a true story, so that's pretty cool.
Cons: I didn't really like the movie.







Mulan:
Pros: Kind of a badass. She fights! And dresses up like a dude to do it!
Cons: I didn't really like this movie, either. Yes, that's a valid mark against the princess. Even though Mulan is totally not a princess.




Tiana:
Pros: Good cook. Strong and independent.
Cons: She wants to own a restaurant, and most restaurant owners I've known are pretty lame. Also, this movie has the worst music of all the Disney movies, in my opinion. And again, yes, that counts against the princess herself.





Belle is my clear favorite. I really like Jasmine, and considered her briefly, but then decided that while I prefer Aladdin to Beauty & the Beast, I prefer Belle to Jasmine. Interestingly, both of my favorites are ones who see their non-prince for who he is and fall for him anyway. Most of the others just go for the hot prince. Snow White, Cinderella and Aurora even share a prince-- Mr. Charming. Must be a common surname, right? Or maybe he's just into that kind of thing.

I definitely think the princesses have improved as time has gone by. The early girls are all kind of dull, simpering, boring girls who just want to be swept off their feet by their man. A sign of the times, perhaps, since those films were released between 1937 and 1959. They definitely change along with the role of women in America, and at this point I would say that a marker of a Disney princess is her strong will. Truly, when you think about the more recent princesses as more than just pretty cartoon characters who land their men, they aren't such bad role models. They tend to actually be pretty independent and fight for what they want. Pretty BA, if you ask me.

Of course, no princesses feature in my very favorite Disney animated film. No, that distinction lies elsewhere. Robin Hood is far and away my favorite Disney movie, in no small part because of my well-documented crush on its male lead. He was pretty foxy, if I say so myself. And who can resist that accent? Oo-de-lally, indeed.