Hello, my friends!
I love Disney movies. I love Disney Princesses (no, I’m not actually ten, but it’s legal to love Disney princesses later in life as well).
I have seen every animated Disney Princess movie that there is, and I am enough of a nerd about it to know that Anastasia is not Disney, and that Merida, Princess Atta and Dot are distributed by Disney but are technically Pixar (it is reasonable to lump Pixar into Disney, but I never do this myself…I’m weird that way).
Recently the wonderful Sarah Seele did a post in which she ranked all of the Disney Princess movies she has seen. It was great fun to read, and it got me thinking about a) Disney Princesses, b) why there are some Disney Princesses that don’t seem to get noticed, and c) what qualifies a movie as a “Disney Princess Movie” anyway.
It’s very important to figure out these things.
So if you end up liking this post, go over to Sixty-Something Trees and thank Sarah because she inspired me to write it.
All right, where was I going with this?
Fact: some Disney Princesses get a lot more attention than others.
This makes sense for Reasons- which I will expound upon later in this post.
Opinion: Some of the overlooked Disney princesses deserve to be noticed and appreciated.
Hence, this helpful post in which I will inform you of some Disney princesses you may or may not have thought much about before.
Faline (Bambi)
Princess status: So, Faline is Bambi’s love interest- and Bambi is a prince. Logically, it henceforth follows that Faline is a Disney Princess.
Character: She is very giggly (especially as a child, oh my word) but that is not the worst fault someone can have. She does get caught in a really awkward and somewhat scary love-triangle, which is tough.
Appreciation/Attention Merit rating: 4/10
Tiger Lily (Peter Pan)
Princess status: Princess Tiger Lily. She’s the daughter of the Chief, and Princess is literally part of her name.
Character: Tiger Lily is proud and feisty and seems to have a crush on Peter Pan. She’s not a huge character in the movie, but she’s an important one.
Appreciation/Attention Merit rating: 4/10
Maid Marian (Robin Hood)
Princess status: No, she’s not technically a princess, but neither is Mulan and she is ALWAYS put into the Disney Princess category. (I adore Mulan, but just saying.)
Maid Marian DID grow up in a castle and the king is her uncle- seems very princess-like to me.
Character: Maid Marian is really sweet- and I mean that in the best way. She is kind and generous and undeniably in love with Robin Hood. Also, Lady Cluck is her faithful lady-in-waiting. Lady Cluck has nothing to do with this post really but- Lady Cluck. I love her.
Appreciation/Attention Merit rating: 6/10
Eilonwy (The Black Cauldron)
Princess Status: Well…she’s a princess. I suppose her parents are the king and queen of something. I forget. But she is called Princess Eilonwy, so I assume that makes her a princess.
Character: Princess Eilonwy is from the unfortunately terrifying Disney cartoon about a cauldron that serves as a prison for a wicked king’s demonic soul- sounds like a great idea for a Disney movie, eh?
She has a magic bauble which is cool and she sometimes keeps Taran from making stupid decisions.
Appreciation/Attention Merit rating: 5/10
Nala (The Lion King)
![Nala (The Lion King) [Blu-Ray] - Nala Image (29381151) - fanpop - Page 9](https://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/29300000/Nala-The-Lion-King-Blu-Ray-nala-29381151-1209-680.jpg)
Princess Status: Nala is Simba’s love interest, and he’s the prince/king of the lions, depending on what point you are at in the movie. (Also if you actually think about how lions live, Nala would technically also be Mufasa’s daughter…but we don’t think about that).
Character: Nala is bold and not afraid to boss her future king around. She is Simba’s best friend, and a fearsome hunter. She sings, but only Inside her Mind.
Appreciation/Attention Merit rating: 7/10
Meg (Hercules)
Princess status: Meg ends up with Hercules, who is the son of Zeus and Hera, who are basically King and Queen of the gods. I think that qualifies her as a princess, regardless of whether Hercules is actually in line for the throne or anything (which, he isn’t).
Character: Meg is one of the most relatable Disney Princesses out there. She kind of has the Done With Everything attitude. I feel it. She has a sense of humor, is cynical about people, has no friends, and likes to sing about how Not In Love she is.
Appreciation/Attention Merit rating: 10/10
Jane (Tarzan)
Princess status: Jane ends up with Tarzan, who is not technically a prince but he is the leader of the gorilla tribe which basically amounts to the same thing. I mean, come on now.
Character: Jane is…wonderful. She loves exploring and drawing, has the most adorable relationship with her father. She is refined but also a bit haphazard- and practical, but she has a dreamy side.
Appreciation/Attention Merit rating: 10/10
Kida (Atlantis: The Lost Empire)
Princess status: Kida is the daughter of Atlantis’s ruler, and therefore the princess of Atlantis.
Character: Kida has a strong personality and has helped her father rule their people for many years, caring for their welfare and trying to keep her culture from dying. She loves to learn and she loves her father and she loves her people and she loves Milo.
Appreciation/Attention Merit rating: 9/10
Vanellope (Wreck-It Ralph)
Princess status: Well, if you haven’t seen Wreck-it-Ralph (and you really should, it’s fantastic, but why did they make a sequel???) then SPOILER: Vanellope is NOT just a glitch that wasn’t supposed to be in her game, she is the ruler of Sugar Rush- Princess Vanellope. Ta-da.
Character: Vanellope is fiesty and spunky and confident and also an adorable winner. (Everyone loves an adorable winner.) I don’t share her sense of humor but I think she’s a darling and I love her.
Appreciation/Attention Merit rating: 9/10
Epilogue
As much as I think these princesses deserve some attention, with most of them I can see why they don’t get it. Most of these are Disney Princesses but they are not from Disney Princess movies– which seems to be an important distinction, and, I believe the reason why the Disney Princesses in this post are overlooked.
I mean, look at the Go-to Disney Princess list: Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida (even though she’s Pixar), Elsa, Anna, Moana.
Taking all of the Disney Princesses into account, I have come up with the following:
Qualifications for a Disney Princess Movie (evidently):
- It’s a musical- or at least has a few songs (Brave is the only one that isn’t a musical on the Go-to list– on the Overlooked list, only a couple are musicals).
- the princess is the main character (Go-to list: I think Jasmine is the only exception to this. Overlooked list: none of the princesses are actually the main character of their movie, even though several are primary characters).
- The princess either starts out as a princess, or marries a prince- or both (Got-to list: Mulan is the only exception here. Overlooked list: Maid Marian is really the only exception, though you could argue for others like Jane- but why would you).
- The princess is human. (Go-to list: No exceptions. Overlooked list: 1/3 of them are animals.)
- The movie was marginally successful/ is still popular (Go-to list: I am not as sure on this one, but I don’t think Pocahontas did very well? Overlooked list: At least half of the movies on this list flopped and/or are not well liked anymore for various reasons).
Bearing this in mind, it makes perfect sense why the princesses in this post don’t get as much attention. They only fit one or two of the criteria at most.
Except for Meg (4/5)- and even Jane(3/5). They fit almost all the qualifications. Why they don’t get more attention I really don’t know.
Holy moly, do I sound like a nerd yet, because I feel like one.
What is your opinion on the matter? Have I thought about this entirely too much? Should the overlooked princesses that I mentioned get to have Disney Princess status, or is my reasoning a bit of a stretch? Did I miss any Disney Princesses that you would like to add to the list? I would love to hear all of your Disney Princess thoughts (because I know you have some).
The Story Sponge 
Love Nala the most from this list. Recently was reintroduced to Feline, Megara, and Jane.
I love Disney princesses- in Greatest Discovery (my 3rd WIP) has two characters named after Disney princesses. Aurora and Jasmine’s family love Disney and are artsy- that explains their names
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That’s cool that you named your characters after Disney Princesses and gave a good reason as to why. 🙂
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Originally Aurora and Jasmine did not have a reason why. They are fraternal twins, who will be the main characters of Greatest Discovery.
At first, I picked Aurora due to being born in an artsy family, but that wouldn’t make sense for Jasmine. Eventually, I came up with the idea that their parents were Disney fans.
Aurora has a special doll- she named it Mali after Maleficent and has an outfit that can change from pick to blue. That is the final doll her mother made- the sequins and beads on there were put on by her sister.
All the major characters in GB are orphans, but it still was important to understand their families.
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Yeah, backstory is so important!
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Of all my WIPS, Greatest Discovery has the most backstory. Those characters are also the hardest ones to develop.
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While a late reply it should be noted that some of these are not considered a princess as they where never ment to be one… even if through marrage. Although the one about Maid Marien is correct, as in the age she is assocated with she couldn’t hold the titel of princess unless the king had no sons and daughters to carry on his linage being his neice.
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Hm, good point.
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Nala doesn’t count because Simba became KING, and thus that makes her a QUEEN.
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Eh, true, but for the vast majority of the movie she’s technically a princes, I think?
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I’ve seen, like, literally one of these (The Lion King) but this post was still great fun to read.
I have like no thoughts on this post, except that Meg sounds like a whole mood. 😂
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I am glad that you enjoyed it!
Meg. Oh, Meg. I would definitely recommend seeing Hercules if you aren’t already planning too. It’s a gem.
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Well this was an unlooked-for delight to read. I would have to say, in this list, Faline, Tiger Lily, and Maid Marian have always been my favorites, but most ultimately I ADORE Kida. And her whole movie. And pretty much every Atlantis story out there. I don’t know why exactly but submerged lost underwater cities really appeal to me.
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Yay, I am so glad that you adore Kida too! I recently rediscovered that movie and I love it so much. It’s so underrated.
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I LOVE THIS SO MUCH.
I completely didn’t realize that Shang isn’t a prince. Like, I knew he wasn’t, but I completely didn’t realize it. So Mulan…technically isn’t a Disney princess. (*brain explodes*)
After reading this, I actually think that both Tarzan and Hercules should be considered Disney Princess movies (since Aladdin is one), unless you want to say that the fact that neither Tarzan nor Hercules is actually in line for some sort of throne disqualifies them…with which I disagree, because I think that’s a distinction without a difference. Also Meg and Jane are two of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE Disney heroines and they just do not get enough love. Meg is so cynical and funny and Done and I have never related more. And Jane is so refined and quirky and basically a nerd and I have also never related more. Like seriously, I love Jane. And Meg. They should count as Disney princesses and be talked of more.
I like several of the others too, but it makes sense that unless they’re a primary character who’s also human (because Disney princesses need to have cute animal sidekicks and how can you have a cute animal sidekick if you, yourself, are a cute animal? I mean, maybe it works, because Lady Cluck is basically Maid Marian’s cute animal sidekick. Also Lady Cluck is fantastic.) and probably also an ACTUAL PRINCESS, they don’t transform their movie into Disney Princess Movie status.
Another thing that I just noticed about Mulan: there’s no magical element. (Is there? Please tell me I’m not totally forgetting something important. But I really think there’s no magical element.) ALL the other Got-to Disney Princess movies have some magical element to them. And if no magic = not a Disney Princess Movie, then technically Hercules should still be one but Tarzan shouldn’t. Although talking to animals is fanciful I guess…but not quite magic, under the circumstances. And I’m not sure about Pocahontas because I haven’t seen it – sentient trees seem like a bit of a grey area.
But anyway. I loved this post so much I’m headed right over to thank myself for inspiring you to write it. And I very much agree that some of these Disney princesses need more appreciation – especially Meg and Jane.
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THANK YOU!
Yes! Meg and Jane deserve SO MUCH MORE ATTENTION. I am so pleased to hear that you appreciate them as much as I do. They are simply wonderful. 🙂 And yeah, I think that of the ones listed here, they really deserve more than anyone else to be put into the Disney Princess category.
Haha, I like what you said about the cute animal side-kicks.
Okay, so Mulan is actually a lot like Hercules I think (but more low-key/less actually magical) because it has to do with mythology…there’s the whole thing with the ancestors sending Mushu after Mulan, which, is kind of magical. Right?
But yes, that is a good point that they all have magic of some kind! For some reason I hadn’t actually thought of that, but it is a very good point. So really Meg is the main one that we have no excuse not to allow into the Go-To list.
Haha, “I’m headed right over to thank myself for inspiring you to write it” had be laughing out loud. Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment! I love geeking out about Disney with people who like to analyze things as much as I do.
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Hello, this is so great.
First of all, I’ve never heard of The Black Cauldron??
Second of all, I’ve only watched the first part of Hercules. I’ve always gotten the impression that Hercules (along with Atlantis) that it’s a lesser known animated movie that people love.
I didn’t realize that Brave wasn’t a musical. If you had told me otherwise, I totally could’ve convinced myself there had been with the witch or in the forest. Along with the fact that Jasmine isn’t the main character in Aladdin, which should not have surprised me. Aladdin has to be the only movie that’s named after a prince, unless I’m missing a movie. Oh wait, that’s so wrong. Your list has Hercules, Tarzan, and Bambi. And if you want to count Robin Hood? Ohh hmm, do you think more of the go-to list is focused on the female protagonist while the overlooked list generally is more focused on the male protagonist?
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Thanks!
Haha, yeah, The Black Cauldron is definitely a lesser known Disney movie- for understandable reasons. It’s weirdly dark, and not the greatest story.
Hercules, however, is great, and so is Atlantis.
Yeah, I think that the male protagonist being the main character in the overlooked list and the female protagonist being the main character in the go-to list is definitely a pattern.
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