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    The Evolution Of The Disney Leading Lady

    How far Disney's come.

    aishabc
    by aishabc

    Community Contributor

    Snow White (1937)

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    A cheerful domestic goddess, who doesn’t mind cleaning up after a group of men (seven to be exact). Snow White is very nice and happy.

    Cinderella (1950)

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    A kind and humble woman neglected by her family. She’s also good with animals. This is definitely a white-knight story…but who can resent her for it?

    Sleeping Beauty (1959)

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    Aurora may be pretty and elegant but, she does what it say on the tin, sleep mostly. When she is awake, she likes a waltz and she also has a real affinity with animals (there's a theme building here).

    The Little Mermaid (1989)

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    Jumping forward thirty years, there's a new big-eyed princess around. Unsatisfied with life under the sea, Ariel is curious about other cultures and just wants to see what happens up here on dry land. A princess who rejects convention but who's also a little naive.

    Beauty and the Beast (1991)

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    Smart and independent, Belle just wants more than her provincial town. Oh, she also wants to help her dad test out his inventions. She doesn't really seem to care that the people of her town find her and her father strange and she is not easily impressed or intimidated by Gaston, the Beast or anyone.

    Aladdin (1992)

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    The first princess of colour, Jasmine is a free-spirited, kind and feisty leading lady, fighting for her right to choose her own suitor and not letting would-be matches impress her with their bragging.

    Pocahontas (1995)

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    A little more reserved than the other 90s princesses, Pocahontas is a down-to-earth woman who respects nature. She has a strong sense of her own identity and even when she falls in love, she ultimately chooses to stay with her family.

    The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

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    Esmeralda is brave, big-hearted and socially-aware. Plus she'd defend her principles to the death. The most radical of the leading ladies up to that point?

    Hercules (1997)

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    Meg has to be the most mature Disney leading lady. Skeptical and very, very sassy, she has an answer to everything. But there is another, softer side to her (this song says it all ).

    Mulan (1998)

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    Mulan might not have the physical strength of the other soldiers but she proves herself through persistence and an ingenuity that puts the rest to shame. She risks dishonour in order to protect her family. She is a boss.

    Tarzan (1999)

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    An apparently prim and proper lady, Jane just wants to learn about the gorillas without hurting them. She’s also determined and smart...and definitely not as conventional as she might initially seem.

    Wall-E (2008)

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    Fast-forward 9 years and to the dawn of the pioneers of CGI, Pixar. Ok so they're robots and EVE doesn’t say much but the little she does say and her super expressive eyes give us enough to see that she's a tough one, completely focussed on her mission and generally annoyed by WALL-E’s antics. There's a fine line between love and irritation apparently.

    The Princess and the Frog (2009)

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    The first ever black Disney leading lady let alone princess, Tiana's ambitions give her no time for any fantasies of a Prince Charming. She’s a talented chef and an all-round pragmatic leading lady who pretty much gets saddled with Prince Naveen until they eventually fall in love.

    Tangled (2010)

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    A young, shiny-haired Rapunzel who just wants to see the world. She's playful and adventurous and loves life.

    Brave (2012)

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    A young princess who has no desire to be wed and really, honestly just wants to do her own thing, Merida isn't just a match for the boys, she surpasses them (those archery skills though). No leading man in sight here as Disney focuses on a different kind of love-story.

    Frozen (2013)

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    Two very different sisters: Elsa, the guarded, introverted princess, scared to open up in case she hurts somebody, and Anna, her warm and determined younger sister. This movie flies right in the face of Old Disney with a sub-plot which rips the "love-at-first-sight" concept to shreds. What's next in the progression of the Disney movie?

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