Disney introduced the world to animated fairy tales. The name quickly became synonymous with princesses and heroes. The appeal of such stories is universal; every culture has its own tales and they can be traced back through every era in history.
The genre, which was not originally intended for children at all, is appealing to people from all walks of life because they have common themes: everyone can rise to grandeur regardless of their social class, and the wicked are always punished for their misdeeds. 'Rags to Riches' stories transcend the servant-turned-princess to embody the American dream. It used to be that being well mannered, good with housework and pretty was rewarded with a good husband to worship. Disney films such as Snow White and Sleeping Beauty made the prize for such behavior a prince, with the girls having little personality of their own. When women found a sense of independence in this country, so did Disney's princesses.
Nowadays, working hard and achieving your dreams is taught to every child in the United States from a young age, not just the boys. Disney animated classics have evolved along with that belief. Modern tales like The Princess Frog and Tangled star young women who make their own dreams come true. Becoming princesses, handsome men and castles are just perks of their own efforts. Magic was still a strong element in both films, keeping the core of fairy tales alive. But was it enough?
In the 1990s, the Disney channel was consistently playing television series based off their classic films, such as Aladdin and The Little Mermaid. With the dawn of social media, shows like iCarly on Nickelodeon and That's So Raven on the Disney Channel replaced them, with their protagonists being more concerned with gadgets, popularity and fashion than finding Prince Charming. Newer Barbies and Bratz dolls, a form of alternative Barbie, also reflect this change in what girls find appealing.
This doesn't mean Princesses and Fairies are disappearing altogether. Tinker Bell has made a comeback in Disney Entertainment, with movies, television shows and countless merchandising options. Girls are simply outgrowing princesses altogether, leaving a curious age gap among fairy tale fans. Those who remember them in their glory days still long for them and love the nostalgia, while younger girls are discovering them for the first time. The middle age group is left out. Will this be the new normal, or will these films be making a comeback when those girls are older?
With the production of Tangled, Disney was thought to be closing the book on the fairy tale genre altogether. Pixar Animation Studios chief Ed Catmull, who is also one of the overseers of Disney Animation, said: "Films and genres do run a course ... they may come back later because someone has a fresh take on it ... but we don't have any other musicals or fairy tales lined up." This was said in 2010, and yet Brave, another animated fairy tale, was recently released with a lot of hype from children and adults alike, giving hope that the world isn't quite done with princesses yet.
Guillermo Larrazabal is in charge of new product development at The Orlando Vacation Store, one the largest Orlando Travel Companies specializing in Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World vacation packages. Visit us for vacation tips from experts and how to save on your Disney World vacation package.
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