In 1937, Disney had set a new stage of productions. Specifically, the now well known productions of Disney Princesses. Disney now has multiple well known princesses such as Ariel, Cinderella and Mulan, some of which have multiple movies of their stories. As the fame of Disney princesses grew, there had been many controversies over the diversity of the princesses, as many appear to be white, but that has changed since, not only has Disney promoted stories of princesses around the world, but stories of minority princesses as well.
5. Tiana: The Princess and the Frog (2009)
This film follows the storyline of two characters who had been turned into frogs, and their journey to try to get back to their human selves. Not only does this movie carry the storyline of two humans trying to beat the clock before they are stuck as frogs forever but, it also portrays Tiana’s struggle as a black woman in New Orleans who is trying to make a business for herself.
4. Moana: Moana (2016)
Who better to lead her people to safety than the teenage princess herself? The story of Moana is a thrilling and rattling tale of a polynesian girl who sets off on a life threatening journey in order to protect her people.
3. Mulan: Mulan (1998)
Like Moana, Mulan had been a leader who wanted to help save the people of her country. Being a Chinese woman had not stopped her from joining the specifically only-male army. As the movie moves along, it shows her hardships as a woman in disguise within a male only army. This movie has since been made into a live action film (2020).
2. Pocahontas: Pocahontas (1995)
The love story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith is a famous one in U.S. history. This movie goes into detail of the love affairs between a white male in the “New World” and a female Native American, and how their relationship had been frowned upon and almost forbidden in the New World.
1. Jasmine: Aladdin (1992)
Although the story in the movie does not completely focus on Jasmine, she is still part of the final goal: for the lovable street urchin, Aladdin, to end up with Princess Jasmine. Although there are debates whether her ethnicity is Arabic or Indian, the story still portrays many different cultural aspects of minority groups.
In The End
Although there have been many controversial arguments in today’s world over the diversity within disney’s film making, it is clear that within the disney princess spectrum there has been an effort to include princesses from all around the world. This has allowed Disney to not only diversify their characters more, but has allowed them to incorporate many cultural aspects into their movies as well.
