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Moana, Disney’s latest animated heroine, sails into theaters this week. While she might not live in a palace or charm the socks off the nearest Prince Charming, everyone—especially the girls who’ll be flocking to see her—knows exactly who and what she is.
“You’re in a dress and you’ve got an animal sidekick,” says resident demigod Maui. “You’re a princess.”
Princesses have ruled Disney’s magic kingdom since Snow White first trilled into her animated wishing well in 1937. Since the Mouse House officially gathered them together underneath their very own brand in 2000, Disney Princesses have become a $5.5 billion enterprise.
But royalty—and royalties—always draw detractors, and Disney’s grand damsels have long been criticized for a litany of animated sins. Early Disney princesses have been accused of being passive, sighing and swooning far too much for modern audiences. They’ve been chastised for their impossibly wide eyes and incredibly thin wrists. They’ve been lambasted for being too white-centric or, on the flip side, for appropriating other cultures.
True, Disney’s heroines have their flaws. One of my favorite Disney movies is The Little Mermaid. But while the songs are great and the story is awesome and Ursula’s one of the greatest Disney villains this side of Maleficent, Ariel really could’ve used a good grounding.
But while these princesses aren’t perfect, many have great lessons to teach their young fans—lessons that even have a bit of a biblical underpinning. So let’s dive in, shall we? You’re more than welcome to whistle while you read.
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