Moana 2 premieres this week, and with the Disney princess getting her sequel, our crew got together to rank all 13 official Disney princesses! Let us know your ranking @SiftPop!
We don’t know a whole lot about Princess Aurora (Mary Costa), and there’s a good reason for that. She has the smallest amount of screen time of any princess, clocking in at just under 18 minutes, and that’s divided up among her time as a newborn baby, peasant girl, and ultimately as her freshly revealed true identity of a princess. We know she was gifted both beauty and song at birth, and from the time we see her spend alone in the forest, we can infer she’s both kind, optimistic, and a romanticized view of life (she is singing about finding a prince while dancing with her animal friends, after all). Other than that, she’s not as fully fleshed out as other princesse, and serves as more of a plot device to keep the action going between the fairies and Maleficent (Eleanor Audley). Where Aurora shows her true princess grit is on her 16th birthday when she is informed of her royal lineage and betrothal to Prince Phillip (Bill Shirley). Her entire world changes in the blink of an eye, and while she may be upset, she understands her duty and doesn’t hesitate to obediently give up the life she’s known to return to a kingdom she had no idea existed. That takes a lot of guts for a young girl, and is the reason why Princess Aurora may never physically fight in a battle, but still shows us her bravery as a noble. (Patrice Downing)
“Then let me take the first step.” Raya and the Last Dragon’s climactic scene shows how this Disney princess can allow others to save the day while also being a strong and skilled fighter. As someone who’s been on her own for a long time, optimistically yet blindly believing that she can change the world, Raya’s (Kelly Marie Tran) ability to bring people together and lead people with her words and actions is what endears her as a Disney princess. The world of Kumandra is filled with untrustworthy people, something that Raya carries with her throughout most of the movie. Deep down, though, Raya is a powerful princess who doesn’t get enough credit for what she is able to accomplish. Finding Sisu (Awkwafina) and uniting all the pieces of the dragon stone are some of the greatest accomplishments of any Disney princess. (Mike Hilty)
Why does Brave get such a bad reputation? It was definitely a disappointing Pixar film to many people, but one aspect you cannot be disappointed in is our Scottish princess, Merida. She is headstrong and talented, as she knows her worth and will not allow any man to come in and make her a trophy. Merida is capable with a bow, and she beats all her suitors handily. She is indeed selfish and unruly when it comes to her relationship with her mother, but watching the growth throughout Brave makes you appreciate her as a character even more. Merida is also brought to life by the incredibly talented Kelly Macdonald, who brings plenty of Scottish charm, empathy, and strength, anchoring this beautiful film. The design for Merida is also unique — the amount of work that went into rendering just her hair is astounding. Merida… underrated Disney princess for sure. (Shane Conto)
As a historical retelling, Pocahontas is certainly outdated in its romanticization of what was quite a traumatic story. Within the world of the film, however, Pocahontas remains a strong character. Adventuresome, steadfast, and brave, her willingness to sacrifice everything for her love of John despite ultimately choosing to stay with her people makes her an empowering character whose influence can be felt throughout many of the Disney princess films to follow. Couple that with the film’s beautiful hand-drawn animation and classic tracks like “Colors of the Wind” and “Just Around the Riverbend,” and you have a more-than-worthy addition to the Disney princess canon. (Foster Harlfinger)
The one that started it all. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first animated feature film by Walt Disney, and Snow White the first of his iconic princesses. There’s a lot here that will become familiar over the decades, from the iconic song, “Some Day My Prince Will Come” sung by Adriana Caselotti, the literal Prince Charming (Harry Stockwell), the evil witch (Lucillle La Verne), and the fondness for animals. Everything from the voice, to the look, to the story is classic and sets the archetype for the figures that would come and be riffed off of later. The film even earned Disney an honorary award for its importance. Though it may not be the best of the bunch, the role it had in launching not only one of the most influential studios of all time, but the princess archetype that’s become so synonymous with it, cannot be overlooked. (Jake Bourgeois)
Something I’ve always valued about The Princess and the Frog is how against type it is. Not only is the music all in the style of jazz, but the messaging at the beginning goes against everything that we were taught as kids about wishing on a star. I love this message about how hard work is the way to get what you want, and props to Disney for slightly evolving their original vision of how to make your dreams come true. Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) is easily the hardest working and most dedicated of the Disney princesses. Her ability to work towards her dream of opening a restaurant showcases a drive that we don’t ever see with the other princesses. Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos) is useless in the swamp and in most of the movie, so in reality, it’s Tiana that helps save him. It’s criminal that it took Disney over 70 years to have a Black princess, but Tiana’s uniqueness comes from the core values she possesses about working to get your dream and not waiting for it to come to you. (Mike Hilty)
You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn’t know the story of Cinderella. For over 53 years, her castle has stood as a symbol of Disney’s Magic Kingdom and is unsurprisingly one of the most photographed locations in the world. It’s not all that shocking when you consider she has long been one of the most popular Disney royals in the lineup, with a story that’s been told and retold more times than any other princess. But for Disney, her most well-known, animated, story begins back in 1950 when a young girl goes from riches, to rags, to riches again in a most satisfying story of triumph over circumstance. Cinderella (Ilene Woods) has been relegated to the attic after the loss of her father and forced into a life of servitude by her stepmother, the vindictive and cruel Lady Tremaine (Eleanor Audley). This is enough to make even the most steadfast of individuals dower and bitter, but not Cinderella. She makes the best out of her situation, befriending the animals that inhabit her home and property, and staying optimistic in spite of the oppressive workload and bullying of her stepsisters. It is only when Cinderella is given the smallest glimmer of happiness, the prospect of attending Prince Charming’s (Mike Douglas) ball, and then has it snatched away (quite literally in the form of a discarded sash and pearls), that she finally breaks down, crying out that she has lost all hope. Fortunately, her cries are heard by the Fairy Godmother (Verna Felton) and Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo… she is transformed into the princess she always deserved to be. (Patrice Downing)
I remember watching Aladdin and thinking that Princess Jasmine (Linda Larkin) seemed different from the rest of the princesses Disney had put on screen. She was rebellious in a way that we didn’t get from a lot of other princesses. It’s understandable, considering she was being forced to marry a suitor when her desire was to marry for love. In reality, what made Jasmine unique, though, is her uncanny ability to take control of her situation and command authority to the best of her ability. Even in a place like Agrabah, which doesn’t seem the friendliest to women, Jasmine stands above all the other princesses by living her life with conviction, and valuing herself beyond a prize that can be won. It’s not until the live action version of Aladdin that she is given way more agency than the animated movie ever gave her. Naomi Scott beautifully captures this in the song “Speechless,” showing how she won’t be silenced for caring for her people and advocating for herself. (Mike Hilty)
In all the years that Disney has been making animated princess movies, it’s shocking that Rapunzel (voiced to perfection by Mandy Moore) didn’t make it onscreen until 2010. Even after waiting 73 years, Tangled was absolutely worth the wait. Rapunzel is a princess, and they could have made her a fairly helpless young woman with long, beautiful hair. Truth be told, if Rapunzel had been made earlier, she might have been written this way. However, Tangled treats Rapunzel with a degree of dignity that we don’t often get from Disney princesses. She’s curious, resourceful, funny, and adventurous. I concede, she’s very anxious about the prospect of disobeying her overbearing “mother” Gothel (Donna Murphy), but it also makes her standing up for herself at the end more impactful. Combine this with “I See the Light” being one of the best Disney songs ever, and one of the more gorgeously shot sequences, and Rapunzel is head and shoulders above many of her predecessors. (Mike Hilty)
The princess that kicked off the Disney Renaissance, Ariel and The Little Mermaid both hold a special place in the Disney canon. More than any princesses that come before her, Ariel kicks off an era of princesses with more of an independent streak than their predecessors. She rebels against her father’s wishes and forges her own path forward with the help of her lovable sidekicks. It doesn’t hurt that this also starts a series of all-time Disney princess songs, with Alan Menken’s “Part of Your World” being the first of many powerhouse songs to come in this era, and Jodi Benson absolutely kills it. Even 35 years later, the path Ariel started Disney down can’t be underestimated. (Jake Bourgeois)
Ever since I saw her debut film during its opening weekend in 2016, Moana has been my favorite Disney Princess. A stark opposite to some of the more passive princesses of yore, Moana is a real go-getter who sees a problem facing her people on the small island of Motonui and immediately sets out to take action and do something about it. Along her journey, she is brave, smart, and adventurous, facing off against monsters and wrangling the egotistical demigod Maui as she quests to restore the heart of Te Fiti and save her people and island. Add in a great vocal performance by Auli’i Cravalho and one of Disney’s best “I Want” songs in “How Far I’ll Go,”and you’ve got one of the best characters and role models for young girls that Disney’s put to screen in some time. (Jake Hjort)
Let’s get down to business. Let’s have an honest conversation about the Disney Princesses, and how Mulan is clearly one of the best. The story of Mulan is based on an ancient Chinese legend, which is interesting in its own right, but what makes Mulan stand out is the depth of her self-sacrifice. Putting her life on the line, whether because of the Hun army that’s trying to kill her, or the Chinese army that’d kill her if they discovered she’s a woman, all to protect and save her father’s life… well. That might be the most selfless and heroic act any Disney princess has ever made. And you know what? She’s a badass about it too. Pushing beyond her limits to be one of the best in the army, to make friends when everyone hates her, and to eventually change people’s minds and bring about progressive change. She’s resourceful, skilled, loyal, vigilant, and, maybe above all else, courageous. Add distinct visual animation choices, fantastic voice acting, intense action, and tremendous songs like “Reflection,” “Honor to Us All,” and the absolute banger that is “I’ll Make a Man Out of You,” to this already thematically rich and empowering feminist story and distinct characterization, and you’ve got one of the greatest Disney animated movies of all time. (Heath Lynch)
Belle (Paige O’Hara), a princess whose very name means “beauty,” and who embodies that quality both inside and out. She is understanding, loyal, and compassionate, but those traits alone do not make her an amazing princess. Looked down upon for having the audacity to read, hounded by the unwanted affections of the thick-headed (and necked) Gaston’s (Richard White) marriage proposals, and further ostracized by her father’s (Rex Everhart) eccentric inventor lifestyle, Belle is no stranger to putting on a brave face. But she does much more than act brave when her horse Phillipe (Hal Smith) returns from the Dark Forest without Maurice. Ignoring her safety, she rushes off to find him, but little does she know this will lead her to a castle dungeon, face-to-face with an imposing Beast (Robby Benson). Again, Belle puts her father’s well-being above her own and offers to stay in exchange for his freedom. This is not the last time Belle fiercely charges off to save those she cares about, as she later rides off into the night a second time to rescue her father, and later to help defend Beast and her castle friends from a mob of villagers. Belle is one of the most dynamic of the Disney princesses, possessing the gentle heart and disposition of a Beauty and the fearless determination of a Beast. (Patrice Downing)