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Scifiwire has a great article about how Disney is revamping the story of “Rapunzel”. Disney is right in the middle of writing the story for the new film, which will be a holiday 2010 release. The only thing we really knew so far about this film was that Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi were the lead voices. But thanks to the D23 Expo, we now know a lot more!
Not only did chief creative officer John Lasseter show clips and sketches from the film, he also revealed three ways Rapunzel leads the pack when it comes to the Disney princesses we all know and love.
You can read all three things here, but the one that I loved the most was how she uses her hair as a weapon!
2) Her hair is a tool and a weapon. Computer artists have given Rapunzel 70 feet of fully articulated hair that she can use as a lasso, as a whip like Indiana Jones, and in more surprising innovations, Lasseter promised. It flows through her entire house, and when she’s out in the forest, she has to wrap it around trees to keep it contained.
How cool is that? Love it.
Although there are some changes we will see with Rapunzel compared to the other Disney princesses, she still honors the traditional princess stories. How exactly? She sings, she completes the Disney collection and it’s a Disney milestone. You can read what these three things actually mean here.
What do you think about this new Disney movie?
Image Credit: Walt Disney Studios
I’m sorry to say it, as much as I want this movie to succeed, but this is NOT “girl power.” It’s the usual man-domination hidden around a classic fairy tale. The fact that she uses her hair as a WEAPON indicates that in order for a woman to suceed she needs to be more like “a man.” Thus, the stereotypical male mentality has taken over yet again. If Rapunzel isn’t waiting around for a prince to save her, she has to revert to becoming “a prince” to save herself. I would have rather seen Rapunzel in a more traditional way. It’s not that I enjoy seeing the stereotypical female, but I do like old classic fairy tales, and Rapunzel is an iconic one to say the least.