The Disney princess tradition has greatly evolved over the past several years, but one of its most important continuing trends traces back to Walt Disney’s second-ever princess story, Cinderella. Cinderella, as a Disney character, holds an iconic place among Disney’s iconic characters, such as Mickey Mouse and Snow White. She’s undergone remakes and sequels, while never losing the charm and whimsy that has made her a favorite for over 70 years.
Disney’s Cinderella first appeared in the 1950 film of the same name and was voiced by Ilene Woods. The famous story of a woe-begotten girl rising to royalty has been around since ancient times, later progressing to the literary tale Disney based his story off of in the 1600s. Even in older versions of the tale, the trends found in later Disney princess stories have their roots in the classic Cinderella (and it's newer Disney versions) and her night at a royal ball with glass slippers, her efforts to reach the ball, and her ultimate escape from drudgery.
However, the trends and themes that would later influence Disney’s future princesses weren’t just sourced from the magic and romance in Cinderella, although both remain a staple in several films of that ilk. Instead, the true beginnings of the agency and autonomy epitomized in the most recent films such as Raya and the Last Dragon also have their roots in Disney’s Cinderella. This is particularly true in her active choices to achieve her dreams, a trait that Disney recognized personally.
How Cinderella Helped Make Modern Disney Princesses
This Disney princess trend that began with Cinderella was recognizable, if more subtle than in modern films, earning the Walt Disney’s respect during his lifetime, especially as the first princess Disney released after Snow White. In the book Disney Princess: Beyond the Tiara, Disney is notably quoted during an interview on The Fred Waring Show in 1951 in which he recognizes the inner strength of the titular princess. While the interview was initially done to promote the release of Alice in Wonderland, Disney went on record to say:
“There’s been three girls in my professional life: Snow White, Cinderella, and now Alice. And believe me, they’re all different. Snow White is a kind, simple little girl who believes in wishing and waiting for her Prince Charming to come along. On the other hand, Cinderella here was more practical. She believed in dreams all right, but she also believed in doing something about them.”
The truth of this statement is undeniable, although the movie Cinderella often receives negative reviews for resorting to magic and a prince to solve her problems.
In truth, Disney is correct that Cinderella is more than an idle dreamer. Her autonomy, endurance, and hard work come to the forefront of several of Disney’s later princess films. In contrast, while Snow White dreams of a better life, she only escapes her stepmother when she is forced to flee under the threat of death. Meanwhile, Cinderella actively seeks to escape her circumstances, choosing to attend the ball and making preparations to achieve her goal via seeking out her mother’s dress and planning to repair it, all the while taking care of the chores imposed upon her. Even later, despite the princess' young age in the Disney film, she makes bold choices in attending the ball, despite the (both social and physical) pressure of her step-family, and she takes the risk to escape her room to meet the prince’s entourage when given the chance, even though she could be punished. This trend of agency and pursuit of one’s desires paved the way for Belle’s (Paige O'Hara) choice to save her father from the Beast, Mulan’s (Ming-Na Wen) enlistment in the army, and Tiana’s (Anika Noni Rose) leap of faith to fund her restaurant.
Modern Disney princesses like Merida (Kelly Macdonald), Moana (Aulii Cravalho), and Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) are known for their agency and often are placed in contrast to earlier princesses like Cinderella. The trends that shaped them began in the earlier stages of Disney’s movie releases, directing the kinds of stories the media company would tell later on. It’s important to see how early films, such as Cinderella, planted the seeds for the many characters audiences see on the screen now and recognize how each of them provides inspiration and hope.
