Fans of the Raya and the Last Dragon adore the franchise's new empowering female characters. Luisa, Raya, and Namaari present a new frontier of women in animation for their strength, bravery, and skills but they are not the first strong female characters from animated films.
Fortunately, there has been a growing abundance of physically strong, emotionally empowering, and badass women in television and film who radiantly defy gender stereotypes and societal expectations - particularly in animation. They are 3-dimensional complex women with layers of personality and intricate characteristics so that they are not only inspirational but relatable too.
Merida - Brave
Brave's protagonist Merida was the first Disney princess from a Pixar film. Like her mother, Queen Elinor, Merida is brave, stubborn, and headstrong. Unlike Elinor though, Merida does not like to fit in the stereotypical and arbitrarily gendered role as Princess.
Differing from most Disney princess stories, Brave is an animated film that deals with serious issues including sexism and socially-constructed gender standards. Consequently, she challenges the kingdom's customs and traditions that are expected of her. She particularly does not wish to be married off, Merida wants to have a life of adventure and independence. She is daring and willful, with talent to spare when it comes to archery and sword-fighting.
Motoko Kusanagi - Ghost In The Shell
Ghost in the Shell's main character is Major Motoko Kusanagi who is an almost completely synthetic cybernetic-human or cyborg. The original films are considered to be vastly different to the manga and later anime series, especially Motoko's personality. Though the manga shows her to be sassy and lively, in the 1995 film, she is sullen and contemplative - as one would predictably be when they're questioning the complexities of human consciousness, particularly their own.
As the only female member of her team, she proves herself to be as capable and brilliant as anyone. Her innate skills as a cyborg are impressive enough but when she handles her M-23 submachine gun, she is a force to be reckoned with. She is a skilled hacker and the best hand-to-hand fighter in the group. The Major is fiercely independent and an efficient, natural-born leader which bodes well for Public Security Section 9.
San - Princess Mononoke
San, also known as the titular Princess Mononoke, is a powerful protagonist in this beloved Studio Ghibli film about the relationship between humans and nature whilst sending warnings about the dangers of capitalism.
San gives the male protagonist Ashitaka a run for his money. Having been brought up by the wolf goddess Moro, San is fierce and ferocious. As she grows up and sees what humans have done to the forest she calls home, she actively rejects her humanity and becomes as wild as any wolf. She is agile, quick, and deadly with a blade but is also extremely protective of her home and her family.
Kida Nedakh - Atlantis: The Lost Empire
one of Disney's most underrated movies. This beloved film boasts a wealth of powerful female characters, including Audrey and Helga Sinclair - but none are as quite as powerful as the Atlantean warrior princess, Kida.
Though people think Frozen's Elsa was the franchise's first Disney Queen, that honor actually belongs to Kida, who by the film's end becomes Queen of Atlantis. Kida is a natural leader with an emboldened personality and as Mole knows, she has a mean right hook - which is pretty impressive for an almost 9000-year-old woman. She is fierce and aggressive while also comionate and loving.
Astrid Hofferson - How To Train Your Dragon
Astrid Hofferson is the love interest of How To Train Your Dragon's main character Hiccup - but she is so much more than just that. She is a competitive and dedicated warrior, who works hard to achieve what she wants. The first film shows her talents with axes against Dragons but once Berk allies with them, Astrid becomes a masterful dragon rider, almost equal to Hiccup.
Astrid is extremely protective of her family and friends. Her need for perfection drives her to be the best warrior on the Isle as she strives to always improve herself. She is comionate and loyal. Though Hiccup encourages her to be more playful, Astrid never loses sense of who she truly is.
Captain Amelia - Treasure Planet
While Disney's a cult classic worthy of a live-action remake. One of the most beloved and inspirational characters in this film is the formidable Captain Amelia. Proud and strong-willed, Amelia is regarded as the finest captain "in this or any other galaxy."
Being a human-cat hybrid alien it is no surprise that her agility and acrobatic skills border on artistic. Amelia is a brilliant sailor with a panache for witty retorts and scathing comments. Not only is she phenomenally forthright, but she is also a remarkable fighter and a master of weaponry (her favorite being a laser musket) making her dangerous on all s.
Lucy/Wyldstyle - The LEGO Movie
Lucy, also known as Wyldstyle, from The LEGO Movie is an independent and determined Master Builder. She is an assertive leader who fights for what she believes in. She is even ired by many well-known heroes from LEGO Batman to Han Solo. While still being a talented fighter and builder, she also reveals her insecure side.
Though Wyldstyle comes off as no-nonsense and solely ionate for the cause, she used to be a lot like the film's other main character Emmett - cheerful and fun. Wanting to appear tough, she changed to become cooler and "grown-up." She later realizes she can be whoever she wants and becomes the best of both her personalities.
Helen Parr/Elastigirl - The Incredibles
A superhero version of the old-fashioned nuclear family, The Incredibles puts Helen Parr, aka Elastigirl or Mrs Incredible, as the matriarch of the group. While the first film focuses on father and husband Bob Parr, the sequel proves that Elastigirl is just as powerful. Her powers of elasticity make her almost invulnerable and incredibly strong.
She is resilient and unwavering as not only did the public rely on her powers, her children relied on her caring nature. As shown by her return to superhero work, Helen is the glue that holds the Parr family together. Elastigirl broke the superhero's glass ceiling and paved the way for other female supers, inspiring her own daughter Violet to be a strong and capable person.
Fa Mulan - Mulan
The titular Mulan has been an inspirational female character since the film's release in 1998. When Mulan went to war in her father's stead, she brilliantly and so effortlessly broke Disney's trend of female protagonists needing to be rescued by a muscly prince whom she later falls for.
Mulan had to fight not only the Huns but the patriarchal and sexist standards of Ancient China. Her training is intense and while she is not a natural fighter, she clearly demonstrates that she is dedicated and hardworking. She became the most skilled soldier in the ranks and was able to bring down Shan Yu almost single-handedly. Her fate does not depend on a male character, she has the strength and the resilience to pave the way herself.
Princess Fiona - Shrek
With a slew of powerful and strong women, the Fiona is one of the best non-Disney princesses. Initially assumed to be a helpless heroine, Fiona becomes a great warrior as well as a wife and mother with a heart of gold and a powerful kick.
A parody of typical princesses, Fiona turns into "a beast so hideous and ugly" but soon accepts that physical appearance doesn't need to equate to her inner beauty. In either form, she is a talented martial artist and can handle almost any weapon. Whether in her ogre form or her original human body, she is not to be messed with.
