Different perspectives - my past memories, my mum's memories, memories involving a friend, other fandom perspective and recent points of view.
Feel free to use my idea to make your own version if it inspires you. Just make sure you credit me please for the original idea.
Snow White
I was so excited when I saw a sequel of Disney’s Snow White out on VHS. Nevermind that the main character looked different, wore a different dress, had a different voice and the animation seemed more 80’s. The dwarves sisters helped guide Snow White to the villain’s castle so she could save her prince from a male villain who turned his enemies into stone. It was great and I enjoyed it more than the original. Ah youth. The ability to watch something and let everything else go over your head. Except I did come to my senses on my second viewing years after as a young adult. I disliked it and thought it was childish. I tracked down the original and thought Disney’s Snow White was superior to it.
Cinderella
When my mum and her cousin (also my aunt because the family from my mum’s side are tight knit) were younger. They went to see Cinderella at the cinema. My aunt was so excited to see what Cinderella’s ball gown looked like. But when watching the iconic moment, she leaned over to my mum and said “it’s ugly.” My mum agreed. Mum says she was so disappointed. She thought it was dull, not pretty. My aunt wanted to see something different from current fashion. More fantasy-like and colourful. She wanted a pink ball gown. And after all of these years, her opinion hasn’t changed. She hates it with passion.
Aurora
“Sorry I don’t know who she is”- my life long friend.
“Oh I don’t know her” - my best friend.
“That’s not Sleeping Beauty! Sleeping Beauty has brown hair” - my mum.
...and then she said;
“No! No, you’re kidding aren’t you? This is a joke.”
Then I go into Disney geek mode express what her real name is and explain why she is blonde.
....then mum frowns and says;
“Oh. Well in the original story she had brown hair. What was that you said? (I got tongue tied on saying Aurora) Say it again. (I tried again) Spell it. (Tries to say it herself twice in two different ways - equally difficult). I’m unsure how to pronounce it. Maybe you could research online on how to pronounce it.”
To which I said or rambled;
“Or we could just call her Briar Rose. It’s easier and I can pronounce it. Of course I’ll always use Aurora online because it’s pretty and I’m using it when I writing about something, not saying out loud for all to hear. But yeah I could look into it, if you want me too?”
She said; “yes, it would be interesting to find out.”
....that was more than a few years ago. I remember it like it was yesterday. But my mum has no memory of it. Just as well, because I forgot to do the research!
Ariel
Rewatching the movie as a mature adult, I’m ashamed to say it does seem like Ariel sold her voice and got legs for a man. Thankfully I’m still very loyal to the TV series and know that Ariel has more depth than what is displayed in the movie. Oh how I wish they would release the TV series on DVD (all regions). I miss it so much!
Belle
Don’t you just hate it when Hollywood portrays intelligent people with thick educated sounding voices? They sound like Vulcans from Star Trek. Even animated characters. From my teens to my young adulthood I disliked Belle’s voice for that very reason. In the last two years, I realised Belle’s voice was that way because the voice actress was told to put on a French accent.
Jasmine
Who goes to Disneyland Paris just to buy dolls that you can’t find in the local Disney stores? Me. I’ve done it twice. Once in 1999 and another time in 2014. In early 1999 I wanted Jasmine in her purple dress. The local Disney store seemed to have Aladdin and Genie stuff but only one or two things of Jasmine. The doll wasn’t special enough. It was just plain and boring and I thought it didn’t look like Jasmine. I remember discussing it with my mum in the car. How although the doll in the store was clearly made by Disney, face wise it looked like a Mattel version. I don’t know what I was talking about.I was in my own little world. Anyway, at Disneyland Paris, I bought two Jasmine dolls and an Aladdin one. The Paris dolls looked more special. Jasmine’s regular outfit looked gorgeous with the gold spots decorating the bedlah pants. I got a double pack of Aladdin and Jasmine in their end of movie clothes. I remember looking in several shops around the park but couldn’t find Jasmine in her purple dress anywhere. I was disappointed but I was very happy with the ones I found. So that trip was successful. 2014 trip, I went back hoping the purple dress doll would be in stock. But I forgot a very important detail, the new makeovers. I was so disappointed but I also wasn’t surprised. In every store in the park, Tiana, Rapunzel and Ariel seemed to have the biggest space for merchandise. Followed Cinderella, Aurora, Snow White and Belle. Merida and Jasmine had a very small section. Pocahontas and Mulan didn’t have a section at all. Nah, clearly the new makeovers took over the merchandise, Wiping out the old merchandise of the Renaissance era. Who knows maybe they ran out of stock completely on the year or a few years after 1999?
Pocahontas
Two days after watching the movie for the first time, I bought another film about Pocahontas. It was live action and for some reason, I thought it was a live action version of the Disney version. The film was closer to her historic life than the fiction that Disney created. I remember learning about Pocahontas in school, thinking oh my god she was a real person?! And then thinking hmmm nah, I prefer the disney version. Now as an adult, I still don’t care much for the history. I like Disney’s Pocahontas on her own meaning her personality and spirituality. But I’m not loyal to the movie anymore. I tried to watch it as an adult after about ten or more years since I watched it last. It bored me. I ended up turning it off and giving it away to a friend to keep.
Mulan
I didn't know who Mulan was before watching the movie and the special features on the DVD. I remember being in awe, thinking wow, she was a real person! Later several years on I realised my mistake. Folklore person who may have been real but might not have been.
Tiana
I had a "Tiana moment" whilst looking at rankings for Favourite Winx Transformations last night. Enchantix is more often than not, no.1 on each list. But I was looking at the group picture thinking I used think they were the best. But Layla/Aisha has the worst outfit, it looked gorgeous in blue. Like Tiana does in her second party dress. Why did they change?! Layla/Aisha looks better in blue than she does in green. However out of the two, Tiana can pull off wearing green, better than Layla/Aisha can.
Rapunzel
Mum watched Tangled with me, a few years ago. She didn't like Rapunzel during the first half. Mum found her annoying, whiny and childish. During the second half, Mum liked her more. She thought she was mature and less whiny. I just sat back in silence let my mum form her own opinion. I remember agreeing with her during the first part. It was a time when I hadn't made up my mind about how I felt about Rapunzel. I liked her but I didn't love her. Her popularity annoyed me and in general I wasn't a Modern era Princess follower.
Merida
I've watched Brave four times. Each time, Merida has been my favourite character. But whilst I love her. I can’t help but think she doesn’t belong in official DP franchise. The movie doesn’t feel like a Disney movie. It feels like one of the better animated movies like Anastasia for example from another company. It’s a pity she couldn’t be a popular standalone princess like Anna and Moana. Because that’s where she belongs I think. Alternatively, this is not going to happen but we can fantasise; make a franchise for heroine warriors, include Kida, Jane, Nala and anyone else who fits.
