Since I’ve been sick and bedridden for a little while, I watched some Disney movies just to kind of refresh my Disney film knowledge, and let’s face it, to make me feel better. It got me thinking about the “Disney Princess” line, which in turn got me to thinking about Disney Princesses who didn’t make the grade, and was kept out of the limelight.

Show business is fickle, insensitive and sometimes downright cruel. The Mouse is no different from any big film producer when it comes to the stars who help get him to where he is. Below are some ill-used and exploited cartoon princesses, who, because they didn’t sing as well or draw in as many dollars at the box office or were simply forgotten, have been shoved from the Disney A-list and abandoned.

Giselle; “Enchanted”

She’s beautiful, perky, sweet; a princess through and through. SO what’s the problem here? I’ll tell you.

This princess was dissed by Disney lawyers! The dollars, always the dollars.

Princess Giselle was *this close* to becoming an “official” Disney Princess, until the lawyers told them that they’d have to pay the actress, Amy Adams, royalties for using her likeness.

No animated/real-life princess is going to have Mickey by his ba– ears. Yeah. By his ears.

If any number shows that Giselle is more than qualified to enter the Princess club, here it is:

Kida; “Atlantis”

No, she didn’t sing any immortal songs or pop-crossovers, and “Atlantis” isn’t among the many classic Disney movies that was marketed to little girls, but it is a great animated film, and still a Disney Classic in my book.

Still, Kida has more right to be named as a Disney Princess than Belle or Tiana considering that she is a Princess by birth. Never mind that in a Disney Princess beauty pageant, she has the upper-hand, especially in the swimsuit category.

One theory as to why she is not marketed as a “Disney Princess” is that after the death of her father she becomes a Queen. Yeah, whatever. Dorks.

I personally think that it’s because she’s a volatile warrior princess, who was once known to kill outsiders on sight. She and King Triton may have some political issues which would make Kida’s proximity to Ariel a bad idea. And she has tattoos, which I suppose doesn’t help her case.

I tried to find a decent video clip featuring Kida, but came up empty, so I settled for a fan-made music video featuring this beautiful, forgotten Princess:

Megara a.k.a. Meg; “Hercules”

One can just take a look at her smug face to see why Mickey passed her up when they were handing out tiaras. (1) She wouldn’t wear a stupid tiara, (2) she has friends in the underworld and (3) she has a mouth on her, that one.

We can argue that, yeah, maybe she isn’t a princess because though she and Hercules (Son of the King of Olympian Gods and therefore a prince) didn’t exactly get married at the end of the movie, I say this: In Greek mythology, Megara was the oldest daughter of Creon, king of Thebes. They named a city after her! What does that make Meg? You got it; another forgotten Disney Princess.

To her credit, she did try and do the “Disney thing” in “Hercules” and belted out something of a love song. She just didn’t have the vocal range of Belle or Ariel. Thankfully she had the Muses for her backup vocals or that song would’ve REALLY sucked. She still gets an A for effort in my book.

It’s not a bad song, and it’s still one of the best numbers in “Hercules”, but poor Meg’s voice is just missing something, and let’s face it, her character isn’t exactly a balladeer. Check the video and decide for yourself.

Not that she cares one way or another.

Eilonwy; “The Black Cauldron”

Who?

Everyone’s forgotten “The Black Cauldron”, which makes poor Eilonwy the most dissed and gyped Princess in the world of Disney.

Yeah, she’s like 12 years old, and yeah it does look like my niece dressed up like Snow White before heading out to Disneyland, but Eilonwy is in fact a princess, dag-nabbit!

She is not considered an “official” Disney Princess either because the film bombed like Shaq at the freethrow line or because people at Disney Corporate simply forgot about this unappreciated classic. This one is out on DVD. Grab it, watch it and show Eilonwy some love damn you! One day my petition to give her the title she deserves will be taken seriously!

This video is the best clip I could find. It’ll do. And it has some Voice-Acting bloopers at the end of it. 🙂

Kiara; “The Lion King 2 Simba’s Pride”

What? So if you’re a princess in a straight-to-video sequel you get dissed? Is that how it works over there?

She is the daughter of Simba and Nala, a rightful princess.

I guess it would be hard to make a little-girl’s costume out of this one. But it would be a cute doll, right?

Or is it because she is a wild animal and libel to go claw-crazy and spoil the other princess’s good looks? I guess Jasmine’s pet tiger would have some issues with it as well. Still, credit where it’s due would be nice.

Melody; The Little Mermaid 2 Return to the Sea”

Same argument as before. Yes, she’s in a straight-to-video sequel, but she is the daughter of Ariel and Eric, Granddaughter of Triton and therefore…

You know what, Disney? Don’t let Princesses have kids if you’re not going to go to bat for them! 🙁

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OjMMoqStWg

Jane; “Tarzan”

I think what really ruined Tarzan’s chances of being a Disney Classic wasn’t the story or the characters or the art. It was Rosie O’Donnel. She wrecks it for Jane, Tarzan and any other character in this movie, simply by being in it.

The ONLY reason I own Tarzan on DVD is to have it, and the only reason I NEVER watch it is that Rosie O’Donnel is an instant showstopper. I don’t mean that as a compliment. Her name and her face instantly makes me grab the remote and change the channel before she starts talking. Her voice just makes me cringe. It’s like nails on a chalkboard. I can’t stand her. Sorry. It is what it is.

Anywhoo… back to the princess thing…

We can argue, but I think I have a strong case for Jane.

Tarzan, as an infant, is adopted by Kala, who’s the mate of Kerchak. Kerchak, as the leader of the gorilla clan (more or less the king). This makes Kala the queen, and Tarzan prince, right?

Tarzan grows up, saves the day and becomes leader of the gorillas (and king of the jungle), Jane hooks up with him… boom… Princess.

Wow, I really am a geek.

Kiala Reno; “Kiala Princess”

By rights this one could be the very first “Kawaii” Disney Princess.

If you’re a foreign princess, say from England or Arabia or Under the Sea, you’re qualified for Disney Princesshood, as long as you’re an American Princess from England, Arabia or Under the Freakin Sea!

Meet Kiala, a Japanese Disney Princess who gets no props from the Mouse, no way, no how!

Here’s how it goes:

“Kiala Princess” is a shōjo (“little female”) fantasy, romance and adventure manga series. In the story, Kilala wishes to become a Princess and find true love. One day, a prince, Rei appears with a Magic Tiara in hand. When her friend, Erica, is kidnapped after winning the Princess Contest at her school, Kilala tries to find her, and uses the Tiara to open a “Gate of Dreams”. From then on, she begins to encounter her idols, the Disney Princesses (Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Belle, Ariel and Jasmine).

She later finds out that they are among the six of Seven Princesses with the power to bring peace to her world, and that she is the last princess. Long story short: She’s one of the girls! She’s a bona-fide Princess with obvious royal friends in high places, so why is The Mouse keeping her down!?

Likey because she doesn’t have a movie yet, but give her time. I look forward to seeing this Princess in American theaters someday.

Oh, who am I kidding? She doesn’t have a chance!

She doesn’t get a video, cause, heh, she’s a manga. 🙁

I’m certian I’m forgettng a few, I usually do, but to give a shout out to a couple other Disney Princesses who aren’t as dissed as the ones I listed, but still have freakin’ rights!

Tiger Lilly; “Peter Pan”

Faline; “Bambi” & “Bambi II”

Nita; “Brother Bear 2”

Mei, Ting-Ting, and Su; “Mulan II”

Aquata, Andrena, Arista, Attina, Adella and Alana; “The Little Mermaid”

Nala; “The Lion King”

Mira Nova; “Buzz Lightyear of Star Command”

While I was doing “research” for this blog post I ran across this cute little “Forgotten Princesses” tribue video. Enjoy! 😀



