The Other Disney Princesses

 Disney has some great and wonderful Princesses…  who are NOT included in their official line-up. We’ll be going over a list of about nine princesses, talk about why they are likeable and who they are, and explain the reasons behind their absence from the market-milker line of heroines.  To not be confusing, I’ll be doing chronological order of appearance.  The characters have to be from or wed-into a form of royalty, and have to be directly from or related in a way to Disney. So, anyone being married into the House of Wakanda or the adopted princess of Alderaan, you are likely not to be featured in this list. Also, I apologize if I missed anyone or am not aware/follow the source material in which the girl I forgot came from. Also, this is based on popularity and reception, so Sofia the First (who has surprisingly not been recruited yet) can’t count.

Eilonwy from the 1985 fantasy adventure The Black Cauldron:

Eilonwy is the first Princess to appear in a PG-Rated film (sorry Tangeled). Anyway, she is sort of like both of princess from old Walt Disney films, while a transition into a new Disney age. Eilonwy is capable of handling herself, but isn’t the undefeatable Hun, which isn’t much of a given, since the other characters also get captured or are at an impasse. Anyway, she seems to have an emotion-mode, since she can be cheery, straight, angry, upset, and so-so around those ones. Plus, she has a glowing-ball-of-yellow-light for a sidekick. Even if she has little dimension, she is a likeable character.  I will say that the scene where she and Taran act sexist toward each other was…  not really needed. Plus, there was going to be a moment where her dress would be torn, and she would’ve been… been… n-n-n-n-ude…. Nude. Yeah… in a Disney film, ya know, for kids. But it was removed (rather written down or animated)  along with really-scary material so that the movie would not receive an R-Rating.

So,  why isn’t she featured at all? …. Well, do you even know what The Black Cauldron is? If not, Disney is succeeding at sweeping it under the carpet.  The animated feature was a critical-mix and a financial FAAAAAAAAAAAILURE! It almost killed the animation department at the Disney backlot, and it was even outcrossed by Care Bears (although since animation is NOT  a genre, that compression only can work if you compare them as fantasy-movies). Rather if it’s story-&-characters, or just bad marketing, the bomb that this movie went through is a reason why Disney doesn’t even mention the film (even when releasing it on DVDs). Although it’s not my favorite (and I may have had more respect for it if it was in my childhood), The Black Cauldron is a very overly-underrated feature. If Eilonwy was accepted into the DP line, she’d be the youngest, replacing Snow White.

Oh Princess Eilonwy, I am afraid her time was soon over for her.

Meg from the 1997 Disney Renaissance musical feature Hercules:

I wasn’t planning on having her here at first, but I knew people would be on my Pegasus for not including her. Anyway, how is she a princess you may ask? Well, without spoiling too much…  she and Hercules became a couple at the end of the movie, which means they’ll likely get married. So, since Hercules is a Prince, that would then make her an honorary Princess. But, possibly not count worthy much, so it could be a reason why Disney hasn’t included her. That, and maybe popularity.  Also, am I the only one who thought that the film should’ve hot PG for its intenseness. Anyway, she is a sassy girl, with heart. A fun fact is that her lead animator based her off a 40s screwball comedian.

Meg...  some Disney fans won’t say they’re in love with her.

Kiari, who made an appearance at the end of 1994’s The Lion King but made her full appearance in the 1998 direct-to-video sequel The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride;

While the first movie had inspiration from Hamlet, Simba’s Pride has its story based off Romeo & Juliet… although without SPOILER ALERT main-character-death.  The story of 2 deals with overcoming prejudices and forgiving others. Kiari hopes to be with the love of her life but not upset her father, which is a hard struggle. Simba also has to learn to accept others and let lio-gons be lio-gons…. OKAY, THAT WAZ BAAAAAAAWD!  Anyhow, this lioness is an amazing character.

So, why isn’t she an official princess? Well… she’s a lion… an animal. If you don’t comprehandae, I believe there are two important roles to be an official princess….  #1 You must be a HUMAN! Yes, and if you’re a hybrid like Ariel, you probably should sell your sou… I mean, voice to fully be one.  That, and #2 you must wear a pretty dress….  Because of you are Ariel-Form1 or Kiari…. You are probably naked. Because this good kitty already has no clothes, she can’t all-four her way into the merchandising.

Kiari, one of the less noticed in the Circle of Life.

Atta from Pixar’s second computer-animated film A Bug’s Life, released theatrically also that year:  

PIXAR’S REAL FIRST PRINCESS! (Sarrr-e Meridah). Princess Atta may be kind of a b… b…. b..  BUG! But, she is somehow considerate and just wants everything to be fine for everyone.  I do find it hilariously hypocritical that she and her mom get on Flick’s case for lying about the circus bugs being warriors (even though he mistook them for some at first), but didn’t get lectured for sending Flick off to die on a hopeless quest… which is sort of like lying.\

So, is that why she isn’t a princess? Well, like Kiari, she is a creature without covering, and the fact that she is only a few inches tall… and probably has a booty for that matter. Or, it’s because she becomes queen at the end of the film…. because you can’t be a Disney Princess if you’re a que…  (Let it Gooooooo) ARE YOU SERIOUS DISNEY!?

Anyway, Princess Atta, when complaining about Pixar’s lack of strong female characters, forgetting about her is like causing a gap in the line.

Space Ranger Mira Nova from the 2000 movie Buzz Lightyear of the Star Command: The Adventure Begins, and the television series that followed (2000-2001):

PROBABLY MY FAVORITE UNDERATED PRINCESS ON THIS LIST!   Although Pixar tectonically didn’t make her, she sort of is a Pixar-related figure, since they did create Buzz Lightyear. Anyhow, Mira is Buzz’s second-in-command and co-pilot, and the common-sense and bullhead spirit of the three members of Buzz’s crew. What I like about Mira is that she isn’t a “girl power” symbol, but instead, a relatable person. As the Tangean princess of Tangea, she is in apolitically incorrect state, since she wishes to aid the Galaxy, yet her Father and fellow people object to the idea since they look down on other species. But thankfully, Mira and her Father do have their moments of reconciliation, plus one episode he had good advice in which she obeyed (and that episode was….  The controversial anti-drug episode!). I will confess to those who are new to me, I am a full-on support of BuzzXMira (beer…  for some reason, I do believe Bira is a better suiting name).

So, why is this blue…turquoise redhead not in the line? Aside from primarily dressing in a green-&-white suit and having an unnatural skin-color, Disney, AAAAAAAAAAND PIXAR, are both doing their best to sweep the existence of the TV Show under the rug. And for what reason? The stories were good, the characters were lovable, the animation was decent, and the theme song is smoken! The only place she can be found in is in the Buzz ride at Disneyland, where a ranger with three-eyes resembles her.  A comment on YouTube from a fan stated (to memory) “Why has Mira not gone anywhere after Blosc? She was the only princess who got off her butt and did something”.  Even if Disney refuses to bring up her awesomeness, us fans will remember her, in our fan art, cosplays, and creepy or terrible fan-fictions.

Spaceranger Mira Nova, someday she’ll go to Infinity, and even furtheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer!

Kidagakash "Kida" Nedakh from the science-fiction movie Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001):

Kida was only a little girl when her mother was taken up into some weird device, in which was related to the burial of Atlantis. Many years later, explorers found their way to the Lost Kingdom. Kida thought and explored with Milo and his friends… and she has a great personality….  Sorry folks, It’s been a while since I’ve watched Atlantis, so my memory and creative writing aren’t as good right now.

Anyway, she is not included in the line-up because the film bombed, and she has a skimpy outfit.

Kidagakash, thankfully she has a nickname.

Kairi from the Square Enix video game Kingdom Hearts (2002):

In the first installment of the RPG crossover series with Disney & Final Fantasy characters, Kairi’s lost her heart during the destruction of her home. Unfortunately, she became a tool for the villains (with Sora trying to find her and Riku being pawned into helping the villains).                                                     Sora gives her his heart, he becomes a heartless, she gives it back, they get separated… and in the second game, she’s a school girl, and throughout that and the other instalments, she may be a guardian of light so that she’ll be a keyblade wielder. Oh, I almost forgot… she is one of seven princesses of light (them being her and six Disney ones). Because of this, she can have a Nobody but not become a heartless.  Even with mirror screen-time, she is a very important character in the overly complex story of the Kingdom hearts saga.

So, why has Disney never included her? Well, three or so reasons actually. #1 she looks nothing like a Disney character, since she is realistically-Japanese-CGI. #2  If you could get past that issue, one obstacle is the partnership between Disney & Square Enix.  I don’t know who has the bigger bucket of fish. But whoever does, It would be nice to see characters made for the game franchise who look like Disney characters, instead of just a animeload of real-looking humans with weird clothes. And if 1&2 are no biggy, then may I present #3…. POPUALITY! As popular as thr Kingdom Hearts games are…. They’re… not as popular.  They are well-known and well-received works of art, but not everyone is aware of their existence.

Kairi, a victim of HEARTLESS politics, in which NOBODY should go through.... Okay, that was terrible.

Gieselle, a archetypal Disney Princess from the 2007 traditionally-animated/live-action hybrid motion-picture Enchanted:

Gieselle (vocally voiced and physically physiced… portrayed, by actress Amy Adams) lives in the wonderful world of Andalasia, where she was locked away to live with talking animals, and dreams of her Prince Charming and true love’s kiss. So yes, it is sort of a self-homage and parody of classic Disney movies. After being rescued by her prince, and almost getting married the following morning, the Princes evil step-mother pushed her into a well-portal into the real live-action world. During her stay with a father and his daughter, she becomes more… human, real… in the process. Gieselle is w lovable and silly tribute to old school Walt films, and… her animated form is kind of hot.

So, what’s her dilemma with not becoming an official princess? Well, let me explain to you in the musical style of “True Love’s Kiss”….   It’s not that the film was bad or did bomb, or it’s popularity went bottom. No, it’s silly reason that’s politicaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal. Amy Adams’s image was used for, this film you saw so of course, Disney would have to pay royalties…  but they are, re-leeeee-cheaaaaaaaaaaap…. SKATES!  I mean, they have the money, they could just pay a huge $dough and Amy can be satisfied with it. But, she could just keep asking though…    also, Giselle unfortunately the last hand-drawn 2D traditional animated Pricness to date…  (Tiana shows up), scratch that. 

Gieselle, she really is like dreaming of a true love’s kiss.  

Emma Swan, from Once Upon a Time (2011-Present as of now), a show where Disn-n..e… “Fairy tale characters” get transported from their medieval world into out contemporary world, within a town named “Storybrook”, heh-heh get it?: 

Emma, daughter of Prince David Charming and Snow White was born upon the day of DA CUUUUUUUURSE! DUN DUN DUUUUUUN! In order to save her and themselves, the couple had to send their baby through a magic wardrobe (WRONG STORY if that’s what you thought!) to the other world.  The curse wouldn’t just transport them to our modern world, but they would also lose their memory, except for the one who cast the curse… THE EVIL QUEEN!  Years later, Emma is visited by an eight-year-old boy, who happens to be her biological son she gave up for adoption. He takes her to the town of storybrook to break the curse.

Emma is a skillful detective who goes through a lot of development. Of course, because ABC made her and the fact she is live-action and doesn’t dress like a Princess (except in the season three finale), Disney probably won’t use her in their marketing anytime soon. Besides, Once Upon a Time is a GROWN-UP SHOW!

Emma Swan Charming H… Oops, almost spoiled it… anyway, she’ll make you believe in magic, even if she doesn’t at first.

And that was all I have for today, remember kids, when you wish upon a star…. You’ll be failing in your astronomy class!

Art by I’ll draw it because no one else will.