‘We Are One'- Comparison between Simba and Kiara as heirs to the throne

We are one! Are we though? With the brownish gold resemblance and warm brown eyes there is no doubt Simba and Kiara are related, but exactly how similar are they? As a lion cub Simba makes his excitement for the throne known when he eagerly implores his dad to get up and show him the kingdom as well as that well known tune; ‘I just cant wait to be king.’  

Kiara on the other hand although as inquisitive and as lively a cub as Simba, tends to question her destiny which is illustrated through her indignant response to Timon and Pumba’s lecture to know better ‘as Simba’s daughter than to venture out alone’ and continuous referral to her as ‘princess’.  Kiara’s attempt to highlight her individuality is shown when she states ‘I’m not just a princess you know, that’s only half of who I am!’ and in song ‘if there is so much I must be can I still just be me... the way I am? Can I trust in my own heart or am I just one part of some big plan?’ 

It may also be said that her defiance against her father's wishes in pursuit of relations with lover and outcast Kovu that Kiara is insisting on maintaining her own voice and path as future queen. What marks Kiara as Simba’s daughter is her repetition of his loyal instincts to return home and face her fears which saves the future of pride rock resulting in peace between the pride land lions and the outsiders. ‘Daddy…a wise king once told me, we are one….look at them, they are us, what differences do you see?’ signifies Kiara’s compassionate character and the wise lioness replacing the innocent adventure cub. What brings this story home is Kiara’s similarity to other Disney princesses in her quest to break free and find her one true voice through pursuing her own interests. Like Simba, Kiara makes mistakes, but returns home a true lion, ready to leap into anything.

Kiara and Simba from Disney's The Lion King II: Simba's Pride

 By Tasneem Mahmoud

Let it Go: the Disney princess breaks free

Okay, lets break the ice with the blizzards of Scandinavia where a florescent haired girl born with powers to freeze objects and create snow resides in a handsome little kingdom. As the only Disney princess born with special powers, (no I haven’t forgotten Rapunzel’s hair, but that was her hair’s power not hers) and one of the only Disney princesses that isn’t fussed about finding a prince charming especially if it is someone one has only just met (sorry Anna), it is evident Elsa possesses something different. Afraid of her domineering powers, Elsa shies away from society and when she accidentally freezes the kingdom she flees to the distant mountains in search of escapism, serenity and freedom. Here she charms us with her declaration for independence, her breakaway from the norms and pressures of her old life; here we see the Disney princess (queen by this stage in her life) soar with empowerment.

Do not get me wrong; Elsa is not the only Disney princess that struggles against the burden of her surroundings. We’ve seen Pocahontas fall for a threat to her tribe, we’ve seen Belle put Gaston in his place and express a need for ‘adventure in the great wide somewhere’, we’ve seen Ariel pursue the love of her life despite the disapproval of others and we’ve seen Rapunzel venture out from her confined tower in search of her destiny, but none of them have Elsa’s debonair style. This is evident in that captivating tune we all know so well.

This will not be the first time the academy award winning song is accredited. Let it go, has been described as an ‘incredible anthem of liberation’ by Entertainment Weekly, has won four other awards and has been nominated for best original song by both Golden Globe Awards and Satellite Awards. From the mystic minor chords that open the song, we know Elsa has something to deliver. Her breakaway from the pains and pressures of her confined and restricted former life are illustrated through lines ‘couldn’t keep it in’, ‘cant hold it back anymore’ ‘I don’t care what they’re going to say’ and the sassy insertion of ‘let the storm rage on, the cold never bothered me anyway’. We then see the Disney female grow in courage and in poise with ‘its time to see what I can do, to test the limits an break through, no right, no wrong no rules for me; I am free.’ She further depicts her new found self assurance through allowing her magical powers to flourish producing a shiny ice castle, fashioning herself a dazzling sparkling gown and letting her tight bun plummet into a long silvery braid singing ‘I will rise like the break of dawn’, ‘I’m one with the wind and sky’ and most importantly ‘that perfect girl is gone’ a statement that dignifies all her preceding Disney damsels.

So Elsa scores for breaking the barrier, for empowering the Disney princess and queen and all young women who struggle with the conventions that surround their everyday lives. To all those young beautiful ladies who drown in their own insecurities and fears, take it from Elsa, the queen who broke the ice and made that adorable smiling snowman eager for the perks of summer. 

Elsa from Disney's Frozen

By Tasneem Mahmoud