Princesses at heart: A look at the characters Esmeralda and Megara

Occasionally, the stunning Esmeralda from the Hunchback of Notre Dame and gorgeous Megara from Hercules get thrown into the Disney princess pictures with all the classical fairytale princesses, but as we all know, they are not actually considered Disney princesses. Esmeralda however beautiful, kind and charming is a young gypsy on the streets of Paris. She is betrothed to no one and doesn’t have a palace.  Megara has no connections with royalty either. She is a ‘damsel in distress,’ an ordinary maiden in a town full of problems awaiting a true hero. So why are these gutsy beauties sometimes thrown in with the rest of the princesses? And more to the point, why are they not actually considered real princesses? Lets start with Esmeralda.

Up until 2005 Esmeralda was actually part of the Disney princess franchise, but her products were discontinued for a number of in-concrete reasons. Its obvious from the start of the film, that she is not the star character, merely a young Romani dancing in the streets, glared down upon by the public because of her gypsy heritage, but her valor and independence is very noticeable throughout the film, she serves no one but herself, she falls for no one's trickery and stands up to what she believes in; justice and equality (easy there, she’s only a cartoon). She stands up for Quasimodo as he is terrorized at the festival of fools, helps Phoebus, (although they get off on the strong start) when he is injured and stands up to the evil Frollo even when she is about to lose her life. Furthermore, her song to the Lord, ‘God help the outcasts’ in the picturesque Notre Dame where she acknowledges her place in society, but prays to God to ‘help the outcasts’ for we are all ‘children of God’ highlights her compassionate nature and deep understanding of social segregation and the injustices of social class distinction. Her words ‘I ask for nothing, I can get by, but I know so many less lucky than I’ adds somewhat of a saintly attribute to her character, she is not only beautiful, she is a real lady, a real human, and thus a real sovereign, a beacon of generosity, morality and love. Still not a princess? Think again.

And then we have the gorgeous Megara, whose friends call her Meg, (‘at least they would if she had any friends’), the girl who claims that ‘no man is worth the aggravation’ and that ‘people do crazy things when they are in love’ (both true) and also shows a sense of independence. Like Esmeralda, she is isolated from the majority of society and is also incredibly vulnerable. Due to past heartaches she joins the evil Hades in his plan to tear down wonder boy, Hercules. Consumed by her fear of being lost and alone she makes mistakes, but nobly picks herself back up, owning up to her wrongdoings and prompting the stubborn Phil, to save Hercules’ life towards the end of the film. So although she is portrayed as somewhat defenseless, she isn’t perfect, but comes out a true woman winning the heart of the film’s hero. Sassy yet classy, Meg also constitutes a princess role model as she demonstrates that no one is perfect and all young girls can learn from their mistakes and go with their heart. We can all fall for the wrong company due to internal conflict, but we can come out stronger and ever more beautiful.

So there we have it, two incredibly beautiful and strong young heroines set out to better themselves, as we all should in all ways possible. Despite their un-royal legacies, they both serve as an inspiration to young female watchers and if a princess is a reflection of inner style, vulnerability, beauty and morality then these girls are princesses at heart. I will definitely be dressing up as one of them at the next Disney princess party!

Esmeralda from Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Megara from Disney's Hercules

  By Tasneem Mahmoud

'I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing — that it was all started by a mouse.' Tribute to Steamboat Willy

It is funny to think how that delectable little mouse in red shorts, couple white buttons and white gloves we all know so well started off in black and white driving a steamboat. Partly written, produced and directed by Mr. Disney himself Steamboat Willie was released on November 18^th 1928, a date which became known as Mickey’s official birthday years later. Although it was not Mickey’s first ever cartoon, it is famous for being his first sound cartoon as well as the first cartoon in history to feature synchronized sound. Even though the film is less than 10 minutes long and even though we do not hear any of the characters properly speak, it was enough for audiences to get to know Mickey’s resonating character. Mickey's charismatic nature is seen from the opening scene where we see him driving a steamboat, dancing and whistling ‘steamboat bill’’, then when rescuing Minnie as she runs helplessly to board the steamboat and finally when making a joke over the goat chewing up Minnie’s music by using the boat’s farm animals as music instruments to ‘Turn in the Straw.’

Steamboat Willie was greeted as a worldwide success and led to international fame for both Mr. Disney and Mickey Mouse. It premiered at Universal’s Colony Theater in New York City and was inducted to the National Film Registry in 1928. As we all know, this was only the beginning of the little mouse’s universal story that has transcended through generations of Disney fans worldwide. ‘It all started with a mouse’ Mr. Disney said. It is extraordinary how a creature so small, skyrocketed into one of the world’s biggest celebrities, into one of children’s greatest mascots, into a Hollywood walk of fame star, into our most popular Disney park hero and in the main, an international phenomenon.  So thank you Mr. Disney for giving him to us; our one and only Mickey Mouse.

 

Mickey Mouse in Disney's Steamboat Willie

 By Tasneem Mahmoud

'Side by side with your loved one'-Disney's cutest animal couple

Disney has made sure love is illustrated through all kinds of creatures; humans and mermaids, princes and peasant girls, a beast and a book worm, toys and toys and of course all our favourite furry friends. But which animal couple is the cutest? Is it Pongo and Perdita with their matching polka dots? Simba and Nala due to their childhood friendship and trouble filled adventures? Tod and Pixie with their bushy tales? Dutchess and Tomas O’Malley with their clashing backgrounds? Bambi and Feline in the spring filled forest? Kiara and Kovu with their ambitions for peace in the pride lands? Or maybe its Donald and Daisy? Mickey and Minnie? After all they were the first Disney couple designed by Walt himself. Lets not forget Robin and Maid Marion? Bernard and Bianca with their missions as rescuers? 

My all time favourite furry Disney couple however is Lady and Tramp because of their contrasting temperaments. Lady’s innocent curiosity versus Tramp’s scallywag nature makes them the cutest couple. Despite their obvious differences, they truly care about each other. Tramp shows her ‘how a dog’s life can really be’ and takes her on her first bella notte date. Lady allows him to take her under his wing, invites him into her darling family and they live happily ever after with pups of their own.

Tramp and Lady from Disney's Lady and the Tramp

By Tasneem Mahmoud