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

‘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