#princessweek

This week I did a little digging into two Princesses that were imprisoned in towers: Princess Fiona and Rapunzel. Rapunzel is an official Disney princess while Fiona belongs to Dreamworks but between the two there are a lot of potential comparisons. Because their movies are produced by different companies there are some stylistic differences, for example Tangled features original music while Shrek uses all covers of popular songs. The look of the two movies is similar however because both use the more 3D style of animation that has become the hallmark of a modern animated film.

THE ANIMATION

Disney’s depiction of Rapunzel includes an enlarged head and massive eyes that take up half her face. These attributes make her look more childish and definitely draw from a more anime-like inspiration. Princess Fiona however has much more life-like facial features and proportions. However, both princesses (when in human form) have disturbingly small waists and overall figures, especially compared with their proportionally large breasts. These body proportions are unrealistic and would be unhealthy on a real woman.

THE TOWER

Both Rapunzel and Fiona in some ways choose to live in their towers, both influenced to this decision by their parents. Rapunzel has been tricked by Mother Gothel into believing that the world is unsafe and that she must protect her talent. Fiona’s parents think that it is best for Fiona to live separately until a prince comes to save her and breaks her curse. In both cases the Princesses do not like their situations and eventually decide that locked away is not the best way to live their lives. 

THE ANTI-HERO ROMANCE

Both Princesses begin the story believing that there is no way they would end up with these guys because they aren’t exactly the Prince Charming types. Shrek, even though he saved Fiona from the dragon, is being paid to do so and far from being a handsome prince, is an ogre from a swamp. Flynn Rider is a wanted criminal and can’t even enter Rapunzel’s kingdom without having to flee the police. But both of these anti-heroes take a journey with their princesses and in the process they form an emotional bond of trust that turns to love over the timeline of the story. 

HOBBIES & PERSONALITY

While trapped in their towers these two ladies had a lot of down time. Fiona chose to teach herself kung fu and has many more “down-to-earth” habits and ideas you wouldn’t expect of a princess. Rapunzel however does a lot of typically “female” activities like paint, cook, clean, make dresses, and brush her hair. Generally Rapunzel is much more naive about the world than Fiona is and all around more “sweet.” But Fiona in many ways is more relatable, she isn’t your usual princess and at times is kind of a badass. 

THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER