Disney princesses garner quite a bit of attention. They range from strong women to damsels in distress. They are known for their beauty but criticized for their lack of diversity (which is improving over time). Without the likes of Snow White, Aurora, Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, Tiana, and more, Disney would be very different.
Though they aren't quite as heavily branded or merchandised, the Disney princes play a large part in the royal story. They are supposed to be the ultimate romantic male figures, but sometimes they aren't quite so charming. So what do fans love about the Princes, and what could Disney have done better?
8 Best: Handsome
Most of the princes from Disney's animated classics are viewed as classically handsome. At least, many viewers would agree that these characters are as handsome as animations can be. They have sharply defined features, dreamy eyes, good hair, and strong physical profiles. If they're going to woo princesses all day, they may as well look good doing it.
7 Worst: They All Look The Same
Even though many enjoy their dashing looks, some find it annoying that the princes all look very similar. To be fair, they are animations and not humans who were cast to all look the same, but a little variety in appearance never hurts. The styles of the Disney animators are part of the reason for the consistent style, and it's possible to break some similarities down by era.
The older styles show a resemblance between the looks of the Snow White Prince and Cinderella's Prince Charming. These movies premiered thirteen years apart from one another. Meanwhile, Prince Eric and Aladdin from the Disney Renaissance have a very close facial appearance. The princes can't help it, but the overarching sameness is obvious.
6 Best: Chivalrous
Every Disney princess movie draws on elements of chivalry, even if those qualities are limited with some princes. Particularly with Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Cinderella, the leads are meant to look and act princely. These old-fashioned princes evoke images of heroes on horseback or suave heirs donning regal uniforms in grand ballrooms. Despite their imperfections, people appreciate that these lads present worlds where chivalry isn't dead.
5 Worst: They Lack Diversity
One of the biggest and most deserved criticisms of the Disney princes is that they lack diversity. With the exceptions of Li Shang, Aladdin, and Prince Naveen, the princes are overwhelmingly white, just like the princesses. Just as facial features and physical builds scarcely differ, racial and ethnic backgrounds have little variation. This reflects similar issues with the Disney princesses, who predominantly purport a standard of beauty that is thin and fair-complected.
4 Best: Musically Gifted
Many fans of the Disney princess genre love that the princes often sing in the movies. The female characters usually take the bulk of the musical credit, but it is fun to hear the vocal stylings of the princes either alone or in duets with the leading ladies. Songs like "So This is Love," "A Whole New World," and "Once Upon a Dream" are the stuff of a storybook romance, and most fans can't get enough. It's no surprise that these Disney princess songs are covered by musical artists over and over again.
3 Worst: They Serve One Main Purpose
In a storybook world, romance is really the only element the Disney princes get to create. Few of them have deeper life circumstances than their potential relationships. Aladdin is a good example of a deeper story arc, but he's also the one after whom his film is named. On the whole, the Disney princes are a little too one-dimensional for some people, as are a few of the princesses.
2 Best: They Believe In True Love
While it would be great for Disney princes to offer viewers more substance, it is encouraging to see that the men believe in true love. There are usually bumps in the road before the lovers meet for their kiss, and fans love that aspect of tension and release. Imagine how it would be multiplied if the original fairytales retained their more vicious plot points.
True love is a key ingredient of these movies. It wouldn't be too much fun to watch a princess fall in love with a guy who would never love her back, even though that is sometimes how it goes in real-life relationships.
1 Worst: Wealthy & Spoiled
It is safe to say that most of the Disney princes are incredibly privileged. They have health, wealth, lavish castles, elite family names, or all of the above. While a few of them have underlying problems to contend with, most live relatively easy lives and have all the time in the world to chase after beautiful women before establishing new power regimes. Fans don't expect Disney to do away with princedom entirely, but why do so many of these love interests have to be so rich and elite?
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