It really bugs me how Esmeralda/other non-princesses are excluded - The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) Discussion

[–] Angelpi92 10 years ago

I totally agree. I mean, I love the "Princesses" but Disney needs to really give more credit to the heroines. Esmeralda is my favorite heroine/2nd fave Disney female. I would LOVE to get an Esmeralda plush.

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[–] number9-4 10 years ago

It just seems to me like a self-fulfilling prophecy that Disney is misreading: Maybe little girls only want to be princesses because they're practically the only attractive, smart, kind women you portray and market - not because they innately want to be royal. And I don't like the idea of impressionable little girls somehow mistaking the prevalence of princesses to mean that being rich and powerful (or finding a guy who is) is the most important thing to strive for.

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[–] MarblesLove 10 years ago

I agree. Even with some of the less popular princesses, it's a problem. Pocahontas was my favorite princess when I was a kid and of course you could find an abundance of stuff right after the movie came out. Now, not so much.

Plus, like you said, so many of the most amazing heroines aren't getting any attention cause they're not princesses and it's not okay. Megera and Esmerelda are two of the best examples for little girls in Disney movies (not that I think fictional/fake people should be our sole role models but they do influence us). They are both independent and know they can take care of themselves. In the world we live in today, those are both very important things to know/learn/posses. There is absolutely nothing wrong with things like wanting or not wanting to get married, but either way, it's not something that should define who we are or our self-worth and I think that's something Megera and Esmerelda are good examples of.

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[–] number9-4 10 years ago

Just watched Hercules a couple days ago, and I love Meg too. I don't know if I'd say she's necessarily a great role model, because she kind of shuts people out too much and can be a bit snarky, but that's what makes her relatable and endearing to me. She's my second-fave after Esmeralda.

But you're right, she does at least send a good message in that she can take care of herself. And unlike with the princesses, there's not the subtle subtext that being royal is what makes you valuable.

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[–] Tinny-Tinette 10 years ago

I agree. Even with some of the less popular princesses, it's a problem. Pocahontas was my favorite princess when I was a kid and of course you could find an abundance of stuff right after the movie came out. Now, not so much.

Pocahontas is definitively an underrated heroine and one that deserves to be a favorite. She's independent, smart, wise and actually quite mature. She's dignified, adventurous and actually does the right thing often, even if it means she doesn't ends up with her love interest.

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[–] Tinny-Tinette 10 years ago

Esmeralda is indeed one of my favorite Disney heroines. She's flawed, but she's all the things that you previously mentioned and I think she outshines her former heroines in many ways. While she isn't actually one of the smarter heroines (she could have found a better hiding place for Phoebus than the Cathedral), she's still great in many ways. She incredibly sexy, witty, vivacious, yet has compassion and strenght.

I guess the reason that she's neglected is because the same reasons why her movie is somewhat neglected; Because of it's dark nature and adult themes. And because she's most overtly sexual than her peers.

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[–] number9-4 10 years ago

I think that's a lot of what it is, the sexuality thing. Disney actually had a short phase where its heroines were all sexy in the mid-late '90s (starting with Jasmine, then Pocahontas, then Esme, Meg). They're also the ones who aren't included much in popular merchandise nowadays, though Jasmine sometimes is (I guess her royalty gives her a little saving grace from the otherwise shameful advent of being sexual).

Then they had Mulan, who was de-feminized to the point of being made into a man and never portrayed as sexy in any way. And now, all the leading ladies are either impish and innocent, like Anna and Rapunzel, or seemingly completely uninterested in sex/romance, like Tiana, Merida and Elsa.

They probably got a lot of flack for making Jasmine be seductive to Jafar, giving Pocahontas full, pouty lips and more seductive eyes than the creepy, giant orbs that the new heroines have, as well as Esmeralda's "pole-dancing," of course, and Meg's saucy attitude, thus the de-sexualized Disney heroines now. But I wish they weren't so PC about it. It's pretty Madonna-whore to censor sexuality that much. I mean, it's not as though any of them were shown to actually engage in promiscuous sex. They just had sex appeal. It's perfectly normal for even young girls to relate to that, but all these innocent, asexual or unfeminine characters make it seem like that's bad. I guess these movies are aimed at kids young enough not to have sexual feelings, so I shouldn't complain. But it does send an interesting message for the older child viewers, who are also a bulk of the fanship - be a "good girl" who doesn't present herself as sexually confident and you'll land yourself a spot in the hearts of everyone!

But, I'm a child of the Disney renaissance, so maybe I've just been brainwashed into being a harlot by all their sexual propaganda from back then. LOL. Half-joking...

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[–] Tinny-Tinette 10 years ago

I think that's a lot of what it is, the sexuality thing. Disney actually had a short phase where its heroines were all sexy in the mid-late '90s (starting with Jasmine, then Pocahontas, then Esme, Meg). They're also the ones who aren't included much in popular merchandise nowadays, though Jasmine sometimes is (I guess her royalty gives her a little saving grace from the otherwise shameful advent of being sexual).

Then they had Mulan, who was de-feminized to the point of being made into a man and never portrayed as sexy in any way. And now, all the leading ladies are either impish and innocent, like Anna and Rapunzel, or seemingly completely uninterested in sex/romance, like Tiana, Merida and Elsa.

They probably got a lot of flack for making Jasmine be seductive to Jafar, giving Pocahontas full, pouty lips and more seductive eyes than the creepy, giant orbs that the new heroines have, as well as Esmeralda's "pole-dancing," of course, and Meg's saucy attitude, thus the de-sexualized Disney heroines now. But I wish they weren't so PC about it. It's pretty Madonna-whore to censor sexuality that much. I mean, it's not as though any of them were shown to actually engage in promiscuous sex. They just had sex appeal. It's perfectly normal for even young girls to relate to that, but all these innocent, asexual or unfeminine characters make it seem like that's bad. I guess these movies are aimed at kids young enough not to have sexual feelings, so I shouldn't complain. But it does send an interesting message for the older child viewers, who are also a bulk of the fanship - be a "good girl" who doesn't present herself as sexually confident and you'll land yourself a spot in the hearts of everyone!

But, I'm a child of the Disney renaissance, so maybe I've just been brainwashed into being a harlot by all their sexual propaganda from back then. LOL. Half-joking...

I'm a child of the Disney renaissance as well and I miss those days where the heroines were actually sexy and Disney weren't so concerned about it. Esmeralda got much flack for being quite sexual, while I never heard any complains about Megara's seduction of Hercules, which is indeed very steamy. And let's not forget how sexy Ariel is.

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[–] number9-4 10 years ago

Yeah, I don't really remember Meg being ridiculed as much, but she probably still was.

I think the exotic dance is what really did Esmeralda in. I mean, on the one hand, it was pretty gratuitous. It didn't really serve any purpose. She could have just been innocently shaking her tambourine at the festival. I think the directors said they had to really show why Frollo would be so mesmerized by her, though I don't think it's inconceivable he could have just had a lust-at-first-sight moment from her beauty alone. She was supposed to be "the finest girl in France," after all.

But on the other hand, why is it such a bad thing anyway? Her dance outfit wasn't really any more revealing than her regular outfit, and she really was just dancing, not gyrating like today's strippers do. I think it's just the fact that she used the spear like a pole that likened it too much to stripping for some people. And it's so ironic and sadly neglectful of the entire point of the movie - people are not always what they seem, and a seemingly holy man can be evil, while a gypsy dancer and a deformed bellringer can be good.

So yeah, I personally agree with you and wish Disney wasn't so PC and Madonna-whore about their women, but maybe I'm forgetting what it's like to be an impressionable child.

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[–] MarblesLove 10 years ago

I'm a kid of the Disney renaissance, too and I think what both of you are saying is really interesting and makes a really good point. Especially the point about Esme getting flack for being an actual female human being who may have some sex appeal and Meg not seeming to get it as much. As a child, I recognized that Follo thought Esme was pretty and that she and phoebes liked each other and that Quasi liked her. But I never thought of her dance as anything more than just a dance. And I knew that Hades wanted Meg to use Herc's crush on her to manipulate him. Even still, with recognizing those things, I saw that there was more to them than just the sex appeal (not that I knew that's what it was called when I was a kid but whatever). I was more concerned with the fact that Esme was nice and didn't judge Quasi for looking different.

I like the heroines now too, but I think that it wouldn't be bad for them to have a few Esmereldas or Jasmines thrown in the mix now too.

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[–] number9-4 10 years ago

I saw that there was more to them than just the sex appeal (not that I knew that's what it was called when I was a kid but whatever). I was more concerned with the fact that Esme was nice and didn't judge Quasi for looking different.

That's exactly it. All you have to do for a little kid to get that a character is good is write them that way, even if they're also portrayed as sexy at times. They're not mutually exclusive.

It's like this weird reversion to the old-school princesses of the '30s to '50s. And even though some prudish people, I guess, saw the '90s princesses as slutty or something, I think their balance of sex appeal and kindness, intelligence, etc., was actually quite revolutionary. It's a shame.

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[–] justinohearn 10 years ago

Esmeralda was originally included as a princess along with Tinkerbell when the princess franchise first started.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51dfWJ0-MpL._SY344_BO1,204,203,2 00_.jpg

Here's a book where she has a story included along with Jasmine and Ariel.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lszgxxBY7S1qgsmfro1_250.jpg

A Disney store doll with the princess logo on it.

http://www.alessandrodistribuzioni.it/ew/ew_albi/images/WALT%20DISNEY% 20PRODUCTION/PRINCIPESSE_DISNEY_050.jpg

A princess magazine with Esme on the cover.

After a while she was dropped most likely because Hunchback is such a dark film and her character is more "sexual" than the other princesses. Sad because she is a great character.

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[–] number9-4 10 years ago

So lame. She's a way better character than the passive Disney princesses like Cinderella and Snow White. But I'm also not a big fan of the supposedly "tough" princesses like Merida and Mulan, because I don't like the message that you have to sacrifice your femininity to be seen as brave, strong and able to fend for yourself. That's one of the things that's so great about Esmeralda (and, oh yeah, she's the only Disney woman besides Pocahontas to care about social justice).

Plus, everyone's always so quick to say that Mulan is bada** because she defeated the huns, but Esmeralda's escape from Frollo's guards was pretty impressive (as Phoebus said, "What a woman!" LOL).

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[–] justinohearn 10 years ago

I agree Esmeralda rocks. It's a shame the company doesn't give a *beep* about her. She is one of the most beautiful leading ladies they have and is a strong character with out being over the top, Wonder Woman strong. I don't like Merida at all. Mulan is ok but I was never a big fan of the movie.

They should add her back. She would add more diversity to the princess line and they desperately need that. Jasmine is the only really popular woman of color in the line up. Pocahontas and Mulan are barely ever featured and Tiana isn't that popular. It's a shame because they are some of the strongest characters and best role models in the franchise.

Also I feel like nobody really understands Mulan's character. A lot of people like to say she is this tough as nails, badass tomboy when that is the furthest thing from the truth. And the princess line always put her in her matchmaker dress which is when Mulan felt the least like herself. But it's her most princessy outfit so that is what she gets stuck in. She is a reserved, shy, dutiful young woman who likes honor and tradition. She doesn't even go to war to kickass and take names she does it to protect her father. And she uses her smarts and her own strengths to beat the Huns and it takes her time to do so. She is not some blood thirsty warrior.

Lol I know that's off topic but it frustrates me that people never get Mulan's character. And she isn't even my favorite character nor do I care for the film but idk it just bothers me for some reason.

But yes Esmeralda needs more love as does this whole film. They are working on a Broadway show based on the film at the moment that is premiering in different areas of the country. Plus I heard they are making a show about Esmeralda so maybe Disney is realizing she and the film have a big fan base. Hopefully this will give them more spotlight!

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[–] number9-4 10 years ago

a strong character with out being over the top, Wonder Woman strong.

Yep. That's why I like her, but the folks at Disney nowadays seem to think women should either be aggressive tomboys/Alpha Females or quirky klutzes.

It also bugs me how they make the women nowadays - even when they're supposed to be like, 18 and older - look so childlike. I feel like there's this very subtle Madonna-whore thing going on - Good girls don't have almond-shaped eyes or full lips or large chests or butts, or any other adult-female physical traits. Which is funny, because way back in the '80s, Jessica Rabbit talked about not being bad just because she looks sexy.

As for Mulan, I think you're right, and a lot of people just see in her what they want to. She was the first even somewhat tomboyish character (even though it was really only because she was fighting for her father's life), so I think a lot of people just ran with that and blew up in their minds just how much of a tomboy she really was, because they liked the idea of a non-traditional princess. People basically make Mulan into Merida, but she's really not.

So it is kind of annoying, yeah, because people are missing the big picture. I hate when people do it with any movie. Other examples are people thinking Elsa is selfish and runs away from her problems, when in actuality she was just trying to protect everyone from her powers and didn't know she'd started the storm, and people saying Sleeping Beauty and Snow White were so weak for needing a man to rescue them, when what the heck were they supposed to do while they were cursed into being vegetables? And it wasn't their fault the curse said true love's kiss would break it, and that they happened to be straight and therefore it would be a man who would break the curse with his true love. The Belle/domestic abuse thing is a pretty big reach, too. While it might not be realistic, Beast really did change, and she only started to have feelings for him once that happened. She didn't make excuses for his temper and all that.

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[–] justinohearn 10 years ago

Yeah it is annoying. It's like do people even watch the movies and pay attention. Elsa didn't want to hurt anyone, especially Anna. That's why she had to "conceal it" all the time. And when her powers were unleashed she left to protect her kingdom like you said.

And it's annoying how everyone always says that the early princesses are weak. Snow White is always bashed but she is better than people give her credit for. She finds out her stepmother wants her dead so of course she is going to be freaked out who wouldn't be? Plus she is only 14 years old? She runs into the forest and freaks out thinking it is haunted. And as soon as she realizes it's all her imagination she perks up and realizes "Hey I could be dead" (not in those exact words lol). She keeps her spirits up despite the less than perfect conditions.

Then when she goes to the dwarfs house she doesn't freeload off them she pays them back by cooking and cleaning for them. And yeah people will say "Of course a woman can only cook and clean!" Well that is what her stepmother (a woman) forced her to do. As a result of that it's what she is good at. And she has more personality than people say. Like she is pretty cheeky with Grumpy and can quite stubborn when dealing with the dwarfs. She is very motherly towards them.

Her only questionable act is taking the apple but honestly how many times do parents tell their children not to talk to strangers, take candy from them ect. But it does happen and children go missing. Snow is suppose to be the epitome of child like innocence and naiveté so of course she doesn't se the danger. But she even seems a little uneasy at first when the hag shows up.

As for Cindy yeah people always say she should just run away. Well looking at the time period the film takes place where would she go? There were not a lot of opportunities for women back then. She had a roof over her head, food, a place to sleep at night. She could have been homeless. As for standing up to her stepfamily if she did that it could have become worse for her. Three against one. She did stand up to them when she needed to like about going to the ball. Plus she had a sense of humor and a bit of sass in her. She was aware of her situation but didn't let it phase her.

Cindy is one of the strongest princesses emotionally. She goes through all the emotional/verbal abuse but she still gets up everyday with a smile and never throws a pity party. Plus she never lets them see her cry. Even after they rip her dress she waits until they leave to break down and cry. That is strength imo.

And Aurora well she has been living with the three fairies (her aunts) her whole life. She is 16 and wants to meet other people. And being a teen boys are of course on her mind. The poor thing has never met any other human. And when she meets Phillip she doesn't run away with him. She invites him to her cottage where her aunts will be there watching over them. And when she realizes she is a princess she isn't a brat and doesn't throw a temper tantrum and run away. She realizes that she has a life of royal privilege. She is the heir to the throne and what would happen if she just didn't show up. She puts the kingdom and her duties before herself which is a very mature thing to do imo.

So yeah I hate when people bash them lol. And yeah the whole Belle/Beast/Stockholm syndrome thing is beyond idiotic. Belle ran ways the first chance she got. She was going to leave the Beast to die even after he saved her but she ended up helping him. And she didn't come around until he was nice and stopped being a douchebag.

Like I said do people watch the movies lol.

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[–] number9-4 10 years ago

I think part of the problem with misconceptions about Elsa is that people take "Let It Go" too much at face-value, focusing on the seemingly flippant lines like, "The cold never bothered me anyway." When clearly, given her anguished expressions and certain other lines in the song, and the things she said when Anna tried to reason with her, she was not just OK with what she had done and only ran away in the first place to protect everyone from her.

I think with the old-school princesses, some people take out their frustration with the movie producers/writers on the characters themselves. Because, yeah, what were Cinderella and Snow supposed to do in their situations? But the fact that the studio was portraying women as victims who always need helping, I think is what bugs some people. When if you actually look at each of their individual scenarios, it really is pretty hard to cast stones. As you said, what options did Cinderella really have? And who wouldn't be freaked out if they found out their stepmother was trying to kill them (and she was the most powerful person in the kingdom, to boot)?

As much as they might be popular, most of the modern Disney heroines are displaying "anachronistic sass," as one reviewer put it (can't remember which one he said that about). We relate to them more, maybe, but it's not very realistic that these characters would be so well-adjusted and also so fearless, when they have such horrible things happening to them and live in the 1700s and earlier.

Like Rapunzel, I think she would have been even more messed up than she was if she'd literally never even met another human being besides her belittling mother. And Anna probably would be more dysfunctional than just comically awkward because of her similar isolation. And I'm pretty sure women in ancient Greece didn't have sarcastic personalities like Meg. But it's not PC to make modern female heroines look weak, even if it's not really weak, it's just realistic.

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[–] violinvictory-858-780905 9 years ago

I love this post so much I wish I could give millions of thumbs up. You really put out that the classic princesses--Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora--are much more nuanced than people give them credit for (though I still think Aurora is very underdeveloped, even though I love her visual design and voice--then again I think the Three Good Fairies and Maleficent are the real main characters of Sleeping Beauty).

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[–] Ray_BLOODY_Purchase 9 years ago

To be fair to Aurora on that front, I think none of the characters (bar the fairies) got much development once the curse set in. As much as I love the illustration and visuals of the movie, it's very unbalanced; we get so much pressure to be invested in the characters as people, only to have no legitimate payoff for that since most of the actors pretty much all went home in the second half.

Snow White and Cinderella certainly were more and had lots of balance to them; Growing up those two movies were one of a good collection that were played 'til the destruction of the VHS tape.

I grew up with movies like The Thin Man, Greer Garson films, etc. I think the modern feminists (both the good and the bad, to give them their dues) just have a slightly harder time with the idea that a woman can still be strong and independent and a real person while simultaneous needing to be rescued and wanting the "standard woman's fare" for her life. It doesn't matter that Greer Garson wanted to marry and take care of a man and lives for him in "Random Harvest"; she's still a strong character because she takes on what she's well aware is a tough project, forges through, makes a life for them, and selflessly doesn't try to fix his illusion - instead keeping a watchful patient eye on him, no matter what he does. To me it's one of the strongest characters in film.

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[–] violinvictory-858-780905 9 years ago

yeah, I also grew up with the Classic Disney films too, and Cinderella is one of my all-time favorite Disney Princesses (she and Belle are my No 2 and 1 respectfully). In fact, I am really in love with the Cinderella fairy tale in general, and I am nuts for any adaptation of it. Subsequently, I do believe Cinderella gets too much of a shaft and there is a lot more to her character than people realize.

I've recently started to turn around on Snow White lately because even though I kinda dismissed her in the same company as Aurora, I realized Snow is actually the more fully realized character between the two. She's sweet and kind, but she can be surprising assertive in her own sweet way (remember how she gives an ultimatum to the dwarves to wash up or no supper). She's also a princess who is willing to get her hands dirty, cleaning up the dwarves' home as a courtesy.

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[–] furienna 9 years ago

I see that nobody has mentioned Kida from "Atlantis". She really is a princess with her movie, but I don't know if she ever was a part of the official line-up. And yet, Mulan made it despite that she's not a princess in any way. And please don't get me wrong here. I adore Mulan and her movie. But how is she in the line-up when Kida isn't? Yeah, I can somewhat understand that "Atlantis" was a rather dark and relatively unsuccessful movie, that the company considered to be a flop (even though it later on would get a cult following), while "Mulan" feels more like some typical "princess movie" and was a much bigger hit at the time. But still, I don't see the logic behind focusing on some characters and just neglecting others.

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[–] Furienna (3352) 3 years ago

The folks at Disney nowadays seem to think women should either be aggressive tomboys/Alpha Females or quirky klutzes.

While I don't believe that you will ever see this, I must reply to this comment.
I guess that this dichotomy had some truth in it seven years ago.
However, it is clear that the girls in "Encanto" don't follow those stereotypes.
Mirabel is quirky and klutzy at times, but is notably different from Rapunzel and Anna in one respect:
She has no apparent dreams of romance and has no love interest (at least not yet).
Then again, she is younger than Rapunzel and Anna and has plenty of time to find somebody in the future.
Dolores is revealed to be the only Madrigal in her generation, who shows any interest in a man at this point.
Then again, we should remember that she happens to be six years older than Mirabel.
Isabela also had a love interest at one point, but he was scrapped before the movie was finished.
Luisa would be the tomboy in this story, but she's not that aggressive and starts showing off a vulnerable side.

It is true though that the sexier type of female leads from the '90s don't seem to exist in newer Disney movies.
But I guess that Elsa and Moana and Raya inherited a part of their tough no-nonsense personalities?
However, it is notable that most of Disney's more recent female leads didn't get a love interest for some reason.
But I guess that some people these days think that showing an interest in a man makes a woman weak?
Okay, some of these girls are still very young and maybe don't have a love interest yet just because of that.
But still, it is a notable trend...

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[–] Furienna (3352) 3 years ago

Also I feel like nobody really understands Mulan's character. A lot of people like to say she is this tough as nails, badass tomboy when that is the furthest thing from the truth. And the princess line always put her in her matchmaker dress which is when Mulan felt the least like herself. But it's her most princessy outfit so that is what she gets stuck in. She is a reserved, shy, dutiful young woman who likes honor and tradition. She doesn't even go to war to kickass and take names she does it to protect her father. And she uses her smarts and her own strengths to beat the Huns and it takes her time to do so. She is not some blood thirsty warrior.

Still, it is clear that Mulan is considered a tomboy by the standards of the society around her.
Yes, it is true that she tried her best to be a "perfect bride" because she wanted to make her family proud of her.
And I guess that she might have passed her test at the matchmaker's if it hadn't been for the cricket.
But becoming a stereotypical woman of her culture wasn't what she was meant to do with her life.
Like you said yourself, Mulan didn't feel like herself when she was dolled up to meet the matchmaker.
So I don't get why you would say that she "likes traditions".
It is clear that she only tried to follow the traditions in the beginning because she thought that she had to.
However, she finds a different very untraditional way to prove herself and bring honor to her family.
She is only able to be herself and succeed at something when she doesn't try to follow society's expectations.
That said, it is true that Mulan isn't a blood thirsty killing machine either.
She manages to get a good balance in life with being both a national war hero and a woman with a love interest.
That seems to be something, that writers at Disney today don't seem to think is possible.

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[–] marvelass 10 years ago

The difference between Pocahontas/Esmeralda/Megara/Mulan and Cinderella/Snow White/Aurora/Belle/Ariel (besides the princess thing), is that the latter have poofy gowns that little girls adore. Ariel also has the mermaid tail that makes her unique.

Pocahontas spends the entire movie in a sort of buckskin mini-dress. Esmeralda has a long dress, but it's rags; her only other clothes-change is her execution robe. Megara also spends the entire movie in a peplos, which isn't very glamorous. And Mulan does wear a dress early on, but it isn't glamorous either and then winds up dressed like a boy for most of the movie.

Girly-girls, the demographic for Disney Princesses, love poofy dresses and makeup and tiaras, which neither Pocahontas, Esmeralda, Megara, nor Mulan have.

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[–] number9-4 10 years ago

That's an interesting point, but I was a total girly-girl who loved Barbies, playing house and the color pink, and I still preferred Esmeralda, Pocahontas and Meg. And Jasmine. And while she is a princess, she doesn't have the trademark poofy gown you speak of.

I don't mean this to be controversial, but I almost wonder whether it's a race thing - not that white girls would be prejudiced against Esmeralda, Pocahontas and Mulan, but just that little girls generally identify with someone who looks more like them. Like how they'll often pick the babydoll with their coloring, and that's why they now make black ones.

I also remember there being a lot of blonde-centrism back in the '90s, though I don't know whether that was just where I grew up or what (it was a very white small town). Nowadays there are more brunette and non-white leading ladies and sex symbols, but I remember kids back then acting like you had to have blonde hair to be pretty (which is so dumb, because it's a just a hair color and has nothing to do with the actual architecture of one's face). Not to mention it's just weirdly reminiscent of Hitler.

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[–] justinohearn 10 years ago

Yeah the dress aspect is a good point. Another thing could be the movies themselves. Pocahontas, Mulan and Esmeralda's films deal with some mature, dark themes like racism, war, genocide, sexual abuse. Where as Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Aurora and Snow White's films are more traditional fairy tales. Sure they have their dark moments. But nothing like Hunchback or Mulan.

Just compare Esmeralda/Frollo to Belle/Gaston or Jasmine/Jafar. Frollo's whole motivation is because of his lust for Esmeralda. Now Gaston is the same but the difference is Gaston is around Belle's age and is attractive. Frollo is old enough to be Esmeralda's grandfather, unattractive and doesn't want to marry her. He wants to have her as his sexual slave. Jasmine and Jafar is just played for laughs really where as Frollo and Esmeralda is very serious.

Also I think when most people think of a princess they think of the traditional European looking girl in a pretty dress. Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel and Belle fit that to a T. Ariel also has the added cool factor of being a mermaid. Jasmine lucks out being from a film that was very successful and popular as opposed to Poca, Esme, Meg and Mulan. While their films did well they were not pop culture juggernaut Aladdin was. Plus Jasmine wears pants the majority of the film so Disney can throw her in as their "tomboy" because of that.

"Notice how I ride side saddle, it proves I'm a lady of quality." Witch Hazel

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[–] number9-4 10 years ago

Frollo's whole motivation is because of his lust for Esmeralda. Now Gaston is the same but the difference is Gaston is around Belle's age and is attractive. Frollo is old enough to be Esmeralda's grandfather, unattractive and doesn't want to marry her. He wants to have her as his sexual slave.

That's a good point. I would say another key difference is that Gaston was more just comically arrogant and ignorant, not outright prejudiced against Belle for something she can't control like her ethnicity.

I never thought being a mermaid was really cool, but I know a lot of girls do. Don't really understand the appeal. I guess I just don't fit the key Disney demographic, if I don't think mermaids are cool and all my favorite Disney heroines are the least popular ones, LOL.

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[–] justinohearn 10 years ago

I randomly found this

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RenaRose/media/Pics/sleepingprincesses.jpg.html

A nightshirt from the late 90's. Cute! Esmeralda needs to make a comeback.

"Notice how I ride side saddle, it proves I'm a lady of quality." Witch Hazel

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[–] justinohearn 8 years ago

Esmeralda is actually getting some merchandise. They just released a Couture d Force figurine of her.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cr4nxcoUkAEDmov.jpg

They have done all the princesses, except Pocahontas, and some villains. Cool that Esmeralda was included.

Disney store also released an ornament of Esme and Quasi.

http://www.yourwdwstore.net/assets/images/5/50000/0000/600/50688-s2.jpg

Nice to see Esmeralda is finally getting some attention and merchandise after all this time.

"Notice how I ride side saddle, it proves I'm a lady of quality." Witch Hazel

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[–] Crocodile (3139) 3 years ago

She is very sensual like Megara. Jane Porter is also very underated

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[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

[deleted]