The idea for the Disney Princess Line began to take shape in January 2000 after Andy Mooney became the president of the Disney Consumer Products division. While attending a "Disney on Ice" event, he noticed that little girls loved to dress like princesses, and decided to market products that were specific to certain animated Disney characters. Although some members of the company were not sure about the idea, the company obviously has found enormous success with the merchandising of clothing, games, dolls, books, videos, Lego sets, and the like.
How were the princesses chosen? They must be the main character of a Disney or Pixar film that is not a sequel, and either be a princess by birth or marriage, or at least perform a heroic deed. This explains why Mulan, for example, who has no royal lineage, is in the lineup. Some of the others' qualifications have been stretched a bit - like Pocahontas, who was the daughter of a chief, so in a sense she was a royal. Princesses also must look like a human and star in a film that was successful. Most of them also have a special gift to communicate with animals and even have an animal companion, and many of them can sing. Of course, Disney always has the final say in who makes the lineup.
Tinkerbell and Esmeralda were originally members of the group, however, Tinkerbell was not human, and is now listed with Disney Fairies. Esmeralda did not prove to be as popular as Disney had hoped. Why aren't Elsa and Anna on the list? They are intensely popular in their own right without having to be marketed with other princesses.
Snow White, who starred in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937), is the oldest princess on the list and is considered to be the original princess. Most of the new princesses have an official coronation ceremony at one of the Disney theme parks. Will more princesses be added to the list in the future? Only time will tell!
So - who are not members of the Princess Line? Fiona is from the "Shrek" (2001) franchise, Odette is from "The Swan Princess" (1994), Anneliese is from "Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper" (2004), and Kida is from "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" (2001). "Thumbelina" (1994) was the topic of a Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale. The others, while property of Disney, didn't make the cut for one reason or another. "Anastasia" (1997) was acquired by the company in 2022, but was originally produced by 20th Century Fox. Princess Atta, who is not a human, is from "A Bug's Life" (1998), and Eilonwy is from "The Black Cauldron" (1985), a Disney movie that was considered to be a flop!
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor kyleisalive before going online.
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