The newly-released trailer for Frozen 2 has sent Disney fans into a frenzy about the upcoming movie. When Frozen first came out, it was applauded by viewers for its messages of female strength and empowerment it provided young girls. In honor of the Frozen sequel, here are the most empowering animated Disney movies of all time.
Starting at the bottom of the list:
11. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
As the first Disney princess movie ever, it’s not surprising that this movie lacks a lot of positive messages. In this film, Snow White runs away from home and ends up picking up after a group of men. When her stepmother poisons her out of jealousy for her beauty, her only saving grace is — surprise — a prince.
10. Sleeping Beauty
Also ranking pretty low on the list is Sleeping Beauty. Aurora spends most of the movie dreaming about a mysterious stranger, who of course is the only one that can save her when she also falls into a cursed sleep. As far as female empowerment goes, this plotline doesn’t send a great message.
9. Cinderella
Cinderella is the third member of the original Disney princesses, and like Snow White and Aurora, her story isn’t very inspiring. Under the oppressive thumb of her stepmother, Cinderella is doomed to a life of housework until the prince of the kingdom conveniently falls in love with her after a single dance.
8. The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid marks the era of Disney princesses that really do mean well, but still end up derailing their plans for a boy. At the beginning of the movie, Ariel aspires to have a life of independence and adventure but soon after is willing to give up her voice and identity to be with a male human.
7. Beauty and the Beast
Like Ariel, Belle dreams of something more than a provincial life, but she sacrifices it without a thought to save her father from a life of imprisonment. After her escape attempt fails, she abandons any plan of leaving and soon falls in love with her captor. Belle’s love of books is certainly inspiring, but that empowerment is offset by the movie’s Stockholm syndrome vibes.
6. Tangled
In Tangled, Rapunzel makes a deal with Flynn Rider, a thief who shows up in her tower, that she will return a stolen tiara to Flynn if he helps her get to the floating lights. She uses her intellect and frying pan to get exactly what she wants, teaching viewers they can do the same.
6. Pocahontas
Not only was Pocahontas the first woman of color to star in a Disney movie, but she also communicated the importance of loyalty and sacrifice. Pocahontas mediates a resolution between her tribe and the colonists and ultimately refuses to leave her home and travel to England with John Smith. Pocahontas is one of the first Disney movies that lets young girls know that finding romance isn’t everything.
5. The Princess and the Frog
In The Princess and the Frog, Tiana teaches us that if you want something, you’re going to have to work for it. To fulfill her dream of opening her own restaurant, Tiana works tirelessly to save enough money and later rejects Prince Naveen’s proposal to keep the dream alive. Whereas earlier princesses needed a prince to save them from their problems, this film empowers viewers to instead help themselves.
4. FrozenFrozen is celebrated for its focus on sister relationships instead of romantic ones. When Arendelle becomes trapped in an endless winter, Anna searches the land for her sister Elsa, and ultimately saves her with her true love. This movie shows us the unbreakable bond of sisterhood, which had not been explored in earlier movies.
3. Brave
In Brave, Merida rejects the role of a traditional princess for her love of archery and uses her bow and arrow to save herself from an arranged marriage. Not only does Merida save her clan from nearby rivals, but she also inspires viewers to defy traditional ideas of femininity in favor of their own goals.
2. Moana
Moana is the latest Disney movie to teach girls that they don’t need a man to solve their problems, as well as the first princess movie that doesn’t involve the princess in a romance. Instead, Moana tells the story of a girl that will stop at nothing to save her home and doesn’t need the help of anyone else to do it.
1. Mulan
This classic Disney movie tells its audience that the power of women should never be underestimated. To save her ailing father, Mulan disguises herself as a man and joins the army. Although she is belittled and abandoned by the male soldiers, it is Mulan that saves China by the end of the movie. Mulan’s refusal to conform to patriarchal expectations earns her the top spot for this list.
We all grew up watching Disney movies, and while they’re all iconic in their own way, some are definitely more empowering than others. Keep an eye out for Frozen 2 for what should be another movie to inspire young girls!