Are there criteria to be a Disney princess?

[DollyKim]

Aside from being in a Disney movie are there common themes for Disney princesses? Singing and dancing? Animal companions? One parent? Sparkling footwear?

Just a silly thing I'm wondering about for some character development.

[Dark Angel]

I'd say a heart of gold.

[Stormlight]

Being an actual princess? lol

[K2!]

Being animated.

[quidam]

Well, since Mulan is officially in the group, you don't even have to be a princess to be a princess. (Really???) Both she and Merida have both parents.
The Frozen princesses don't have an official animal side kick, so that is not necessary.
Merida doesn't sing or dance. She's not too graceful either.

I'd say the qualifications are: animated, female, and must be a money maker.

[Stormlight]

I think Mulan is the single exception to the rule. Megara from Hercules isn't one, and Esmerelda from Hunchback of Notre Dame also isn't one. Tinkerbell isn't one, either. She used to be, but they pulled her from the list. She's definitely a money-maker, though.

Also, Elsa and Anna from Frozen have yet to make the list. They were DEFINITELY money-makers. Weird.

Edit: I got curious so I looked it up. The last two have their own franchise because of their success. Thus, they have no need to join the DP lineup. Go figure. lol

From the DP wiki: "...who are either royal by birth, royal by marriage, or considered a "princess" due to their significant portrayal of heroism in their film." That explains Mulan.

[Trethowan]

Who was the very first Disney princess? Snow White?

[SetsunaKou]

I know Disney recently stated that Sofia the First won't ever count as a Disney Princess because she's too young (less than 15).

That means they want the protagonist to have at least a possibility of romance, if not a genuine love interest already.

Just like Stormlight-san said, Anna & Elsa (from Frozen) were all scheduled to join the lineup in 2014/2015 but it was postponed (permanently?) because Frozen is/was so lucrative on its own that they put off adding the 2 to the Princess lineup for now. I guess when Frozen is no longer super popular on its own, they'll join the other gals. But, unofficially, they're Princess #12 and #13.

Disney just released 'Elena of Avalor' and it's 'movie' 'Elena & the Secret of Avalor' will be on TV in Oct/Nov 2016. (It's so weird that they released the series 'sequel' BEFORE the actual movie! :laughs:)
It's said Elena is/will be a genuine Disney Princess. She was created in answer to Sofia not being an actual 'Disney Princess', and who had been previously lauded as the first Latina princess. Since they disqualified Sofia, Disney came up with 'Elena' who, quite amazingly, Sofia discovered/released from inside Sofia's amulet and who had been frozen in the amulet (along with her family stuck in a painting) for 41 years.
Now, Disney is saying that Elena is the first Latina Disney Princess (she's 16 yrs old, and has a love interest---sort of).

So, it seems it doesn't have to be a 'theatre' movie to qualify as 'Princess', since Elena of Avalor is a made for tv movie and tv series.

Mulan isn't a princess at all---by birth or marriage, but they want an Asian 'princess' so she's added. (Though they practically ignore both Pocahontas and Mulan in most of the merchandising!) I was flustered by this so I did some research and 'Shang Li' (Mulan's 'guy') became a Marquis in China during the Han dynasty, so....at least Mulan was, by marriage, a Marquess.
Better than not being royal at all, but still....She's not really a princess in any way....But I love her and her movie.....


Eilonwy and Kida don't make the 'princess' lineup even though they WERE actual princesses is because they aren't the protagonists of their films. (The Black Cauldron and Atlantis, respectively). Giselle from Enchanted doesn't count because her movie is mostly or at least half 'live action' and a parody of sorts of the animated princess features. So she's out, too. Plus, none of them were super big hits, so that doesn't work in their favor with Disney.

(Exception: Jasmine---she's only the love interest of Aladdin, who is the protagonist. But she's still counted. )


In the end, it seems one just has to be old enough to have romantic possibilities, and be the protagonist/star of their [hit] film. ^.~

Also, what's with several of the princesses having names that start 'el---' :
Ella
Elsa
Elena

0-o.....I know Ella is fact from the actual fairytale 'Cinder-Ella' so she's safe. But I think 'Elena' is kind of a jumping on the bandwagon that 'Elsa' was such a phenomenon. Does Disney think kids will associate Elena as Elsa because their names are similar sounding?

[yarwel]

Also, what's with several of the princesses having names that start 'el---' :
Ella
Elsa
Elena

0-o.....I know Ella is fact from the actual fairytale 'Cinder-Ella' so she's safe. But I think 'Elena' is kind of a jumping on the bandwagon that 'Elsa' was such a phenomenon. Does Disney think kids will associate Elena as Elsa because their names are similar sounding?

A bit of digging actually reveals that both the Elsa and Elena names have princess baggage, so to speak.
Elsa was the tragic heroine of the fairytale opera Lohengrin. Interestingly, like Elsa in Frozen, Elsa from Lohengrin is accused of crimes she didn't commit by a man who is trying to steal her title and lands.
Elena is a current princess of Spain(as is Sophia). Elena is third in line to the throne behind her two nieces.

[kenaiqueen]

Who was the very first Disney princess? Snow White?

Must be since she had the first movie. I have two pieces of art I scanned from a Disney Princess art book and they refer to her as The Original Princess and Aurora as the Dreaming Princess.

JMHO, I agree with Sara Crewe that every girl is a princess. (as I adjust my tiara to a more comfortable position...)