Top 10 Favourite Disney Princesses

Time for another meme, everyone! Seen as I'm reviewing Monster's University next, I decided to make a Disney-related meme.

Now, in the past, I've talked about one or two Disney Princesses that I'm not too fond of - for example, I can't believe how forgettable Aurora is from Sleeping Beauty, something about Merida in Brave rubs me the wrong way (read my review for what I mean by that), and as for Vanellope Von Schweetz from Wreck-It Ralph...... EWW.

But let's talk about the Disney princesses I DO like. Belle and Tiana are two of my favourite female characters, so they're obviously on here, but still, there are 8 other Disney princesses that I really do like.

10. Kida - Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
While not part of the original Disney princesses line, like Princess Eilonwy from The Black Cauldron, I feel that Kida is overlooked quite a bit.... I think her design is one thing I like a lot about her, but still, the fact that she is like a warrior princess and how she willingly follows tradition and is even willing to sacrifice herself to keep Atlantis from danger like her mother did is something that you don't often see - usually in princesses in the past, they just stay put and let the prince save them.... And, to be fair, Milo and friends do eventually have to save her from Rourke in the end, but still, I just really like Kida in this film - and I can see where James Cameron's Avatar STOLE from her...

9. Pocahontas - Pocahontas (1995)
As.... insulting to history as this film is... I just really like the way that Pocahontas shows John Smith how valuable nature can be and the fact that SHE comes to save John Smith in the end, and not the other way around. I'm sorry if there's not much of a reason for this one, but I've liked this character since I first saw this film... Oh, and like Jasmine, she also doesn't let herself be pushed into marriage, and tries to believe in loving someone for who they are.

8. Jasmine - Aladdin (1992)
While she doesn't really... change in the film - she tries to live her life outside the palace for a while, but then when Aladdin comes along disguised as a prince, she suddenly seems to accept her position again... I have always liked Jasmine in this film. Ever since I first saw this film, I like how she stands up to the unfair laws of her country about marriage, and unlike Merida, she DOESN'T try to change her father to get what she wants - she actually goes by herself to get out, and therefore, that's the way she meets Aladdin - she doesn't let herself be pushed into marriage, and she tries to believe in loving someone for who they are - not simply because of the classic princess stereotype of meeting a prince to save her. In fact, even though Aladdin eventually has to save her from Jafar, she does, in a rather funny way, manage to trick Jafar, and she does actually try to fight back against Jafar as well! Another thing I like about Jasmine is that she doesn't always talk about being a princess - she actually says to Jafar, referring to the power she'll have when she's queen, 'I will have the power to get rid of YOU!' A pretty awesome thing to do - not only standing up to Jafar, but actually talking about having queen like power.

7. Snow White - Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937)
Okay, as the FIRST ever Disney princess, and considering how women were portrayed in the 1930's, there's bound to be some controversy in this one - and any female watchers of mine who are reading this list may think a little strangely of me for choosing Snow White over Jasmine or Pocahontas, but I'll explain what I mean.
First of all.... how sweet is Snow White? Her voice is one of the prettiest I've heard in the Disney films, and her singing is also pretty cute. Er, did I just say cute? Well, I can't help it.... I didn't first see this film until very recently, but when I first saw it, I saw why so many people like Snow White.
And for those of you who say that she is simply waiting for a prince to save her - sure, she fantasizes about that a lot in this film... Ever since the FIRST song, where the bland prince who looks almost as feminine as she does bursts in - seriously, the only problem I really have with this film is how forgettable the prince is - like in Cinderella...
But aren't you forgetting - she technically acts like a second mother to the Seven Dwarves? She teaches them responsibility, for example, when she tells them to go and wash, and while this may not be a REALLY big redeeming factor for some - it's still something - much more than Aurora or Merida did... Therefore, it makes it all the more sad when she takes a bite out of the apple, as she actually proves herself in this sense to be a hardworking and responsible woman... True, it may not be much, but it still adds something, in my opinion.
And of course, being a sweet, innocent, and pleasant character makes it all the more better for me.

6. Ariel - The Little Mermaid (1989)
While I said that one reason I don't like Merida is because of how spoilt and bratty she tended to be in her film at times, many people say the same for Ariel.... And, yeah, at times this happens - but still, Ariel doesn't go out of her way to CHANGE HER PARENT, she goes out of the way to change HERSELF. She goes exploring often, she's curious, she's pretty funny at times, and she's quite a bit more independent than earlier princesses - she goes out of her way to change things herself, and while Prince Eric (who is thankfully, MUCH more memorable than the one in Snow White ) saves her in the end by killing Ursula, Ariel saves her life TWICE - when she saves Eric from drowning, and when she makes Ursula zap Flotsam and Jetsam instead of Eric.

5. Cinderella - Cinderella (1950)
Like Snow White, Cinderella may be seen as someone who simply does nothing and let the princess save her, but at the same time - HOW much work is she forced to do by Lady Tremaine, Anastasia and Drizella in this film - and she also acts as a second mother to the animals at times - with the exception of Lucifer. And again, she's rewarded for her hard work and suffering at the hands of such cruelty by the Fairy Godmother.
Actually, cool little fact here - Cinderella was Walt Disney's favourite fairytale - he liked it because he actually related to Cinderella - he also believed he was forced to do hard work all his life without being rewarded for it, and then finally, fate gave him a chance.
Also, Cinderella is constantly put up against technical SLAVE LABOUR by Lady Tremaine, and yet she still keeps her lifelong hope that she'll finally get something for constantly having to do work every single day.... Difficult to do when forced to wash clothes, wash floors, have her dress ripped to shreds, and even locked in the tower away from the happy ending that awaits her downstairs... One reason why not only Lady Tremaine is an effective villain, but why Cinderella is an effective princess....
But ONCE AGAIN - how BORING is the PRINCE in this? Does he even say a single LINE in this one?!

4. Rapunzel - Tangled (2010)
From the film that FINALLY made me realise that Disney's independent CGI films may actually have a chance (Chicken Little was bad, The Wild was.... HORRENDOUS, Meet the Robinsons was... okay, and I haven't actually seen Bolt all the way through), we have this fun, cool, likeable princess.... First of all, I love how she's given a great reason why her hair grows longer, and the idea that it's being used by Mother Gothel to make herself younger is also pretty awesome. Her voice is also pretty, and like Ariel, she is eager to get out there and explore the world - and true, while Flynn Rider does eventually save her, she does save Flynn once or twice (lighting up her hair in the flooded cave, and using her powers to heal Flynn's cut hand), and she does manage to inspire all of the thugs in the tavern to get out there and embrace their own dreams. Again, some of you may think she's typically a teenage drama queen at times, but come on - I think she's much more independent and kick-ass at times - for example, who knew a FRYING PAN could be such an effective weapon?

3. Mulan - Mulan (1998)
As well as being a girl who wants to break away from tradition, and as well as having a really beautiful design - Mulan goes out of her way to save her father from possible death at the hands of Shan Yu by taking his place. Also, it's not necessarily STRENGTH that she uses to her advantage at times - true, in the awesome 'Be a Man' song, she proves herself tough - but she not only intelligently uses the firework to cause an avalanche on the Hun army, but she also lures Shan Yu to the palace roof, AND she also comes to the aid of Li Shang a few times. As well as getting some pretty hilarious scenes when she tries to fit in in Li's army, she also proves that women can be just as capable as men.

2. Tiana - The Princess and the Frog (2009)
As well as being the first African-American princess, taking another step forward in equal rights, Tiana is another princess who really gets things done - no matter what happens, she sticks with her goals - EVEN as a frog, she still shows some things to Prince Naveen, when she shows him how to chop the mushrooms properly. Even though some people say she works TOO hard - like, how many JOBS does she have in this film - as soon as she gets home from one shift, she heads out to another one - but again, even though she has this flaw - which I like, she's not perfect, she's not a Mary-Sue, she's someone who is TOLD that she does work TOO much - but she STILL sticks with it because she's working towards that goal. Like Snow White and Cinderella, she does some genuine hard work in this film, and therefore, that's one reason out of many why she deserves a reward.
And also, even as a FROG, she manages to be beautiful - and also, how AWESOME was it when she stands up to Dr Facilier - not only saying that having what you NEED is more important than having what you WANT, in this case, love and affection - and then she just SHATTERS Dr Facilier's voodoo amulet. She's also not constantly saved by Prince Naveen, she saves HIM quite a few times, and actually, Naveen gets captured by Facilier quite a bit - while still being likeable, true, but it's something I find interesting. And I guess I really like her because she's a chef - I love cooking too, and the things she makes, like the beignets, gumbo and that mushroom soup.... Yum!
But still, Tiana is such a great character, being on my Top 20 Favourite Female Characters list, being funny, quirky, she has a great personality, and she won't let anyone sway her from her life's goal.... And of course, at the end, she has Louis the alligator (or crocodile, I can't tell the difference... ) 'inspire' the Fenner twins to give her the restaurant....

1. Belle - Beauty and the Beast (1991)
I know this is a VERY popular choice for the best of the Disney princesses, but I can't help it - she's SUCH a great character!
She may be beautiful, but she doesn't spend her time maintaining her looks, she prefers reading - one reason why I like her so much, a princess who makes it clear that she's intelligent, kind, brave, and adventurous. Nerd pride!
She's not satisfied with a hum drum life of low expectations; she dreams of more, of adventure, and of someone who loves/accepts her for who she is. She turns down a handsome jerk like Gaston, and even stands up to him a few times, like when she kicks him out the house into the mud , and she warms up to the Beast's character, something no-one else in the village would do - and while I know some people think she's a Mary-Sue, COME ON, she IS NOT. She convinces herself that Beast means well, she WILLINGLY goes along with Phillipe to find her father Maurice, despite the dangers, like Kida, she willingly sacrifices herself to save someone she loves, but at the same time, she brings out the good nature in Beast, and everything about her works as a female character for me - she's actually a pretty good role model, in my opinion.

The reason why Princess Mombi ISN'T on here is because she's a villain... She IS an awesome villain, but the princesses on here are all the heroic ones.
If you have any opinions or would like to make your own list, just ask me in the comments below. The blank version will be uploaded soon.
Here's the blank version here - duckyworth.deviantart.com/art/…