Top 10 Most Romantic Things Disney Princesses Have Done
#10: Jane Stays With Tarzan "Tarzan" (1999)
Top 10 Portrayals of Jane Austen Heroines
Lots of people have to make sacrifices to be with the person they love, but not many have to give up all of human civilization. But this is the hard decision Jane makes at the end of “Tarzan,” leaving the “civilized” world behind in order to live in the jungle with the man she loves. It’s a very dramatic scene, with Jane on the way back to her old life, but then making the last minute decision to jump off the rowboat and swim back to her true love, with her father’s blessing.
#9: Mulan Comforts Shang "Mulan" (1998)
Everything We Know About the Mulan Remake So Far
The romance between Mulan and Li Shang is more of a subplot than the love stories told in so many other Disney movies, but that doesn’t make it any less impactful. After an encounter with the emperor’s bullying advisor Chi-Fu about troop readiness, Shang is feeling discouraged. Mulan jokingly offers to help by taking on Chi-Fu herself, and when that doesn’t cheer him up she praises her captain. Despite the fact that she has feelings for him, she can’t express them fully because of her disguise and position. But she’s there for him in a profound way.
#8: Anna Replaces Kristoff's Sled "Frozen" (2013)
TOP 10 FILMS qui ont TRAUMATISÉ les ENFANTS des ANNÉES 80 !
For much of “Frozen”, we mistakenly believe the romance we should be focusing on is between Anna and Prince Hans. But in an expertly delivered twist, we find out that he’s actually the villain, and that the perfect guy has been under her nose all along. Kristoff’s sleigh was destroyed during his adventures with Anna, and to express her thanks, she gets him a new one which is the latest model, and even has a cup holder. Her excitement to surprise him is straight-up adorable, and the kiss they share afterwards is perfectly awkward in the best way.
#7: Ariel Saves Eric From Drowning "The Little Mermaid" (1989)
Quite the opposite of an archetypal damsel in distress, it’s Ariel who, after a shipwreck, saves the man she has become enamoured with: Prince Eric. She rescues him by dragging his unconscious body to shore, unsure if he’s even alive. After admiring his beauty, she sings to him, which is a memory that lodges itself in his brain despite the fact that he’s barely awake. She manages to get away before he properly wakes up, but he’s left with the mystery of who the singing saviour was.
#6: Giselle Slays a Dragon to Save Robert "Enchanted" (2007)
We sure do love a princess who can hold her own. In many ways, "Enchanted" has a self-awareness that more classic Disney movies lack, poking fun at the tropes of the fairy tale genre on numerous occasions. When the evil Narissa transforms into a dragon, she grabs Robert and scales a building with him in her clutches, in a move that is traditionally gendered the other way. Giselle becomes the hero of her own story when she manages to save Robert (with some help from Pip of course), risking her own life to ensure his safety.
#5: Jasmine Chooses Aladdin "Aladdin" (1992)
Jasmine’s story arc in “Aladdin” focuses on her wish to have more freedom from the oppressive life she lives as the daughter of the Sultan of Agrabah. One of the rules imposed on her is that she does not have agency when it comes to who she gets to marry. By the film’s end though, her father has come around, and decides to use his power to change the law, allowing her to pick her future husband. And without a moment of hesitation, she chooses Aladdin, despite his lack of pedigree, showing that love really can conquer all.
#4: Rapunzel Accepts the Real Eugene "Tangled" (2010)
During the climax of “Tangled,” Rapunzel fights to save Eugene’s life, even being willing to sacrifice her freedom if it means being able to ensure his wellbeing. While this is certainly a dramatic and romantic gesture, another quieter moment is the one that sticks with us even more. As they sit by the fireside together they swap secrets, and Eugene drops the “Flynn Rider” facade and tells Rapunzel the real story of his life, as well as the reason he pretended to be someone who he wasn’t. Rather than being disappointed, she tells him that she actually prefers the name Eugene, the real him.
#3: Meg Sacrifices Herself to Save Hercules "Hercules" (1997)
Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know about Disney Princesses
Throughout "Hercules", Meg pretty much looks out for number one, often prioritizing her own needs over those of others. But once she realizes that she has fallen for Hercules, she’s willing to do crazy things in the name of love. Most notably, she ends up being crushed by a pillar when she pushes her beloved out of the way to save him, mortally injuring herself in the process. Luckily this movie exists in a world where death does not have to be permanent, but that doesn’t make Meg’s sacrifice any less meaningful.
#2: Tiana Gives up Her Dreams to Protect Naveen "The Princess and the Frog” (2009)
It’s not often that a movie villain comes up with a proposal as enticing as this one. Dr. Facilier tries to tempt Tiana into giving him the talisman by offering her a chance to live the dream that her own father was never able to achieve: opening her own restaurant. But her love for Naveen makes her shatter the mystical object, meaning that she is doomed to be stuck as a frog forever. Because she’s able to be with Naveen though, she decides to be content with her fate. Luckily, they don’t have to remain in that state for long, however, and we get a good old-fashioned happily-ever-after. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Show White Sends a Dove to Deliver a Kiss "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937) Esmeralda Rescues Phoebus and Hides Him "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1996)
#1: Belle Breaks the Curse "Beauty and the Beast” (1991)
At the beginning of "Beauty and the Beast”, a young prince is cursed by a spell that can only be broken if he is able to love someone and earn their love in return. Time is running out as the final rose petal is about to fall, and the Beast, inspired to keep fighting by Belle’s brave return to the castle, is badly wounded by Gaston. The Beast dies and Belle sobs over his body, whispering that she loves him, as tears run down her face. What she doesn’t realize is that these words are just what are needed in order to break the spell, and the Beast is not only revived, but returned to his human form.
