A FAT princess? Are they kidding me?! O_O

[Nilla Joy]

I just found another thread topic over at the Princess and the Frog area at IMDB. If you remember my last discussion, we were talking about if the idea for Disney making a character with a disablity was good or not, but I think these people over at the site are taking it too far. The reason? One said them that we should have a fat princess. FAT! Are they losing their minds?

Well I read through this people's comments about it and here's something interesting I never picture that was going to plan out. Called it crazy if you want, but someone said "According to Patrick Dempsey in 2007, they were about to make a sequel to Enchanted, where Giselle gains weight in the real world and ends up wanting to go back to the perfect world of Andalasia. But I don't think that it will happen because they scrapped the Enchanted franchise due to the image right issues, and Amy Adams has moved on to other roles."

My reaction? WHAT?! Giselle...from Enchanted...gaining weight? How is that even going to work out? The reason she STAY in the real world was because she found her true love inside of Robert and now she wants to go back to her original hometown to the other world to stay skinny? I'm not sure if that's even right or not, but that sounds like a lame excuse to me.
We all know that Fiona from Shrek was very heavy and chucky when she was in orge form, but this is Disney we're talking about.

Disney would NEVER make their princess overweight. It just wouldn't cut out for the change. If I had to choose, I think I would of gone with the idea of a disablity character instead, no matter how much I would have to disagree with that too. And I'm sure every one of you here has deal with weight issues before. If you're skinny and always have stay skinny, then that's good but it's good if you're super skinny like the models you see on TV and it's not good to be overweight either because you can get heart problems or any typical health weight issue, and that's not a good sign.

[Arrevanthas]

I know I haven't been as active here as I would like to be. But I feel the need to put my two cent in on this. In all honesty, I think it is good that Disney breaks out of the shell and tries for things like a disability or someone not being an ideal weight. The reason I say this is because I work with children on a daily basis, not only my own, but I am a preschool teacher as well. I love Disney, but I think their attempts in trying to have more diverse characters is a good thing.

Face it, a lot of children grow up on Disney. And if you truly look at all the things Disney teaches, it isn't always a good thing. The thing is...this world is a very diverse place. People come in all shapes and sizes and when these images can be brought to children in a positive light, it will help ease some of those insecurities that children, especially girls, face. Children look for things that are similar to themselves...and seeing something like a Disney film where they can relate to the main character who still loves themselves despite their weight can help ease that pressure. That is one thing that people need to start teaching more of...love yourself no matter what you look like and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Remember, insecurities breed hatred. But everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

[FaPingMulan]

You know I have to agree with you Arrevanthas because I grew up on Disney and I still continue to watch and love Disney movies but a lot of my friends and family are on the "Bigger side" if you know what I mean.
I would love to see Disney try something a little different even if it didn't do well I would still love to see it especially with a more fatter princess not the original ones already made getting fat but a brand new one you know?

[Arrevanthas]

Yeah I know what you mean. I think it would be good and kind of refreshing in a way. I mean, the media focuses so much on you have to look this way to be considered acceptable...but fail to realize that we are all different. We should be taught to love ourselves and not hate that we have a little chub not helping to reinforce eating disorders and such.

[FaPingMulan]

yeah exactly

[Dusk Nightshade]

I agree with Arrevanthas and FaPingMulan, though I think the key is being happy with oneself, especially if one isn't media-perfect (which isn't too healthy either).

On Nilla Joy's comment about Giselle from Enchanted getting fat in the real world and wanting to go back to perfect Andalasia: I think that even if Giselle did gain weight, she wouldn't want to go back to Andalasia just for that--she's much too sweet and kind to worry about a piddly thing like that. At least, that's how she strikes me. I'm glad they scrapped that, I've had enough of awful sequels.

[nightworm]

Hmmm...I bet you this topic has raised some eyebrows! But I wouldn't mind if there was an overweight princess because my mom has been struggling with her weight for years. I think it would tickle her if there was an overweight princess. That reminds me...do you guys remember Sophie from Anastasia? She was a bit on the heavy side but Vlad loved her! I thought that totally rocked,espcially since Vlad is played by one of my favorite actors, Kelsey Grammer!

[FaPingMulan]

Oh yes I thought it was very sweet that Vlad liked Sophie even if she wasn't one of the attractive skinny girls and I also know my cousin who also been struggling with her weight would probably love to a "bigger" disney princess

[Dusk Nightshade]

Vlad/Sophie from Anastasia makes me want to squee--they're so sweet! I wish I could find a guy like that hahaha.

[FaPingMulan]

Yeah no kidding Lol

[HeXXus]

lol wow, well you guys took the words right out of my mouth.

I would personally like to see a character with a disability, or even an overweight character. And goodness sakes, overweight doesn't have to mean the sort where people need help getting out of bed and are in such severe physical distress that they need change immediately for the better.

Now, I could be wrong for lack of watching every disney movie that comes out, but from what I recall- there barely seem to be any plain or average female main characters. That was something that attracted me to lilo and stitch a little. Not only is Lilo a very strange little girl, but she's not amazingly thin and beautiful. She's not ugly or overweight either- she's a perfect, adorable little child who, apart from being relatable to those who have lost family members or don't fit in with the norm, is very average and normal. The same for her sister. I mean her sister nani leans a little more toward the pretty/thin characters, but she's not quite like them- she's athletic and fit, and there's a reason. She's constantly running back and forth to support herself and her sister, she's active in other ways..So she's fairly bordering average too.

The disney princesses are insurmountable for some little girls to live up to, if they grew up with them and think that's how they're supposed to look and that's how perfect they're supposed to be. ( Now I'm not claiming EVERY disney character is a mound of insecurity, or every little girl has expectations that they are/have to live up to these princesses and then real life severely disappoints them- but I know there have been cases., and maybe they're rare. Super models and 'real' models in the news and media are more that case.)

my friend made me watch this top model show once, and I noticed their 'overweight' model won in that season. It both was aggravating and inspiring. Inspiring because this girl was pretty, but she was average in body- she wasn't the typical, toothpick model and it was nice to see her getting chosen above all others. The aggravating part was the 'plus size' or 'overweight' label that was attach ted to her. Now maybe I remember it wrong or just took it a wrong way since I don't care for Tyra banks, but from what I recall...this girl was NOT overweight, and she had less fat on her body than I do. She was totally average in body size. Maybe a little more meat to her here or there ,but certainly not overweight.

And it's just like...okay, so what...average is the new overweight?

I don't see anything wrong with a disabled princess or disabled main character in a disney movie- or one perceived overweight.

I mean..it's nice to have characters with the odds stacked against them- underdogs, characters whose flaws are relatable things like that- and you root for them the entire time, and it just..I don't know, it feels more meaningful when the characters with struggles ( mentally, physically, etc) overcome them to find their happy ending.

It just feels less...endearing for me for yet another princess to find her prince charming and have her happy, super-perfect fairy tale book ending life. It's not that realistic to me to begin with in terms of relating, so I don't always get invested in the character

But characters like..Say Valiant, or Nemo- nobody thought they could do it or make it. But they had to prove everybody wrong- and in the end, ended up becoming something great and/or getting what they wanted. Regardless of the physical ailment of one's fin, and the fact one was a little too short. And let's not forget quasimodo. Who didn't feel sorry for the poor thing? He was the most human character in that movie! ( imo, other people may believe otherwise)

I think the same sort of thing could work with an overweight, or just not a perfectly-figured disney princess or disney heroine. Why do the princesses or heroines have to have perfect, impossible figures anyway?

Whose to say the disabled or the overweight can't rise to the occasion, summon up the courage and determination within, and become heroes and heroines in their own right?

I think it'd be great. I totally agree that kids need the message to learn how to love themselves for them- and not struggle to conform to the ideals mainstream society attempts to force upon them.

But I am biased in this. I don't have a perfect figure, and I have a sister who is mentally disabled and not exactly perfectly-figured either. And while I do like disney heroines, it would be nice for people to step outside of their comfort zones. Maybe it would make them think twice about making their insensitive jokes about people. Unlikely, but I can dream can't I? My sister is a huge disney fan, and as she gets older..There are going to be people who can't understand her, things she cannot understand, and I would really like to see her being able to associate with characters from her favorite animation company- rather than having to deal with her coming to me or my parents one day, wondering why she can't be 'pretty' or perfect like all the disney princesses..

because honestly, that would break my heart to hear.
((whoo boy, I ramble fested. sorry guys.))


Anywwaaayy.

Yeah, you know, those two in Anastasia made me squee as well. XD

[FaPingMulan]

I know what you mean Shauni, I myself will never judge any of the other disney princesses on how they look or what they act like because I am not overly affected by it but I know I myself am very much like Lilo especially in middle school and high school where everyone treated me badly just like her so I always liked that about her and Nani being normally average as well but it's not to say I don't like the disney princesses because I do but I also liked Quasimodo because as you said he was human and he was different which is good these are the types of characters I would like to see whether they are disabled overweight average ect the ones that seem the most human and the most relatable to their audience