In 2012, the feminist blogosphere lit up with news of a revolutionary Disney princess. Merida, a Scottish princess and protagonist of Brave, had all of the qualities that a traditional Disney princess lacked. She was independent. She was physically strong. She takes control of her own destiny without being bound by traditional expectations. Sure, there may have been princesses in the past that had these qualities (Mulan, anyone?), but the most revolutionary aspect of Merida's story was that she had no love interest that influenced her path. Yes, there were suitors, but they were equally bound by traditions and their parents' expectations and barely play any role in Merida's destiny.
Basically, Merida is an awesome role model for young girls, and she is one of my favorite fictional characters of all time. But Disney released another film in 2012 that had an even more revolutionary princess. I'm talking about Vanellope von Schweetz from Wreck-It-Ralph.
I'm sorry if you haven't seen the film, and I am ruining part of the ending for you, but I need to remind people who have seen the film, who probably let this fact gloss over them, but the potty-mouthed 9 year-old voiced by Sarah Silverman is a princess. Vanellope, who is treated as an outcast by the other denizens of her game through most of the film, is revealed to be the rightful ruler and princess of her game (Sugar Rush) at the end. (Oh, yeah, if you didn't know and hadn't guessed by now, Wreck-It-Ralph takes place in the world of arcade games.)
There is nothing princess-like about Vanellope. She not only is she treated as an outcast and is mocked by the other characters in her game for her glitching. Her outfit includes a hoodie and stripy socks. She makes potty jokes and other rude, immature comments. I mean, what would you expect when she is voiced by Sarah Silverman? She is definitely a one-of-a-kind.
But quirks alone fail to explain the greatness of Vanellope being a princess. First, she relentlessly pursues her dream of being a racer despite the mockery of everyone around her (until she befriends Ralph). Second, she turns what everyone told her is a "flaw" all of her life into a strength. Vanellope's "glitching" is treated by others as a flaw and a reason why she is undesirable. However, she eventually learns how to use her glitching as a strength and employs this "superpower" (as she calls it) to take the lead in a critical race and to save Ralph's life. And yes, you read that right. This is a princess who saves the male protagonist's life as he is falling from the top of the mountain into the Sugar Rush equivalent of boiling lava. Finally, after her true identity is revealed and she is magically dressed into a poofy princess dress, Vanellope briefly messes with the heads of the other racers who had previously mocked her, then instantaneously slips back into her usual outfit and ponders the establishment of a constitutional democracy with her having the title of president rather than one of princess.
So, to recap, this Disney princess stands up for herself when (almost) everyone is against her, she doesn't let anyone or anything other than herself define her, and she knows how to be in charge. Plus, she doesn't need to act or dress or speak in any particular manner to validate her status or authority as princess. As awesome as Merida is, and as much as I love her, Vanellope may take the title as most revolutionary Disney princess in my books.
