So much for the Merida makeover

[Magpie]

I'm completely fine with the "makeovers", but maybe that's because I'm an artist myself. All I see is a different, but completely recognizable, interpretation of the princesses. I think several of them are quite beautiful and I love Mulan's look. Merida looks older - so maybe that's what she'll look like when she's a warrior queen in her twenties.

These pictures don't change them forever. It's just a new interpretation. The movies remain unchanged. The characters in the parks remain unchanged. And if your child is melting down over a picture of a princess online, why not challenge her to draw her own version of the princesses? Empower her to create her own.

After all, we, every one of us, have the right to imagine favourite fictional characters any way we like.

I'm sure there'll be a "Disney Babies" version of each of the princesses soon, if there isn't already.

 

[TARAMEOW]

I personally hate ALL the makeovers. LEAVE THE PRINCESSES ALONE! They're beautiful the way they are in their movies. There is no need for a "make over."

This

 

[bumbershoot]

It didn't take away from her personality, it didn't take away from her being ridiculously awesome.

It did take away from her personality, because of that whole part of the story showing how much she cannot stand to have that tight, corseted dress on, and does not want to be a *woman*, with all the responsibilities that go along with that, yet. It flew in the face of the story, which wasn't written in the '30s, or reimagined from a scary Grimm story...it is brand new, the artists are still around, and it's silly to think she needed to have the images of her changed.


Do the live Meridas look different, and less girlish? Yes, of course, they are adults who are portraying her. But that doesn't mean the pictures of her have to show a tight and corseted version of her.


And HEY, let's stop talking about Merida like it's only GIRLS who like her! My son has not one, but TWO, dolls of her, and he plays bows and arrows with them quite often. He LOVES Merida, just the way she was in the movie. Doesn't hurt that Merida at Disneyland asked if they were some sort of cousins, because of their hair.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

They all look ridiculous. Mulan and Rapunzel are practically unrecognizable.

Totally agreed. Disney took innocent, classic characters and hyper-sexualized them. I would be very surprised if women designed any of the "makeovers". The before/after images in Wednesday's Jezebel article make it really apparent--the "afters" all look like they're waiting for someone to *pay them*. It's just really gross.

 

[FigNewton]

Here's a good article that explains why it was, indeed, a big deal for some (including the writer/director who created her): http://jezebel.com/disney-pulls-sexy-merida-makeover-after-public-backlash-494274022

Lol. I'd already read that. It's largely what lead to my statement about the whole incident being overblown. I'm a little curious why people aren't more up in arms over the face character Meridas being "all gussied up".

Look, if we started seeing Merida Make-up sets and spin off videos where she got fussy over the cut of her dress in order to impress her own Prince Charming then I would understand COMPLETELY. But this is one (as Magpie said, completely recognizable) rendering by another artist. That's all.

Totally agreed. Disney took innocent, classic characters and hyper-sexualized them. I would be very surprised if women designed any of the "makeovers". The before/after images in Wednesday's Jezebel article make it really apparent--the "afters" all look like they're waiting for someone to *pay them*. It's just really gross.

That's hypersexualized? More Jezebel sensationalism? This whole reaction is so bizarre to me.

 

[kayemgi]

I'm completely fine with the "makeovers", but maybe that's because I'm an artist myself. All I see is a different, but completely recognizable, interpretation of the princesses. I think several of them are quite beautiful and I love Mulan's look. Merida looks older - so maybe that's what she'll look like when she's a warrior queen in her twenties.

These pictures don't change them forever. It's just a new interpretation. The movies remain unchanged. The characters in the parks remain unchanged. And if your child is melting down over a picture of a princess online, why not challenge her to draw her own version of the princesses? Empower her to create her own.

After all, we, every one of us, have the right to imagine favourite fictional characters any way we like.

I'm sure there'll be a "Disney Babies" version of each of the princesses soon, if there isn't already.

Ditto. (Are you a Jez commenter? I think I saw a similar comment about drawing your own there! )

The makeovers are meh, but I totally get the reasoning behind them. Disney wants to market these princesses as a group, and if they hodge podge different animation styles, dating as far back as 1937 to the new technology of today, all together on a lunch box, it's going to look like crap. And I've really been shocked by some of the outrage I've been seeing around the internet about this, including right here on the dis. Come hither eyes? Skanky? Comparing them to prostitutes?! Really? I think that's taking it all a big step too far. Showing some shoulder does not a skank make.

I could go on and on for days about how the important message to give to our kids is that it doesn't matter how they look. What's important is their admirable character traits. Focusing on their looks, however much we may like or dislike them, does everyone a disservice.

However, the most important thing to remember in this case, I think, is that Disney has made no statement. There is no evidence that the makeover has actually been pulled. Just a report from a website that is not renowned for it's research and fact-checking acumen making an assumption based on what they see on Disney's website. I love Jezebel, but they've done this before. I just don't think it's ever blown up quite this big.

Oh, and there are Disney Princess babies (or at least, toddlers):

 

[AngiTN]

So nice to see another voice of reason. The bold is the exact point I've made over and over again.

Teen aged Merida is not going to have the same attitudes as Young Adult Merida, which is what I feel the drawing represents. I'm bumfuzeled at how a drawing conveys anything and it sure isn't telling my DGD a thing. She knows it's not real and she sure doesn't idolize any cartoon character. I don't think any child should.

Not to mention, Merida did have a change in attitude by the end of the movie. Just like her mother did. They both realized they were wrong. I think people tend to forget that.

I'm completely fine with the "makeovers", but maybe that's because I'm an artist myself. All I see is a different, but completely recognizable, interpretation of the princesses. I think several of them are quite beautiful and I love Mulan's look. Merida looks older - so maybe that's what she'll look like when she's a warrior queen in her twenties.

These pictures don't change them forever. It's just a new interpretation. The movies remain unchanged. The characters in the parks remain unchanged. And if your child is melting down over a picture of a princess online, why not challenge her to draw her own version of the princesses? Empower her to create her own.

After all, we, every one of us, have the right to imagine favourite fictional characters any way we like.

I'm sure there'll be a "Disney Babies" version of each of the princesses soon, if there isn't already.

And yes, there are toddler versions of the Disney Princesses. I personally think they are the cutest rendition of the Princesses ever. I want to own them all. I'm half way there

 

[pigletto]

I think it's one thing to say they had to make them look uniform for marketing purposes, but I don't know if I buy that. So it's coincidence that in making them look uniform that they've been vamped up, all traces of ethnic features erased or "softened"? No. They've been marketing just fine for years the way they were. I believe they are changing to adapt to our changing landscape of Hollywood beauty which gets racier and more plastic with each passing year.
All of the princesses look like they had lip implants for heavens sake. And was that popular in Hollywood 20 years ago? No. Now it's pretty standard to look like a fish

 

[kayemgi]

I think it's one thing to say they had to make them look uniform for marketing purposes, but I don't know if I buy that. So it's coincidence that in making them look uniform that they've been vamped up, all traces of ethnic features erased or "softened"? No. They've been marketing just fine for years the way they were. I believe they are changing to adapt to our changing landscape of Hollywood beauty which gets racier and more plastic with each passing year.
All of the princesses look like they had lip implants for heavens sake. And was that popular in Hollywood 20 years ago? No. Now it's pretty standard to look like a fish

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree because I don't see any evidence of lip plumping or other "plastic surgery" in the makeovers. The only two with lips I might call large are Pocahontas and Mulan, and if you look at their original renderings, the makeovers are in line with the original proportions. I do see a slight slimming of Tiana's nose, which isn't great, but it's not like they gave her Snow White's nose either. If they had made them all carbon copies of each other, with only different hair and eye colors, I might be more upset. But I still see Pocahontas's prominent brow bone and square face, Mulan's high cheekbones and almond-shaped eyes, Merida's round cheeks... Rapunzel is still the only one with eyes taking up half her face (but her original drawing had huge eyes too, so I'm not taking issue). Are these unrealistic portrayals of women? Yes. Are they animated princesses not meant to be realistic portrayals of women? Also yes.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I've hated the new design of all the Princesses and so happy they won't be changing Merida! It was just not necessary.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Well, I do not dare speak for the rest of the females here but I do resent that some feel just because you like to get gussied up it doesn't mean you need a man or that you are in any way weak. I am a strong and independent woman who happens to enjoy doing my hair, wearing make up and fancy dresses. I say the same can be said for Merida. I am not clear on how a picture change did anything to change her personality.

I don't think anyone is saying because someone likes to get dressed up or spends time doing their hair that it means you aren't a strong or independent woman. However not ALL women want to get dressed up, not every woman wants a man (certainly not at age 16 -18 which is how old the Princesses are meant to be) Merida was a wonderful breath of fresh air, as she was the FIRST Princess who actually got herself entirely out of trouble and didn't rely on a man. She also didn't end up a teenage bride either which was a wonderful message to young girls.

It's not that the make over took away her personality however the dress is very different - it's a darker version of the dress she absolutely hated and ripped in the movie because she couldn't shoot her bow. Her dress now sparkled (why must ALL the princesses now sparkle?) Her hair was very different, the bow was now gone. It's very disappointing.

 

[Magpie]

It's not that the make over took away her personality however the dress is very different - it's a darker version of the dress she absolutely hated and ripped in the movie because she couldn't shoot her bow. Her dress now sparkled (why must ALL the princesses now sparkle?) Her hair was very different, the bow was now gone. It's very disappointing.

The dress IS sparklier, but it's still loose and easy to move in, compared to the one her mother stuffed her into. It's not the one she hated, it's a variation on her preferred dress, done by a different artist. (Note that the elbows are puffy so she can move in them - the hated dress didn't have the puffy elbows and was a completely different design.)

Who would want nine sparkling princesses on a lunchbox, and one who doesn't sparkle? The challenge for the artist was to give them all a similar artistic feel, while still preserving their overall look.

And Merida's hair is still delightfully wild and messy.

She doesn't have to carry her bow ALL the time, any more than Mulan has to drag Mooshu around everywhere she goes, either.

I'm a little disturbed at some of the language people are using about the picture. She's covered decently, wrist to ankle. She's not posed erotically. And her breasts still have nothing on Pocahontas' bra size. And yet in comments here and elsewhere people are calling her all kinds of names and implying she looks like a prostitute!

There's something frighteningly anti-woman about all this. "Good" girls don't sparkle. They won't consider a pretty dress, even if it's comfortable. They can't have visible breasts, even small ones.

The hated dress versus the one she liked:

The new dress:

Merida in the parks:

 

[Neij]

Another one will be drawn to replace it.... what if its worse?

 

[Sphinx610]

Teen aged Merida is not going to have the same attitudes as Young Adult Merida, which is what I feel the drawing represents. I'm bumfuzeled at how a drawing conveys anything and it sure isn't telling my DGD a thing. She knows it's not real and she sure doesn't idolize any cartoon character. I don't think any child should.

This! ^ what a nice way to put it...
and agreed about the latter! I do my best to try to teach the "moral of the story" to my kids and make sure they get the meaning of the story. They realize its not real. My kids are also aware, (bracing for the flames) that the characters in the park are people in costumes, but its fun to pretend. (they were terrified their first trip so I had to spill the beans!) I don't think it has taken away from the "magic". They are still stoked when they meet the characters and love the autographs.

And yes, there are toddler versions of the Disney Princesses. I personally think they are the cutest rendition of the Princesses ever. I want to own them all. I'm half way there

My daughter has Belle and Rapunzel- I love them too! Only the animator collection versions though. I am not too fond of the other toddler dolls they sell. My daughter also has a "baby" version of Cinderella. She got it for Christmas from her GodMother.

 

[Sphinx610]

The dress IS sparklier, but it's still loose and easy to move in, compared to the one her mother stuffed her into. It's not the one she hated, it's a variation on her preferred dress, done by a different artist. (Note that the elbows are puffy so she can move in them - the hated dress didn't have the puffy elbows and was a completely different design.)

Who would want nine sparkling princesses on a lunchbox, and one who doesn't sparkle? The challenge for the artist was to give them all a similar artistic feel, while still preserving their overall look.

And Merida's hair is still delightfully wild and messy.

She doesn't have to carry her bow ALL the time, any more than Mulan has to drag Mooshu around everywhere she goes, either.

I'm a little disturbed at some of the language people are using about the picture. She's covered decently, wrist to ankle. She's not posed erotically. And her breasts still have nothing on Pocahontas' bra size. And yet in comments here and elsewhere people are calling her all kinds of names and implying she looks like a prostitute!

There's something frighteningly anti-woman about all this. "Good" girls don't sparkle. They won't consider a pretty dress, even if it's comfortable. They can't have visible breasts, even small ones.

The hated dress versus the one she liked:

The new dress:

Merida in the parks:

**like**
Now seeing the animated 2d version next to the park version- its the same dress! lol No one freaked out about park Merida, did they? Maybe it will make some people happier if they pull the dress up on to her shoulders and stick a bow & arrow on her back? From a marketing point of view they need a 2D version. It shouldn't be too difficult to modify the existing to apease some of the outrage.

 

[Glencora]

Lol. I'd already read that. It's largely what lead to my statement about the whole incident being overblown. I'm a little curious why people aren't more up in arms over the face character Meridas being "all gussied up".

Look, if we started seeing Merida Make-up sets and spin off videos where she got fussy over the cut of her dress in order to impress her own Prince Charming then I would understand COMPLETELY. But this is one (as Magpie said, completely recognizable) rendering by another artist. That's all.



That's hypersexualized? More Jezebel sensationalism? This whole reaction is so bizarre to me.

"In preparation for her "coronation ceremony" last Saturday, Disney gave the Brave heroine Merida a makeover, redesigning the character as thinner with a bigger bust, more revealing dress, a face full of makeup, less wild hair, and replacing her signature bow and arrows with a sassy sash."

Yes, this does make a difference. It plays into the whole notion that what girls (and women) REALLY want is be thin, made up, and sexy. Many do, which is fine, but how refreshing it was to see a Disney princess who preferred a bow and arrows to flashy jewelry; wild hair to a sophisticated updo; and didn't convey the whole 36" 24" 36" is-the-best mentality. There are plenty of females out there who need this kind of role model, and Disney basically said, "She's not good enough as she is. We've got to make her fit the mold."

 

[Disneychix]

The new dress:

Merida in the parks:

Have to agree that the Park Merida and the 2D version look very similar!

Why no backlash there?

I don't get all the fuss. I also don't get all the fuss over the other Princesses 'makeovers'. In some instances people are trying to take certain still images of the characters 'before' and compare them with the overly 'made-up' version (I'll use Aurora as example, in the link provided she's not even wearing her 'princess' dress in the before). It's not fair to do that. It's like trying to compare what I looked like at my wedding to how I look at work today.

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

Good! Very wise move on their part.

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

Have to agree that the Park Merida and the 2D version look very similar!

Why no backlash there?

I don't get all the fuss. I also don't get all the fuss over the other Princesses 'makeovers'. In some instances people are trying to take certain still images of the characters 'before' and compare them with the overly 'made-up' version (I'll use Aurora as example, in the link provided she's not even wearing her 'princess' dress in the before). It's not fair to do that. It's like trying to compare what I looked like at my wedding to how I look at work today.

I disagree. Merida is a tom-boy. She was not a beautiful elegant princess. At the end of the movie she matured, but she was still a tom-boy. Disney didn't just give her a new outfit - they changed her.

 

[iheartdisney]

I disagree. Merida is a tom-boy. She was not a beautiful elegant princess. At the end of the movie she matured, but she was still a tom-boy. Disney didn't just give her a new outfit - they changed her.

so if you are a tomboy you don't get to dress up for prom?
It is one image- they aren't digitally altering the movie.