I was shopping for a birthday present for a 5 year old and realized what an absolute bazooka buffet of Disney princess merchandise there is. It is princesstacular out there. And this made me start thinking about Disney heroes – and which princes and heroes were my favorite. I asked the question on Twitter and Facebook, and had such a response I wanted to ask here as well.
On Twitter, the majority liked the Beast – in beast form – from Beauty and the Beast. I figure this is a clear case of loving the bad boy who learns to grow up, take responsibility, and reveal that moral core of goodness hidden … underneath all that hair. The folks at Pocket After Dark figure it’s because he gave Belle a library – also a good reason.
My faves: Beast, Tramp, and above all, Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty. I don’t know what it is about him, but of the Disney princes, Phillip is my favorite.
So which is your favorite of the Disney animated heroes or princes? Please, tell me why you picked your fave in the comments – I’m so curious which you like, and why, especially since early male heroes in the Disney movies had little to no personality, or even names. (And dude, if I forgot one, give a holler.) Does your princely preference match your romance hero preference?
@Betsy I had absolutelly forgotten about Cornellius!! and I love Thumbellina!! 😀 he was fiiiine…
And also… what about Tarzan?? no Tarzan’s lovers over here??
Li Shang, baby. He could have so easily been stolid and boring and mean, but that little scene where you first meet him and see how thrilled he is to get a command turns all of his later toughness into a young guy doing his best to, well, do his best. And once he gets over the initial shock of that Big-Ass Lie, he appreciates Mulan for her smarts and her guts, plus he stands up for her the way he would have for any of his (other) men. I always felt sorta cheated that we didn’t get a riding-off-into-the-sunset ending for them, just a promise that now the saving China business is done with, they could get on with the beautiful relationship they’ve so clearly laid the foundation for.
And the shirtless scene didn’t hurt one little bit. Trufax, when I went to see it in the theater as a teen, I happened to be sitting directly behind a family I baby-sat. When he whipped off his shirt, their three-year-old shrieked, “HE’S NAKED!!” Oh, if only, honey.
Runners-up: the Beast, because he’s a grouchy guy, and I do love me some grouchy guy with a squishy meltaway center. Also, Dmitri, because he’s witty, smart, and while he squabbles with Anya, it’s light-hearted and sexy instead of mean. And the con-man aspect is weirdly appealing to me.
In romance novels, I love the stolid stand-up mensches, the grouchy guys, and the witty rapscallions. But since I started reading romance as a teen, those preferences were pretty firmly in place by the time I saw these movies, so I’m not sure how they affected my tastes beyond strengthening them.
another88 – I could go for another 88 guys like that.
Voted for Beast – I’ve always been a sucker for that story, and love a lot of the different versions I have read (but best of all Beauty by Robin McKinley). It’s the wounded hero thing that I also love in my romance novels
Robin Hood—he’s a rascal, but also brave, daring, loyal and kind. Also good with children.
Five-Year Old Kar would answer Aladdin, because I/she was obsessed with that movie when she was at that age.
(When she was not being a Power Ranger or Jedi of course.)
Nowadays, it’d have to be Milo Thatch. He’s awkwardly adorkable. I guess it’s a geek thing. XD
I know he’s not a prince, but he’s definitely a hero, and he’s not on your list! Please correct this!
Who? Tarzan, of course!
Good point, TQueen. He wouldn’t be my first choice, but I love Herc & Meg together.
I voted for Shang automatically, and now I realize he is TOTALLY my type (stoic, responsible, manly). I’m wondering if I saw this movie during a particularly formative stage in my youth. Do you think one cinematic or literary hero could really determine who one will be attracted to ever after? Should I go ask my very manly, stoic, responsible boyfriend?
PS. If you love the Beast because of the library, this came first:
Beauty by Robin McKinley
One of my favorites from high school.
I have to say I like Disney’s Hercules, too, and not just because my net nickname is Megaera (yes, I know Megara in the movie doesn’t spell it the British way, but I was given the nickname by a Brit even though I’m American).
I also love Shang, but then Mulan is my personal hero. I identify with her so strongly it’s sort of embarrassing (that’s the one Disney movie I’ve cried over too many times to count). And it’s cool that she doesn’t commit herself to him forever at the end of the movie. “Dinner… would be great.” Even if I didn’t like him before that, that line would have done it for me all by itself.
But I do adore Tarzan… Mostly because that particular combination of innocence, leadership, curiosity, and muscles is well… [sigh]
As someone once said, “I know he’s a fictional character, but my imagination doesn’t.”
Philip because he is had a personality, accepted help from the fairies, and fought the dragon. All good. It’s important that a man knows good from evil.
But the Beast is a real close second, for all the reasons stated above. His humor, the clothes, his personal growth, and of course the library! A man can’t be all bad if he has such a good library.
Ok, I’m loving all the Beauty and the Beast love, (favorite Disney movie, and one of my favorites period), and I’m glad a couple of people have mentioned Phoebus, because I think HoND is criminally neglected when discussing Disney; but I’m gonna have to go with Quasimodo. I know he’s not conventionally attractive, but I always found his sweetness and loneliness so terribly appealing. Phoebus wasn’t a bad guy, but Quasi was just so awesome-brave and smart and caring, talented and devoted. To me, those qualities far outstrip any good looks. Jack would probably be my second choice, what with his jaunty pinstripe suit and earnest try-your-best attitude; and I wonder if I could send up a nom for the Mad Hatter from Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland; devoted to his queen, clever, and off-the-rails crazy-just my kind of guy! And he makes amazing hats! (And, duh, Johnny Depp.) Seriously, I couldn’t have been the only girl in the theater who wanted to take him home with me and would gladly have worn his awesome haberdashery every day.
I’m all about Robin Hood, myself, with a side of Allan A Dale love. Been there since ‘74.
Phillip is my arch enemy, actually, (on bad days I’m Maleficent) and the princes from Snow White and Cinderella are scenery that sings.
Partial to Li Shang, O’Malley the Alley Cat and Bagheera.
Text: standard45. My standards come from the days of 45s.
Just for the record, Charming is Snow White’s prince; Cinderella’s prince is the one who isn’t named in the movie.
And while Beast does give Belle a whole huge frickin’ library, and Prince Philip is quite swashbuckly himself, I’ve got to go with Robin Hood!
“Oh, he’s SOOOO handsome… just like his reward poster!”