Among Disney’s vast catalog of characters, some of the most popular are the Disney princesses, yet not every princess gets the attention or the treatment she rightfully deserves. Generally, the Disney princesses who are most easily recognized are those from the company’s most popular movies, i.e. Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Frozen to name a few. There are other princesses who may not be as memorable, but have plenty of adoring fans, such as Tiana or Rapunzel. However, there is another tier of Disney princesses who are often completely forgotten, yet have plenty to offer.
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What is most surprising about these forgotten princesses is that they are actual princesses. While many Disney characters get honorary princess status despite not being actual princesses, like Hercules’ Megara or The Hunchback of Notre Dame’s Esmeralda, these underrated characters are true royalty. Not only are these characters swept under the rug, but for all intents and purposes, they are some of Disney’s truest princesses. In general, the following ten princess characters should get a lot more spotlight.
10 Atta & Dot
A Bug’s Life
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A pair of characters who are tried and true underrated princesses are Atta and Dot from A Bug’s Life. Although this 1998 film mainly centers on Flik and his scheme to gather a troop of warrior bugs, Atta and Dot are integral supporting characters. First and foremost, Atta (voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is Flik’s love interest and a rising member of ant royalty. In many ways, she is what Flik is fighting for. Furthermore, Dot (Hayden Panettiere) bravely helps Flik and his crew, despite her young age.
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Atta and Dot may not be the first characters one thinks of when they imagine a Disney princess, but that does not make them any less important or likable. In fact, they actually follow a lot of the traditional tropes of Disney princesses. The sisters are bold, curious, and caring. They use their powers for good, to help the underdog. All in all, Atta and Dot (and A Bug’s Life in general) could use some more praise.
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9 Star
Star Vs. The Forces Of Evil
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One Disney princess that not everyone has heard of is Star from Star vs. The Forces of Evil. This 2015 animated series aired on Disney XD and Disney Channel for four seasons, and tells the story of Star Butterfly, a magical princess who is sent to Earth to become more mature before she takes on her magical responsibilities. In the meantime, she begins living with the Diaz family, and takes their son, Marco, on all of her adventures.
Star vs. The Forces of Evil
is not nearly as popular as Disney’s feature films, but the show is definitely an underrated gem.
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Star vs. The Forces of Evil is not nearly as popular as Disney’s feature films, but the show is definitely an underrated gem. A big reason for the series’ goodness is Star herself. Despite having a sweet name and bubbly personality, Star is not all butterflies and rainbows. She is a fierce fighter and someone who believes deeply in doing good. Her morals and her quirkiness make her a really enjoyable character to follow for audiences of all ages.
8 Tiger Lily
Peter Pan
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A Disney princess that is often overlooked due to the movie’s other major female characters is Tiger Lily from Peter Pan. Tiger Lily is the daughter of Neverland’s Native American chief, and is one of Peter’s many loyal friends. Although Wendy and Tinkerbell often stand out as Peter Pan’s most pivotal female characters, Tiger Lily is just as interesting as them, if not more so. Tiger Lily is strong-willed and brave, willing to protect Peter at all costs. In this way, she defies female stereotypes from the 1950s, when Peter Pan was made.
Of course, Peter Pan is not lauded for its positive representation of Native people, but arguably, that is an even bigger reason why Tiger Lily deserves more credit. She is such an interesting character and deserves more limelight and exploration within the story. That isn’t to say that Wendy and Tinkerbell deserve less screentime, but rather, that all three women in the story should shine equally as bright.
7 Maid Marian
Robin Hood
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Another princess of the natural world, alongside Atta and Dot, is Maid Marian from Robin Hood. Although Disney’s portrayal of Robin Hood is far from the story’s first rendition, the animated characters have managed to remain in popular culture. When certain audiences imagine Robin Hood, they think of a cunning red fox. However, even then, Maid Marian is not often recognized as the delightful character she is. Where some could argue that Marian is too much of a princess that needs saving, she proves herself to be much more than that.
What makes Marian so wonderful is her conviction in love. Although Robin and Marian had not seen each other since childhood, the pair are willing to put their lives on the line for each other. For example, Marian fights back against Prince John when he attempts to have Robin killed. This is not the action of a meek princess, but of a strong and brave one. Plus, Marian’s pink dress and headcovering are adorable and memorable.
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6 Eilonwy
The Black Cauldron
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A Disney movie that is probably on every list of underrated Disney films is The Black Cauldron. This 1985 hidden gem tells the story of a pig herder named Taran who must stop an evil king from using the titular black cauldron to create an army of the undead. Notably, Taran is helped along in his quest by his fluffy companion Gurgi and Princess Eilonwy. Eilonwy stands out from other Disney princesses because of her age and sensitivity.
Eilonwy is not a poised and prim princess, but is a talkative and sassy young girl who has the guts to save herself and others, but is definitely affected by the world around her.
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While most Disney princesses tend to be teenagers, Eilonwy is particularly young, at the age of 12. Yet, this fact is part of what makes her such a lovable character. Eilonwy is not a poised and prim princess, but is a talkative and sassy young girl who has the guts to save herself and others, but is definitely affected by the world around her. In this way, Eilonwy may be one of the most relatable princesses out there, doing what Frozen’s Anna did many decades earlier.
5 Melody
The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea
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Some Disney princesses that are almost always forgotten are those who appear in Disney straight-to-video sequels. One of the best is Melody from The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea. In this film, Melody is Ariel and Eric’s daughter who yearns to understand more about her mermaid heritage. Thus, Melody finds herself going underwater and getting caught up in a dangerous conspiracy, causing Ariel to have to return to her roots.
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While The Little Mermaid II: Return to Sea is a far cry from the original The Little Mermaid, Melody is still a very fun character. It is interesting to see how Melody’s curiosity gets her into trouble with Ariel, who had the same struggles with her own father. Furthermore, Melody may be the most princess-y of all, as she is royalty on land and sea. Regardless, Melody is proof that Disney’s sequel princesses (including Kiara and Mulan II’s three princesses) deserve more love.
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4 Giselle
Enchanted
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One major Disney princess who has been lost to time is Giselle from Enchanted. Although Giselle is not presented in the usual way of a Disney princess, she is definitely deserving of the title. In her 2007 movie, Giselle leaps out of her animated fairytale world into the 3-D world of New York City. There, audiences get to see a Disney princess interact with the real world and learn to embrace a true love that may not be out of a storybook.
A sequel to
Enchanted
entitled
Disenchanted
premiered in 2022.
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Ultimately, Giselle is hard not to love. She is full of cheer and goodness, and has an incredibly open heart. Furthermore, Giselle is able to roll with the punches while also maintaining her kindness. In this way, Giselle doesn’t have to choose between being strong and being nice; she is unabashedly both. Enchanted has probably been forgotten by newer generations of Disney lovers, but that doesn’t mean Giselle should be looked over, because she is truly one of the best.
3 Raya
Raya And The Last Dragon
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A more recent Disney princess that many may not realize is an actual princess is Raya from Raya and the Last Dragon. This 2021 animated film follows Raya, the warrior princess of the Heart chiefdom, who is tasked with finding a way to defeat the evil spirits called the Druun, reuniting her kingdom once and for all. Although Raya is the daughter of the chief rather than a king, this does not diminish Raya’s princess heritage in the slightest, and in fact, makes it a bit more interesting.
Raya and the Last Dragon is a perfect example of how old Disney and new Disney can morph to make something magical and relevant. As a character, Raya evokes some of the same feelings as the older Disney princesses, while also offering up a different kind of story that is not so reliant on Western ideals or culture. Overall, Raya has long been passed over in favor of more popular Disney entries like Frozen or Encanto, but Raya can keep up with the best of them.
2 Vanellope Von Schweetz
Wreck It Ralph
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Perhaps one of the most un-princess-y Disney princesses of all time is Vanellope von Schweetz from Wreck it Ralph. Vanellope is a somewhat complex character with a layered backstory. At the start of the movie, audiences meet the sassy and quick-witted Vanellope and learn that she is a racer and a glitch within her video game. However, later on, it is revealed that Vanellope was actually a princess who was forgotten because of her glitch.
Ultimately, Vanellope is one of the most interesting underrated Disney princesses. She not only presents herself as a regular person, but her royal lineage is hidden throughout her movie, making it so her princess identity is not totally integral to who she is. Vanellope is able to develop her own personality around racing. This is a truly exciting storyline to see, as Vanellope shows that even princesses have dreams that are bigger than their own royal responsibilities.
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1 Kida
Atlantis: The Lost Empire
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Of course, the number one forgotten Disney princess is Kida from Atlantis: The Lost Empire. In this classic Disney film, Kida is the princess of the lost city of Atlantis, which linguist Milo is determined to find. Together, Milo and Kida work together to save Atlantis, and more than that, preserve its dying culture. Ultimately, this storyline is what makes Atlantis so incredibly cool. The movie is not just about saving the world, but about the process of saving culture and meaning.
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The darker-toned Atlantis: The Lost Empire has been buried as one of Disney’s animated failures, but it deserves to be revisited and reevaluated.
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The movie aside, though, Kida is a particularly awesome Disney princess. Unlike other Disney princesses, who may not be too concerned with their kingdom, Kida is desperate to understand her world and the one beyond it. This curiosity is not necessarily new to Disney princesses, but it’s still admirable. Plus, Kida’s magical roots make her vastly different from more traditional characters. All in all, from her design to her personality, Kida is a stand-out Disney character.