Once a long time ago I made a post (like two years ago I think), dedicated to the lovely princes of Disney. It's been too long! They need their share of love and appreciation. I have a surplus of posts about the princesses because
PRINCESSES!!! :D But now, I want to take a step back and talk about the other end of the rope: our lovely men that complete those princesses's lives, because who doesn't love those Disney dudes? *grins*
I'll just list them in order, shall I? Oldest to newest? Appreciate them one at a time? OK, good.
THE PRINCE from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves voiced by Harry Stockwell
-"One heart, tenderly beating, ever intriguing, constant and true."
He doesn't have a name (you'll sometimes hear that his name is Ferdinand, but never has that been confirmed by Disney), nor does he have a gigantic role in the movie, but he's our number one dude. The one that started it all. Plus, without him, we wouldn't have the infamous "Someday My Prince Will Come". And I must point out that he is the only prince to serenade his lady while she is up on a balcony. Oh yes! Classic romantic!
PRINCE CHARMING from Cinderella voiced by Mike Douglas
-"I'm all a glow, and now I know, the key to all heaven is mine."
He has an even smaller role than the last. I mean, he's not even present for the climax! He's just like the reward for the heroine after all her trials and tribulations. But still, for what little you do see of him he's actually got a bit more character than the last. I mean, if you watch him during the beginning of the ball, you'll notice Mr. Sass coming out. He's just like "I'm only up here meeting this endless line of girls because my dad's making me *yawn*". His face when the ugly stepsisters come up to him "oh good grief, as if this night could not get any worse!" XD
PHILIP from Sleeping Beauty voiced by Bill Shirley
-"Now father, you're living in the past. This is the 14th century!"
Despite the fact that the movie is called
Sleeping Beauty and should therefore be about Aurora, the heroine, I think that Philip actually plays a larger role. Although, that can hardly be helped since Aurora is sleeping almost the entire time. But finally a prince with a name and some personality! He is so overlooked. Like I just watched this movie the other day, and I watched that climax and DANG! Philip is such a boss! He needs to be appreciated more. He's the only prince to slay a dragon. If that's not a cause for appreciation, I don't know what is.
ERIC from The Little Mermaid voiced by Christopher Daniel Barnes
-"Believe me, when I find her I'll know. Without a doubt. It'll just BAM hit me, like lightning."
I have a confession... Eric was my first animated crush. I mean LOOK at him! What a cutie! I'm a sucker for dark hair and blue eyes. And he's a total sweetheart. And he has a dog. And he plays a musical instrument (a whistle to be exact). You must love him otherwise you are dead to me! Also, a little fun fact, he is the only prince to not sing in his movie (although he does sing in the broadway musical). He still kind of sticks to the traditional Disney prince of "I saw this girl once and now I'm determined to marry her (I don't even know her name, but that doesn't matter)!", but he's also the transition into the modern prince of getting to know the girl over at least a couple days (even though he didn't know it was the same girl).
THE BEAST/PRINCE from Beauty and the Beast voiced by Robbie Benson
-"But she is being so *difficult*!"
The first prince to be a main character with a backstory and everything. Aren't we so proud? However, despite this fact, he doesn't have a freakin' name! Lots of people claim it's Adam, but I'm pretty sure that's not been officially confirmed by Disney. He's rather interesting for a male lead since he portrays a lot of villain-like qualities, at least at first. But of course he has a soft, warm, gentle center. You know, the whole point of the movie "beauty is found within"? If you really look at it, he's actually just like a giant, hairy child. Always throwing tantrums when he doesn't get his way (violent tantrums), and he is rather naive and has a sort of child-like curiosity and sweetness. Also, he has the best eyes out of any of them. Just putting that out there. And side-note: are you aware that Robbie Benson did the voice for both the Beast and the Prince? I know, right? What a drastic difference!
ALADDIN from Aladdin voiced by Scott Weinger
-"Trouble? No way. You're only in trouble if you get caught."
Our "diamond in the rough". The first male lead who is not a prince from the start. He's a "street rat"/thief, but only because he has to. Everyone looks down on him because of his position in society and doesn't see him for what he truly is: kind, selfless, charming, clever, generous, and so on. Of course he's the ultimate romantic because who could ever forget "A Whole New World"? Even non-Disney fans think of that scene when thinking of romantic scenes/songs.
SHANG from Mulan voiced by BD Wong
-"Let's get down to business to defeat the Huns!"
Like his female counterpart, he is never at any point a royal. But we'll still include him in the lineup because we love him, and Mulan is an official Disney princess, therefore making him an official Disney prince. This guy sings only the most awesome Disney song ever written! Also, hello Mr. Six-Pack! ("I'll get that arrow, pretty boy. And I'll do it with my shirt on." Lolz, just had to throw that quote in there. One of my favorites). He has a lot of honor, like he breaks the law so Mulan can live to repay his debt to her. And then the way he stumbles all over himself once he realizes Mulan is a girl when he tries complimenting her, and later when he follows her home and tries returning her helmet. Underneath that rough-tough exterior, he's just a regular guy who can't talk to girls XD
NAVEEN from The Princess and the Frog voiced by Bruno Campos
-"You must kiss me. You will enjoy, I guarantee. All women enjoy the kiss of Prince Naveen. Come, we pucker."
At last we have an actual prince again. The first with an accent. Also, finally another prince with musical talent (a ukelele. Heck yes!). At first glance, he's Mr. suave, smooth-talker ladies-man party-boy, but underneath it all he's just a hopeless, lost little kid who "[doesn't] know how to do anything". He cares deeply about others and is actually very sensitive once you unearth it. He tries so hard once he steps out of his comfort zone to try and set up a romantic date for Tiana... and fails miserably, but still, it's adorable!
FLYNN RIDER/EUGENE FITZHERBERT from Tangled voiced by Zachary Levi
-"Alright listen, I didn't want to have to do this, but you leave me no choice... Here comes the Smolder."
This guy. I could write a book on all my thoughts about him. Did you know that the creative team down at Disney pulled all the women down there together into one room while they were designing him and had pictures of all sorts of celebrities like Brad Pitt, Hugh Jackman, etc. (celebrities generally though of as attractive by most) and had all the women give their input on hair color, hair style, eye color, body type, nose shape, jawlines, etc? They were very particular. Yeah. And look at what we got! 8D Anyways, another thief. But this time it's not because he has to, but because he wants to. Yup, our first "bad boy". However, it's all a facade. His entire thief personality-- suave, smooth-talking, cocky, yadda-yadda-- all an act, completely made up. Even his name. But can you blame him? Because Eugene Fitzherbert just does not sound like a thief. But anyways, it's all an act to cover up his sad past as an orphan. And underneath that facade, he is like the sweetest guy in the world (seriously, I cannot handle it!). Also, as a side-note, he is the first prince to have facial hair.
KRISTOFF from Frozen voiced by Jonathan Groff
-"Whoa. Now that's ice! I might cry."
Our newest addition to the prince lineup. Actually, as my brother pointed out in annoyance as we left the theater, we don't actually
know if he did become a prince or not. But we can assume, right? I mean, it is Disney after all. (Also, he's not the first where we don't know if they got married, I mean what about
Beauty and the Beast? Or
Aladdin? And there wasn't even a kiss in
Mulan). Anyways, our smelly mountain man. He's got a different build from the past princes, like he's a lot bigger and bulkier. Also, he's the first blonde, so good on that! He's such a grumpy loner in the beginning, but he opens up along the way and you find as the trolls say "you'll never meet a fellow who's as sensitive and sweet". He's not mean or obnoxious (even though he kind of likes to push Anna's buttons when he first meets her about her fast engagement), he's just a bit anti-social and sort of set in his own ways. He's so adorably awkward and has such a dry sense of humor (reminds me much of myself, though I'm not sure if my awkwardness is adorable). He also plays a musical instrument: a lute. Oh yes!
Awesome! You kept me thoroughly entertained here, and I'm glad you threw in the bit about the "diamond in the rough". And I didn't know that part about how they came up with Flynn Ryder's look. No wonder he's adorable. And how could he help it, seeing he has the voice of Zachary Levi ;)
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