Merida to Join the Disney Princess Line

[DisneyDude2010]

I don't like this one bit, personalty i'm against it because fundamentally it confuses the identities of both animation studios. But I'll have to take it on the chin even, though this addition goes against Merida's character development (the "anti-princess" - which i thought was already taken by both Mulan and Pocahontas.... so why add another)

Also I found her unappealing and couldn't warm to her at all, + I think the clip art posted on the previous page looks like a very less attractive version of Ariel.

But anyway Merida Welcome to the Line Up

[Sotiris]

Pixar has been associated with Disney since the very beginning, and most people do not differentiate between the two. Not so with other acquisitions.

Perhaps but the same can be said about DisneyToon Studios or Disney Television Animation. The public doesn't differentiate between those and WDAS, they simply perceive the product from any of them as 'Disney'. Merida's addition sets a precedent. If Pixar characters are allowed, why not characters from those studios or other ones that Disney owns?

There is a danger of diluting the brand with too many additions which could hurt its profits significantly in the long run. If WDAS had stopped producing films that featured princesses since the 90s, it would had made Merida's addition much more needed and sensible. But since WDAS has been giving them princesses one after the other in recent years, Merida's inclusion appears greedy and gratuitous. Just next year, WDAS will give them another princess (perhaps even two if you count Elsa).

This decision seems not to be based on a coherent vision for the future of the brand but just on short-term profit.

Maybe they're so unpopular because Disney don't make merchandising of them.

It's a vicious cycle. Disney doesn't promote them because they are deemed unpopular but they remain unpopular because Disney doesn't promote them.

Well they're unpopular because nobody saw either one of those movies. They weren't really successful and Disney tends to add princesses to their lineup based on how successful it is. Of course, since Brave is a Pixar movie, it's kind of a given that people were going to see it.

The Princess and the Frog was not very successful yet Tiana is popular because of the marketing and exposure they've given her within the line.

[Christopher_TCUIH]

Do any of you guys/gals even buy shit from the Disney princess line? And I don't mean for your sister, cousin, neice, friend's horrible daughter, or neighborhood gay, I mean for yourself.

[PatrickvD]

Do any of you guys/gals even buy shit from the Disney princess line? And I don't mean for your sister, cousin, neice, friend's horrible daughter, or neighborhood gay, I mean for yourself.

I know right. This whole grand Disney princess debate is so... strange. Who cares???

ugh..

[Disney Duster]

Duster won't be happy about this.

You got that right.

This isn't corporate bullshit, this is good business. There is no legitimate reason she should not be included, because nowhere in "the rules" does it say the Disney Princess line can only include characters created by WDAS. To the vast majority of people, Merida is as much a part of Disney as anyone else. It simply wouldn't have made sense to leave her out.

And there's no rules that Disney can't destroy all of Walt's old films and then make movies with sex and bad language and violence and evil winning.

Disney and Pixar are seperate and should stay who they are, individual entities. This will change that.

[PatrickvD]

And there's no rules that Disney can't destroy all of Walt's old films and then make movies with sex and bad language and violence and evil winning.

but... how.. why... uhm .... where does this even come in?

Disney and Pixar are seperate and should stay who they are, individual entities. This will change that.

No it won't. Woody, Buzz and Nemo have been in merchandise and clip art with Mickey and Ariel for years and the horsemen of the apocalypse have yet to arrive.

[Christopher_TCUIH]

Who would have thought the world would end with a princess instead of a ka-BOOM!?

[Disney Duster]

Woody, Buzz and Nemo have been in merchandise and clip art with Mickey and Ariel for years and the horsemen of the apocalypse have yet to arrive.

That shouldn't have happened either, I can talk about both that and this new thing making Disney and Pixar become undistinct from each other.

[qindarka]

Duster won't be happy about this.

You got that right.

This isn't corporate bullshit, this is good business. There is no legitimate reason she should not be included, because nowhere in "the rules" does it say the Disney Princess line can only include characters created by WDAS. To the vast majority of people, Merida is as much a part of Disney as anyone else. It simply wouldn't have made sense to leave her out.

And there's no rules that Disney can't destroy all of Walt's old films and then make movies with sex and bad language and violence and evil winning.

Disney and Pixar are seperate and should stay who they are, individual entities. This will change that.

Why do you even care about the Disney Princess marketing? It does a great disservice to the characters, portraying them as nothing more than vapid people whose interest lies only with the trappings of royalty, and in doing so have wrecked irreparable damage on the public perception of Disney. It was never anything pure to begin with, just a cynical marketing tool, there is nothing to defile further.

There is a danger of diluting the brand with too many additions which could hurt its profits significantly in the long run.

Good job too. Hope that happens and they scrap the line entirely, though it may be wishful thinking for the moment.

[disneyboy20022]

It does a great disservice to the characters, portraying them as nothing more than vapid people whose interest lies only with the trappings of royalty, and in doing so have wrecked irreparable damage on the public perception of Disney. It was never anything pure to begin with, just a cynical marketing tool, there is nothing to defile further.

I agree with qindarka

[SWillie!]

Pixar has been associated with Disney since the very beginning, and most people do not differentiate between the two. Not so with other acquisitions.

Perhaps but the same can be said about DisneyToon Studios or Disney Television Animation. The public doesn't differentiate between those and WDAS, they simply perceive the product from any of them as 'Disney'. Merida's addition sets a precedent. If Pixar characters are allowed, why not characters from those studios or other ones that Disney owns?

There is a danger of diluting the brand with too many additions which could hurt its profits significantly in the long run. If WDAS had stopped producing films that featured princesses since the 90s, it would had made Merida's addition much more needed and sensible. But since WDAS has been giving them princesses one after the other in recent years, Merida's inclusion appears greedy and gratuitous. Just next year, WDAS will give them another princess (perhaps even two if you count Elsa).

This decision seems not to be based on a coherent vision for the future of the brand but just on short-term profit.

You're definitely right. I wouldn't be surprised to see a DisneyToon character added if they made a movie with a new princess. But I think you've hit on the bigger issue here: too many additions. I don't think the blending of Pixar and Disney is an issue, but you're totally right that there is danger of diluting the brand. Unfortunately, most decisions are indeed made based on short-term profit. Maybe one day we will see the slow disbanding of the Disney Princess line, and they will focus more on creating brands out of the individual movies themselves, like they ought to have done all along.

[pap64]

It would have been almost an insult to Walt's memory if Aurora hadn't been included. Snow White, Cinderella and Aurora are the three main "Walt-era" princesses.

That's funny, I find Cinderella's latest updated clipart design a much bigger insult to Walt's legacy. But that's probably just me.

Oh trust me, you are not the only one . I mean, I guess it looks pretty, but the main reason I never minded the various Disney Princess looks and re-designs (like the gold, diamond, ruby, ballet treatments) was because when it came time to sell their stories they focuses on the actual movies (for the most part).

So when I saw that this new Cinderella was adorning every piece of movie marketing I was annoyed, because Cinderella looks like Kesha if she decided to be a literal pop princess. The new parks dress I don't mind (except the wig... ), but these constant changes is just odd.

THAT'S why I want to see what they do to Merida, even though in the end it may end up like I am watching a cow be raised from birth to adulthood and then see it get killed at the slaughterhouse. I learn something, but at the sake of my sanity .

[Atlantica]

I don't think she fits, but hey ho, Disney will do what Disney will do at the end of the day.
I also don't think they should have the Princesses advertising toilet paper, but Disney still does anyway !

[PatrickvD]

Woody, Buzz and Nemo have been in merchandise and clip art with Mickey and Ariel for years and the horsemen of the apocalypse have yet to arrive.

That shouldn't have happened either, I can talk about both that and this new thing making Disney and Pixar become undistinct from each other.

Why did you think Disney paid $7.4 billion for PIXAR? The whole reason they invested THAT much money is to incorporate their characters into the theme parks and merchandise.

You're deluding yourself if you think this tiny, trivial thing changes everything. Because it doesn't. Only us die hard Disney fans and film buffs can tell Pixar from Disney. The general audience can't and won't care about Mickey and Buzz together or Snow White and Merida.

It's all the same.

[Disney's Divinity]

I disagree. Most people know the difference between Pixar and Disney, but you are right that most people don't really care if the characters are mixed.

That said, I don't think Pixar and Disney characters are all the same at all.

[Sotiris]

I'm actually surprised that Pixar allowed this to happen. Especially with all that talk in the press stressing how different Merida is from Disney princesses. I thought they were more protective of their characters. Apparently, that's not the case.

[PatrickvD]

I disagree. Most people know the difference between Pixar and Disney, but you are right that most people don't really care if the characters are mixed.

That said, I don't think Pixar and Disney characters are all the same at all.

Neither do I. But seeing Rapunzel and Merida together on a sippy cup or Mickey and Woody together in a Disneyland parade... that's what to me, doesn't really make any difference.

The characters in their respective films are obviously different from one another. Very much so and that's all I really care about. Keeping in the back of my mind that most of Disney's and PIXAR's films are designed with merchandise opportunities in mind.

When PIXAR announced they'd make their first princess I knew she was going to be added to the line. And I'm fine with that. I think it's all a lot of fuss over nothing.

[Disney's Divinity]

I'm actually surprised that Pixar allowed this to happen. Especially with all that talk in the press stressing how different Merida is from Disney princesses. I thought they were more protective of their characters. Apparently, that's not the case.

That's something I thought of as well. In all the press releases and comments about the film, Pixar very condescendingly put Merida on a pedestal far above the Disney princesses. Besides the fact that I find her mediocre at best (and certainly not as good as Mulan), it's sort of sad to see her put in with the same characters they considered so below her.

[PatrickvD]

PIXAR lost that right when they were absorbed by Disney. Merida was always going to be treated like a Disney princess in terms of merchandise. So it was probably foolish of them to keep on hammering about how different she was knowing full well that she was going to be used to sell a billion dolls and dresses alongside the Disney princesses.

And I agree that as a feminist character she pales in comparison to Mulan, who is in my opinion both stronger and more interesting. And Mulan is a better film as well.

I see no princesses in PIXAR's nearby future, so this will probably be a one time thing.

[disneyboy20022]

I'm Sorry But Disney Has forced my hand. Here is how I feel about this. Don't blame me you can blame the Disney Executives on the other side.

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