I'd say the first Disney heroine that showed some sort of sex appeal would be Slue Foot Sue from Melody Time with her short skirt and pretty big chest. She's not exactly the leading character of that segment though...
Perhaps Slue Foot Sue was the first; she reminds me of a slightly more wholesome Tex Avery's Red who was just oozing with sex appeal. I might also throw it Miss Emotion from Reason and Emotion but I'm sure most people wouldn't count her.
Ariel was consciously given some; if I remember right her creators stated that part of the character's appeal was her not even realizing that she was sexy.
As for Jessica Rabbit, I think she was the first character that was specifically designed to be nothing but sexy, right down to the very specific and unusual way they animated her breasts.
I'd go for either Slue Foot Sue or Tinkerbell (I'd consider her a heroine). The Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and the Blue Fairy in Snow White kinda also had a sense of glamour and sensuality about them, though obviously, they aren't heroines.
I agree on Slu Foot Sue, we can thank Fred Moore for animating her. In my opinon I'd say Jessica Rabbit borrowed some design from Slu Foot, mainly the hairstyle and eyes (I think).
I can't think of one female design in a DAC prior to Ariel that looked like that. To be honest I'm surprised her design wasn't controversial back when The Little Mermaid was released.
seanjonmc wrote:I can't think of one female design in a DAC prior to Ariel that looked like that. To be honest I'm surprised her design wasn't controversial back when The Little Mermaid was released.
It was at least a little bit, actually. I remember a few magazine articles complaining about Ariel's cleavage and lack of coverage, and how she was a bad influence to little girls.