History YMMV / DisneyPrincess

** While many Disney fans feel that a lot of the hate they have received is overblown and inaccurate, others admit that they have gotten annoyed with how the princesses almost always seem to be the ones in the spotlight while other types of Disney characters--such as the princes, female characters who are not princesses (such as [[WesternAnimation/AliceInWonderland Alice]], [[WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDameDisney Esmeralda]], [[WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}} Megara]], etc.), or even female characters who ''are'' but just haven't been included into the Disney Princess franchise (such as [[WesternAnimation/TheBlackCauldron Princess Eilonwy]], [[WesternAnimation/AtlantisTheLostEmpire Princess Kidagakash]], or [[WesternAnimation/ElenaOfAvalor Princess Elena]])--haven't gotten nearly the same amounts of attention.

* PeripheryDemographic: While the franchise started out targeting young girls exclusively, Disney eventually realized the untapped market of *older* fans who had grown up with the princesses and wanted merchandise for themselves who had always been there to buy some of the more reserved dolls or prints. Now Disney has whole lines catering to them, to expensive fashion dolls, women's clothing, and more.

** Tiana to a different kind of extent. Some, like Creator/DougWalker, called her "the best female lead since Belle", while others, like the Blog/UnshavedMouse, found her a VanillaProtagonist who suffered too much PositiveDiscrimination.

* TastesLikeDiabetes: The extra merchandise and sequels are loaded with saccharine morals, songs and messages that tends to be unpalatable to anyone but very young girls.

* SixthRanger: Anna, Elsa and sometimes Elena of Avalor end up being this in some promotional material.

** Belle has suffered a recent re-examination in the 2010s. When her film debuted, she was lauded by feminists and film critics alike for her intellectual pursuits and showcasing more agency when compared to the previous princesses. Years later, more criticism was directed towards her, what with people complaining about how her film "glorifies Stockholm syndrome" and how her relationship with the Beast could be read as abusive. Other classic princess lovers/princess fans in general also aren't terribly fond of Belle, since they see her as paving the way for "princess criticism" that's so common nowadays, which lead to their faves getting harped on nonstop. Others dislike the NotLikeOtherGirls "vibe" her character gives in the canon of the movie. Still, others still think she's a good character with a unique role in the lineup, find her reading hobby "relatable", and like her unconventional romance with the Beast. And there's others who still enjoy that her film was the closest that Disney ever won the Oscar.

* FandomEnragingMisconception: Since Disney is so big and has done unfortunate practices in the past as an enterprise (changing the public domain law, monopolizing the entertainment industry, and its many cases of mishandling race), it's a popular take to say that the Disney Princesses are [[AntiRolemodel anti-rolemodels]] for being helplessly romantic or foolish and are the face of the {{Damsels in Distress}} trope, and likewise, it's a popular counter to point out that this perception is [[RonTheDeathEater wrong]] and demeaning of women:

* FandomEnragingMisconception: Since it's trendy to rip on a mega-corp for [[GirlShowGhetto their toyetic, cheese, girl cartoons]], it's a popular take to say that the Disney Princesses are [[AntiRolemodel anti-rolemodels]] for being helplessly romantic or foolish and are the face of the {{Damsels in Distress}} trope, and likewise, it's a popular counter to point out that this perception is [[RonTheDeathEater wrong]] and demeaning of women:

** Remember why Japan only recognizes 7 out of 12 princesses in the franchise there unlike the rest of the world? Apparently, one Quora user found out the reason stated [[https://www.quora.com/Why-does-the-Disney-Princess-brand-in-Japan-only-have-the-original-6-Snow-White-Cinderella-Aurora-Ariel-Belle-and-Jasmine-Rapunzel-as-official-members-Why-leave-out-Pocahontas-Mulan-Tiana-Merida-who-are-also-part-of-the-brand in this link]] that the Japanese have their own list of qualifications to have one recognized as part of their princess canon, as well as having an old school vision of what a princess is for them.

** Alternatively the ''exclusion'' of certain characters is this. For example, Esmeralda from ''WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'' (who actually was a ''Princess'' character early in the franchise) or even Nala from ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'' are fan-favorites but are not in for different reasons, however people often point at non-royalty like Mulan and question this.

** While many Disney fans feel that a lot of the hate they have received is overblown and inaccurate, others admit that they have gotten annoyed with how the princesses almost always seem to be the ones in the spotlight while other types of Disney characters--such as the princes, female characters who are not princesses (such as [[WesternAnimation/AliceInWonderland Alice]], [[WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame Esmeralda]], [[WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}} Megara]], etc.), or even female characters who ''are'' but just haven't been included into the Disney Princess franchise (such as [[WesternAnimation/TheBlackCauldron Princess Eilonwy]], [[WesternAnimation/AtlantisTheLostEmpire Princess Kidagakash]], or [[WesternAnimation/ElenaOfAvalor Princess Elena]])--haven't gotten nearly the same amounts of attention.

* Belle has suffered a recent re-examination in the 2010s. When her film debuted, she was lauded by feminists and film critics alike for her intellectual pursuits and showcasing more agency when compared to the previous princesses. Years later, more criticism was directed towards her, what with people complaining about how her film "glorifies Stockholm syndrome" and how her relationship with the Beast could be read as abusive. Other classic princess lovers/princess fans in general also aren't terribly fond of Belle, since they see her as paving the way for "princess criticism" that's so common nowadays, which lead to their faves getting harped on nonstop. Others dislike the NotLikeOtherGirls "vibe" her character gives in the canon of the movie. Still, others still think she's a good character with a unique role in the lineup, find her reading hobby "relatable", and like her unconventional romance with the Beast. And there's others who still enjoy that her film was the closest that Disney ever won the Oscar.

** Aurora is a victim of social conditioning: naive and isolated by understandably over-protective guardians that haven't allowed to develop outside of the idealistic persona they've held her up to.

** Calling Kuzco from ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewGroove'' one's favourite princess.

** The classic princesses--Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora--who are often criticized by fans (and media) who see them as terrible role models, shallow characters, "passive" damsels and bad examples of feminism. Keira Knightley, [[Film/TheNutcrackerAndTheFourRealms who had a role in a "princess" movie]], [[DisproportionateRetribution outright bans her daughter from watching]] ''WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}}'' or ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989'', citing all the oft-used arguments about how "[[CommonKnowledge [Cinderella] waits around for a rich guy to rescue her.]] [[UsefulNotes/VictimBlaming Don't. Rescue yourself!]]" and how Ariel [[NeverLiveItDown "[gave her] voice up for a man"]]. Alternatively, many others see them as having perhaps aged not quite well, but are still good characters that were simply limited by the time period they were in and made in, or even refreshingly different in their gentler personalities than the type of heroines usually made today. In fact, Cinderella is seen as a good role model by half of the fanbase, as this is justified by how little power she has in comparison to Lady Tremaine, and how she is relatable to those who lived in conditions just like her.

** The classic princesses--Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora--who are often criticized by fans (and media) who see them as terrible role models, shallow characters, "passive" damsels and bad examples of feminism. Keira Knightley, [[Film/TheNutcrackerAndTheFourRealms who had a role in a "princess" movie]], [[DisproportionateRetribution outright bans her daughter from watching]] ''WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}}'' or ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989'', citing all the oft-used arguments about how "[[CommonKnowledge [Cinderella] waits around for a rich guy to rescue her.]] [[UsefulNotes/VictimBlaming Don't. Rescue yourself!]]" and how Ariel [[NeverLiveItDown "[gave her] voice up for a man"]]. Alternatively, many others see them as having perhaps aged not quite well, but are still good characters that were simply limited by the time period they were in and made in, or even refreshingly different in their gentler personalities than the type of heroines usually made today.

** While many Disney fans feel that a lot of the hate they have received is overblown and inaccurate, others admit that they have gotten annoyed with how the princesses almost always seem to be the ones in the spotlight while other types of Disney characters--such as the princes, female characters who are not princesses (such as [[WesternAnimation/AliceInWonderland Alice]], [[WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame Esmeralda]], [[WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}} Megara]], etc.), or even female characters who ''are'' but just haven't been included into the Disney Princess franchise (such as [[WesternAnimation/TheBlackCauldron Princess Eilonwy]], [[WesternAnimation/AtlantisTheLostEmpire Princess Kidagakash]], or [[WesternAnimation/ElenaOfAvalor Elena]])--haven't gotten nearly the same amounts of attention.

** While many Disney fans feel that a lot of the hate they have received is overblown and inaccurate, others admit that they have gotten annoyed with how the princesses almost always seem to be the ones in the spotlight while other types of Disney characters--such as the princes, female characters who are not princesses (such as [[WesternAnimation/AliceInWonderland Alice]], [[WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame Esmeralda]], [[WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}} Megara]], etc.), or even female characters who ''are'' but just haven't been included into the Disney Princess franchise (such as [[WesternAnimation/TheBlackCauldron Princess Eilonwy]] or [[WesternAnimation/AtlantisTheLostEmpire Princess Kidagakash]])--haven't gotten nearly the same amounts of attention.

* HilariousInHindsight: For a long time the franchise attracted a certain amount of (mostly) friendly FandomRivalry online from ''Franchise/StarWars'' fans who would jokingly contrast Princess Leia's ActionGirl characterization with the stereotypical view of Disney Princesses as super-girly [[DamselInDistress damsels]] [[FriendToAllLivingThings who sing to small forest creatures]]. Fast forward to late 2012...Disney acquires Lucasfilm, the Sequel Trilogy is announced shortly thereafter and suddenly Leia Organa technically ''is'' a Disney princess. Artists and humorists have gotten plenty of mileage out of Disney Leia [[AffectionateParody (with a lot of overlap between the two)]] since the merger.

** Jasmine being allowed to pick a suitor to be married to was progressive for her time and place. [[note]] Note that she is '''still''' required to be married by her birthday regardless, which is stated to be in three days' time from her introductory scene, after which she runs away, is returned by the royal guards, develops feelings for her suitor when he reveals himself to be the boy she previously met and opened herself to, and has to help defeat the BigBad, by which time that time must be almost up.
%% In my opinion, her feminism basically extends to "I'm not going to get married just because I have to". We learn nothing else about her personal ambitions and hopes in the film.
[[/note]] She is intelligent, courageous, witty, and kind; she doesn't easily give in to Aladdin's/Prince Ali's courting of her so easily. She is also a terrific actress.

** Jasmine being allowed to pick a suitor to be married to, was progressive for their time and place. She is intelligent, courageous, witty, and kind; she doesn't easily give in to Aladdin's/Prince Ali's courting of her so easily. She is also a terrific actress.

** The classic princesses--Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora--are often criticized in fandom (and media) that believes they are terrible role models, shallow characters, "passive" damsels and bad examples of feminism. Keira Knightley, [[Film/TheNutcrackerAndTheFourRealms who had a role in a "princess" movie]], [[DisproportionateRetribution outright bans her daughter from watching]] ''WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}}'' or ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989'', citing all the oft-used arguments about how "[[CommonKnowledge [Cinderella] waits around for a rich guy to rescue her.]] [[UsefulNotes/VictimBlaming Don't. Rescue yourself!]]" and how Ariel [[NeverLiveItDown "[gave her] voice up for a man"]]. Alternatively, many others see them as having perhaps aged not quite well, but are still good characters that were simply limited by the time period they were in and made in, or even refreshingly different in their gentler personalities than the type of heroines usually made today.

** Tiana to a different kind of extent. Some like WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic called her "the best female lead since Belle", while others like the Blog/UnshavedMouse found her a VanillaProtagonist who suffered too much PositiveDiscrimination.
** Pocahontas. Fans either think a decent role model that stand out due to the GreenAesop of her movie despite the glaring historical inaccuracy or an incredibly shallow character with little personality, preachy message and an insult to the real Pocahontas. And then there are people who think that while a passable character, she and her movie is a total letdown compare to the previous installment's incredibly flawed protagonist Simba from ''The Lion King''.
** The princesses as a whole compared to other Disney characters. While some fans admit the hatred the princesses have received over the years is overblown and inaccurate, some others will admit they're kinda tired of how Disney only focuses their attention onto these characters and ignores most of the other characters they have in their large roster. It's less an issue of criticism, but more preference according to fans, and what characters they'd prefer to see being focused on.

** Disney fans in general often feel this way about the princesses, particularly fans of the heroines. The Disney Princesses receive more merchandise and materials for children *and* adults than any other characters. Some perceive this favoritism to be adversely affecting their own favorite characters.

* TestosteroneBrigade: The especially MsFanservice characters--Ariel, Jasmine, and ostensibly Pocahontas--invite a lot of male fans, but many little boys grew up with crushes on one of the princesses that stuck.
** ''Podcast/MouseMadness'' suggested Disney might have a market if they made the princesses just a bit more welcoming to boys. Since many of the princesses are positive role models and many have traits boys can relate to. A good gateway would be Mulan, since she acts like a boy for half the movie.

** Over the inclusion of characters who do not seem to fit with the line as easily as characters like Aurora or Rapunzel; that is, Pocahontas, Mulan, and Merida for being too athletic, not girly enough, and/or not a princess. Similarly, if Elsa joins the line-up, a lot of people feel that it is insulting somehow to being her queenship. ''WesternAnimation/{{Moana}}'' fans have been somewhat divided over the prospect she could join, though most seem to support it. The main debate is if she's technically a princess or not. She's [[InsistentTerminology a chief's daughter]], and her culture lacks the connotation of princess. On the other, even Maui points out that she fulfills the qualifications, brave, strong, sings, has an animal sidekick, and her title is the closest to a princess anyway. A concern for fans is her body type, which was made to go against the mold as she has a lot of muscle and built to look like it.

** Ariel is an outcast yearning to go somewhere where others will understand her, she's plenty interesting, and willing to stand up for herself (she did kill the eels of Ursula).

** And that is just the ones whose characterization is relatively simple and has more straightforward writings. Is Mulan's motivation for disguising as a man and ran to the army is for her father or for herself? Some mix of all of the above? (this was also brought up in-universe by Mulan herself) Is Merida a normal teenager who made a mistake or a horribly spoiled brat? Is Elsa's power an allegory for mental disorder, her sexuality, something else or all of the above?

** The scene in ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' where Jasmine kisses Jafar to distract him while Aladdin steals the lamp back caused Jasmine to receive a lot of criticism, [[MoralGuardians with said critics feeling that she was "overly sexualized"]] and that taking control of her female sexuality [[ThinkOfTheChildren "wouldn't send the best message to young girls"]]. Others, however, point out that Jasmine [[DefiantCaptive at least used her wit and her cunning to try and make a decent escape]] [[DamseloutofDistress while being captured by Jafar]] rather than simply letting Aladdin do all the work and waiting for him to rescue her; the fact that this required her to ShowSomeLeg, since Jafar tried to use his final wish to make Jasmine fall desperately in love with him all the while completely unaware that the Genie's magic cannot be used to make people fall in love, really shouldn't matter.

** The classic princesses--Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora--are often criticized in fandom (and media) that believes they are terrible role models, shallow characters, "passive" damsels (despite them not being in any real danger) and bad examples of feminism. Keira Knightley, [[Film/TheNutcrackerAndTheFourRealms who had a role in a "princess" movie]], [[DisproportionateRetribution outright bans her daughter from watching]] ''WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}}'' or ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989'', citing all the oft-used arguments about how "[[CommonKnowledge [Cinderella] waits around for a rich guy to rescue her.]] [[UsefulNotes/VictimBlaming Don't. Rescue yourself!]]" and how Ariel [[NeverLiveItDown "[gave her] voice up for a man"]]. Alternatively, many others see them as having perhaps aged not quite well, but are still good characters that were simply limited by the time period they were in and made in, or even refreshingly different in their gentler personalities than the type of heroines usually made today.