Most of the kids around the world have a stage in their lives when they’re mesmerized over Disney princesses. They want to dress like them, have toys, books, or even their bedroom in a princess theme. They pick up a character and become them when they’re playing with their friends.
But I bet there are a lot of facts about Disney princesses you didn’t know, and the good news is that you’re about to find it out right away.
Scroll down below for some Disney facts that will totally blow your mind.
1. Beyoncé almost voiced the princess in Princess and the Frog:
Instagram | @beyonce
We’ll never get over the fact that she could’ve been a Disney princess. According to casting director, Jen Rudin, Queen Bey refused to audition. In the end, the role went to Anika Noni Rose.
2. The first Disney princess was only paid $20 a day in 1937:
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This was the late Adriana Caselotti, the actress who voiced Snow White. Over the course of filming the full-length film, she only made a total of $970. And get this: the movie was over budget.
3. There’s a reason Belle wears blue in Beauty and the Beast:
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If you were to watch the movie now, you’d notice that Belle is the only person in her hometown to wear blue. This color signifies that she’s an outsider, which means that the Beast is also wearing blue when they meet.
4. Snow White is the youngest Disney princess:
Giphy | Disney
Her movie may be the oldest (made in 1937), but she’s the youngest princess at 14 years old. Following this is Jasmine who’s 15 years old; Ariel, Aurora, Merida, and Mulan, who are all 16 years old. Cinderella and Tiana are the oldest at 19.
5. The new software was created to make Merida’s curls in Brave:
Disney
When Pixar makes a movie, they go all out. They want their movies to look as best as they can possibly be.
Merida’s hair was made up of 1,500 individually sculpted curves, explained Claudia Chung, the film’s simulation
These curves were programmed to “bounce and interact in relation to one another via a new software system.”
Disney
There was also another software program that was created to make the hair look more realistic by reacting to Merida’s movements and surroundings.
6. Cinderella was Walt Disney’s favorite:
Giphy | T. Kyle
He admitted this to Ilene Woods, the voice of the original Cinderella.
“Once I went into his office and he said to me, ‘You’re my favorite heroine, you know.’ I said, ‘You mean Cinderella?’ ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘there’s something about that story I associate with.’”
7. Jasmine’s dress in Aladdin was almost pink:
Disney
Turns out, the studio thought that a pink dress would sell more toys.
“Certainly, there is a lot of merchandising that goes on with these movies,” explained the film’s co-director Ron Clements.
“And sometimes the merchandising people will say, ‘Jasmine should wear a pink dress, because a pink dress will sell more than a blue dress,’” Clements revealed.
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“But we don’t try to be influenced by that.”
Phew. Blue is so Jasmine’s color.
8. There’s a reason Belle’s hair is out of place in Beauty in the Beast:
Disney
You may have noticed that Belle is different from the other Disney princesses.
The film’s screenwriter, Linda Woolverton, explained that she didn’t want Belle to be perfect. “It was important that not every hair be in place.”
9. Ariel was almost blonde in The Little Mermaid:
She even had the lighter ‘do in the film’s first thumbnail sketches.
But Jodi Benson, the voice of the original Ariel, revealed that the makers changed their tune once they realized that they could have their first red-headed Disney princess.
10. Mulan is based on an ancient Chinese legend:
Disney
Like many Disney movies, Mulan, has a dark fairytale behind it. The film is based on the ancient Chinese tale of Hua Mulan, who returns home to find that her mother is remarried and her father has passed.
Not long after that, her identity as a woman is revealed.
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As punishment, Mulan is forced to become a concubine.
This is where things get really dark: instead of this, she chooses to take her own life.
11. A lot of research went into Moana’s costume design:
Giphy | Moana
According to visual development artist Neysa Bové, the team wanted to get the history right.
“With Moana, we did so much research with the Pacific Islands as far as what materials they had at that time.”
“This is supposed to be taking place 2,000 years ago, so we didn’t really have any photo reference of what they were at the time,” she continued.
“But we did get some material reference from our Oceanic Trust.”
12. Princess Tiana unintentionally sent some kids to the hospital:
Disney
You have to kiss a few frogs to get Prince Charming salmonella.
This is what happened to 50 young fans who went around doing just that following the film’s release. Most girls were under the age of 10.
13. Disney princesses don’t make eye contact with each other:
According to Andy Mooney, the former Chairman of Disney Consumer Products, this is to ensure the sanctity of their “individual mythologies.”
14. Pocahontas isn’t the first Native American princess in a Disney movie:
Disney
She may be the only one who is part of the official Disney Princess lineup, but Tiger Lily from Peter Pan was actually the first.
But most people forget about that very fact.