The kindhearted and beautifulEnchantedheroine Giselle would make the perfect Disney Princess, but she’s mysteriously absent from the company’s official line-up. Audiences first met Giselle (Amy Adams) in 2007 whenEnchantedhit theaters. A blend of classic Disney 2D animation and live-action,Enchantedsees the animated Giselle exiled from her kingdom of Andalasia and transported to the loud, cynical live-action world of New York City. A total fish out of water, Giselle eventually finds her happily ever after while learning that the world is a lot more complex than she thought.
Enchantedwas a smash hit with audiences and critics alike, earning over $340 million at the worldwide box office (viaBox Office Mojo) and a Certified Fresh score of 93% onRotten Tomatoes.The pundits praisedEnchanted’s smart sendup of fairy tale tropes, and were particularly impressed with Adams' performance as Giselle, particularly because it was her first time leading a film.Enchanted’s success led to a 2022 sequel,Disenchanted, which was released directly onto Disney+. Thereception toDisenchantedwas decidedly mixed, but once again, Adams' Giselle was hailed as a highlight.
Giselle Isn’t A Disney Princess Due To Compensation Issues With Amy Adams
With her sunny demeanor, beautiful gowns, and desire for true love, it seems like adding Giselle to the Disney Princess lineup would be a no-brainer. In fact, there were plans to do just that. Disney even displayed the Giselle doll at the 2007 Toy Fair, with the doll’s packaging declaring theEnchantedheroinean official Disney Princess(viaThe Wall Street Journal). However,the plan was ultimately scrapped when Disney realized this would mean paying Amy Adams for the lifelong rights to use her image, which the studio wasn’t willing to do.
Even though Giselle isn’t a Disney Princess, Disney still releasedEnchantedmerchandise featuring Amy Adams' likeness as the character.
This makes sense, as all of the other Disney Princesses are original animated creations not specifically based on any real person’s likeness. And while Adams has every right to ask for rightful compensation, it’s a shame Disney couldn’t reach an agreement with her to make Giselle a Disney Princess.Giselle is the perfect bridge between the classic old-school Disney princesses and the more recent additions.Enchanteddirector Kevin Lima describes her as, “She is about 80% Snow White, with some traits borrowed from Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, although her spunkiness comes from Ariel of The Little Mermaid.” (viaUSA Today)
Enchanted Started A Disney Princess Trend (& The Sequel Can Keep It Going)
Enchanted broke barriers by using meta-humor to satirize Disney Princess tropes, and now Disenchanted can carry on the tradition in its own way.
Giselle very much wants to find her dream man, which is a trait not seen in more contemporary Disney Princesses like Moana andBrave’s Merida. However, like these modern heroines,Giselle has more going on than wanting to get married. At the end ofEnchanted, she’s running a fashion business, andDisenchantedsees Giselle rescued not by a man in armor, but by her stepdaughter. Giselle is a timeless character, and her absence in the Disney Princess lineup leaves a void.
Other Beloved Characters Who Should Be Disney Princesses
Frozen’s Anna & Elsa Should Be Leading The Pack
Giselle isn’t the only Disney heroine whose absence in the Disney Princess lineup has raised a few eyebrows. Shockingly,Frozen’s Anna and Elsa are not official Disney Princesses. Given how influential theFrozenfranchise has been on popular culture, it’s a bit puzzling, but there could be a few reasons for this.
First,neither sister is a princess at the end ofFrozen 2, with Elsa becoming protector of the Enchanted Forest and abdicating the Arendelle throne to Anna, who becomes a queen. Second,Frozenhas generated over $5 billion worth of merchandise (viaIndiewire), so Anna and Elsa don’t exactly need the Disney Princess bump.
Disney’s Best Unofficial Princesses, Ranked
Cinderella’s great and all, but let’s not forget these unforgettable, and unofficial, Disney princesses.
Othercharacters who deserve to be Disney Princesses are Esmeralda fromThe Hunchback of Notre Dameand Megara fromHercules. While neither is royalty by the end of their respective movies, they are both determined, whip-smart, and resourceful, yet incredibly kind. They were the last leading ladies of the Disney Renaissance era, and ushered in a new, more progressive kind of heroine. Whether it’s Giselle inEnchantedor any of these other great characters, being a Disney Princess shouldn’t be about a royal title; it should be about character.
Enchanted
Cast
Starring Amy Adams as Giselle, Enchanted follows its heroine as she is cast out of her animated fantasy world by an evil queen, ending up in the middle of New York City where she meets Robert, a jaded lawyer who reluctantly takes the clueless Giselle in. As Giselle begins to adjust to life in the real world, and her relationship with Robert deepens, she must reconcile what she thought she wanted with where life has taken her. Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Idina Menzel, and Susan Sarandon also star.
Disenchanted
Disenchanted takes place fifteen years after the original film, Enchanted. It follows Amy Adams as Giselle Phillip, her husband Robert (Patrick Dempsey), and their family as they’ve left Manhattan for the suburbs. But, unfortunately, Giselle has found her life outside of the fantasy isn’t quite as cracked up to be - real-world issues rear their heads, and now she finds herself wishing life was more like a fairy tale. However, due to meddling by the head of the neighborhood community, Malvina Monroe, and a spell gone wrong,
