Empowered princess or damsel in distress: A comparative analysis of gender representation in classic Disney princess animated films and their live-action remakes

Generations of people all over the world have grown up watching Disney princess movies. The gender messages that are embedded in these movies have a significant influence on their audience’s views and values. Recently, a trend of live-action remakes of Disney princess movies has risen, thus raising the question of how these remakes differ compared to the original animated versions in regards to gender representation fitting current societal standards. This study analyzes the similarities and differences between the live-action versions and the original animated films from a fourth wave feminism point of view. Two well-known Disney princess movies were analyzed: Beauty and the Beast (1991 and 2017) and Mulan (1998 and 2020). To examine these sets of films from two different time periods, a comparative content analysis was done using a deductive approach based on a codebook, from 2000, used on Disney films and a corresponding inductive approach to update and uncover new codes. The most notable changes in gender representation were found not in the main characters, but in the side characters LeFou, Agathe, Mrs. Potts, Li Shang, Commander Tung, Honghui and Xianniang. Looking at the results from a fourth wave of feminism point of view, the most drastic changes were the additions of the female villains Agathe and Xianniang, who are strong and independent, but whose actions are overshadowed by their respective heroines, Belle and Mulan. Some changes were also found in Belle and Mulan, but they are relatively minor. Both show more initiative, bravery and intelligence, but are still ridiculed by their respective societies. Overall, the minor changes that were made by Disney in their live-action remakes compared to the animated originals show the company’s willingness to exude greater equality in not only its gender representation but also representation of the LGBTQ+ community. However, Disney still has a long way to go toward becoming completely gender equal in its representations. The next step could be changing the main heroes and heroines in the stories, instead of implementing changes on side characters and calling it a day.