While a new Disney princess has not been added to the roster in six years, production on Rachel Zegler's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves proves that Disney is far from finished with its high-earning princess lines. If the box office sums of the other live-action remakes are anything to go by, fans are not done with their favorite princesses either.
While some are focused on the newest remakes, others are still focused on the original animated films, looking for details they hadn't seen before. Ranker collected the best theories and observations about Disney princesses and left it up to their users to decide which are most plausible and exciting.
Note: Ranker lists are live and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
Yao, Ling, And Chien-Po Befriended Mulan After Realizing That She Was A Woman
Historically, many women have pretended to be men to fight in wars, but it's hard to believe they were able to hide the truth from everyone. This theory looks at Mulan and argues that she didn't succeed, that Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po found out the truth and befriended Mulan in spite of it.
According to the theory, one of the three figured out Mulan's identity early on, and they befriended her with that in mind. This theory primarily hinges on their lack of shock later on, however, so it could be put in question simply by assuming they were particularly stoic or open-minded men.
Merriweather's Gift To Aurora Would Have Been Wisdom or Insight
Many fans have wondered over the years what gift Merriweather, the best character in Sleeping Beauty, would have given Aurora had she not had to counter Maleficent's curse. This theory suggests that it would have been intellect, as Merriweather wanted Aurora to have practical skills to fall back on if true love didn't solve all her problems.
This theory hinges primarily on the basis that Merriweather was more pessimistic about the world, and wanted Aurora to be prepared for it at its worst. Though the theorist lists many reasons for characterizing Merriweather this way, none of them actually connect to why wisdom would be the blessing Aurora would have received.
The Ocean Chose Moana To Restore The Heart Of Te Fiti Because It Doesn't Trust Maui
Maui asks Moana why the Ocean would send her instead of him to restore the heart of Te Fiti, and the movie doesn't provide an adequate answer. So, of course, the fans have come up with one themselves. This theory claims that the Ocean chose Moana because it needed Maui but did not trust him to do the task alone.
Maui knows where to find Te Ka, so he's important to the quest, but Moana is there to be selfless and compassionate, two traits Maui rarely displays. There is some plausibility to this theory because while Maui had all of the skills and information needed for the quest, Moana was the one who had the drive to do it and the clarity to see Te Fiti for who she truly was.
Eric Was Obsessed With Ariel Because She Accidentally Enchanted Him
Some fans hold the unpopular belief that Ariel and Eric didn't earn their love, and this theory explains how they fell so quickly. According to the theorist, Ariel is not simply a mermaid; she is a siren. Sirens have the power to enchant their victims to the point of self-destruction, and Eric is definitely willing to risk a lot for the girl who rescued and sang to him.
This actually explains a lot about how easily Eric was led from one woman to the other simply because Ursula possessed Ariel's voice. While the theory makes Ariel's sacrifice and Eric's gullibility feel more significant, it also casts a dark shadow on Ariel and Eric's 'love.'
Rapunzel Doesn't Have Any Issues After Years Of Emotional Abuse Because Her Hair Heals Both Physically And Mentally
There are many questions fans have about Tangled, and a crucial one is how Rapunzel didn't end up traumatized by Mother Gothel's kidnapping and abuse. This theory suggests that she remains happy and sane because of her hair, which heals all injuries—mental and physical.
While this is theoretically possible, it's also possible that Rapunzel doesn't show typical responses to her kidnapping because she didn't know that it happened. It takes until the end of the movie for her to find out her true heritage, so it's possible she simply hadn't processed her trauma yet. Only a sequel could say for certain.
Belle's Favorite Book Is Actually 'Sleeping Beauty'
Belle describes her favorite book to the bookseller and the sheep in town, and many fans have wondered what book she was reading. Though many have suggested she was reading Aladdin, this theory suggests the book is actually Sleeping Beauty.
While not as adventurous as Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty does include "far-off places, daring sword fights, magic spells, and a prince in disguise." Though those descriptions fit many books, there is one piece of physical evidence that seals the deal: an open copy of Sleeping Beauty is located in Belle's cottage at Disney World.
Moana Was Killed By The Ocean To Become A Demigod
Mulan does not know how to wayfind, gets repeatedly beaten by the ocean at the start of her journey, and frankly doesn't have the skills she needs to survive, much less complete her quest. Until she shows up on Maui's island, that is, perfectly safe from a storm that should have killed her. This theory claims that it actually did.
Maui was dropped into the ocean to become a demigod, and Moana's own struggles mirror this. If Moana was turned into a demigod, it would explain her sudden strength and courage. However, this theory undermines Moana's own power, suggesting that she was not enough on her own to save her people, so while the theory is plausible, it may not be the best interpretation of the movie.
Mulan's 'Girl Worth Fighting For' Is The Little Girl From The Village
Each of the soldiers in Mulan discusses the particulars of the girl they will be fighting for, but Mulan doesn't have the same motivation until she is given a girl who needs someone to fight for her. The abrupt transition from jovial singing to the horror of a massacre isn't incidental and suggests that there is a particular girl Mulan should be fighting for.
Earlier in the film, Mulan returned a doll to a little girl who'd had it stolen from her, foreshadowing her role as the bravest Disney princess, dedicated to protecting the weak. While Mulan may have gone to war for her family's honor, the ending to "A Girl Worth Fighting For" fundamentally shifts her motivations moving forward, which gives the theory a lot of credibility.
Big Daddy LaBouff Bought The Old Sugar Mill For Tiana
The Princess and the Frog's central plot revolves around Tiana needing to make enough money to outbid another buyer for the building she intends to turn into her restaurant. Despite its importance to the plot, however, audiences never find out who the other buyer is. This theory claims that the buyer was Big Daddy, intending to buy it for Tiana.
After watching her grow up alongside his daughter, the theory claims that Big Daddy decided that Tiana deserved the restaurant. While this theory certainly makes sense, since the buyer was never disclosed and it feels cruel for Tiana's best friend to be living a life of luxury while she has to work herself to death, there isn't enough concrete evidence for the theory to earn the top spot.
Merida Is A Descendant Of Mor'du
Brave provides a history of the clans, explaining that an ancient king had four sons, one of whom was turned into a bear (Mordu). This theory suggests that those four sons correlate to the four clans that exist in Merida's time, with her family descended from Mordu's line.
The theory relies on the seemingly fated connections between her family and Mordu, arguing that there are too many coincidences for Mordu not to be Merida's ancestor, and that argument holds weight. Nothing in animation is done by chance, so the many parallels almost certainly have deeper meanings.