13-year-old Meilin Lee from Turning Red is the latest addition to Disney’s growing number of strong women. Some badass female leads from Disney’s films have appealed to Redditors, who discuss their admirable traits and actions at length on the social media platform.
From the courageous Merida to the fearless Mulan, there’s no shortage of remarkable and powerful women from both classic and more recent Disney films. These characters aren’t afraid of going after what they want, which is often a goal for the greater good.
Merida – Brave (2012)
Set in medieval Scotland, Brave tells the story of Princess Merida of the clan DunBroch, who is the rowdy daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor. Her already complicated relationship with her mother is further damaged when she refuses to follow the clan's customs of marrying one of her father's allies. A creepy encounter with a witch soon after sets off a disastrous chain of events that leaves Merida desperately trying to undo the damage.
The user CryptidKeeper describes Merida as "an archery badass while wearing her dress," likely referring to one of the memorable scenes where she rips constricting clothes in order to shoot the bullseye, besting her own suitors. It's far from the only cool thing Merida is capable of.
Rapunzel – Tangled (2010)
In Tangled, Rapunzel is depicted as a heroic princess who braves the outside world despite the cruel manipulation of her mother figure, Gothel. She brilliantly uses an outsider's intrusion as an opportunity to finally explore beyond her tower and get to the city in time for the festival that's dedicated to her.
On a thread discussing great female Disney characters, Saishol notes that they "would include Rapunzel." The animated film does away with the outdated damsel-in-distress trope and shows the princess taking control of her own fate. She even saves Flynn's life on more than one occasion.
Rey – Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
The eighth episode of the Skywalker saga, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, quickly became a fan favorite after its initial release, in large part thanks to the likable character Rey. The film portrays her experiences as she asks Luke Skywalker for help in defeating Kylo Ren and the First Order.
The Redditor Virtual_Cranberry746 "thought Rey was pretty great in The Last Jedi," probably because of how she overcomes the difficult challenges she encounters. Her badass skills are only made better by her genuine compassion and optimism, which are sorely lacking in the space opera's universe at that point.
Judy Hopps – Zootopia (2016)
The wild world depicted in Zootopia is full of all kinds of creatures, including the rabbit Juddy Hopps and fox Nick Wilde, whose detective story will turn the sprawling urban landscape upside down. The lovable Judy is excited and nervous about her first shot at doing real police work, but soon finds herself caught in the middle of a major conspiracy about predators.
The user whatzgood gives a good summary of Judy's character, detailing how she's what "all feminist characters should be: likable, relatable, admirable but flawed." Judy's strength comes from her recognition of these flaws and her efforts to correct her wrongs.
Nala – The Lion King (1994)
The Disney classic The Lion King is centered on a pride of lions, with King Mufasa as their ruler. After his son Simba is born, an unfortunate and nefarious series of events leads to the young cub's exile from his home. He's soon adopted by the funny duo, Timon and Pumbaa, who show him how to live without worries.
A lesser-appreciated character from the film is Nala, Simba's childhood friend who he meets again as an adult away from home. Muqaddimah rightly points out that "Nala deserves mention as a strong female Disney character, if not the lead," as it's her intelligence and courage that reminds Simba of his responsibilities.
Moana – Moana (2016)
When Moana's island, Motunui, is endangered by a mystical and destructive force, she embarks on an epic quest to search for the heart of Te Fiti, which was stolen by the trickster god Maui. In the process, Moana finds her own power, which is rooted in compassion and a unique understanding of the world around her.
The user PaddyMac2112 thinks Moana does "a great job of having a strong female character." The protagonist is sure enough in her own abilities and goals to defy her family's expectations of her. She's also badass in the way that she uncovers her community's long history with the art of sailing.
Carol Danvers – Captain Marvel (2019)
Set in 1995, Captain Marvel tells the story of Carol Danvers, who steps up and uses her abilities to stop a galactic war between two alien races. Along the way, she must confront the ghosts from her past that threaten to undo everything she knows about herself and her people.
The Redditor Wildebeast1 thinks Captain Marvel "is one of the most OP characters in the Marvel Universe." Her flawlessly choreographed action sequences in the film highlight her incredible powers, which are put on display once again when Thanos endangers the safety of the universe.
Riley – Inside Out (2015)
After Riley's family moves from Minnesota to San Francisco in Inside Out, she has a difficult time adjusting to her new environment. Along with her are her five personified emotions – Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear – who can't agree on how to best help her cope with the stressful situation.
The animated movie deals with serious issues like depression, as Riley struggles to make sense of her conflicting emotions. This is why a deleted Redditor considers the film as one of the "movies that have a strong female lead," as Riley courageously faces the inner turmoil caused by the abrupt move.
Black Widow – Black Widow (2021)
When Natasha Romanoff learns that the terrifying Red Room is still operational in Black Widow, she teams up with her sister Yelena Belova to put an end to the evil organization. She delves into her dark past over the course of the superhero film, which shows her freeing those who are still under Dreykov's control.
The user bigfudge_23 includes "Black Widow" in their response on a thread about "movies with a strong female lead character." Natasha has stolen the hearts of MCU fans not just for her jaw-dropping skills, but also for her unmatchable grit.
Hua Mulan – Mulan (1998)
The Disney classic Mulan is likely one of the first films to come to mind for those looking for strong female protagonists. It's centered on the titular character who goes to war in her father's place and changes the tide of battle against the Hun invaders. She defies expectations to protect her family, while also figuring out who she is outside of what those around her want her to be.
The Redditor jpebcac points out how Mulan's character "breaks societal expectation" and even "saves the lives of those around" her. She's one of the earliest examples of a powerful female lead and is rightly a big part of fans' childhoods.