Animated Inspiration

Animated properties like comic books, movies and TV shows are often popular with children – and more and more, we take these first loves into adulthood as well. It’s not hard to see why, either: our animated heroes – particularly superheroes – have many life lessons and morals to teach us.

Looking at icons such as Batman, Spider-Man and Wonder Woman can be particularly useful to writers, whether we personally like them or not. After all, these are some of the most enduring characters of the modern age, meaning there are certain questions we can consider for our own, such as:

Why are superheroes so popular?
What does it mean, to BE a hero?
Which are the most popular heroes?
What do these heroes want and why?
How can we twist the hero monomyth?
What are they up against and why?

… And plenty more, besides.

Superhero Quotes

So, here’s a list of things animated superheroes have said … We can take on board their words not only in considering our own writing journey, but our own characters’ as well, plus what they are up against in the story world. Don’t forget to scroll down for more on this, too. Enjoy!

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Princesses As Heroes

When it comes to animated content, I’ve never been much for comic books. Even though I have seen every superhero movie going thanks to my son and youngest daughter (who are HUGE Marvel and DC fans), I also have another daughter who was a passionate Disney Princess devotee when she was little.

Before I had her, I’d never really looked at or thought much about Disney Princesses. I was that bit too old to notice them when they first came out, plus I’d absorbed the stereotype that princesses automatically meant ‘damsel in distress’. No thanks!

However, unlike many of the commentators who persisted with saying Disney Princess movies are ‘bad for girls’, as I started watching them (and the entire back catalogue with my daughter), I began to notice something …

Like the superheroes, who are often lauded as having things to teach us, the princess narratives did too, based on the ‘hero’ mono myth:

Born into danger or royalty or both? CHECK! Disney Princesses are most often literal princesses and frequently in danger, often as a result of dead parents
Some kind of event (frequently traumatic) will act as a catalyst to set her on her quest – often those dead parents; or they are ostracised for some reason; or need to rescue someone/find answers; or they are curious
Leaves family or land and lives with others – CHECK!
Hero has a special weapon only she can wield? CHECK! (Very often this weapon will be figurative, as only Disney Princess characters know the truth or what’s ‘right’, in particular)
Hero may have supernatural help (maybe an outsider, maybe from within himself, or both) – SUPER-CHECK! Disney Princesses always have a side-kick and frequently use magic, or get others to use magic for them
She will go on a journey of some kind (often literal, as well as metaphorical) – again, CHECK.
The Hero must prove himself many times while on adventure – CHECK-CHECK-CHECKITY-CHECK!

Yet for SOME reason, superheroes are considered mostly GOOD, whilst Disney Princesses are considered mostly BAD by progressives, even those who say they would like more female leads on screen. Very strange.

Why the discrepancy?

Let’s be clear. Both superheroes and Disney Princesses have their ‘problematic’ elements. Superheroes, especially in movies, suffer from a lack of diversity in that they are mostly white, able-bodied, straight males. Whilst Disney Princesses have put WoCs front and centre as leads since the 90s, there’s never been a disabled princess … Plus the notion of being royalty and the way they are drawn, with tiny waists and European features is considered icky at best, for some.

But these things aside, there is still a major bias here, especially considering the journeys of both sets of characters are practically identical. After all, when was the last time you heard an adult say they liked Disney Princesses, like they do superheroes? If you’re friends with me, you will have heard me say it … And you’ll have probably heard someone else say something along the lines of, ‘Really?? I thought you were a feminist!’

It’s almost as if superheroes get MORE of a free pass than Princesses … And superheroes are most often male, whereas Disney Princesses are ALWAYS female. Huh. What do you know!

Princess Wisdom

So, here’s some writing wisdom from *my* heroes the Disney Princesses … Many of these quotes resonate very strongly with me, especially Tiana’s which reminds me of Maya Angelou’s famous advice, ‘Nothing will work unless you do.’ I wouldn’t mind betting this was intended, either. Enjoy!