Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a young prince lived in a shining castle...

Recently, there have been announcements about Disney releasing a live-action Beauty and the Beast! While the movie won't come out until 2017, we can still delight in the prospect of such an endeavor being underway.

Ma chere Mademoiselle (or Monsieur), it is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that I welcome you tonight (or today). And now I invite you to relax, let me pull up a chair as the Fangirl Initiative proudly presents--all the latest details on this exciting up-coming project!

The Cast:

While the entire cast hasn't been announced, the biggest roles now have faces and let me tell you, it's something that wasn't there before...

As the above picture shows, Emma Watson has been cast as Belle. I have been a long time fan of Beauty and the Beast and have watched it countless times with my sister (it's her favorite). We both think Emma will portray a wonderful Belle. She's gorgeous, down-to-earth, and strong-willed, all qualities Belle possesses. She also was born in Paris. In addition, her role as Hermione makes for the perfect parallel to book-loving Belle. It couldn't be more perfect, right?

The Beast, or Prince Adam if you prefer, is being portrayed by Dan Stevens. Hailing from England, this bright-eyed monsieur has recently appeared in more well-known roles, such as Downtown Abbey and Night at the Museum. However, we can't forget his role as the charming, down-to-earth Edward Ferras in the 2008 BBC Sense and Sensibility (*sigh*). While the role as Beast might be little bit on the gruff side, I think Dan Stevens will be a fine fit for a portrayal. Recent pictures show he can pull off a little hair.

However, we can't forget the other somewhat-charming man, Gaston himself. Luke Evans is set to play the handsome, conceited villain. And let me tell you: I'm psyched. You've probably seen Luke Evans in The Hobbit Trilogy as Bard the Bowman and possibly even as Vlad in Dracular Untold. Both of these roles make me think he can pull off both handsome and strong "hero" and "villain." He's had his fair share of playing warrior characters as he's appeared in Robin Hood, Clash of the Titans, Immortals, and The Three Musketeers. Can he pull of Gaston? My opinion: yes, yes he can (although I might end up rooting for the villain ???)

Speaking of Gaston, we cannot forget his adorkable (maybe?) sidekick, Le Fou. And nobody would be better to play such a comical character than Josh Gad. Yes, that's right folks Frozen's very own Olaf is going to play the goofy character. I find this casting choice to be absolutely perfect. Josh Gad has the perfect voice to play the part (Need a refresher on Le Fou in the animated? Listen to Gaston's song. I hear Olaf in Le Fou). He's just going to be perfect.

In addition to these cast members, Mrs. Potts and Maurice (Belle's father) have been cast. We have the lovely Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts. What a gem! She'll do wonderful as Mrs Potts. And Kevin Kline is cast to portray the crazy old Maurice. I'm not as familiar with him, but I think he looks like he could pull of the lovable, somewhat odd father for Emma Watson.

Clearly this isn't the whole cast or every detail of the movie, so I'm excited to hear about more updates soon!

The Music:

Now the cast members aren't the only exciting things happening for the movie. But they've announced that the talented and glorious Alan Menken has been hired to do the music. *flops on the ground* If you don't know who Alan Menken is, listen up! This man has been the music writer, composer, producer, and/or arranger for many of the best Disney soundtracks and scores. He's been involved with the original Beauty and the Beast score, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, and Tangled. *cries* Did I mention he's won four Oscars for music and been nominated for many others (among other awards)? This movie is going to look gorgeous and sound gorgeous.

And that's not everything. Sources say this isn't just going to be a live-action remake. No, it's going to be a live-action, musical. Yes, that's right. Not only will we have beautiful music and wonderful actors, but we'll hear these said actors singing. Emma Watson singing. Dan Stevens singing. Luke Evans... singing.

Could this remake get any better?

Disney has also reported they plan to use some new awesomesuace, 3D CGI technology to create the film; so basically the magic of Beauty and the Beast will feel all the more closer to our (fangirl) hearts.

I'd say this is one film that will definitely bring the Tale as Old as Time into a new, fresh light. Unfortunately, we have to wait until 2017 to watch this film, but until then you can watch the live-action Cinderella (just released last weekend) and next year, we're getting a live-action Jungle Book with another fantastic cast!

What do you think? Is this cast perfect or do you have someone else better in mind? And what of the other characters that have yet to be cast, any fancasts on who should play them (i.e. Lumiere, Cogsworth, Chip, etc.)?

Valentine's Day is officially behind us, but since the holiday came and went so quickly, I'm still thinking about it. I confess, I'm rather relieved my news feed won't be clogged by pictures of couples and their various flowery or chocolaty gifts anymore. I also won't have to hear phrases like "Single's Awareness Day" until next February.
All of this did get me thinking, though. Valentine's Day is supposed to be about love, yet we typically view it as a couple's holiday exclusively. And while romantic love is certainly wonderful and important, it's not the only kind of love. In fact, it may not even be the strongest. To help illustrate this, I'm looking to none other than Disney. True, Disney has given us some of the sweetest and most iconic couples of all time. We discussed that earlier this month here on the Fangirl Initiative.
But Disney also gives us the stories of everlasting love found in families and friendships. I could cite examples from countless films, but for this post, I'll focus on one of the most recent releases: Frozen.

It's been talked about a lot, but I'd like to share my own little insights on the love in this movie. Frozen reminded me that love is so much more than romance. Love is...

1. Friendship. Anna and Elsa are sisters by birth, but friends by choice. As kids, they are inseparable. They have matching dolls, enjoy each other's company, and are always there for one another. After an accident divides them, both grow up missing this friendship. It never fully fades, though, and by the end of the movie, they're back to having fun together as both sisters and friends.

2. Having things in common. From building snowmen, loving warm hugs and chocolate and giggling at the same jokes, Elsa and Anna share a lot. A great part of love is about what we share.

3. Having and accepting differences. This is perhaps an even greater part of love than sharing likenesses. Anna and Elsa are similar in some ways, but also opposites. Anna is bubbly, extroverted, trusting, and a bit clumsy; Elsa is quieter, introverted, cautious and elegant. Anna is "completely ordinary (in the best way!)" and Elsa has magical ice powers. Yet they never try to change each other. Even when Elsa has frozen the summer, Anna tries to change the situation not her sister. Although I'm trying to avoid discussing romance, I have to point out that Anna and Kristoff are also very different. Instead of judging those differences, though, they're drawn to them and balance one another out.

4. Being honest, even when it's hard. Elsa tells Anna she can't marry a man she just met, although it means Elsa is risking her newly regained friendship with Anna. Elsa isn't trying to dash her sister's hopes; she's telling her the truth because she genuinely cares about Anna's future. Imagine if Elsa had gone along with idea of Anna marrying Hans! Frozen would have been a far different film.

5. Protecting the person you care about. In the song "Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?" I always feel sorry for Anna when Elsa tells her to go away. But it must have been hard for Elsa to send her little sister away, too. Since Elsa couldn't control her powers, she did what seemed like the only alternative: Locking herself away to keep Anna safe. I've heard people call Elsa's parents abusive for keeping her in her room, but I disagree. They didn't know how to help her, so they thought keeping her away from people who wouldn't understand was the solution. Elsa was already terrified of hurting others, so they assumed that protecting her from people would limit her anxiety. They were trying to protect both of their daughters out of love.

6. Forgiving. Elsa and Anna each have reasons they could stay angry with one another, but instead, they let it go. Love can't exist alongside grudges, and both Anna and Elsa know this. Anna, especially, forgives Elsa over and over. This isn't simply a trait of Anna's personality, since she isn't as generous towards Hans. It's a choice she makes out of love for her sister.

7. Putting someone else's needs before your own. For a somewhat clueless but adorable snowman, Olaf defines love with true insight.

I love that in Frozen, love isn't a feeling. It isn't reserved for first sight, couples or duets. Love is a verb. It's a choice that characters make over and over, as they put each other first. In some way or other, just about every character (except Hans) does this throughout the story. Elsa is willing to live in isolation to keep her sister safe. Anna will literally climb mountains to find Elsa, even when everyone else believes she's a monster. Kristoff is willing to let Anna go to her "true love," even though it means he's giving up his own true love. Olaf is so determined to save Anna, he nearly melts himself.

And at the end, Anna sacrifices herself to save Elsa. Love is sacrifice, and Frozen reminds us of that over and over.

Love is indeed a force that's powerful and strange. And true love exists in many forms: In romance, yes, or being "in love", but also in parents protecting their children, friends sticking together, sisters forgiving one another, and making sacrifices for the people we care about most. Even the most anti-Valentine's-day person has to admit, true love really does thaw a frozen heart.

And that's the kind of love worth melting for, even after Valentine's Day.

One of the things Disney is known for is true love. In the world of Disney, love is magical--and Disney taught us that magic is something worth believing in. So, then, love is worth believing in as well.

While true love manifests itself differently in the real world, these movies filled our childhood and adult years with tales that reflected it. And these stories are not easy to forget. So during our Month of OTPs, we've decided to feature some of our favorite Disney couples--the ones that, however cheesy, showed us what love could look like. Whether from new or old Disney movies, they're the couples we still believe in today.

Reminder: OTPs stands for One True Pairing. An OTP is a romantic couple in a fandom that you like. "Shipping" an OTP means you: 1.) very much like this couple together, 2.) have "feels" (feelings) about them, and 3.) want them to succeed.

Jaime Heller

It’s so hard to choose. So. Many. Options.

But obviously, I’m going with Rapunzel and Eugene Fitzherbert. :) These two make me smile and cover my face with my hands because they’re adorable. Also how they fall in love: it’s not a “love at first sight” kind of deal, though they do seem pretty infatuated with each other after about a day (but hey, what’s a little adventure and being hunted down by multiple people to make you fall in love?) But they learn about each other and open up little by little and slowly fall in love (or at least slower than a lot of other Disney couples). They balance each other: she boosts his dreaming and he grounds her back to earth.

 

But my biggest reason they are my OTP is that Eugene dies for her. Dies. Yes, she was going to sacrifice her living life so he could be healed, but he won’t accept that. He would rather die than know she can’t be free. It’s rare you see that happen, especially with people who don’t know each other that well. Plus I can’t keep a straight face when they whisper “You were my new dream.” “And you were mine.” My shipper's heart beats loudly for them. 

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Memorable mentions: Belle and Adam (the Beast) because that is probably the greatest love story in Disney existence and Carl and Ellie from Up because dang their story creates my own Paradise Falls on my face and it’s told without any words, just music. (Plus these two remind me of my grandparents in almost every way.)

Mirriam Neal

As I write this, I’m listening to the Strange Magic soundtrack and preparing to go to see the movie for the second time tonight. My partner-in-crime Courtney and myself are taking my sister Riah to see it because a) she hasn’t yet and b) we really, really need to see it again. I was shocked with how much I adored the movie – and how hard I shipped two certain characters; namely, the Bog King and Marianne. Their ship name? Butterfly Bog, of course. Because Mog and Barianne sound just a little too funky, I guess. 

I have never, ever shipped an animated couple this hard. Not even Hiccup and Astrid in HTTYD 2, even though they were completely adorable. I mean, I ship Butterfly Bog almost as hard as I ship Bellarke, and anyone who knows how hard I ship Bellarke has an inkling of what this means. I shipped Bog and Marianne before they were even in a scene together, okay. They were written like real, flesh-and-blood characters and not two-dimensional cartoons. And it was beautiful.

In fact, Strange Magic is legitimately the most romantic movie I’ve ever seen – and I’m a cinemaphile who has seen a lot of romantic movies. Strange Magic is from the mind of George Lucas, and so we get a romance that’s reminiscent of Madmartigan/Sorscha or Han Solo/Leia – except it’s more like the distilled essences of these characters, with a twist.

The Bog King tries very hard to be ‘the bad guy,’ when in reality he’s an awkward sweetheart who got severely burned from his last ‘love’ attempt.

Marianne is a thick-skinned, tough fairy princess who has sworn off men after her former Romeo spurned her.

When these two meet, they find they have a lot in common – namely, people-hate and bad attitudes toward love. Sparks fly (literally – as the saying goes, it’s not a real OTP unless they’ve tried to kill each other at least once) but there’s quite a lot of awkwardness since the Bog King’s mother is trying to set him up with every female that breathes, and Princess Marianne’s younger sister Dawn is head-over-heels for Bog thanks to an errant love potion.

The Bog King is ugly. He’s prickly. He’s ‘a scaly-backed cockroach’ who happens to have a heart of gold that he tries very hard to bury. Marianne is beautiful and lively and has a soft heart that she’s attempted to harden through sheer determination and ‘realism.’ Their chemistry is something I rarely see even in live-action movies or – well, even television shows.

This movie. Guys, this couple – let me tell you right now, when I’m in a relationship, I’m not making my man watch The Notebook. I’m making him watch Strange Magic. If you think I’m kidding, just wait. This relationship is everything I aspire to write, everything I love. It’s perfect. I don’t even care that it’s insta-love – it’s an animated movie and they’re allowed that. It’s beautiful. I – guys. I can’t stress this enough – the movie has great animation, great music, great dialogue – but this relationship is my jam. I can’t tell you enough. And you haven’t lived until you’ve heard Alan Cumming belt out Mistreated.

Sky Destrian

It's honestly hard for me to zero in on just one Disney couple. However, when gathering images for this post, I realized that, um, I shipped Lady and the Tramp so hard as a kid. I had a lot of feelings about them I had totally forgotten about.

While it may seem odd to ship a pair of dogs, the love story perfectly crafted in The Lady and the Tramp stuck with me. Who could forget the infamous spaghetti scene?

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Quick warning: I'm about to go into some character analysis about animated dogs.

I think I love them so much because the Tramp is the perfect contrast to Lady's prim and proper demeanor. He gets her into trouble, and she reigns him in. They complete each other.

One thing that strikes me is Tramp's loyalty to Lady. He'll do anything to take care of her. From the moment he meets her, he keeps an eye on her. For a mutt off the streets, I think that's a big deal. I don't think Tramp cared for anyone quite as much as he cared for Lady.

The Lady and the Tramp is actually an intense movie--not everything is okay, not at first. Lots of things stand in the way of their perfect love story. They lose each other throughout the movie and then find each other again. "Pidge? Where are ya, Pidge?" The two of them have to overcome many obstacles to end up together, but when they do, they have the cutest puppies ever. Truly, a love story to behold.

Another favorite is Carl and Ellie from Up. Their movie felt so real in the space of about ten minutes. As a writer myself, I realize that making the audience care in such a short time span is an amazing feat. Some couples have two hours devoted to them and don't have as much chemistry as Carl and Ellie did. Carl's loyalty to Ellie was especially touching, as was their thrill for adventure. I especially related to Carl's difficulty of letting go. But in the end, it was the memories that mattered, and Ellie knew that.

If I can find a love story like that, I'll be a lucky person indeed.

However, my all-time favorite, like so many of us from The Fangirl Initiative, has to be Flynn and Rapunzel. Ever since I watched Tangled three years ago, I've wanted a Flynn Rider. They are perfect together. If there's one animated couple I can get behind 100%, it's them. And I definitely want a relationship like that. As Flynn Rider said about his frying pan, "Oh, mama, I have got to get me one of these!"

Honorable mentions: Tarzan and Jane from Tarzan & Wall-E and Eve from WALL-E

Sarah Munson

The older I get, the more I love Disney movies. I credit Disney with making me first fall in love with, well, love. A few couples stand out above the rest to me. These are my Disney OTP’s. (Or at least, this is a sample of them. I could probably find reasons for loving most Disney couples!)

1. Beauty & the Beast, a.k.a. Belle & Adam. They were my first ever OTP, long before I knew what it meant to have one. Simply put, I was four years old and in love with them being in love. Now that I am old enough to see beyond the charming songs and how handsome the Beast turns out to be, I have more solid reasons why I adore this couple. Firstly, their love isn’t instant. They have tension and fights initially, but working through those difficulties eventually brings them closer. Both of them understand what it’s like to be an outcast. Belle, because everyone considers her “odd,” and Adam, because he’s shunned for being cursed. Because they’re both so often misunderstood and outcast, I love that they find friendship and later love in each other. Their characters are both tested and strengthened throughout the story. Belle sticks with the Beast even when he doesn’t deserve it. For his part, he treats her as well as he can, keeping her in the palace as a guest rather than a prisoner. Later, he releases her to return to her sick father, but when Belle accidentally places the Beast in danger, she is quick to rush back to his side. They both make sacrifices for one another, and make each other better. It may be a tale as old as time, but I’ll always love their love story.

2. Mulan & Li Shang. I feel like this is one couple that’s often overlooked, but because I’m a fan of Mulan, these two deserve a mention. They have perhaps more tension than any other Disney pair I can think of. They’re both strong characters, and stubborn at times. But their dedication and passion to their beliefs ultimately pulls them together. I’m not always a fan of sequels, but I really like the further development of their relationship in Mulan II. They’re like yin and yang together. (Also, shout out to Mushu the dragon, for being the best and worst third wheel in Disney romance history!)

3. Flynn & Rapunzel. They’re a popular OTP, but they remain my absolute fondest! I could write an entire essay on the reasons I love them as individuals and especially a couple, but I’ll try to contain myself. They have the perfect blend of similarities and differences. Both are adventurous, dreamers (Flynn is a little more reserved about it, but he does have a dream. No, really! It’s just much less touchy-feely!) Neither one had a perfect life or enough love, nor is either particularly eager to discuss backstory. At least, not at first. Once they open up to each other, though, they begin to connect in a quiet, understanding, accepting way. Flynn’s bolder, shrewder and snarkier side is balanced out by Rapunzel’s gentleness, innocence and kindness. He’s typically calm and collected; she’s excited and a bit scattered. His traits enhance her life, and vice versa. They don’t instantly fall into romance, first taking the time to be a team, looking out for one another and having fun together. My favorite scene involving them is the kingdom dance, because it’s full of little details that show how much they care for each other. Then comes the lantern scene, which makes my heart flutter and soar. Their duet is the most perfect ever. And then the end of the movie. There are no words. Rapunzel and Flynn (or rather, Eugene) are possibly the most perfect pairing I could imagine. Now if you’ll pardon me, I need to go watch Tangled again!

Now it's your turn: who's your Disney OTP?

Note: Several images in this post are from this article of Disney valentines. 

They're adorable, so check them out!

Special thanks to:

Jaime, for coming up with the idea for this post and finding the Disney valentines

Sarah, for sending in a few of the images used in this post

Mirriam, for overflowing with her effervescent opinion of Strange Magic.

During the past twenty-ish years of my life, I’ve watched a lot—if not all—of Disney animated films. I enjoyed them and could sing along to most of the songs, but I never had the same feeling others did about a specific one. I had friends that adored Aladdinor The Lion King and my sister loved Beauty and the Beast, but while I loved watching many of them, I never had a special one that I personally adored and would never tire of experiencing.

Until 2010 with the release of Tangled. By far, Tangledis my favorite Disney film if not my favorite animated film (with the exception of How To Train You Dragon 2). I’m not saying it’s the best, but it’s my personal favorite.

Beyond the gorgeous animation, the stunning songs, and the overall humor and excitement of the story, the characters, I think, fuel the story for me.

Rapunzel—the obvious main character—is one of a few fictional characters I can almost wholly relate to (minus the being trapped in the tower thing, and most people think she’s extroverted while I’m introverted). I find myself in her at every turn of the movie, even down to her green eyes and short brown hair (at the end of the film of course) and the fact that my boyfriend looks (and sometimes acts) uncannily like Flynn Rider.

Because of this special connection, I want to introduce a handful of reasons why it’s necessary for everybody—yes, that includes you—to have a  Rapunzel-like person in your life.

Reason #1: She’s talented.

In the beginning song, “When Will My Life Begin,” Rapunzel sings her way through the morning and lists all of the things she does to take up her time. From knitting to doing puzzles to pottery and ventriloquy, Rapunzel is one talented girl. Not only would having a friend like her around be helpful to do chores around the house with her whirlwind skills or help decorate with her painting skills, Rapunzel would be a grand person to have because she can bake you pies or sew you a dress or make you lots and lots of candles. Basically, you want someone like Rapunzel around for gift-giving time because she’ll bring the best food and also give the best gifts.

On the down side, her talents might make you feel a bit inadequate when she beats you in chess or a dart throwing contest.

Reason #2: She sees the best in people.

Overall, Rapunzel trusts that people are good. She trusts Flynn Rider immediately because he doesn’t have fangs. Even after she learns he’s a wanted fugitive, she still clings to him for guidance and trusts him with her secret (and her heart).

She trusts the pub crawlers not to harm her—even if they do scare her a teeny bit. She trusts Maximus upon meeting him, despite him chasing and fighting Flynn throughout their journey.

She even sees the best in Mother Gothel, despite the verbal abuse and the whole keeping-her-locked-away-in-the-tower thing. She trusted Mother Gothel for eighteen years before ever doubting her story was a lie.

And it is only after her eyes have been opened to treachery and the darker side of people (aka the Stabbington Brothers and the set-up betrayal of Flynn) that she realizes how different the world is.  But still, after all that, she still looks for the best in people. When she confronts Mother Gothel, she says “You were wrong about the world,” and in Mother Gothel’s last moments, Rapunzel reaches out to her before she tumbles out the tower window and dies. Rapunzel still showed a slight optimism that maybe there was good in Mother Gothel too.

Maximus proves Rapunzel’s claims that the world is different than “ruffians and thugs” by changing his mind about a thief. The pub crawlers—who originally were out to get Flynn—turn around and help him escape from prison. And last, Flynn proves Rapunzel’s claims of the good in people by his sacrifice.

Reason #3: She’s loyal.

Continuing with the optimistic side of Rapunzel, she’s loyal to what she cares about and what she believes in. For eighteen years, she’s loyal to Mother Gothel because it’s all she knows. She believes Mother Gothel loves her, so she obeys her and stays inside where it’s “safe.”

She’s loyal to Pascal—her only friend in the tower and makes sure he’s hidden out of the way so Mother Gothel doesn’t take him away. She also consults him for advice, trusting his wisdom.

When she meets Flynn, she immediately becomes loyal to him even when being chased by criminals, guards, and a crazy horse. She doesn’t fear he’s a horrendous criminal that will hurt her; she believes he’s good and she warns him of danger at every turn.

Rapunzel also is loyal to what she believes.

When Mother Gothel forbids her from leaving the tower to see the “floating lights,” she doesn’t give up on her dream. She chases after it. Later when Mother Gothel lies to her for the last time, she stands up for herself and for what she believes to be the truth after all these years. She trusts her gut and stands loyal to her dreams and beliefs.

Reason #4: She sees the world differently.

Now I wouldn’t recommend locking yourself or anybody else in a tower for eighteen years to accomplish this, but I can’t help but notice that Rapunzel views the world through a different set of eyes. Everything she encounters is new and exciting. She’s been dreaming from the tower window her whole life, so her first reaction upon touching grass and water is to lavish in it, to sing about, to be wonderstruck by the world.

She looks at the city of Corona with bright eyes and warm smiles. This helps boost the mood of the city. She drags people to dance or draw with chalk. She lifts the mood of the celebration and evokes smiles and laughter.

Being around a person like that certainly changes your view on the world and life. Just look at what happened to Flynn Rider; he fell head over heels in love with Rapunzel after spending about two days with. Imagine how much more he loves her by the time they got married!

Her perspective on the world is what makes her believe the good in people and to have strong loyalty. It gives her a unique outlook on the world and helps her believe in dreaming, which leads me to my final reason. 

Reason #5: She’s a dreamer.

This is probably the most important of all the reasons, as this fuels everything she is.

Rapunzel is a dreamer, which allows her to see the world differently and help others see the world differently. This opens up a person to consider their dreams and potential.

With one question—haven’t any of you ever had a dream?—she gets a pub full of thugs to burst into song about their various dreams. Not only is this a fantastic song sequence, but it shows the depth of every person, criminal or not. 

She also changes Flynn Rider through her dreaming. She helps him see that there is much more to life than gold and isolation on an island. Her own dreams shift the world around her.

Rapunzel herself learns through her dreaming—and Flynn—that he can accomplish her own dreams and also that it’s okay to set new dreams.

Rapunzel is an optimist with a big heart full of dreams. Flynn states at the end of the movie that she led the kingdom with “grace and wisdom” that no doubt came from her perspective of the world. She’s a dreamer and definitely someone worth having in your life.

If you don't have a Rapunzel in your life, find her and don't forget to live your dream.

Do you have a Rapunzel in your life? Or are you a Rapunzel for someone else?

-Jaime