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.

Last week I recounted various reasons why I love Rapunzel from Tangled and why everybody needs to have a Rapunzel-like person in their life.

However, the Tangled story would not be complete without a certain thief along for the adventure... Yes, that’s right: I’m talking about Flynn Rider (or if you prefer, Eugene Fitzherbert).

Now this charming fugitive brings a completely different perspective to the world than Rapunzel’s upbeat, optimistic dreamy-ness. He’s less stuck in a tower (head in the clouds) and more running for his life (down-to-earth). This gives him a different character to balance her character out.

Which is what brings me to this: I think you—yes, you—need a Flynn Rider in your life. Why, you ask? Well I have a few reasons…

Reason #1: He’s honest.
Now I know you’re thinking: honest, really? You are talking about the guy who lies about his name from introduction and also happens to be the kingdom of Corona’s biggest fugitive. And he’s honest?
Yes. I think he is honest. At least to a point.

You see, when Flynn Rider—not Eugene Fitzherbert—comes on the scene, he knows what he wants. He’s honest about what drives him (riches) and what he wants to accomplish. From the start, we know he wants the crown because it’s worth something, because he steals it from the people helping him steal it, because he agrees to do anything to get it back (even if that means taking a strange girl with a lot of hair to see floating lanterns).

He’s honest to himself. He knows what he wants—“an island that I own, tanned, rested, and alone, surrounded by enormous piles of money”—and he’s not afraid to let people know.

Later, we see his honesty growing the more time he spends with Rapunzel. His interactions with Maximus and Pascal, as well as the people of Corona show glimpses of his true character—and his honesty.

He buys Rapunzel the sun flag (which ultimately helps her realize who she is); he throws Maximus the bag of apples and states he bought them. Most of them. Even in that little moment—though it was probably meant as more humor than anything else—he’s being honest about how he got the apples.

Reason #2: He’s real.

Aside from the fact that the animating team had a “hot man meeting” to create Flynn Rider (aka he’s the perfect man), Flynn Rider comes across very real. Along with the honesty thing, his actions speak truth.

From his sarcasm to his reactions to certain happenings—"frying pans, who knew right?"—he comes across very believable. It not only provides us with laughs and swoon-worthy fangirl feels, but Flynn Rider is something to be admired for his boldness.

He doesn’t seem to care much for what other people think about him (except when they just can’t get his nose right!). He says he can’t sing because he doesn’t want to, not because he can’t sing (which by the way, as he falls in love with Rapunzel, he voluntarily sings, no sword points to pressure him). He has many layers to his character.

One on hand, he’s the charming thief that climbs a tower to hide. This side of Flynn knows he can swoon any maiden in the land with that smolder (well, any maiden except Rapunzel apparently) and get away with any heist. On the hidden side, he’s just a poor orphan boy that wants to be a hero and be known, be loved, be accepted. He isn’t painted black and white like Rapunzel. He’s been in the real world his whole life and his “paints” have blended together.

Everybody, whether we admit it or not, has a hidden side. A side we aren’t sure we want to reveal to the world because of rejection. Flynn Rider is like that; it makes him real.

Reason #3: He’s a realist. 
Rapunzel is the dreamer of all dreamers. Her head is always in the clouds, whether because of sitting atop a tower or drifting away with floating lanterns. But Flynn isn’t. At least not entirely.

Oh, he has dreams like everybody else. (No really! Just much less touchy-feely) I did mention the island and the piles of money. He thinks he knows what he wants at least. He has goals—steal the crown from the castle, steal the crown from my friends, run away, oh and hide in a tower! He also wants a castle.

But he knows he can’t just snap his fingers and wish the dreams to come true. He doesn’t have a genie in a lamp to help him along. He’s a realist; he’s down-to-earth.

Because of his upbringing, an orphan, he’s seen the real world. And that has made him learn that dreams don’t just come true because your heart wishes it. He knows there are obstacles and things he has to overcome or dodge or run away from in order to get what he wants. However, he doesn’t necessarily let that stop him; he still chases his dreams.

Plus, he knows that his true dream—to be like Flynnigan Rider, a swashbuckling hero with money to help people—is a bit of a stretch. So he settles with what he can attain: money and possibly privacy. Anybody can have a dream, but not everybody is as far-fetched as Rapunzel with their dreams. Most of the world is like Flynn: they dream but that’s all it is to them.

This grounds a person; it makes them see the world as it is—maybe not with men with pointy teeth but a place that takes hard work and time to accomplish something worthwhile. And a person like that is perfect to match up with a dreamer like Rapunzel. Otherwise that dreamer might float away and come crashing down hard.

Reason #4: He has integrity.
I know, I know. I already used the h-word, and now I’m going to point at a known fugitive and declare he has integrity? Yes. Yes, I am.

You could argue integrity is a lot like honesty, which is true, but in Flynn Rider’s case it means much more.

Flynn knows he’s charming, he knows he’s good looking, and he knows he’s smart. He thinks he can get out of any situation with a quick smolder and a raise of his eyebrows. And if that doesn’t work, he thinks of something else pretty quickly (case in point: his encounter with Rapunzel). He knows he can manipulate people easily.

But when it comes to something he cares about—someone he cares about—his integrity shines through. After getting to know Rapunzel, he would never use his charms on her. Instead, his actions show his care for her. He spends the day in the city making her happy, he buys her a flag and a lantern of her own, and he pushes away thoughts of the crown to focus on her. And when the moment he comes, he decides to give up the crown to set things right.

Last, his integrity is shown when he is arrested and can only think of Rapunzel. He walks to his deathbed and he fights the guards to talk to the Stabbington Brothers about her, not to attempt escape. He tries to reconcile with Maximus since the horse came to help save him, and he even does what he thinks is best for Rapunzel even if that means he dies.

He may be charming and seem conceited, but as I stated before, there’s more than one side to a person like Flynn Rider: and his other side—that orphan boy dreaming about becoming a hero—has integrity, just like any true hero would.

Reason #5: He can change.
The most important aspect of Flynn Rider’s character is his ability to change. Yes, he’s quick thinking and when one idea of his fails, he can strategize his way out of the situation in another way. But I’m talking about the big stuff he changes.

He’s originally a thief with nothing but eyes and a heart for money. He has charm and good looks, but he comes across conceited and flaky—and well, as funny and drool-worthy as he, not very likeable at first. Even his partners in crime, the Stabbington brother, hate his shenanigans ever before he robs them of the crown.

But he doesn’t stay the manipulating thief. He changes. Suddenly he’s tied to a chair (with hair) and encountering a girl who turns his world upside-down. How could he not change? (well—Mother Gothel never changed, so it’s possible).

When Flynn and Rapunzel get stuck in a cave that’s quickly filling with water, the true side of Flynn Rider is revealed. He’s Eugene Fitzherbert. He opens up because this is his last moment to clean his slate and maybe give something back to the girl who just helped save his life from being captured by guards (and a crazy horse) or beat up by the Stabbington brothers.

From that point on, there’s a lot of changes in Flynn. He’s still got his streak of charms and quick thinking, but he also appears more grateful and thoughtful of others. He helps get firewood, he spends the day with Rapunzel, he even doesn’t get in a fight with Maximus (at least right away). Much later, he changes heart and his dreams because of Rapunzel.

The Flynn Rider we meet at the beginning of the movie would never have given up his life for a strange girl locked in a tower. His perspective is shifted because of Rapunzel; and his actions follow along with it. Suddenly, he can’t imagine a world without this crazy, optimistic, bright-eyed girl. So he does what he can: he saves her and risks his life.

This kind of change fuels the rest of Flynn Rider’s Eugene Fitzherbert’s character for the rest of the film and his future with Rapunzel. No way would the kingdoms greatest fugitive be allowed to step near the castle, except that he changed. He gave up “thieving and basically, turned it all around” (sort of). And while his charm is still scene in the last few moments of the movie, it shows that changes can still retain the better aspects of a person.

Flynn Rider has easily become one of my favorite animated characters and is a main reason why I love Tangled (and he's voiced by one of my favorite actors, Zachary Levi). Since I’m a big dreamer and Rapunzel to many people, I find it necessary for myself to find my own versions of Flynn Rider to ground me to reality.

What about you? Are you Flynn Rider to someone, grounding them in their daydreams? Or are you in need of a Flynn Rider-esque friend to make sure you don’t float away?

-Jaime

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