By Andie Hagemann
Hear ye, hear ye… a royal celebration is coming to your TV (and assorted streaming devices) this weekend! With World Princess Week festivities underway through Saturday, August 27, keep the revelry going with a Disney Princess movie marathon highlighting these beloved characters and the courage and kindness that they inspire in their fans around the world. We present five animated feature films to binge watch on Disney+…
Cinderella (1950)—Disney+
Dreams do come true! The animated classic—now part of the Walt Disney Signature Collection and the National Film Registry—is the ultimate rags-to-riches story. Cinderella (voiced by Disney Legend Ilene Woods) is reduced to being a lowly servant to her bitter stepmother and stepsisters. However, thanks to a little “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” from her Fairy Godmother (voiced by Verna Felton), Cinderella receives beautiful ballgown and magical transport to attend a royal ball. The only catch: She must be home before the stroke of midnight.
Aladdin (1992)—Disney+
Aladdin (voiced by Scott Weinger), a street-savvy young man in Agrabah, falls in love with fiercely independent Princess Jasmine (voiced by Disney Legend Linda Larkin) after a chance meeting in the marketplace. However, an antiquated law prohibits Jasmine from marrying anyone who isn’t of royal lineage. Meanwhile, the evil vizier Jafar (voiced by Jonathan Freeman) is determined to capture the throne for himself. After Aladdin discovers a magic lamp that unleashes a powerful genie (voiced by Disney Legend Robin Williams), the pair embark on a mission to bring Al and Jasmine together and save Agrabah.
Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)—Disney+
This year, Raya makes her official debut as a Disney Princess! In the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons once lived together in harmony. However, when menacing monsters called Druun threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, the Druun have returned, and it’s all up to a lone warrior named Raya (voiced by Kelly Marie Tran) to find the last dragon and stop the Druun.
Pocahontas (1995)—Disney+
An adventurous Native American woman named Pocahontas (voiced by Irene Bedard) is uncertain about her future, especially with her father, Chief Powhatan (voiced by Russell Means), urging her to marry a brave warrior. However, when English settlers arrive in Jamestown, the land of the tribe of Powhatan Indians is threatened. And things become even more complicated when a romance blossoms between Pocahontas and Captain John Smith (voice by Mel Gibson).
The Princess and the Frog (2009)—Disney+
Tiana (voiced by Disney Legend Anika Noni Rose) dreams of opening her own restaurant in New Orleans… and she’s “Almost There.” However, her dreams take a slight detour when she meets Prince Naveen (voiced by Bruno Campos), who has been turned into a frog by Dr. Facilier (voiced by Keith David). Naveen mistakes Tiana for a princess and kisses her in the hopes of breaking the spell, but instead, she is also transformed into a frog. The unlikely duo embarks on a journey down the Bayou to seek the help of a voodoo priestess (voiced by Jenifer Lewis).