PrueFever I agree fully! She's way overdone and tries to hard to be this perfect Disney Princess... At first I liked her, but then I started to have these major problems with her, just like you! And now I can't stand her or the movie for that matter. It's just too modern for me likening...

cruella Great article avatar_tla_fan! I agree with both of you. The character Rapunzel has never appealed to me, because she way overdone and way too 'perfect'. And honestly I can't think of anything about the movie Tangled I like that much.

avatar_tla_fan PrueFever, Thanks! I'm glad somebody else dislikes her.

avatar_tla_fan Cruella, I agree completely. Thank you. ^-^

MalloMar "Well, that's why I feel there's this irritating, "pressure" to like her." I know what you mean. Her personality and humor are shoved in our faces, and it feels like they try too hard to make you like her. I guess you explained it better. She sort of "has everything" You know, she has all the traits people love in the other Princesses, and it makes her less unique. I don't hate Rapunzel, but I know what you mean. If I had a list, she'd probably be last, tied with Belle, but I haven't seen either movie in a while, so... Well, I've been ranting and getting off subject, so I'll stop. Nice article.

avatar_tla_fan :3 Thank you. And I don't care if you get off topic.

AudreyFreak wow, I knew you and I didn't like her but I'm surprised by the comments that more people don't either! For almost a year now I've been trying to finish my article on what each DP brings uniquely to the franchise and I have trouble with Rapunzel, because as you said, she doesn't really bring anything new. Art/creativity? Elsa actually is an artist, Tiana is creative with cooking, Belle and Aurora are dreamy and wonder about life, etc. Free-spirited? Almost all of them are. Her official trait is "passionate" which I agree is a good one, but she just doesn't have any distinct traits of her own. Not to bash her, she's just not original. And yet she gets a LOT of credit for things other DPs, especially Snow White, gets hated for (naivete? Rapunzel's is adorable, Snow's is obnoxious. Girly? Rapunzel's is charming, Snow's is anti-feminist. Etc.). But people will [url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398286/board/nest/219044912] insist[/url]] she's superior and way more progressive till their dying breath. In the thread she even gets called witty. She can be amusing, but not because she ever tries to tell a joke, much less one with clever humor (ie wit). People can like the DPs for any reason but it seems the popular girls get so much respect for reasons that get ignored or hated in the less popular ones. And I don't like having someone who doesn't live up to their hype being shoved in my face as she still sometimes is. though I don't really mind if she's boring, I just dislike her because I don't think she's a good role model at all, besides being sweet and optimistic. But I won't go into that again.

avatar_tla_fan I completely agree with you!

princesslullaby I wouldn't write a whole article, but essentially Rapunzel is an archetype that hits all the right "Disney Princess" notes while having no personality outside of that. She's quirky without being too quirky, awkward without being too awkward, and all her flaws are played off as marketable and sweet rather than genuine, unlikable flaws. Plus she is magically charming to everyone and is for some reason, a horse whisperer. Her character is one big Disney Princess marketing archetype. Like she represents the Disney Princesses collectively- she's extremely safe and marketable. Agree with what you wrote. I don't find her irritating but I do find her extremely pandering. Also, I wouldn't consider Elsa an "artist" just because she creates an ice castle. Rapunzel we do see consistently create and paint, paper mache and sculpt, etc. I would say Rapunzel brings that but it's a surface trait. @AudreyFreak- if you wanna say Rapunzel brought something new, Rapunzel was the first princess really who was consistently abused and actually managed to break free on her own accord and the first princess to blackmail- a man, no less. Basically Rapunzel is the modern Cinderella. She speaks to girls who go through emotional abuse and give them hope that they'll be able to break free of that, something I think Cinderella lacks because Cinderella didn't break out on her own, although she attempted.

avatar_tla_fan I agree with you, she is definitely an archetype used for marketing.

Aang_Lite Well, seeing as how Rapunzel is my favorite character, I guess it would make sense for me to disagree with almost everything you've said. I hope you don't get annoyed by the long rant. Your Points: Number 1: You don't like Rapunzel because she's too relatable. I've written this elsewhere, but I find it interesting how people on this site judge the DP based on how the story represents them, rather than the traits of the characters themselves. The entire point of making a protagonist is so that she's relatable, and in the DP case, so that she's a good role model for the little girls who will be looking up to her. So of course she's to got have an abundance of good traits. The thing is, these good traits need to be balanced out with negative ones too in order to create a compelling character. And with her anxiety, insecurity, and push over attitude, I would argue she is. You've stated that Rapunzel has too many hobbies and is too well rounded, funny, etc and that all these traits cause there to be an odd pressure to like her. And you're right, these traits are there to make you like her, not because the movie is manipulating you, but because they are creating a well developed character. In the context of her movie it makes perfect sense for her to have all these hobbies and for her to be so artistic/adventurous/intellectual. In fact it would be really if she [i]wasn't[/i], because then you get Anna, a girl who has been locked in a castle her whole life and has done literally nothing to entertain herself the entire time. Rapunzel has been locked in a tower her entire life, with literally no other contact with the outside world other than the breeze, her mother and a chameleon. She has all these hobbies and is so 'well rounded' as you put it, because they are literally the only things that are keeping her [i]sane[/i]. And we can see that even though she's doing all these things, the fact that they are the only things she [i]can[/i] do is starting to wear thin. There's almost no more room on the walls for her to paint anymore, she get's done with cleaning her room in literally 15 minutes, she reads the same 3 books twice every day, and her hair is so long that it's become a literal jungle gym. So you're right. Rapunzel is relatable, and the writers do intend for her to be, but not because she has too many hobbies, or has pretty hair, or any other superficial reason. She's relatable because she's trapped, and that's something everyone has felt in their life. She's not supposed to amazing because she has all these things, but because despite being trapped, she can still find some little joy in all the menial and pointless things she does every day. Number 2 &3: You don't like Rapunzel because she's bland and doesn't have one characteristic that stands out. Well this is completely your opinion and I can't really change your mind if you truly find her bland. But I do wonder with all the elements that create her personality, what exactly you find bland about them. Number one, the most obvious trait, is her bubbly and enthusiastic attitude. Whatever this girl is going to do, she does with an exuberant style that, until Anna came, we never saw in any other princess. She has such a bright attitude, that it's literally contagious and can make even the scariest of men begin to profess their dreams.Because Rapunzel also sees the good in everyone. Having lived in a tower her entire life, she has never had to really question her naive outlook on the world, and as a result as long as two people can find common ground over a shared passion, she sees literally no reason as to why they can't get along. Sure I could understand what you meant by bland if this exuberant attitude was her only defining characteristic, but as stated before, this girl has a large helping of insecurities and anxieties she needs to overcome in the course of the movie. And in the end, overcoming her anxiety, becoming her own woman, and gaining a confidence in herself, results in the lowering of the film of naiveté. At the end of the movie Rapunzel definitely becomes much less of the bubbly girl we first see, but she still retains that optimistic attitude, something I think is incredibly unique considering the large overhaul her character undergoes. Because Rapunzel changes, she's malleable, she acts upon her environment and it in turns acts on her, creating a dynamic, and refreshingly human character. So in the end I guess it all depends on the way we look at the movie. I in no way see Rapunzel's character or even humor as somehow forced or disingenuous, because given how she changes throughout the movie and the circumstances she's grown up in, the end result is a very caring and believable character. People in real life [i]can[/i] be that exuberant, I even have a best friend that shares many of Rapunzel's traits. And as a result while it is your opinion, I vehemently disagree with it.

avatar_tla_fan Okay, I see your point. :) I disagree, but thank you for commenting and expressing your opinion.

scarletunicorn Yeah, she's written as if we HAVE to like her, no matter what, and find her attitude endearing...Besides she's a little too Manic Pixie Dream Girl at times

avatar_tla_fan Agreed.

324anna Great article! I actually love Rapunzel, she's in my top 5 e.tc. BUT I can see what you mean when you say that the movie practically forces us to like her. Sometimes, I do feel it's like they want to scream at us "Look at her! Isn't she so charming and funny and adorable and relatable? Don't you just love her?". And she's not very original, so I definitely understand why you dislike her for being, in your opinion, boring. But I also agree with Aang_Lite. Rapunzel is so sweet, bubbly, creative, passionate and the movie gives reasons for her having so many hobbies and being so good at them. I love how she brings happiness wherever she goes and she's capable of inspiring other people. At the same time, she's very insecure, naive, kind of a push over and indecisive. But what makes me love her and what makes her different from the other DPs like her, like Snow White, in my opinion is the fact that she develops. I love seeing her turn from a naive girl to a mature woman and finally deciding to stand up and face her fears. You said that you didn't see something that made you admire her. Well, that's it, imo, the way she was able to deny everything she had ever known as right, including her own mother who raised her and loved her and I believe that the way the movie makes her dealing with that is very nice and realistic, because unlike Ariel or some other DPs, it wasn't easy for her to move on and follow her dreams. Sorry for ranting, I truly liked your article, I respect your opinion and like I said before, I even agree on some points, I just felt the need to defend a Princess I love so much. ;)

_CatWoman_ I agree! Great article as always.

ace2000 While I agree completely with Aang_Lite, I respect your opinion :)

Sparklefairy375 I'm sorry but I honestly disagree. Not because I'm biased due of Rapunzel is my favorite, but I just can't see how "an amazing character who is easily relatable because of how she has many hobbies, and well rounded, funny, and a lot of positive traits" could be the reason to dislike any character. I fail to find the logic here. Except if you prefer flawed character over flawless one.

Vizsla4 This sums up why I dislike her. Well done.

elsafan1010 I like Rapunzel, in fact, Rapunzel is #4 on my likes list. I think Rapunzel's many hobbies make it interesting, because there has never been a princess who can do anything. yes, it might be a little too perfect but I think you're exaggerating a bit

Eisme Hahahahahahaha 😆😆😆😆😆😅😂😂😂 God this article is the best one I've seen in a WHIIIILLE! It is comedy gold

Disneylover1234 Why would you say that about her she is an amazing princess plus She is gold And That's your opinion Not everyone has the same opinion but that got me off guard when you said that you hated her she's not annoying she's beautiful and fun to watch of course Article is great but opinion That wasn't really nice