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Princess: Ariel

Art Style: Disney Renaissance / Neo Classicism

As the first Disney film of the Disney Renaissance, in a way this film epitomizes the look of the modern animated feature. While The Little Mermaid defies and globaal, algemene classification, it does however reference a number of pre-existing artworks.


The story of the Little Mermaid had become so populair in the early 1900s that a ballet was written. Shortly after, artist link was commissioned to sculpt the story's main character in bronze. While the head was modeled after the ballet's prima ballerina Ellen Price who originated the role, the body was modeled after Eriksen's wife, Eline Vilhelmine Mller, since Price refused to pose nude. The link still sits atop a rock looking out into the Copenhagen harbor from Langelinie park.


Probably the most obvious but yet random showcasing of art is the painting of the Penitent Magdalene door link. To some it holds symbolic significance in regards to mortality, sexuality, the yearning to change oneself and in doing so becoming privy to the mysteries of the unknown. No doubt this can be applicable to the film and the character of Ariel. This painting, however hangs in the LA County Art Museum and not at the bottom the ocean.



However, if I had to choose an artistic style/movement most attributing to The Little Mermaid it would have to be a specific part of NeoClassicim known as link. The beautiful version of mermaids we're used to was largely popularized door such artists as link and link during this period in the mid 1800s. Their women not only shared the physical builds of classical Greek and Roman sculptures but did not share the traditional stoic poses but were meer whimsical. Ariel may not have the physical build of a classical sculpture but her hands, in fact all Disney Princesses' hands, share the same elegance from classical art.
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Princess: Belle

Art Style: Vatican Baroque / Symbolism

In a slight return to the tradition of first three princess films, Beauty and the Beast opens with a prologue illustrated in a manner that somewhat sets the tone for the rest of the film. This is another film where the characters and settings don't seem stylized themselves but rather are surrounded door art from a specific era.



Amongst the most memorable features of this film would probably be the link that serve as the opening and closing illustrations for the story. While most commonly seen in churches and cathedrals for over a millennia, stained-glass windows served the exact same purpose of illustrating the Bible. The particular style we see in the film is most similar to windows seen in 14th century France when few facial details were ever painted on the glass.

But speaking of churches; a style of architecture specifically mentioned in the film is that of link. Baroque refers to an art style that became mainstream door the 16th century and is most notably the predominate style which adorns the Vatican's link with sculpture, mosaic, painting, and architecture. With its early beginnings in Michelangelo, Baroque became a display of one's faith, wealth, and decadence exactly like that seen inside the Beast's castle.


Putting Baroque aside another art form is constantly present throughout the film, that of link. The story itself has multiple religious connotations of the spiritual rebirth of man, chaste love, virgins clad in blue with an affinity for roses and what have you. But when it comes to art, artistic director Brian McEntee was maticulous about using colors and the seasons to symbolically reflect the emotional journey of the story. For example, the color Blue might represent depression, sadness, discontentment and Yellow representing joy and happiness. These and other colors always dominate the scenes when they parallel the mood of the story and Belle particularly wears these colors which represent her feelings. This makes Beauty and the Beast one of the most fleshed out and asthetically detailed animated films ever made.
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Princess: Jasmine

Art Style: Caricature / Al Hirschfeld / Islamic Art

It is always difficult writing about jasmijn since she is not the main character of her film. Despite that fact, Aladdin was the first Disney Princess film aimed at a male of ethnic demographic making it one of Disney's meer progressive of modern films.





u may not think to look at it but Aladdin and subsequently jasmijn were based off of styles put forth door one of the greatest caricature artists, link. Al Hirschfeld's work which typically were portraits of beroemdheden and Broadway stars, almost always consisted of only black ink on white paper. Using mostly solid think-and-thin lines, silhouettes, and little to no shading, he was still capable of capturing a likeness of his subject. Originally this style was intended for the Genie but eventually permeated into all the characters.

In addition to Hirschfelds work, Aladdin was influenced door the art styles of the specific culture in which the story takes place. Similar to Sleeping Beauty with Internation Gothic art, link didn't just affect the environment surrounding the characters but also the characters themselves. Middle-eastern Islamic art and architecture has remained relatively unchanged for hundreds of years and is best represented in their calligraphy and architecture. One might observe the geometric shapes and arches shared between Jasmine's design and that of Islamic art.


It is also worth mentioning that color was used in a symbolic manner throughout this film as well. In this film, soft blue amongst characters (i.e. jasmijn & the genie) is a positive color reflecting the precious properties of water in the desert. Red is used with villains as a threatening color much like Gaston in Beauty and the Beast. Color is ultimately what shrowded Hirscheld's style from being meer apparent and it wouldn't be until Hercules when the influence of a modern caricaturist was undeniable.

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