Are Anna and Elsa Official Disney Princesses?

Fans of the Frozen franchise have often wondered whether Queen Elsa and her sister Anna qualify for the lineup of official Disney princesses. In this article, we will explore the criteria and the reasons why Anna and Elsa might not be part of the Disney Princess franchise.

Criteria for Official Disney Princesses

There is no official list of Disney princesses, but there are certain criteria and qualities that have traditionally been used to determine whether a character could join the lineup. One of the most significant factors is box office success. Historically, a film needed to be commercially successful to support its character's addition to the Disney Princess lineup. However, with the release of Frozen, these criteria have shifted.

The Shift in Disney Princess Criteria

Frozen garnered immense popularity and commercial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films in Disney history. It has its own independent franchise, which entails that it doesn't rely on the marketing and branding of the broader Disney Princess lineup to succeed. Due to this success, Frozen and its characters are nowadays considered separate from the traditional Disney Princess franchise.

Historical Context and Current Status

Before the release of Frozen, the Disney Princess lineup was a marketing tool, representing a collection of princess characters from various Disney films. However, with Frozen, the franchise achieved unprecedented success. This has led to Frozen becoming its own distinct branch that doesn’t necessarily need to conform to the same criteria as the traditional Disney Princesses.

Official Outcomes and Community Opinions

Despite the success and popularity, Anna and Elsa are not officially part of the 12 Disney princesses. This is further confirmed by Disney's official statements and actions. For instance, Rotoscopers, a website that often provides official announcements, published a blog post on April 1 about the two characters joining the lineup in a virtual ceremony. However, this was clearly an April Fool's joke since the blog post is accompanied by a link directing to their actual homepage.

Possible Exceptions and Alternatives

It has been argued that Elsa, being a queen, might still have a place in the Disney Princess lineage. While this might be true from a historical perspective, the modern criteria for inclusion in the Disney Princess lineup have shifted. Successful standalone franchises like Frozen do not qualify their characters for the same treatment as characters from the broader franchise.

In conclusion, while Anna and Elsa have captured the hearts of millions of fans, their journey to becoming official Disney princesses is not straightforward. Their success has led to Frozen becoming its own franchise, and as such, they do not meet the current criteria for inclusion in the Disney Princess lineup. However, Disney's ever-evolving brand strategy might lead to surprises in the future.