Is Fiona a Disney Princess?

Fiona is not an official Disney princess. While she is a beloved character in her own right, Fiona belongs to the DreamWorks franchise Shrek. Despite her significance in the Shrek series, Fiona has no place among the League of Disney Princesses due to some key factors.

Technically, Yes

It's worth noting that technically, Fiona can still be considered a princess, albeit very narrowly. In the context of the Shrek films, she becomes a princess by marrying a king. However, this does not make her a Disney princess, as such a union is a plot point specific to the Shrek narrative and not a general qualifier for Disney's princess classification.

The Reality Behind Disney Princesses

The official Disney Princess team is a carefully curated group of characters who are entirely owned by Disney and share key characteristics that make them highly marketable. These characteristics include their allure, fairy tale-like origin stories, and their unique representation of different cultural backgrounds within the overarching Disney brand.

Two Key Criteria for Disney Princesses

Ownership by Disney: One of the primary criteria for a character to be classified as a Disney princess is that they must be wholly owned by the Disney Corporation. This exclusivity ensures that the character is a unique representation of the Disney brand and allows Disney to control their marketing and merchandising efforts. Marketability: The second criterion is marketability. Disney princesses are designed to appeal to a wide demographic, and this includes representing diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Characters like Mulan and Tiana were introduced to cater to Asian and African American audiences, respectively, to broaden Disney's appeal.

Why Fiona Fails to Meet the Criteria

Fiona, as a character from Shrek, is owned by DreamWorks, a company separate from Disney. Additionally, there is a notable lack of marketability for Fiona in terms of merchandise and media presence. If you've ever tried to find Fiona-related products, you'll notice that her market presence is quite limited. This scarcity of merchandise and related products puts her at a disadvantage in the race for Disney princess status.

Some characters who have married into and not been born into royalty have been accepted into the Disney Princess group. This is done to ensure that a wider range of girls can identify with the princesses and generate greater sales. For example, Mulan and Tiana, though not born into royalty, were given the title of princess to better connect with and market to specific demographic groups.

Disney takes its classifications of official Disney princesses very seriously. The company has an entire page dedicated to the princesses, detailing which characters are included and which are not. This page is a testament to Disney's commitment to maintaining a specific aesthetic and cultural representation within the League of Disney Princesses.

The Verdict

No, Fiona is not a Disney princess. Shrek, the film in which Fiona plays a key role, was produced by DreamWorks and not Disney. Therefore, Fiona cannot be considered an official member of the Disney princess family.

I hope this clears up any confusion! It's important to recognize that the Disney princesses are a carefully selected group with specific criteria, and while Fiona is indeed a princess in the Shrek universe, she does not meet Disney's standards for inclusion.

So, while you can certainly love Fiona and her adventurous spirit, she remains a member of the Shrek franchise but not a Disney princess.

-Jason