Lucas has been watching Frozen almost daily. At night, during his bath, he listens to the Frozen soundtrack on Spotify. Then we listen to different Disney songs. And that got me thinking about my favorite Disney princesses.

Belle

I know I watched Cinderella and Snow White when I was a kid, but Beauty and the Beast was probably the first Disney movie I loved watching over and over again. And it was all because of Belle.

Never mind all the PR back then about the amazing computer graphics and that ballroom scene and the chandelier. What I cared about was the Belle was like a real person.

“OMG, she reads!” was what I thought. She was more interested in books than in people.

(I have a classmate who said, the thing she remembers most about me is that I was always sitting in a corner, reading a book.)

She didn’t really care about the big hunk that all the other girls were fawning over. She couldn’t stand the fact that Gaston was a boor and a jock. She stood up to the Beast, and later on she stood up for the Beast too. She was kind to others. (Okay, this last one, I swear I try, but I don’t always succeed!)

I can’t tell you how often I watched this movie. But I can say that I can sing Little Town from start to finish.

Anna

I don’t think I had any expectations when I walked into the theater to watch Frozen. I certainly wasn’t expecting to cry throughout the entire movie. I wasn’t expecting a story of beautiful sisterly love. And I definitely wasn’t expecting to adore Anna so much.

I know everybody loves Elsa. Her powers are incredible. I really like how her struggles were written, and I have read about the parallels between Anna’s struggle with hiding her powers, and LGBT struggling with their identities. I love how the movie portrayed her constant anxiety, her fear of, well, people. I think a lot of people could understand how difficult it was to trust that others would understand her struggles.

Also, really, Let It Go is kind of amazing. And fabulous. (Thank you, Idina Menzel!) It’s so cathartic.

But to be honest, I always loved Anna more.

I mean, she’s such a dork! And she sleeps with her mouth open! And her hair isn’t perfect!

She’s clumsy, and she loves to eat.

But I think what I love best about her is her optimism. I mean, she’s faced with a freak snowstorm, and the fact that whoa-my-sister-has-ice-powers, but she still wholeheartedly believes in her sister and their relationship.

I love her “we can do dis” attitude.

I mean, she’s faced with a giant snow monster, and she throws snow balls at it!

And in the end, it’s her sacrifice that saves both herself and Anna, and Arendelle, because her love for her sister is a true true love.

AND she saves her sister again in Frozen 2!

Also, look at that adorbs ugly cry!

Moana

I’m pretty sure I’ve watched most of the Disney princess movies, but for some reason Moana really struck a chord with me.

I love this movie for many reasons. The music is just amazing. I don’t know much about Maori or Polynesian culture, but what I saw in the movie was beautiful and inspiring.

I love the sense of community on the island. I love the strong sense of family, and it’s something I have not seen or felt to this degree in any other Disney movie.

And oh my God I love her grandmother! I love their closeness, and I love how Gramma Tala encourages and supports Moana.

And this is my favorite thing about Gramma: (I wish I knew who originally wrote this so I could attribute properly.)

I love Moana’s struggle, between love for her family and her people, and a longing to see what lies beyond the horizon. I’m not sure why, but it pinches at my heart in a very particular way.

I love how her journey is not just about satisfying her own need for adventure, but it’s also about saving her people. It’s about listening to the voice in her heart, and being true to herself, and being okay with the fact that you can love different, conflicting things.

And Moana shares many traits with Anna, which is probably why I love them both so much. Moana is determined to do what she set out to do, despite what looks like gargantuan odds. She doesn’t even know how to sail! But she’s full of  “lez do dis” and “I don’t care if you’re a demi-god, I am Moana of Motonui!”

I am beyond happy that so many little girls will grow up learning from Moana’s journey.

To be honest, I haven’t had much chance to think about Te Fiti/Te Ka.

But this is an interesting take on it:

But really, I love Moana. I have so many feelings.

Also, wow, Disney princesses have come a long way. (Looks at how short the Belle section is up there.)

Who’s your favorite Disney princess?