‘Rapunzel’ restyled for boys

Will renaming it `Tangled' and turning it into a swashbuckler double the audience?

March 11, 2010|By Dawn C. Chmielewski and Claudia Eller, Tribune Newspapers

After the less-than-fairy-tale results for its most recent animated release, "The Princess and the Frog," Disney executives believe they know why the acclaimed movie came up short at the box office: Boys didn't want to see a movie with "princess" in the title.



"We did not want to be put in a box," said Ed Catmull, president of Pixar and Disney Animation Studios, explaining the reason for the name change. "Some people might assume it's a fairy tale for girls, when it's not. We make movies to be appreciated and loved by everybody."

Disney is taking no chances with "Tangled," positioned to take advantage of holiday family movie-going when it opens Nov. 24. The studio's marketing campaign will amp up the role of the dashing Errol Flynn-styled male lead to share the spotlight with the golden-haired namesake of the classic Brothers Grimm story. Hints of swashbuckling action already are being leaked online.



In the Grimm tale, a prince riding through a forest is enticed by Rapunzel's sweet singing and climbs up the tower where the imprisoned girl is reachable only by her golden tresses. The prince is hardly the boastful swordsman type, let alone a charming rogue. In Disney's latest version, the demure princess is transformed into a feisty teen.


"The Princess and the Frog" generated considerably less: $222 million in global ticket sales to date.


Some in the Disney animation community think the name change is misguided.


"The idea of changing the title of a classic like `Rapunzel' to `Tangled' is beyond stupid," said Norman, who worked on films including "Mulan" and "Monsters Inc."
