Disney’s branch of Princesses is one of its most popular and profitable ones, and it would be better if it fixed the story of one of them who was introduced in someone else’s movie. Disney is best known for its impact and influence on the world of animation, even changing history with some of them, and within this animated world, Disney is best known for its Princesses. Disney’s reign in animation began in 1937 with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which also introduced the first Disney Princess, whose characteristics and story were key in building this branch.
The requirements for becoming an official Disney Princess aren’t clear and have changed as more characters have been introduced, but the main ones are to be a main character in their movie, have an animal companion, at least one musical number, and either come from royalty, marry into royalty, or do a heroic act (hence why Mulan is an official Disney Princess). All the current official Disney Princesses have been introduced in their own movies except for one, but it’s not too late for Disney to fix this.
How Old Each Disney Princess Is (Including Frozen’s Anna And Elsa)
Disney princesses go through a lot of things that sometimes seem too mature, but most of the Disney princess’ ages are even younger than you think.
Jasmine Is The Only Disney Princess Who Doesn’t Have Her Own Movie
Jasmine was introduced in Aladdin.
The list of official Disney Princesses has gone through a couple of changes throughout the years, with some of them being removed (as happened to Tinker Bell, The Hunchback of Notre Dame’s Esmeralda, and Tarzan’s Jane Porter) and others being added, such as Moana and Raya. Among the Princesses who have been part of the official list from the beginning is Jasmine, who fits with all the requirements mentioned above, but stands out from the rest as she’s the only one who wasn’t introduced in her own movie, instead appearing in someone else’s story.
Starting with Snow White, all the official Disney Princesses debuted in their own movies, in which the main story is told from their perspectives. Because of this, their love interests are introduced thanks to them, but these Princesses are the indisputable leads in their movies. Jasmine is the only one who doesn’t follow this model, as she was introduced in Aladdin, and it’s through him that the audience gets to know her. Aladdin follows the title street urchin and thief who comes across a magic lamp and makes a wish to make him pass as a prince to woo Jasmine.
Jasmine is then trapped between Aladdin’s deceit, her father’s pressure to marry, and Jafar, the royal vizier who looks to take the power of Agrabah, so he decides to marry Jasmine so he can become Sultan. Jasmine’s story is a subplot in Aladdin while the title character’s journey is at the front and center, yet Jasmine still qualifies as an official Disney Princess.
Disney Needs An Aladdin Spinoff Focused On Princess Jasmine
Jasmine needs to get her own adventure.
While Aladdin’s story is fun, Jasmine deserves her own movie as well. The success of Aladdin led to sequels and video games, but Aladdin continued to be the main character in them, with Jasmine being a secondary one and his love interest. Given that every other Disney Princess has their own movie, it’s only fair that Jasmine gets her own as well, and thanks to her being an animated character, it doesn’t matter that over three decades have passed since her first appearance.
An Aladdin spinoff focused on Jasmine could be a prequel exploring her life as Agrabah’s princess and the pressure that came with that before she met Aladdin, thus expanding Aladdin’s world while also giving Jasmine the place she deserves as a protagonist. Disney could also simply give Jasmine her own movie set after the events of Aladdin, only that, instead of giving Aladdin a big role as a protagonist, it should put Jasmine at the front and center, leading the story.
2019’s Live-Action Aladdin Proved Disney Wasted Jasmine In The Original
Guy Ritchie’s Aladdin made positive changes to Jasmine.
Disney has already proved how badly it wasted Jasmine in the original movie thanks to Guy Ritchie’s Aladdin live-action remake, released in 2019. Despite being remaking the 1992 animated classic, Ritchie’s Aladdin made a couple of changes to the story and its characters, mostly to Jasmine. This version of Jasmine was given a lot more agency, personality, and purpose, and had her own song, which was a hit. This Jasmine stood up for what she believed in and fought for her right to decide how to live her life, and despite falling in love with Aladdin, she was crowned sultana-regnant without the requirement of having to marry a prince.
Unfortunately, Disney keeps wasting Jasmine even in the live-action version, as Ritchie’s movie is getting a spinoff though not one focused on her. Instead, the Aladdin spinoff is focusing on Prince Anders, one of Jasmine’s potential husbands. It’s not too late for Disney to finally give Jasmine the main role in a sequel, prequel, or spinoff, either animated or live-action.
