Disney has officially recognized 12 princesses, leading to numerous other characters being considered for the title over the years, either due to their popularity or because they don’t fit the established mold. Among these, the most controversial name is that of Princess Anastasia, as she does not meet several criteria yet remains in the “potential princess” list.
According to Screen Rant, the character in question is Anya (or Anastasia “Anya” Romanov) from the animated film Anastasia, released in 1997. Initially produced by 20th Century Fox, the character was later acquired by Disney, thereby allowing her to be considered a Disney character. However, unlike other princesses, Anastasia has not been officially recognized as a Disney princess to this day.
There is no strict standard outlining what constitutes a “Disney princess.” From the 12 official princesses, many fans have identified some basic principles, which include: the character must be female or have a female component (like in the case of Princess Tiana), play a significant role in the main film, and must possess royal lineage (either by birth or marriage), or exhibit heroic actions. Anastasia fits the criteria of being a princess, as she is the main female character in the 1997 film, yet she has never been officially recognized.
Furthermore, the film itself was a significant box office success, contributing to the overall success of the franchise. Yet, many people wonder why, after more than 25 years, Anastasia has still not been recognized. According to Screen Rant, the main reason lies in Disney’s management decisions, as Disney acquired Anastasia as a princess rather than creating her in-house.
Many opinions suggest that Anastasia is quite similar to Ariel, thus she should not be recognized.
Despite this, the fact that Anastasia and several other prominent female characters from Disney films are not deemed “official princesses” has left many fans feeling frustrated and disappointed.
Source: Screen Rant
