Whitney: Okay, so Kayley isn’t *technically* a princess, but neither is Mulan and that didn’t stop us (or Disney). She doesn’t marry a prince or anything, but she still becomes something really cool--a knight! Just like her father. Kayley defies all social conventions of her time: she wears trousers, goes on quests, uses a sword, rides horses astride, etc.
Becky: Kayley is awesome. She has this honor and loyalty that most of the time we associate with the princes of fairytales. But she proves that valor knows no gender, and her awesomeness is just contagious. I mean, Gareth was a recluse and a cranky-pants before she came along, and look how he turned out!
Whitney: She’s brave, leaving her mother behind with a mad man to find someone to help them, being faced with griffons, dragons, and enchanted forests on the way, with an army of hybrid people-weapons following behind her.
Becky: Anastasia is my favorite non-Disney princess ever. I even lump this movie in with my Disney movies because it is that good. Anya is a tough girl, having been forced into a very tough upbringing thanks to Rasputin’s machinations and that whole revolution thing that got her family killed… But she yearns for a real home and a family, and nothing is going to sway her from that. She doesn’t want riches or fame or the big house on the hill, just a home and a family. Simple and sweet, despite her tough and prickly exterior.
Whitney: Who doesn’t like Anastasia? The music is amazing, the animation cool, storyline great, and Dimitri is probably the hottest animated guy out there. Anya isn’t going to get bossed around either. She’s full of sharp comments and witty comebacks when it comes to dealing with Dimitri. But she’s also kind and a little naive, which is what gets people to like her so easily, like Vlad and the children at the orphanage.
Becky: And when Dmitri offers her a new chance at a life, she jumps at the chance. She doesn’t know it’s for the money, doesn’t care about the “grand duchess” status. She just wants answers and a family. When she finds out what the REAL objective was, she bails completely. And I love that.
Whitney: Anastasia wasn’t ever tempted by the station it would give or money or anything other than making an old woman happy and maybe finding a family who loves her.
Becky: Also AMEN to him being the hottest animated man. I mean, come on, no contest. Give this gal a glass of ice cold water for that one.
Whitney: *throws glass of water on Becky*
