Discover images, the plot and why Disney’s epic princess crossover, which even gained a title, ended up being shelved
Disney loves crossovers! Seeing different characters and universes created by the century-old studio coming together in a single title is nothing new for fans of Casa do Mickey productions, after all, how can we forget the moment when the characters from the beloved TV series “Hannah Montana” (2006) , “Zack and Cody” (2005) and “That’s So Raven” (2003) were seen together in “That’s So Suite Life of Hannah Montana” (2006)?
It’s no different in cinema either, as among these unexpected encounters, it’s possible to highlight one of the first times that the princesses’ worlds collided, as in “Frozen — A Freezing Adventure” (2013), Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, from ” Tangled” (2010), are shown from the back in a scene during Anna’s sister Elsa’s coronation ceremony.
Another famous moment happens in “Wifi Ralph: Breaking the Internet” (2018), where Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida and Moana meet with young Vanellope. At the time, the studio’s thirteenth princess, Raya, from “Raya and the Last Dragon” (2021) had not yet been released, leaving her out of the meeting.
It’s worth noting that, even though this is the biggest crossover between Disney princesses, another production almost held the title, prevented by one detail: it never got off the ground!
The canceled epic crossover
The project in question was titled “Princess Academy” (“Princess Academy”, in free translation), and would be released in the format of an animated short film.
According to the ScreenRant portal, the plot would bring together the official Disney princesses in a boarding school, alongside other great female characters from the studio who should also appear, such as Wendy Darling, from “Peter Pan” (1953), Alice, from “Alice in Wonderland” (1951), and Violeta from “The Incredibles” (2004).
Details of the premise were never officially released by the studio, but it is known that musical moments could be expected, as ScreenRant states that the composer responsible for writing music for films such as “The Little Mermaid” (1989) and “Aladdin” (1989) 1992), Alan Menkenwas already involved in the project.
Why was Princess Academy never released?
According to the French illustrator, photographer and art director, David Kawena (pseudonym taken from “Lilo & Stitch”), who had been tapped to direct the title, the animated short was canceled due to the closure of Disney Animation’s hand-drawn studios, as with the rise of 3D animation, animators 2D ended up losing its space.
“Alan Menken was very excited about the project and agreed to work on it the moment we got the green light from the studio. After months of working on it, with hundreds and hundreds of storyboards and concept art, the Disney Animation Hand Drawn studio closed its doors. So there was no point in showing the project,” he told The Daily Dot.
Even though the project was shelved, David Kawena released some storyboards on social media, where it is possible to see the possible protagonist, called “our little girl”, entering the Princess Academy and meeting some members of the select Disney group, such as Mulan and Snow White , as stated in the description of the scenes in the subtitles.
“Our little girl is entering the academy in hopes of becoming a princess! But first she must register with the concierge (‘neglected princess’) Eilonwy. After approval is granted to the academy, our little girl is taken by Eilonwy to a magical statue of all the fairy godmothers who open the door to the hall where the princesses wait to meet the new future little princess. After being granted access to the academy, our little girl is welcomed by Mulan and Kidagakash in the large hall where. she meets the most beautiful of all, Snow White”, describes Kawena.
Source: Recreio
