The Five Keys to Telling a Great Story According to Tangled
Over on Fairy Tale Central , my other blog I co-author with Arielle and Faith , we’ve been featuring the story of Rapunzel for all the month of May. And, naturally, when one thinks Rapunzel, they’re minds probably jump straight to TANGLED.
I adore the original fairy tale of the girl with impossibly long hair stuck in a tower. The concept is rather fascinating, with such great story fodder. But my absolute favorite adaptation is most definitely Tangled. Actually, my favorite animated movie of all time is Tangled. Which is saying something, ‘cause I like a lot of animated movies. BUT GUYS. TANGLED.
With that said. In honor of featuring Rapunzel over on FTC, I thought it would be super fun to examine Tangled over here and look at why it’s one of the most beloved animated movies out there. There’s so much to learn from it! Disney is seriously a master at story making. A lot can be learned from watching their movies. (Yes, I totally watch movies and call it work. Sometimes being a writer is awesome. Bwahahaha.)
ANYWAYS. Let’s pick this story apart (my favorite activity #nerd ) and examine some of the elements that turned it into an instant classic.
This is, obviously, the #1 most important thing for any story. As much as I love big, epic plots, if the characters bore me, I won’t care about all the things going on around them. It goes the other way too. I’m not a huge contemporary or historical fiction reader, but if one has particularly loveable characters? Sign me up! I think most people feel the same. Storytelling is all about the characters. And I think that’s where Disney finds their success.
Who doesn’t love Buzz and Woody’s epic friendship? Or poor Hiro and loveable Baymax? Or Anna and Kristoff, the most adorkable cinnamon rolls? These are people we can root for, characters who take our hearts and won’t give them back. #Rude
And, probably my most favorite Disney duo to exist, is Rapunzel and Flynn (or Eugene, whatever you want to call him). But WHY?
The biggest key to creating great characters is making them relatable. Even if we’ve never been locked in a tower all our lives (hopefully not!) or are renowned thieves (again, hopefully not) , Rapunzel’s and Flynn’s struggles are tangible. We can understand their choices in life. They make SENSE.
Rapunzel has known nothing but the tower walls for her entire 18 years of life. Her “mother” has instilled fear within her, but she can’t help but think there has to be something more out there. I think we can all, at some point in our lives, relate to wanting more but letting fear hold us back. Rapunzel taking matters into her own hands, overcoming her fears, and stepping out into the wide world is inspiring. We are rooting for her because she’s showing us we, too, can overcome our fears and do the grand things we’ve always dreamed of. And that right there is how you write characters. You give them emotional struggles your audience can relate to, let them fail every now and again, but, in the end, show that they can succeed. Stirring your audience’s soul is the true joy of a story-maker.
Aside from Rapunzel’s circumstances and reliability, she’s also just an utterly lovable ball of cinnamon roll goodness. She’s got such a bright and vivid personality. But her personality also makes sense.
That’s another thing with characters. There has to be a logical reason for who they are. Our circumstances and the people around us shape us, after all. It’s really annoying when a fictional character doesn’t have any basis for who they are.
Rapunzel is innocent, creative, and a dreamer. Which is perfectly logical for her lifestyle. She’s never been out in the world. She’s never been exposed to anything beyond her cozy little life in the tower. With nothing to do but read and paint, naturally she’s creative. But, as an almost-18-year-old, of course she’s a dreamer, of course she hopes for more in life. These things make sense. She’s also bubbly, kind, and a little awkward—the pudding on top that would make anyone in the world die for that sweet summer child.
Speaking of people who would die for Rapunzel…
FLYNN. My most favorite of the Disney males!
Flynn’s life is drastically different from Rapunzel’s, but he still has a relatable and logical personality. Flynn was Eugene Fitzherbert, the poor boy in the orphanage who was always made fun of. When he grew up, he aspired to be something grand, and became Flynn Rider, the renowned, charismatic, charming thief. His background led him to not-so-great choices. But, deep down, he’s still that little boy in the orphanage who wanted something more, just like Rapunzel.
We like Flynn because, yes, he’s charismatic and charming, but also because he sympathize with him. We understand making bad choices in order to try to get something better out of life, and the struggles it is to become who we should be.
Both Rapunzel and Flynn have FANTASTIC PERSONALITIES that pop off the screen (no cardboard cutouts here), their dreams and desires form from RELATABLE problems, and their actions in life are LOGICAL due to their current circumstances.
Vivid personalities, relatable problems, and logical actions—that’s how great characters and, in turn, stories are made!
As much as I adore fairy tales, the instalove sometimes makes me want to poke my eyes out with a fork. Ahem. It’s bad. And it’s not just in the original tales either. It happens far too often in retellings as well. I think people rationalize it by thinking, “Hey, it happened in the original tale, so why not my story?” NO. Please stahp. People don’t fall in love instantly. That’s called attraction, not love. How can you be in love with a person if you don’t even know what their personality is??? That makes no logical sense.
Thankfully, Disney has learned from their past mistakes (gotta love how they made fun of instalove in Frozen).
And…just…brb while I flail for a while because AAAAHHHHHH!!!! Rapunzel and Flynn are like my OTP!!!
There is no instalove in Tangled. In fact, Rapunzel and Flynn really aren’t even all that attracted to one another at first. I mean, Rapunzel didn’t even fall for The Smolder, she’s a tougher girl than all the rest of us eheheh.
Rapunzel uses her actual brain and ties up this strange man who lands into her tower, and Flynn is a little freaked out to wake up tied in yards of hair. It’s great! And it makes sense.
The romance doesn’t even begin to develop until we’re a good halfway through the movie. After the two have gotten to know one another, and have helped each other out of multiple scrapes, then they start to think maybe they are attracted to the other. Once they actually, ya know, know who the other person is. In Flynn’s lifestyle, he’s never really been exposed to such a kind, innocent woman and it’s refreshing to him. While Rapunzel, who always sees the good in people (she brought out the soft side of every single one of those thugs in The Snuggly Duckling after all), knows there’s more to Flynn than a thief.
After nearly dying in the flooded mines and working together to escape, they have a quiet moment and, at last, reveal who they really are. It is then that they start to fall for one another. Not through attraction, but because they genuinely are starting to care for the other person.
The next day, they make it to castle town and spend an entire day together, sharing interests and fun and more and more getting to know one another.
They have time together. They talk and laugh and save one another’s lives and open up to the other person. And thus, by the time we make it to the floating lantern scene, we can 100% believe that they have, genuinely, fallen in love. Whereas if they had been wanting to kiss since the second Flynn stumbled into the tower, we’d all be groaning at the heavy, unrealistic romance we’ve been exposed to. Or…I would anyway. Eheh.
Then, to wrap it all up, after Mother Gothel stabs Flynn, he cuts Rapunzel’s hair before she can heal him so she won’t have to be imprisoned by Gothel anymore. The man who had only ever lived for himself for so long, sacrificed everything so Rapunzel could be free.
Again, if there had been instalove, his sacrifice would have seemed unrealistic. It wouldn’t have had as much impact. But, as it was, it was a beautiful, tear-jerking moment.
The slow, steady, sweet pace of their romance made it 10000% more satisfying once they finally got together in the end. AND their personalities work together. They’re both a little adventurous, both a little stubborn, and had both been dealt one in life. Rapunzel’s kind, gentle heart makes Flynn a better man, and Flynn’s sacrificial spirit is everything Rapunzel has ever needed in her loveless life.
THEY’RE JUST A GREAT COUPLE OKAY. I LOVE THEM!!! Serious romance subplot goals right there.
The romance wasn’t the only point that had great pacing. The entire plot was so perfectly balanced.
I actually did a post last year on pacing and used Tangled as an example, so I’ll try to be brief (I know, I know. Christine being brief? Is that possible? I’m trying my best, guys!).
Tangled uses the proper method of sandwiching quiet moments between exciting ones. After the introduction scene, we have the real opening scene with Rapunzel in her tower, giving us a good look at her ordinary life so we can then root for her to escape her circumstances. We then jump to an exciting scene of Flynn stealing the crown. This scene does two things, it brings in some excitement while also showing Flynn’s ordinary life. (Every scene has to have a purpose, and any time you can make one scene hold multiple purposes, that’s even better!) We then go back to Rapunzel’s quiet life, and then Flynn entering the tower.
The movie continues this back and forth pacing, assuring there are plenty of action scenes to keep us interested, but also quiet moments so we can catch our breaths, as well as get to know the characters.
Midway, we have the big scene where Rapunzel and Flynn escape from the guards through the secrete passageway in The Snuggly Duckling (yes, I totally snort every time I type that, it’s the best XD) , there’s a fight scene, and then they nearly drown in the flooding mines.
This is quite a long action scene so, to balance it out and give everyone a bit of a breather, we then have the sweet fireside chat moment where Rapunzel heals Flynn’s hand with her magic hair, and Flynn reveals who he really is. After this, we’re then back to some action when Gothel shows up and tries to convince Rapunzel Flynn doesn’t really care for her.
It’s all in the balance! Too much action can make your audience tired, as well as not give us a chance to really get to know the characters. But too many slow scenes will, well, put people to sleep.
Every scene in Tangled had purpose. It moved the plot forward, gave us insights into the characters so we can learn to love them, and kept our interest all the way through.
Okay, okay, I’m done. I really did try to keep it brief…
What would Tangled be without Gothel? Well, a plotless movie, but that’s beside the point. (Or maybe that is the point? Ahem, anyway.)
Gothel is truly one of the most chilling villains Disney has ever created. And I think a big reason is because, at first, she seems kind of harmless.
In the movie, we have three forces going against Rapunzel and Flynn—the palace guards, the Stabbington Brothers, and Gothel. And yet, amidst trained swordsman and barbaric thugs, Gothel is the scariest antagonist.
The Stabbington Brothers aren’t all that compelling because, well, they’re just a couple of brutes. Being big, strong, and scary does not always make a good villain. Sometimes it’s the psychology, not the physical strength.
Even though we know right from the start that Gothel stole Rapunzel away and is the villain, we kind of begin to wonder if maybe she’s not all bad. She seems to genuinely care for Rapunzel, is often gentle with her, and even tells her she loves her. Besides, how can you raise that sweet summer child for 18 years and not utterly love her, come on?
But then things get a little chilling. Gothel hunts Rapunzel down, plays mind tricks on her, and makes a deal with the Stabbington brothers. These are not the actions of a worried, loving mother.
When Rapunzel realizes she’s the lost princess and, finally, stands up to her “mother”, Gothel’s full nature is finally revealed. Next thing we know, Rapunzel is chained up and Gothel stabs Flynn in his attempted rescue. Her obsession with staying forever youthful completely corrupted her mind. She couldn’t see past anything but holding onto the magic in Rapunzel’s hair. No matter what. Even though she wasn’t a swordsman like the palace guards or giant and deadly like the Stabbington Brothers, her willingness to do anything to get what she wants made her a far more superior foe than any others.
And, to top it off, she’s got personality too. She’s witty, charismatic, and clever. Very clever. Gothel brilliantly played mind games with Rapunzel to make Rapunzel respect her enough to obey whatever she said. If she had been an outright cruel villain, Rapunzel most likely would have rebelled. But she was just loving enough to gain Rapunzel’s affection, and just controlling and passive-aggressive enough to keep Rapunzel under her thumb without much trouble. The complexity of her role brought such depth to the movie.
Way too often villains are portrayed as these brutish, ultra powerful, personality-less forces that merely takes a few punches to defeat. And, well, that’s boring.
Despite being one of the least powerful villains, Gothel was one of the most formidable foes in all the Disney films due to her complexity, charismatic personality, and cleverness.
Lastly, what truly makes Tangled stand out is the unique element interwoven into the story—Rapunzel’s hair.
Of course, the story of Rapunzel isn’t a new one. Lololol it’s been around for a while. XD BUT Disney’s reasoning for her having such long hair was something new.
There’s a lot of retellings out there, but most of the ones I’ve read had no explanation as to why Rapunzel’s hair is long. Which is kind of annoying. People don’t just have yards of hair for no reason. But Tangled, at last, made sense of her never cutting her hair. And it was such a unique reason!
Last year at Realm Makers, Nadine Brandes did a class on how to pitch your book. Aside from a great setting, characters, and problem, she said your book should also have a “golden nugget”, that “oooh factor”. Every book should have that one special thing that makes it stand out from all the other stories out there.
Rapunzel’s magical hair was Tangled’s “golden nugget”. Not only was it fascinating to follow a protagonist with ridiculously long hair, it also brought everything together in a fun, original way. It gave the story of Rapunzel , one we have heard a thousand times over, a new, fresh twist. Something that’s not easy to do when it comes to fairy tale retellings!
Adding in a unique element to your story is the key to making it stand out in a world of “no originality”.
So there we are! Five reasons why Tangled is one of the best animated movies out there. It took all the essential story ingredients and wrote them brilliantly.
Great characters, a believable romance, balanced pacing, a compelling antagonist, and a golden nugget—the five ingredients to making any story great. (Actually, romance is entirely optional. Despite what Hollywood leads us to believe, you can have a great story without romance. >.> But if you are going to have romance in your story, please make it believable and not just there for the sake of romance. Please I beg of you. )
If you can’t tell, I reeeally love Tangled.
Do you agree with my Tangled assessment? Do you have anything more to add? What are some movies you think are great for gleaning writing wisdom from? (No, I’m totally not asking so I’ll have an excuse to watch movies instead of be productive. Pssshhh.) Also feel free to flail with me about this movie because TANGLED. <333
- Post published: May 20, 2019
- Post category: Writing
- Post comments: 35 Comments
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Agh I loved this post so much!!!!!
Tangled is SUCH a good movie. I mean, I will always love Frozen, and I think I like it better just because I’ve seen it more times? Lol. BUT TANGLED.
I especially love your points about the characters to root for! I mean, that’s kind of the reason I love the new live-action Cinderella more than the old animated one. I never cared for any of the characters in the old one, but Cate Blanchett’s evil stepmother is SO evil and Ella and Kit and the king are all such wonderful sweethearts and asdfgdkafjdj that movie. <3 <3 <3 I love it so much and I think that's probably why! Characters, man! Good characters make such a difference!!!
I've always drawn inspiration from any good fantasy movie (especially LOTR, haha), because I looooove big epic stuff and that movie is the epitome of big epic stuff. Character arcs! Battle scenes! Sacrifices! Stabbing people in the feels! Collect them all! XD
Ah, yes, believable and slow-burn romance, the bane of my existence. It doesn't help when everything including the voices in your head are screaming at you to just make the romance happen NOW and you're like "BUT SLOW BURN". I don't think I'll ever write a romance that ISN'T slowburn (alright, I lied, in the current version of Watched, it's definitely crush at first sight. That needs work. Lol.) But also FLYNN AND RAPUNZEL ARE MY OTP. The precious babies. SO MUCH LOVE. *squeezes them*
I have nothing to say about my own pacing. It's horrendous. Lol.
Mother Gothel is the CREEPIEST villain of all time. I love that, though! The abuse is done so realistically and it's absolutely chilling. I'm actually using her as a model for one of my own villains who's an abusive piece of crap and needs to just die (lol), because I think Disney did a really great job with her and her relationship with Rapunzel. So evil but so so so so well done.
And the golden nugget is so haaaard xD I always try to have unique stuff but then I'm like…yeah probably not. I feel like I probably fail at that far more often than I succeed. But I do try! It's just HARD.
This post was amazing and brilliant (but then, so is Tangled, so I'm not surprised in the least xD) Loved it, Christine!!!! <3
EEP. THANK YOU!!! 😀 I had fun putting it together. Mainly because it gave me an excuse to flail about Tangled. *grins*
I ADORE Frozen! It’s suuuuch a good movie. But for some reason I love Tangled even more. I think I just like the characters and setting more? I don’t know! BUT THEY’RE BOTH AMAZING.
I 100000% agree with the Cinderella thing! I mean, I LOVE the old animated Cinderella because it was basically my childhood and I thought Cinderella was so sweet. BUT. It’s true none of the characters were really developed. They focused more on developing the pets than the PEOPLE. Lol. BUT THE NEW CINDERELLA IS EVERYTHING AND ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE MOVIES ON THIS EARTH AND SLKJDLSJFLJ YES. Disney has at last mastered making lovable characters!
“Collect them all!” LOLOLOL. It’s true though! LotR and Maleficent and Tangled and just all these epic movies inspire me soooo much!
Slow burn romances are the way to goooo! 😀 Hehe. But YES. They can be SO hard, which is why I think too many stories feature instalove. Finding that perfect pacing for romance is such a difficult thing. UGH. BUT RAPUNZEL AND FLYNN WERE PERFECT AND MY OTP TOO AND JUST YASSS. <3
Oh man, Gothel was so messed up. o.O Disney did almost TOO good a job because DUDE. She was so vile! But...I loved that. Such a brilliant villain! That's so fun you're using her as a model for one of your own villains. She's a GREAT one to model after! Though I feel sorry for your characters. o.o
UGH. I feel you on the golden nugget thing! I can talk to the talk but that does noooot mean I can walk the walk. XD I'm not sure I can pinpoint if my stories have one either. Definitely something I need to work on. Why must writing be so HARD??? (And yet we love it. We're so weird. XD)
THANK YOU, FAITH!!!
Awesome post, Christine! *braces for wave of people to barrage me* I . . . don’t really like Tangled. *winces* But WAIT! Before I get attacked by the hordes, let me attempt to defend myself. I’m not saying it’s a poorly-made movie. I agree with ALL your points! And I like all but the last half-hour of the movie. But – I do think I watched it when I was too young, and I was FREAKED OUT by the ending. I’ve never really gotten over that feeling, honestly. Maybe I’ll watch it again someday, I don’t know. But anyways – great post! Flynn is the BEST, and HECK YES to creepy villains like Mother Gothel! (Although she’s probably 99% of the reason I didn’t like the movie, so *shrugs*)
Thank you! ^_^
*LE GAAAASP* WHAAAAT???? Lolll. Juuust kidding! You are FINE, Nicole! We still totally love you! <3 That actually makes a LOT of sense. Since I'm literally an old woman and was 18 when it came out, it's never even occurred to me that the ending can be really disturbing to younger people. o.o Like...you have opened my eyes! But yeah. Like I said, Gothel is basically THE most chilling villain of ever, so YES. I can imagine that could freak someone out! That makes total sense it's not your favorite because of that! No shame there!
Fabulous post! You’re totally right about Disney storytelling being amazing–especially Tangled!! I recently read Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull (president of Pixar and Disney animation) and it was really fascinating to see how a story evolves throughout the creative process/how the production team puts their own spin on time-old story aspects to create an appealing film.
Thank you! And YES. Disney/Pixar has absolutely mastered the art of storytelling!
Ooooh, that sounds like SUCH an interesting read! I will have to remember that one. It is truly a fascinating thing. I just love the art of story making! ^_^
YES OH MY GOSH I LOVE TANGLED *clears throat*
And I do love the romance! Rapunzel and Eugene balance each other out so well. Sometimes when one character is SO sweet and the other character is SO cynical, it can kind of fall into one of two problems, either where I’m going, ‘Okay, this character is so sappy? Why are you hanging out with them when you clearly have a way more serious outlook on things? You actually seem to be just fine and don’t need some manic pixie dream girl/boy to ‘open you up’?’ Or else it’s the other way around and I just…Why is the character hanging around some incredibly cynical person who clearly has no respect for them or their worldview? Actually, the respect is probably what makes this relationship work. Both Eugene and Rapunzel have a lot of respect for each other, even though they don’t always agree, and Eugene never thinks of Rapunzel as stupid just because she’s more naive than he is.
In all fairness to early Disney, time works differently in musicals, so the instalove never bothered me THAT much? It’s all very stylized. What bugged me was in films like Cinderella where the hero got exactly two seconds of screen time. The MICE got more screen time than the poor prince did. Was he even named?
I think Gothel is so scary because she feels like someone you could actually meet? People like the villain in Cinderella (can’t be bothered to look up her name, sorry) and Gaston feel a little more removed for some reason, even though people like that definitely exist. But a narcissistic mother who claims to love their child but is really just using them to prop up their own ego? brr. We’ve probably all run into at least a more toned down version of that once in our lives. (We’ve probably all run into a more toned down Gaston, too, but I think Gaston is so exaggerated he’s a little less believable.)
Anyway, this was such a good post! Which character do you like more, Rapunzel or Eugene? (I know, I’m asking the hard questions.)
YAAAAY!!! IT IS SERIOUSLY THE BEST!!!
Okay I love ALL your thoughts here! Such a great discussion! I do know what you mean about the cynical people getting together with the ultra perky people. Sometimes it seems a liiiittle far fetched. BUT I’ve actually discovered more serious people often are drawn to super bubbly people, and vice versa. I’ve seen it many, many times in real life amongst friends and such. It’s kinda cute really! I guess they balance each other out? I don’t know. Buuut, on the flip side of that, you are 100% right about the respect thing! THAT is where it’s a very poisonous relationship, and it happens WAY too often in fiction. If the characters don’t respect each other, they do NOT need to get together. Respect is everything in a relationship. Yes, bantering is a lot of fun in fiction, which is why I think we get a lot of couples who don’t necessarily respect one another. But…eh. That definitely sends off a bad message. So I totally agree there! And you make SUCH a good point that Rapunzel and Flynn work because they DO respect one another. They have such wildly different lives, and yet neither judges the other on their life choices. It’s a beautiful thing!
You make another good point on the musical thing! I’ve never really thought about how time works different with them. o.O Huh. But yes, that makes sense! Look at you, opening my eyes! But I do agree the original animated Disney Cinderella should have focused SOME on the prince and not so much on the pets. I adore that movie, buuut it had problems for sure. XD
OOOOH. That is So true about Gothel! She’s very much someone you might meet! And THAT is another way to make a villain utterly terrifying. All these caricatures aren’t very scary because, like you said, they’re not really people we’ll ever deal with. But Gothel is different! In fact, I had read that the Tangled team got together a group of their female employees and asked them to list negative traits about their mothers, and they based Gothel off all those traits. So she very much is a realistic type of character!
Whew, this is getting long, but I loooooove all the things you brought up! You made so many good points! 😀
BUT NUUUU. Don’t ask me who I like better! THAT’S AN IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION. *flails* I honestly think I love them both equally. I can’t choose between them! HOW COULD YOU ASKS SUCH AN EVIL THING???
Aww, you’re so nice, I am…not usually very insightful. At all. XD
And yes, I think the witty banter is a major reason why people like to write and read that, but DANG does it grate on my nerves when done badly. Same with the enemies to lovers trope. It’s my absolute favorite when done well, and my absolute most-hated when done badly.
And that is a very good point you make about real life relationships! Sometimes I forget that fiction =/= real life XD
I did not know that about the Tangled team basing Mother Gothel on the traits the employees hated in their moms! That is so interesting!
EEP it’s beautiful. Tangled is simply the best. I really like the “golden nugget” thing. And ooh yes the PACING. That was genius, you’re right.
YESSSS! Tangled is my one true love! There’s so much storytelling goodness to be learned from it! ^_^
AHHHH TANGLED IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS IN EXISTENCEEE.
The first time I watched it, I was just… kind of blown away by it? I didn’t really know why, it was just SO GOOD. And as I’ve watched it again (and again… and again…) I’ve come to appreciate the romance, the story, just everything that makes it so good.
For real though, can we talk about the romance for a minute?? It’s funny because they do literally fall in love in like twenty-four hours, but it just WORKS! It doesn’t leave you going “mmhmm, yeah, of course they fall in love in a day”. It’s just so well done. And thinking about how Flynn sacrificed himself for her… UGH MY HEART.
I strongly believe this movie deserves 1000000x more attention than Frozen. xD
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THIS IS LITERALLY ME EXACTLY!!! After seeing in theaters for the first time, I felt like my life had changed. Okay, that may be dramatic… But but but it was EVERYTHING. And uggghhhh. Every bit of it is so perfect!
It is totally true that they fall in love within 24 hours! But somehow it WORKS. YES. It never felt rushed or unrealistic. IT WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL. *sobs happy tears*
YESSS. FINALLY. Someone who loves Tangled more! I thought I was alone in the world. I mean, I love Frozen. LOVE. It totally deserves the hype. BUT. It seems like once it came out, people forgot the pure gold Tangled is? Like noooo. Don’t abandoned my beloved movie! I’m soooo happy to find someone who loves it as much as me! 😀
That’s not even that dramatic, I know exactly what you mean! The first time I watched it, it was on my mind the whole next day. It’s just such a special movie. <3
Yesss! When Frozen first came out I was like, this is gonna have to be pretty darn amazing to beat Tangled like everyone's acting like it has. Then I watched it and it was great, but just… noooot Tangled. I don't think anything will ever beat Tangled. ;D
Once again you have voiced (er…typed?) my thoughts! It stuck with me, too, after the first time I saw it! And YEP. I adored Frozen but it wasn’t the saaame. Disney will have to work some SERIOUS magic to make an animated film that tops Tangled for me. XD
I seriously think we’re twins. xD
It’s totally looking that way! *GRINS*
*100% agrees with everything Christine said in this post*
Like, YES!! You picked the movie apart in such a brilliant way!! I think the reason Tangled is so popular is because they did such an AMAZING job on it!! In my opinion, I think Tangled is better than Frozen, too. I really like my babies (AKA Maximus, Rapunzel, and Flynn! *wink wink* Bet you would’ve never guessed I would include ol’ Max. #thishorselovingheartcouldnotresist*)
The humor, the plot, the characters…the EVERYTHING is good in this movie!!!
Also, I’m not a huge romance person but OH MY GOSH YES!!! They did way better than those movies where the characters are making googly eyes at each other from the start. Ugh *rips eyes out* (Sorry for the crudity). I totally do not believe in the love at first sight thing. I mean, good grief, you don’t even KNOW THE PERSON!!! *Bangs head on table* But regardless of my unromantic ideas about romance…Tangled did a lovely job on it!!!
I can’t really think of any movies off the top of my head. I don’t really watch movies. *Hides under table* Yeah, yeah, I know it’s good for writers to do so, but…*grins sheepishly* I just don’t. Not that I don’t enjoy movies – they’re FUN!! But…yeah, let’s not get in too far because I don’t really have a coherent explanation. *blink*
~ Lily Cat (Boots) | lilycatscountrygirlconfessions.blogspot.com
Awwww, thank you! 😀
YESSSS. You can tell the writers really put effort into this one, and it made it shine! And you like it better than Frozen as well??? YAY!!! I felt so alone. Everyone seemed to have forgotten the goodness of Tangled once Frozen came out and it made me sad! (I mean, Frozen is AMAZING. But but but TANGLED, PEOPLE.) (And naturally Max is one of your faves. ;D)
I am EXTREMELY picky with romance myself. It makes me feel better that I’m not the only one who detests instalove! Because, seriously now, how can you love a person you don’t know??? Honestly, I’m not a fan of outright romance stories, but romance subplots are fine. It’s just when the WHOLE plot is centered around romance? PLEASE NO. Not my thing. But if the romance is done WELL, then I will ship it to my dying day! AND RAPUNZEL AND FLYNN WERE DONE SO SO SO WELL AND I LOVE THEM SO VERY MUCH!!!
There is NO shame in not watching movies much! That’s probably a GOOD thing! Besides, reading is way more beneficial for writing than staring at a screen. I should probably watch less TV myself…
*squeals* TANGLED!
These are all fantastic points. “Rapunzel” was one of my favorite fairy tales growing up, and I think it can be a difficult one to retell or reimagine while keeping the iconic elements, but Tangled does this so well. I love the idea of her hair being magical, and how the story builds on that as giving Rapunzel an otherworldly power, but also giving a reason for Gothel to seek her out and be so “protective” of her. It all plays into how she’s able to manipulate Rapunzel’s fear and her concern for other people, and makes her a terrifying villain without feeling shallow.
And I love, love, love the way the relationship between Rapunzel and Flynn develops. Even though they’re falling for each other by the end of a couple days, it’s still a while after this that they get married, and I love how it’s another way around the instalove trope. PLUS THEY ARE ADORABLE.
Totally agree about the pacing! Everything falls into place so well, but without feeling like it’s following a strict pattern. There’s familiarity, but something new as well, in the way the fairy tale is retold. IT’S JUST A REALLY GOOD MOVIE AND I LOVE IT.
YESSSS!!!! I totally agree with all of this! It IS a hard story to tell since, well, the protagonist is locked in a tower for the majority of the tale. But Disney worked their magic and made it such an entertaining film. I love how you said it. Making Rapunzel’s hair magical was such a brilliant way to bring logic to the story. Absolutely!
AND RAPUNZEL AND FLYNN MY OTP. <3333 It's totally true that they fell in love after just a day together, but somehow it still felt so believable. Serious romance writing goals right there! XD AND THEY ARE JUST ADORABLE. YES YES YES!
It's the best finding others who love it just as much as me! GAH. The whole movie makes me so happy! <3
YES THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE DISNEY MOVIES. <333
YAAAAAAY!!!!!! ANOTHER TANGLED OBSESSED PERSON! IT’S JUST SO GOOD!
High five because Tangled is also my favorite animated movie of all time! I just adore it. <333 Loved this whole post, too, btw. 😀
*HIGH-FIVES BACK* THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY!!! It’s just the best! GAH. I love it so very much. <333
D'awwww, thank you! I'm so glad! ^_^
One of my favorite movies! Such a good post.
IT’S JUST SUCH A GREAT ONE!!! And awww, thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
ASDFGHJKL YOU WROTE ANOTHER TANGLED POST!!! I still remember your post about the campfire scene, and (as Tangled is one of my absolute favorite movies, and your how-to posts are some of my absolute favorite blog posts to read [somehow you manage to squeeze so much information into them?? HOW DO YOU DO THIS]) I still think about it to this day. AND THIS POST IS JUST AS AMAZING AS THE CAMPFIRE ONE. I 100% agree with you on so many things you wrote here, including that SO MUCH can be learned from Disney. They are true storytellers, and I strive to move people even HALF as much as Disney’s stories have moved me over the years.
As far as characters go, this was something that I was literally thinking about just the other day! Plot–while good and necessary in its own right–can only take you so far. You need characters to root for and fall in love with and squeal over you to carry you through the book, and (personally) a relatively low-plot story with characters who I adore is SO much more fun for me to read than a high-level plot with cookie cutouts for characters… It’s just not as interesting to me as a reader, and it’s not as fun to write as a writer. XD
“Speaking of people who would die for Rapunzel… FLYNN!” << OH MY WORD CHRISTINE THIS IS TOO SOON. 😂😂😂 But I mean that GIF of the smolder, though. 😂😂😂 I love Flynn so much. And I ADORE his and Rapunzel's romance! It's just so sweet and slow-burning and I SHALL FLAIL FOR ALL ETERNITY. (Also YES YES YES to all the insta-love annoyance!!! I despise insta-love with a fiery passion.) BUT ALSO THESE GIFS OF RAPUNZEL AND FLYNN ARE KILLING ME, HELP.
Pacing is something that I think I still struggle with, but I have been trying to improve it! (and I have your post on pacing to thank for that!!) And as far as Mother Gothel goes…oh goodness she's chilling. I love a good villain (in fact, villains are some of my favorite characters to read/write, especially when they're quirky and fun [like Moriarty from BBC's Sherlock XD]), but Mother Gothel is a whole other breed of villain, entirely. You pinned down her personality PERFECTLY, and while I typically write my villains quirky, this is making me want to try my hand at a psychologically chilling villain… (I don't think it's possible for me to come out of your blog posts uninspired. What is this magic??? XD)
And I know this comment is already super duper long but!!! The golden nugget! I NEVER thought about this!!! Oh my goodness! I love this idea, and I am totally going to start thinking about what my books' golden nuggets are!! Oh my word, Christine, your posts never cease to amaze me. This was perfection and so so insightful and I am in awe of your knowledge of the writing craft and your way to teach it. Thank you SO much for this post!!!
KENZIE. SO MUCH NICENESS. GAH. What am I to do with you????? I’m sooooo happy you enjoyed this post so much! And even remember my previous Tangled post. I AM HONORED! But I guess the way I squeeze a lot of information in each post is that my posts are RIDICULOUSLY long. Lololol. Brevity is not my strong suit. *cough, cough* BUT SERIOUSLY. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR KIND WORDS!!!
Disney is the MASTER at storytelling, it really is. I learn so much from them!
Yes yes yes to the character thing! I mean, I prefer complex, epic plots, but nooooot at the expense of cookie cutter characters. Just NO. Can’t we have both???
RAPUNZEL AND FLYNN ARE JUST THE BESSST!!!!! It was SO nice not having another instalove story. (I’m glad I’m not the only one who wants to throw that trope into the sun to burn into ash. XDD) And I’M SORRY about the Flynn dying joke. I mean…it’s been 9 years buuuut it’s still totally too soon!
Pacing has been one of the BIGGEST struggles with writing for me foreverrrr. Which is why I pay extra attention to it while reading or watching movies. I am determined to learn the secret of a perfectly paced story!
Oooh yes, Gothel is something for sure! But I LOOOOVE the quirky villains too! OH MY GOODNESS. My top two favorite characters of mine are quirky villains. (Yes, my favorite characters are villains…not sure what that says about me.) They’re just so much fun! And hey, no reason we can’t have a psychologically chilling + quirky villain. ;D I’d say Moriarty was both!
I give all credit to Nadine Brandes for bringing my awareness to the golden nugget! I knew your stories should have a unique element, but she really pinned it down for me.
BUT KENZIE!!! I am SO happy to hear this post was helpful! I never know if I’m just telling you guys obvious things or actually being useful, so your comment has absolutely blessed me! Thank YOU for all your sweet words! And fangirling about Tangled with me! 😀 YOU’RE THE BEST!
Loved this! Tangled is SUCH a great movie, and yes, for all the reasons you listed! *flail* Now I want to go watch it again for the umpteenth time.
The romance is definitely the best one I think Disney has ever done. Ever. (With the exception of Enchanted, maybe, which was also good, but not a cartoon… so not sure if I can count it in the same category… LOL)
Funny story, the first time I saw this, I took my daughter with me to see it and we missed the first 10 minutes (so ALL of the back story). Which meant that I spent some of the movie thinking that Gothel was actually Rapunzel’s real mother, and only started to put the pieces together during the scene where she sees the mosaic of the royal family in the city. It is a very different ride watching that movie and getting the “AHA” moment at the same time that Rapunzel does!!!
Movies that have taught me about writing… the most recent one that comes to mind is Batman V Superman. A lot of people didn’t like it, but I thought it did such a phenomenal job of telling the story from the perspective of the “unreliable narrator,” which is not an element often used in film, so that was a bonus, as well. Anyway, I love that movie. It’s very different from the MCU movies, but I just… I dunno. I love it. The writing of it takes multiple viewings to catch everything, and it’s not as light and fluffy as the MCU movies, but I loved the depth of it.
Awww, I’m so glad! And YESSS. Tangled is the best! I’m ecstatic I’m not the only one who thinks it’s Disney’s best romance! But oh my goodness, ENCHANTED. It was amazing too! YES. I loved how Disney made fun of some of their old tropes in that one. Such a great movie!
Oh my goodness, that would DEFINITELY make the first viewing of Tangled a different ride! XD Wow! Honestly though, I wonder if the movie would have been even more intriguing if they HADN’T have given us the backstory at the start. I guess since it is a kids movie, they may have needed to have done that. But I can see how having that “AHA” moment would be really exciting!
I’ve been wanting to see Batman vs. Superman! I’m always super behind on the DC films because they don’t interest me like the MCU ones do. Heh. But I have enjoyed some! I have seen a LOT of hate on this one though, so it’s nice to see someone who thought it was a good movie. Yes, I will definitely have to give it a watch sometime!
AGGGHHH TANGLED IS THE ABSOLUTE BESSSSSST. :DDD
I LOVED all of your points!! The romance of this story is probably my favorite part. It’s so pure and beautiful and AGH they’re just such a cute couple!! <33
IT ISSSSS!!!!! *happy flails* I JUST LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! And YES TO THE ROMANCE. My favorite Disney romance of ever. THEY’RE JUST TOO PRECIOUS. <3333333
Tangled is definitely one of the best written Disney films for all of these reasons. I love that they gave reason for her long hair too!
It’s just such a masterpiece! And YES! It was GREAT getting a solid reason why she never cuts her hair. I loved everything about that movie. <3
How to Write an Essay on My Favorite Fictional Character: 3 Unique Examples
Writing an essay on your favorite fictional character is an exciting way to express your passion for storytelling and showcase your analytical skills. Whether your beloved character is from a novel, movie, or television series, you can create a compelling argument about why they stand out. In this guide, we'll explore three unique examples and offer tips to help you craft an engaging essay.
- What is a Fictional Character Essay?
A fictional character essay delves into the personality, background, and significance of a character from a work of fiction. This type of essay often includes analysis of the character's traits, actions, and impact on the storyline. It may also explore how the character relates to themes, other characters, or the real world.
- The Anatomy of a Good Fictional Character Essay
While each essay has its unique structure, a well-crafted fictional character essay generally includes the following:
Introduction
- Hook : Draw readers in with an interesting fact or quote related to your character.
- Thesis statement : State your main argument or what you'll focus on in your analysis.
Body Paragraphs
- Character analysis : Discuss the character's traits, motivations, and growth throughout the story.
- Role in the story : Explain how the character influences the plot and interacts with other characters.
- Personal reflection : Share why this character resonates with you personally.
- Restate your thesis : Summarize your main points succinctly.
- Closing thought : End with a reflection or a call to action for readers to consider.
- Crafting an Engaging Introduction
Your introduction should capture the reader's attention and provide a clear direction for your essay. Here's an example of how you can begin:
Hook : "In a world filled with extraordinary tales, one character has captured the hearts of millions—attesting to the power of an engaging personality."
Thesis Statement : "This essay explores why Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series is an exemplary role model, illustrating how intelligence, bravery, and loyalty combine to create a compelling character."
Example 1: Harry Potter's Hermione Granger
Character analysis.
Hermione Granger is portrayed as exceptionally intelligent, hardworking, and resourceful. Her traits often set her apart as the brains behind the trio's adventures. Throughout the series, Hermione demonstrates a growth curve that transforms her from a know-it-all student into a brave, loyal friend and a fierce advocate for justice.
Role in the Story
Hermione's knowledge and quick thinking often save her friends from perilous situations. She is integral to the storyline, assisting Harry and Ron in uncovering crucial information and forming plans that ensure their survival. Her interactions with other characters reveal her depth, from her compassion towards house-elves to her fiery debates with Professor Umbridge.
Personal Reflection
Hermione Granger resonated deeply with me due to her relentless pursuit of knowledge and her unyielding moral compass. Her character showed me that being smart isn't about memorizing books but having the wisdom to use that knowledge for the greater good.
- Example 2: Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird
Atticus Finch is a paragon of virtue, standing for justice and equality in the racially-charged South. His calm demeanor, moral integrity, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people make him one of the best fictional heroes of all time.
As the father of Scout and Jem, Atticus instills values of empathy and courage in his children. His role as a lawyer defending a Black man falsely accused of rape exemplifies the fight against racial injustice. Through Atticus, the narrative spotlights the importance of standing up for the right thing, even when it’s unpopular.
Atticus Finch's character taught me about the strength required to adhere to one's principles, even amidst adversity. His quiet, powerful courage inspired me to believe in the fight for justice in my own life.
- Example 3: Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice
Elizabeth Bennet stands out for her wit, intelligence, and independence. Her sharp observations and unwillingness to conform to societal expectations create a dynamic character who navigates the complexities of love, class, and personal growth.
Elizabeth's relationship with Mr. Darcy is central to the plot, highlighting themes of pride, prejudice, and eventual understanding. Through her interactions, we explore issues of social mobility and the constraints placed on women in the Regency era. Elizabeth's honesty and refusal to be swayed by wealth or status signify her unique strength and appeal.
Elizabeth Bennet's character appealed to me because of her independence and sharp intellect. She showed me that one's worth isn't determined by societal norms but by one's character and choices.
- Tips for Writing a Fictional Character Essay
- Choose a Character You Relate To : Picking a character that you find interesting will make your essay more genuine and passionate.
- Use Textual Evidence : Support your analysis with quotes and events from the source material to make your argument stronger.
- Explore Multiple Dimensions : Delve into different aspects of the character, including their flaws and development arcs.
- Make Connections : Link the character’s experiences and traits to broader themes or real-world issues to make your essay more impactful.
- Be Personal : Don't shy away from incorporating your personal reflections and connections to the character, as it adds depth to your analysis.
- Final Words
Writing an essay about your favorite fictional character offers a fantastic opportunity to explore storytelling and character creation. By breaking down elements like their traits, roles, and impacts, you can craft an insightful and engaging essay that highlights your analytical skills.
Remember, whether it's the intellectual prowess of Hermione Granger, the moral fortitude of Atticus Finch, or the spirited independence of Elizabeth Bennet, choosing a character that resonates with you will make your writing process more enjoyable and your essay more compelling.
How to Write an Essay on My Favorite Animal and Why: 3 Best Examples
Writing about your favorite animal can be both fun and enlightening. Dive into essential tips and inspiring examples that help you craft an essay expressing your admiration and personal connection.
How to Write an Essay on My Favorite School Subject: 3 Best Examples
Writing an essay about your favorite school subject is a great way to express your passion and share personal experiences. Discover how to craft a compelling narrative with stellar examples and tips to make your essay stand out.
30 ‘In Conclusion’ Synonyms and How To Use Them Write Better Essays
A strong closing section is essential for any essay. Whether you’re writing an argumentative essay, an exposition, or a narrative essay, the conclusion needs to be one of the most impactful parts of your writing. If you’re looking at ‘in conclusion’ synonyms, then you likely need some help with crafting an impactful summary section.
- Example 1: Harry Potter's Hermione Granger
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