Walt Disney’s famous princesses might look perfect.
But a new study suggests that many of them are quietly suffering from a range of unpleasant health conditions.
Researchers from the University of Twente, in the Netherlands, analysed eight Disney princesses and found that, despite seeming to live ‘happily ever after’, all eight face serious real world health hazards.
According to the team, Cinderella would suffer from lung disesase as a result of frequent dust exposure.
Jasmine’s time with her pet tiger, Rajah, meanwhile, leaves her at risk of zoonotic infection, as well as craniofacial and cervical spinal injuries.
What’s more, close contact with the Beast exposes Belle to several life-threatening infectious diseases – including brucellosis or rabies.
‘Disney must consider interventions to overcome these health challenges,’ the researchers, led by Sanne van Dijk, wrote in their study.
‘Strategies to improve princesses’ wellbeing could include mindfulness and psychotherapy, training on cohabitation with animals, and personal protection measures against infectious agents and toxic particles. Only then can Disney princesses start living healthily ever after.’
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As a scullery maid for her wicked stepmother, Snow White’s social interactions are extremely limited, which increases her risk of several health conditions
Like Snow White, Jasmine is at risk of social isolation, having grown up within the walls of her palace in Agrabah
Snow White
As a scullery maid for her wicked stepmother, Snow White’s social interactions are extremely limited, which increases her risk of several health conditions.
‘An overview of systematic reviews finds a strong positive association between lack of social interaction and cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety, and all cause mortality,’ the researchers explained.
Thankfully, Snow White’s friendship with the Seven Dwarfs should help to protect her from the dangers of solitude.
Jasmine
Like Snow White, Jasmine is at risk of social isolation, having grown up within the walls of her palace in Agrabah.
While she does have the company of her pet tiger, Rajah, this leaves her at risk of zoonotic infections, as well as injuries.
‘Although Rajah seems like a sweet tiger, its natural instincts could lead to a dangerous and potentially fatal situation — a true Arabian nightmare,’ the researchers said.
After her father’s death, Cinderella is forced by her stepmother and two stepsisters to clean the house, putting her at risk of occupational lung disease (OLD)
One of Pocahontas’ signature moves is her cliff dive, which includes a whopping nine seconds of falling time
Cinderella
After her father’s death, Cinderella is forced by her stepmother and two stepsisters to clean the house, putting her at risk of occupational lung disease (OLD).
‘Researchers recommend several preventive measures to reduce dust exposure, such as using long broom handles, sprinkling water on dusty floors, and personal protective equipment, none of which are adopted in Cinderella’s case,’ the team explained.
Things begin looking up for Cinderella once her fairy godmother appears.
However, the massive quanitites of glitter she brings with her could wreak havoc on Cinderella’s health.
‘These microplastics’ ability to penetrate human lung tissue contributes further to OLD development,’ the team added.
‘Rather than a prince, Cinderella needs ongoing respiratory therapy to live happily ever after.’
Pocahontas
One of Pocahontas’ signature moves is her cliff dive, which includes a whopping nine seconds of falling time.
After pricking her finger on an enchanted spinning wheel’s spindle, Aurora falls into an infinite sleep, which can only be ended with true love’s kiss. This prolonged slumber comes with a number of health risks, according to the experts
Throughout the film, Mulan repeatedly faces honour based violence through pressure from her family. Sadly, studies have shown that this leaves her at increased risk of mental ill health
Based on this fall time, as well as Pocahontas’ likely measurements, the researchers estimate that the cliff measures at least 250 metres high – almost five times the world record for a cliff dive.
‘Studies on slamming dynamics of diving suggest that hand first dives from heights above merely 12m could already be critical for clavicular compressions,’ the researchers cautioned.
‘Hence, a repeat leap would show Pocahontas the monochromatic hues of her x rays instead of the Colours of the Wind, with a symphony of fractures rather than a harmonious tune with nature.’
Sleeping Beauty (Aurora)
After pricking her finger on an enchanted spinning wheel’s spindle, Aurora falls into an infinite sleep, which can only be ended with true love’s kiss.
This prolonged slumber comes with a number of health risks, according to the experts.
‘Health hazards associated with oversleeping include cardiovascular disease, stroke, obesity, and diabetes,’ they said.
‘Furthermore, systematic reviews have shown that prolonged bedrest is associated with increased risk of pressure ulcers and time dependent muscle atrophy.’
According to the researchers, Belle’s close contact with the Beast leaves her at risk of several infectious diseases, including brucellosis and rabies
Rapunzel is known for her long hair, which she often uses as a rope. While her flowing locks certainly look eye-catching, they also increase her risk of several unpleasant conditions
Mulan
Throughout the film, Mulan repeatedly faces honour based violence through pressure from her family.
Sadly, studies have shown that this leaves her at increased risk of mental ill health.
‘Women facing honour based violence may experience increased levels of mental ill health —such as in the form of anxiety from being forced into living a life they did not choose,’ the researchers caution.
Belle
According to the researchers, Belle’s close contact with the Beast puts her at risk of several infectious diseases, including brucellosis and rabies.
However, things wouldn’t have been much better if she had ended up with Gaston.
‘Had Belle chosen the Beast’s rival in love, Gaston — a narcissist with an ego so inflated it is practically a third character — it would probably have had a worse impact on her mental health,’ the researchers said.
‘Despite obvious risks the advice is: better the Beast you know.’
Rapunzel
Rapunzel is known for her long hair, which she often uses as a rope.
While her flowing locks certainly look eye-catching, they also increase her risk of several unpleasant conditions.
‘Through the use of her braid as an elevator cable, Rapunzel’s hair follicles are likely to have been damaged from repetitive excessive pulling, a condition known as traction alopecia (TA),’ the researchers said.
‘In the long run TA can lead to permanent hair loss.
‘A more common symptom, already present in early stage TA, is scalp pain.
‘This can lead to headaches, and subsequently to a mood not even a fairytale princess can brush off.’
HOW WERE THE ORIGINAL DISNEY FILMS MADE?
Walt Disney productions was founded by Walt Disney, his brother Roy and a friend and fellow cartoonist called Ub Iwekrs.
After a failed cartoon company called Laugh-O-Works in Kansas city and declaring bankruptcy in 1929, the trio moved to Hollywood.
Here, they first drew up Mickey Mouse, his girlfriend Minnie.
In 1929 the first short film was released, called Steamboat Willie, which ran for nearly eight minutes.
Steamboat Willie (pictured) was a short film made in 1929 by Disney. It is widely regarded to be the debut of Mickey and Minnie Mouse and was the first time sound had been added to a Disney production
Disney produced its first feature length film in 1937, it was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
To make these cartoon films in an age before computers, the creators would first make a storyboard.
After animators and directors talk about the whole film and produce a complete storyboard, the dialogue is recorded first.
The animators had to know what the characters would say to correctly draw them.
Only after the story has been outlined and the dialogie is recorded to the characters start coming to life.
Rough sketches of just the characters are made, they have no background and no colour.
Some animated films have used over 50,000 individual drawings.
The top animators in the company would roughly sketch a few character drawings, leaving large gaps in between.
An ‘inbetweener’ would finish the scenes, by drawing in between the areas that the animator had left.
After the entire film has been drawn on paper, the animation drawings go to the inking department. There, the inkers copy the animation drawings on to a clear celluloid acetate, called a Cel.
When the characters have been drawn without colour or filler, the unfinished Cel’s go to the Painting Department.
Here, the painters colour on the back of the Cel. This gave the characters a crisp outline.
Now, the backgrounds get added to the story.
Backgrounds tended to be done with watercolour or Tempera but occasionally it was painted on glass, like it was in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Now the background and the Cel with the character on are both completed, it can be photographed.
A special camera, that faced down on to a table top captured every single frame individually.
Usually, the background is placed into a special mount, then covered with the Cel, then covered with a large piece of glass, then photographed.
Now the frames can be combined and dialogue added, and occasionally the film was edited at this stage.
Walt Disney (pictured) released his first feature length film in 1937 and it was called Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Here, Mr Disney holds one of the stills from the film which was created by being printed on a ‘cell’ made of cellulose acetate
