Disney Princesses Animated Vs. Live Action Vs. Broadway

The trailer for the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid starring Halle Bailey recently dropped this month — and let me tell you, I CANNOT wait to see this movie!

I still have chills hearing the incredibly talented Halle singing “Part of Your World” in the teaser. And I’ve been touched by the reactions of young Black girls seeing themselves represented on screen as Halle plays the first Black Ariel.

1.

First up, of course, is The Little Mermaid. Here’s the 1989 animated film with Ariel, voiced by Jodi Benson:

Here’s Princess Ariel, played by Halle Bailey in the live-action adaptation which comes out May 2023:

Here’s Sierra Boggess — who played Ariel in The Little Mermaid on Broadway — performing a scene from the musical at the 62nd Annual Tony Awards in 2008:

And here’s a side-by-side of all three:

2.

Here’s the 1991 animated film, Beauty and the Beast, with Princess Belle, voiced by Paige O’Hara:

Here’s Belle, played by Emma Watson, in the 2017 live-action adaptation:

Here’s Sarah Litzsinger as Belle in the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast in 2002:

And here’s a side-by-side of all three:

3.

Here’s Princess Jasmine, voiced by Linda Larkin, in the 1992 animated movie, Aladdin:

Here’s Naomi Scott as Jasmine in the 2019 live-action adaptation:

Here’s Courtney Reed as Jasmine in Aladdin on Broadway in 2014:

And here’s a side-by-side of them all:

4.

Here’s Cinderella, voiced by Ilene Woods, in the 1950 animated movie, Cinderella:

Here’s Cinderella, played by Lily James, in the 2015 live-action adaptation:

Now, here’s Laura Osnes as Cinderella backstage at Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella on Broadway in 2013:

And here’s all our Cinderellas together:

5.

Here’s Elsa, voiced by Idina Menzel, in the 2013 animated film, Frozen:

Frozen currently doesn’t have a live-action movie remake — but here’s Georgina Haig as Elsa in Season 4 of the TV series, Once Upon a Time, for a Frozen-inspired crossover:

Here’s Caissie Levy as Elsa in the Broadway musical, Frozen, in 2018:

And here’s a side-by-side of all three:

6.

Here’s Tiana, voiced by Anika Noni Rose, in the 2009 animated film, The Princess and the Frog:

While we currently don’t have Tiana on Broadway or in a live-action movie remake, here’s Mekia Cox as Tiana (or “Sabine”) in Season 7 of Once Upon a Time:

And here’s the two side-by-side:

7.

Here’s Mulan, voiced by Ming-Na Wen, in the 1998 animated film, Mulan:

Here’s Yifei Liu as Mulan in the 2020 live-action adaptation:

And here’s the two side-by-side:

8.

And finally, here’s Princess Aurora, voiced by Mary Costa, in the 1959 animated film, Sleeping Beauty:

Here’s Elle Fanning as Aurora in Maleficent, the 2014 live-action retelling of Sleeping Beauty:

Here’s the two side-by-side: