It’s been 10 years since the release of Disney’s Tangled. The 50th feature from Walt Disney Animation Studios, the film has been somewhat overshadowed. That’s not to say it isn’t popular. It was a big hit when it came out, Rapunzel is considered one of the best Disney Princesses, the television series is a solid hit for Disney Channel, and it’s safe to say most people have seen it and like it. But at a time when Disney is bigger than ever, the film hasn’t gotten the same amount of attention as its contemporaries as of late. Frozen is one of Disney’s biggest cash cows. Zootopia has garnered praise for its complex and powerful subject matter. Wreck-It Ralph has Sonic the Hedgehog. Tangled just doesn’t seem to have the same iconic elements that make people fall in love with those other movies.
However, within the past couple weeks, the Rapunzel tale has been getting a lot more recognition for being ahead of its time. Though this recognition is not in the typical way people consider something ahead of its time. With people, especially families, stuck in quarantine, Disney+ has been a reliable way to pass the time. And wouldn’t you know it, this movie is basically all about a woman living in quarantine, and the struggles that come with it.
For those who may not remember, Tangled focuses on a princess named Rapunzel. After being kidnapped and locked away in a tower by an evil woman, Mother Gothel, when she was a a baby, she grows up in a secluded area with no other people. Her only companion is a pet chameleon named Pascal, and Mother Gothel, who tricked Rapunzel into thinking she is her mother warns her to never go outside and see the world, for it is much too dangerous.
Now Mother Gothel’s warnings are fabricated to avoid Rapunzel learning the truth about her royal heritage. But a good chunk of the film, especially in the “When Will My Life Begin?” sequence, is close to the quarantine life of today. People are forced to stay inside, often with few people to keep them company, and are forced to endure indoor activities. And during that sequence, Rapunzel sings about what she does (reading, painting, playing guitar, knit, cook, etc.), and her dream to be free and explore the kingdom.
That’s already shockingly close to our current predicament. But the kingdom Rapunzel is isolated from happens to be named Corona. Basically, this is a story about a woman isolating herself from corona. And since this film likely takes place in the mid-1800s, the kingdom of Corona probably has plenty of disease and plagues. The movie even opens with the co-star and love interest Flynn Rider narrating with “This is the story of how I died”.
Of course, it’s doubtful this movie was supposed to be a warning. But there’s something freaky about how much this film connects to the current pandemic. Regardless, it’s kind of a silver lining people are going to rediscover this animated classic, and if Rapunzel could find true love during her quarantine, then maybe things will turn out just fine in the end.
Sadly, the monkey’s paw here with Tangled’s newfound popularity is we’re probably getting the live-action remake sooner rather than later.
