Cinderella (franchise)

Lore & Background

The franchise commenced with the 1950 animated film Cinderella, produced by Walt Disney and released by RKO Radio Pictures. Based on Charles Perrault's fairy tale, the film was directed by Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, and Wilfred Jackson, with songs including 'A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes' and 'Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo'. In 2018, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

Two direct-to-video sequels followed: Cinderella II: Dreams Come True (2002) and Cinderella III: A Twist in Time (2007). The second film, consisting of three segments, received negative reviews but was Walt Disney Pictures' top selling animated sequel that year, grossing approximately $120 million in direct-to-video sales. The third film, set chronologically between the first and second films, received generally positive reviews. A live-action remake directed by Kenneth Branagh was released in 2015, starring Lily James as Cinderella and Cate Blanchett as Lady Tremaine.

The franchise also includes theme park attractions such as Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland, the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel, and restaurants like L'Auberge de Cendrillon and Cinderella's Royal Table. A walk-through attraction, Cinderella's Fairy Tale Hall, exists in Tokyo Disneyland.

Reader's Guide

The Cinderella franchise holds significance as a cornerstone of Disney's animated legacy and the Disney Princess franchise. The 1950 film revived Walt Disney's animation studio after financial struggles and established Cinderella as a cultural icon. The blog Fragments noted that Cinderella appears to be the main princess in the Disney Princess franchise, with 108 items for Cinderella on DisneyStore.com, calling her the 'alpha-princess' despite her film being the second-oldest in the franchise. The paper Saving Cinderella: From Disney to Cyborg Princess examines why the franchise endures, suggesting that for many little girls, Cinderella is synonymous with 'Disney Princess,' and her transformation from pauper to princess makes her relatable. The franchise's expansion into sequels, a live-action remake, and theme park attractions demonstrates its lasting commercial and cultural impact. MCNG Marketing wrote that 'Cinderella alone is a brand that is easily worth hundreds of million of 'bippity boppity' dollars.' The 1950 film's preservation in the National Film Registry underscores its historical importance.

Did You Know?

• Cinderella II: Dreams Come True was Walt Disney Pictures' top selling animated sequel in 2002, grossing approximately $120 million in direct-to-video sales.
• Cinderella III: A Twist in Time is set chronologically between the first and second films, though it acknowledges events of the second film.
• Cinderella Castle serves as an iconic symbol of The Walt Disney Company at the Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland.
• The 1950 film Cinderella was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2018.