Disney’s ‘Tangled’: The Surprising Original Premise You Didn’t Know About

Disney’s ‘Tangled’ was a huge hit and brought the animation department back to life before ‘Frozen’ took the globe by storm in 2013. The film retells the well-known story of Rapunzel, a child who is imprisoned in a tower as punishment for her parents’ theft by a witch. But the path to its ultimate form—a fusion of fantasy, romance, and adventure—was far from simple. There were multiple revisions of the project, and some of the concepts were drastically different from the well-liked 2010 version.

Disney initially thought about a more contemporary version, inspired by DreamWorks’ ‘Shrek’ popularity. The story, titled ‘Rapunzel Unbraided’, follows Claire and Vince, two contemporary San Francisco teenagers, as they are taken to Rapunzel’s fantasy world. Rapunzel and her prince were also changed into animals as part of this humorous, “Shrek-like” idea. Despite its humour, animator Glenn Keane thought it lacked the characters’ emotional nuance.

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By 2005, Disney had given up on the updated idea and experimented with a more dramatic, gloomy Rapunzel. In this version, her romantic partner, Bastian, is a sullen figure who resembles Kristoff from ‘Frozen’. Rapunzel was quiet and reserved, which was indicative of her loneliness. This version was similarly shelved in favour of a lighter tone, despite its promise.

The addition of Flynn Rider, a charming outlaw who would aid Rapunzel in escaping her tower, was the last major innovation. Following a “Hot Man Meeting,” where Disney’s female employees provided suggestions for his look, his character was meticulously created. Zachary Levi was chosen for the part because of his charm and sense of humour, which complemented Mandy Moore’s portrayal of Rapunzel. The Grammy-winning song ‘I See the Light’ and other pieces of Alan Menken’s music enhanced the film’s enchantment.

Image Courtesy: Disney Movies

Disney triumphantly returned to its fairy tale roots with ‘Tangled’. It restored trust in the studio’s storytelling by fusing humour, passion, and stunning visuals. Fans can only hope that the live-action version will have the same allure as the 2010 original.

–Farheen Ali