Superficially, the scriptwriters behind this kids’ animation have got the message that being a princess is no longer about standing around in a swishy big frock waiting to be rescued. But has it sunk in? I’m not sure, given that its princess hero, after some spirited fending-off of bad guys, ends up unconscious under a spell, necessitating (it’s really not a spoiler to give away) a spot of manly saving.
Rebellious tells the story of a, well, rebellious princess called Mina (voiced by Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld). Her dad the king wants to marry Mina off to a nobleman strapping enough to protect the kingdom. But Mina has other ideas; for a start, she wants to rule in her own right. Secondly, she has her sights on un-macho architect Ronan (Dan Edwards). When the king finally relents, allowing Mina to marry for love, she’s kidnapped on the morning of her wedding by a bitter old hag (spot the gender stereotype). After the king promises the hand of his daughter to the man who rescues her, Ronan sets off for an adventure, followed by a trio of rivals.
The excessively convoluted plot follows the witch as she takes kidnapped Mina to a pipsqueak sorcerer with a thing for princesses. He has a garden full of them, turned to stone – a simpering bunch of girly girls in the flesh when the spell is lifted (spot another stereotype). Rebellious might just pass the Bechdel test (ie having scenes where female characters talk to each other about something other than men), but nothing about it screams feminist. The fact that Mina is animated to look as if she’s just had lip fillers doesn’t exactly back this up as presenting any new ideas.
• Rebellious is in UK and Irish cinemas from 25 October.
