Описание золушки из сказки шарля перро

«Золушка» главные герои сказки Шарля Перро не только положительные но и отрицательные. Характеристика героев поможет понять их внутренний мир и черты характера.

Перро «Золушка» главные герои

• Золушка — добрая и трудолюбивая девочка, живущая со своей мачехой и сводными сестрами.
•  Мачеха — жестокая и властолюбивая, но весьма недалёкая женщина. Золушку не любит, считает что она бездельница и дармоедка.
• Фея — крёстная Золушки и добрая волшебница.
• Принц — молодой и прекрасный юноша, мечтает о большой любви, добрый парень.
• Сестры — две сестры Золушки. Довольно высокомерные и эгоистичные девушки, думающие в основном о балах, нарядах и богатстве. К Золушке относятся тоже плохо.
• Король — правитель. Мечтает о невестке и внуках.

 Характеристика Золушки из сказки Шарля Перро

Главной героиней сказки является девушка, которая рано осталась без матери и подвергается издевательствам мачехи и сводных сестер. Золушка послушная и любящая своего отца дочь, она мечтательница, но излишняя скромность мешает ей самостоятельно воплощать мечты в жизнь и она очень нуждается в опеке старших.

Золушка очень трудолюбивая. Она делает всю работу по дому, постоянно прислуживает мачехе и сестрам в обмен на еду и крышу над головой. Вместо благодарности получает одни упреки, но не ожесточается, просто чувствует себя несчастной. Ей и жаловаться было некому.

Девушка вынужденная выполнять даже самую грязную работу, хотя она сама из дворянской семьи. Она моет полы и посуду, причесывает сестёр перед балом. При всей этой загруженности, обнаруживается, что она умудрилась научиться танцевать. Она мечтает попасть на бал и благодаря крестной получает такую возможность.

На балу она знакомиться с принцем, но чтобы он не увидел ее настоящую убогую одежду сбегает. Вскоре Принц находит ее и узнает в оборванной одежде и золе. Это не мешает ему понять, что это та самая миловидная барышня, которая сбежала с бала после полуночи. Вторая туфелька становится этому доказательством.

Героиня не таит зла на мачеху, ведь она умеет прощать. И выйдя замуж за принца, девушка пристраивает и свою семью, несмотря на всё прежние обиды.

 «Золушка» характеристика принца

Принц — будущий супруг Золушки, молодой и прекрасный юноша, мечтает о большой любви. Описан в сказке как самостоятельный и упрямый юноша.  Он по-своему несчастен — никак не может встретить свою половинку и наконец жениться, а старый король все сильнее требует женитьбы, поскольку хочет видеть внуков и новых наследников.

Увлеченный романтическими мечтами, на балу он знакомиться с Золушкой, в которую влюбляется с первого взгляда. А когда она сбегает, то  он находит способ отыскать прекрасную незнакомку.

 «Золушка» характеристика мачехи и ее дочек

Мачеха названа автором женщиной спесивой и дурного нрава. Эта авторитарная женщина способна загнать под каблук мужа, сделать так, что отец ни разу не вступился за дочь, а, наоборот, ворчал в ответ на любые жалобы. Дочерей она балует. Достаточно вспомнить подготовку грандиозную к балу, то, что они, в отличие от нелюбимой падчерицы, совсем не занимались хозяйством.

Две дочери мачехи были похожи скверным нравом на мать. Они не только пользовались трудами сводной сестры, но и всячески её унижали. Глупые и капризные героини преклоняются перед внешней красотой, перед более высоким рангом. Они готовы не все, лишь бы попасть в высшее общество.  После того как сестры узнали, что в их сестру влюбился принц, то они ей в ноги кинулись, умоляя о прощении.

Золушка — характеристика литературного героя. Сочинение

  

Золушка — характеристика литературного героя. Сочинение

 

ЗОЛУШКА (фр. Cinderella) — героиня сказки Ш.Перро «Золушка» (1697). «Добрая, приветливая, милая» — так характеризует автор свою героиню. Это действительно один из самых тонких и обаятельных образов среди сказочных героинь. Золушка скромна, трудолюбива, покладиста, доброжелательна. Дочь почтенного и знатного человека, Золушка, притесняемая злой мачехой, живет в собственном доме на правах служанки, выполняя, причем совершенно безропотно, всю черную домашнюю работу. Она чистит котлы и кастрюли, моет лестницы; ухаживает за сводными сестрами, которые платят ей черной неблагодарностью, спит на чердаке под самой крышей, на колючей соломенной подстилке, и молча сносит все обиды, не решаясь даже пожаловаться отцу. Золушкой ее прозвали за вечно перепачканное золой платье. Сказка есть сказка, и Золушка попадает на бал. Ей помогает ее крестная — фея.

 
Золушка настолько прекрасна, что принц именно ее выделяет из всех присутствующих дам, да и гости тоже очарованы незнакомкой. И вот тут бы Золушка отомстить своим сестрам и мачехе, сделать им что-нибудь неприятное, но она, наоборот, «разыскала их, сказала каждой несколько приятных слов, угостила апельсинами и лимонами, которые поднес ей сам принц». Выйдя же за принца замуж, Золушка сразу же простила сестрам все обиды, потому что, как пишет Перро, «она была не только хороша собой, но и добра». Образ Золушки покорил многих художников. Свою версию истории Золушки создали немецкие сказочники братья Гримм (1814). Итальянский композитор Д.Россини написал на этот сюжет лирико-комическую оперу (1817), а С.С.Прокофьев — одноименный балет (1944). Отечественный фильм «Золушка» (1947) с Я.Жеймо в главной роли (по пьесе и сценарию Е.Л.Шварца) признан классикой детского кинематографа.

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Эта статья о персонаже. О других значениях см. Золушка.

Золушка (англ. Cinderella) — главный персонаж и протагонистка одноимённого диснеевского полнометражного мультфильма 1950 года. Она — родная дочь овдовевшего дворянина, которая после его скоропостижной смерти становится служанкой собственной бессердечной мачехи леди Тремейн. Несмотря на постоянные унижения и жестокость со стороны своей завистливой сводной семьи, девушка всегда оставалась нежной и доброй и никогда не переставала верить и надеяться на лучшую жизнь.

Золушка основана на героине одноимённой сказки французского писателя Шарля Перро. В оригинальном мультфильме она была анимирована Эриком Ларсоном и Марком Дэвисом. Голос Золушке предоставила актриса и певица Айлин Вудс.

Золушка — вторая официальная диснеевская принцесса.

О персонаже

Золушка родилась в богатой семье и с самого рождения была окружена любовью и заботой родителей. Семья жила в родовом замке, расположенном на окраине небольшого, но процветавшего королевства. В какой-то момент детства Золушки её мать трагически скончалась, и через некоторое время отец девочки, считая, что ей не хватает материнской ласки и заботы, снова женился на почтенной вдове по имени леди Тремейн.

Характер

Золушка — трудолюбивая и независимая девушка, которая никогда не позволяет злости или горю взять над собою верх. Она очень добра к окружающим и никаким образом не изображена наивной или инфантильной.

Описание внешности

Золушка — молодая девушка с классически красивыми чертами внешности. У неё русые волосы средней длины, гладкая белая кожа и яркие серые глаза. В начале мультфильма носит коричневый сарафан-фартук с голубой рубашкой, затем надевает на бал красивое голубое платье с хрустальными туфельками.

Способности

Золушка понимает язык животных и птиц, а также умеет на нем общаться со своими маленькими друзьями.

Официальное описание

Принцессы Disney

Золушка — добрая и внимательная принцесса. Она заботится об окружающих и дружит с животными, которые всегда приходят к ней на помощь в трудную минуту. Трудолюбивая Золушка день напролёт занимается работой по дому, чтобы угодить своей мачехе и сводным сестрам, но она не позволяет печалям и невзгодам взять над ней верх. Отважная девушка искренне верит в чудеса и не боится следовать за своей мечтой, несмотря на трудности.

Золушка (2015)

Элла — красивая юная девушка с добрым сердцем. Она умеет находить радость в простых вещах и может заботится обо всех, кто её окружает. Несмотря на плохие нападки со стороны мачехи и сводных сестёр, которые прозвали её Золушкой, она не опускает руки, вспоминая слова, которые сказала её родная мать: «Будь сильной и верь в добро».

Создание

Разработка образа и анимация

Ведущими аниматорами Золушки были Марк Дэвис и Эрик Ларсон. При создании образа героини, между двумя аниматорами возникли некоторые «разногласия». Как и в случае с предыдущими мультфильмами, по настоянию Уолта Диснея, были наняты актёры-модели для исполнения игровых сцен в качестве опоры для аниматоров. Хелен Стэнли (которая в будущем будет живой моделью для Принцессы Авроры в мультфильме «Спящая красавица» и Аниты Рэдклифф в мультфильме «101 долматинец»). Художники рисовали анимационные кадры Золушки по движениям актрисы, это требовало больших усилий.По мнению Уолта Диснея,такая процедура помогала избежать ненужных расходов на пробную анимацию.

Озвучивание

Прослушивание на роль Золушки проходило около 400 претенденток, среди которых были и актрисы, такие как Дина Шор и Дина Дурбин. Но Уолт Дисней выбрал Эйлин Вудс, которая в то время работала на радио и ничего не знала о прослушивании на роль Золушки. Её коллеги по работе предложили ей спеть песни из мультфильма «Золушка» и та согласилась. Затем,не говоря ей ни слова, друзья Эйлин передали плёнки в офис Disney. Прослушав материал, Уолт Дисней решил сразу, что нашёл голос, которым должна говорить и петь его главная героиня,и связался с Эйлин. Сразу после этого Эйлин Вудс получила роль.

Появления

Золушка

Золушка — дочь овдовевшего дворянина, всё своё детство прожившая в роскоши и комфорте. Считая, что ей не хватает материнской заботы и ласки, отец девочки женится на женщине по имени леди Тремейн, имеющей собственных дочерей, ровесниц Золушки: Анастасию и Дризеллу. Однако, после кончины дворянина, мачеха раскрывает своё истинное коварное и холодное лицо. Она, её дочери и кот Люцифер начинают всячески унижать и третировать Золушку, в конечном итоге превращая её в служанку в собственном доме. Но, несмотря на все свои невзгоды, девушка по-прежнему оставалась нежной и доброй. Ей, естественно, надоедает постоянная работа по дому, и она часто мечтает о принце, который заберет её из этого места. Опустить голову ей не дают лишь друзья — мыши и птицы.

В тоже время в королевстве Король, мечтая о внуках пытается подыскать жену для своего сына, и приказывает Герцогу разослать дамам приглашение на бал. Его получает и Золушка, но Мачеха узнает об этом и разрешает пойти на бал, если она найдет подходящее платье и доделает работу по квартире. Золушка так и не найдя платье огорченно отказывается от бала. Но когда она заходит в свою комнату, ее ждет приятный сюрприз — перед ней, платье сделанное зверками. Золушка выбегает и говорит, что пойдет на бал. Но сводные сестры видят подвох и замечают, что это платье сделано из их вещей, и начинают буквально рвать на ней одежду, обзывая воровкой. Очень опечаленная Золушка убегает и, найдя уединенное место, рыдает.

Но тут появляется Фея-Крёстная и успокаивает Золушку, более того, у неё есть волшебная палочка, которой она превращает мышей в коней, тыкву в карету, а оборванное платье Золушки превращает в шикарное блестящее синее платье. Фея отправляет Золушку на бал с одним условием — до полуночи ей нужно оттуда уйти, так как волшебство закончится.

На самом балу Принца не устраивает ни одна дама, Король начинает возмущаться. Принц в далеке замечает Золушку и устремленно идет к ней, не реагируя на Дризеллу и Анастасию. Принц и Золушка начинают танцевать зная что это любовь с первого взгляда. Мачеха и дочери узнают в ней Золушку. Золушка забывает об условии Феи и, когда начинают бить часы, она сразу расстается с принцем и убегает, обронив при этом туфельку. Убежав, Золушка замечает что хрустальные туфельки не исчезли.

Герцог находил туфельку, которую потеряла Золушка и показывает Королю. Тот в порыве ярости из-за того, что Золушка сбежала, посылает Герцога мерить туфельку каждой девушке, грозя, что за провал тот ответит головой. Золушка переодевается обратно в горничную и пытается скрыть, что была на балу. А Мачеха, зная, что Золушка и есть та самая девушка, запирает её в комнате. Прибывает Герцог с намерением примерить туфлю. Во время разговора Гас и Жак незаметно вытаскивают ключ из кармана и спешат освободить Золушку. Когда туфелька не подошла Дризелле и Анастасии, Герцог начинает уходить, но его останавливает Золушка с просьбой и ей примерить туфельку. Мачеха пытается отговаривать — «она всего лишь служанка, мало ли что напридумывает». Но Герцог уверяет, что туфлю должна примерить каждая в королевстве. Из за своей неосторожности Герцог роняет туфлю и разбивает её, но Золушка достает вторую. Видя, что туфелька подходит Герцог Золушка и зверюшки радуются, когда мачеха с дочерьми терпят поражение. Золушка отправляется в замок и становится самой счастливой девушкой в королевстве.

Финальная сцена — влюбленные Принц и Золушка едут в карете и целуются.

Золушка 2: Мечты сбываются

Спустя год после событий первого фильма, Жак и Гас пишут книгу про то, что произошло с Золушкой дальше. Книга состоит из трех историй. В первой истории Золушке предстоит подготовить все для королевского бала. Во второй Золушка, Герцог и Жак, превращенный в человека, устраивают фестиваль. Третья история рассказывает о том, как Анастасия влюбилась в пекаря.

Золушка 3: Злые чары

Золушка вместе с Принцем едет в лес, где Фея-Крёстная готовит им сюрприз. Приехав туда, они начинают танцевать, как год назад. Но появляются Мачеха и Дризелла, Фея превращается в статую, а остальные перемещаются назад во времени, к тому моменту, когда Герцог хочет надеть туфлю на ногу Золушки. Благодаря магии, туфелька приходится впору Анастасии. Золушка возвращается к своим обязанностям горничной. Принц ее не узнает, но мышам и птицам удается рассказать ему, что к чему. Принц все вспоминает и соглашается женится на Золушке. К несчастью, к тому времени Анастасию делают полной копией Золушки, и Принц по ошибке хочет женится на ней. Но друзьям Золушки удается сплотиться, и разрушить злые чары. Золушка и Принц вновь женятся, и вновь собираются жить долго и счастливо.

Золушка (2015)

В художественном фильме 2015 года роль Золушки (Эллы) исполняют актрисы Лили Джеймс и Элоиз Уэбб (в детстве).

Элла — молодая девушка, дочь странствующего купца, чья мать скоропостижно скончалась, когда Элла была маленькой. Желая снова попытать семейного счастья, отец девушке решает жениться во второй раз на вдове своего знакомого — Леди Тремейн. Элла же, стремясь поддержать любимого отца, со всей добротой принимает новую мачеху, а также её дочерей Анастасию и Дризеллу в их дом. Вскоре отец Эллы отправляется в очередную поездку, во время которой он неожиданно умирает. Оставшаяся круглой сиротой, Элла тут же становится служанкой в собственном доме.

Ральф против Интернета

Она появляется среди принцесс и учит Ванилопу быть принцессой.

Другие появления

• Золушка — одна из героинь сериалов Однажды в сказке и Однажды в стране чудес
• Золушка неоднократно появлялась в шоу Мышиный дом, всегда в своем классическом синем платье.
• Образ Золушки фигурирует в различных товарах, это игрушки, компьютерные игры, музыкальные альбомы, канцелярские товары, одежда и многое другое.
• Замок Золушки-является красивейшем и удивительным местом в Диснейленде. Также он является аттракционом в парке «Волшебное королевство»,входящим в состав парка развлечений «Диснейуорлд». Роль Золушки исполняют актрисы в костюмах героини.
• В 2012 году Золушка вместе в другими принцессами Диснея стала героиней аттракциона «Princess Fairytale Hall» в парке «Волшебное королевство».

Галерея

Интересные факты

• Превращение лохмотьев Золушки в бальный наряд был самым любимым моментом анимации Уолта Диснея из его фильма.
• Золушка является второй официальной принцессой Диснея, присоединившись к франшизе в 1950 году после Белоснежки (1937).
  • Хотя это было только второй введение принцессы Диснея, история главной героини предшествовала Белоснежке в короткометражном мультфильме 1922 года.
• Золушка — первая диснеевская принцесса, чей образ был основан на сказках Шарля Перро (второй стала Аврора).
• Золушка — вторая принцесса Диснея, получившая художественный фильм спустя много лет после оригинального мультфильма. Первой была Аврора, и третьей станет Белль.
• Золушка — вторая по старшинству принцесса Диснея после Эльзы, которой на момент коронации в мультфильме Холодное сердце был 21 год.
• Золушка — первая принцесса, чьё детство было показано на экране.
• Цвет волос Золушка вызывает большие споры среди фанатов. В оригинальном мультфильме они кажутся светло-рыжими. Во франшизе и парках Диснея волосы Золушки представляют ярко-жёлтыми.
• Черты и выражения лица Золушки сходны с Алисой из мультфильма Алиса в Стране чудес (1951) и Венди из мультфильма Питер Пэн (1953).
• Золушка — вторая принцесса-сирота.
• Как и Белоснежка, Золушка большую часть жизни проводит без отца. Вместо этого, она находится под опекой жестокой и завистливой мачехи. Обе героини были вынуждены стать прислугой в собственном доме.
• Обувь также стала символичным посланием. Золушка настолько деликатна, что может ходить в хрустальных туфельках и не сломать их.
• Золушку часто считают главной среди диснеевских принцесс. Её часто помещают в центр рекламных изображений. Это становилось предметом споров, поскольку она является лишь второй принцессой после Белоснежки. Некоторые считают, что Белоснежка заслуживает быть главной, потому что она — главная героиня первого диснеевского мультфильма, появившегося за 13 лет до Золушки.
• Золушка — единственная принцесса, которая носит наряд простой служанки в замке. Другие принцессы носят королевские наряды, когда находятся в своём королевстве.

Примечания

Читательский дневник по сказке «Золушка» Шарля Перро

Автор: Шарль Перро

Название произведения: «Золушка»

Число страниц: 32.

Жанр произведения: сказка.

Главные герои: Золушка, Мачеха и её дочери, отец, Принц, Король, Фея-крёстная.

Характеристика главных героев:

Золушка — трудолюбивая и хозяйственная девушка.

Большая мастерица и рукодельница.

Покорила своими манерами Принца.

Была вознаграждена за своё доброе и чистое сердце.

Мачеха — злая и требовательная.

Завистливая.

Не любила Золушку и всячески её загружала работой.

Дочери — ленивые и жуткие модницы.

Были некрасивые и невоспитанные.

Принц — добрый и справедливый.

Был влюблён и поражён красотой и добротой Золушки.

Король — умный и добрый.

Фея — крёстная. Добрая и справедливая.

Краткое содержание сказки «Золушка»

Отец Золушки женился второй раз.

Мачеха сразу невзлюбила падчерицу и нагружала её работой сверх всякой меры.

А своих дочерей баловала.

Однажды мачеха с дочерьми отправилась на бал.

К Золушке явилась фея и подарила ей платье, туфельки, карету.

Золушка танцевала с принцем.

Он влюбился в девушку.

Но в полночь Золушка убежала, потеряв туфельку.

По туфельке принц отыскал девушку и женился на ней.

План сказки:

1. Злая мачеха.
2. Тяжкий труд
3. Бал во дворце.
4. Появление феи.
5. Волшебные превращения.
6. На балу.
7. Потерянная туфелька.
8. Свадьба.

Основная мысль сказки «Золушка»

Главная мысль произведения в том, что трудолюбие и скромность всегда найдут себе дорогу.

Основной идеей сказки является то, что добро всегда побеждает зло, а также любой тяжкий труд по достоинству оценивается и вознаграждается.

Чему учит сказка

Произведение учит нас быть терпеливыми, добрыми, скромными и трудолюбивыми.

Учит тому, что за полосой неудачи следует счастливая.

Учит верить в свои мечты и они обязательно сбудутся.

Учит ждать, надеяться и верить, что лучшее ещё впереди.

Краткий отзыв о сказке «Золушка» для читательского дневника

Прочитав эту сказку, я подумала о том, что очень хорошо, когда мечты сбываются.

В сказке произошло чудо, но в обычной жизни мечты могут сбыться только, если человек трудится, старается чего-то достичь.

Это интересная и увлекательная волшебная сказка.

Автору удалось создать историю, которая будит воображение и заставляет мечтать.

Мне очень понравилась скромная и трудолюбивая героиня.

Эта девушка заслужила своё счастье.

Она много пережила, но смогла остаться человеком.

Я всем советую прочитать эту историю и не отчаиваться в самых тяжёлых ситуациях.

Ведь после большого горя, обязательно придёт радость.

Пословицы к сказке

• Терпение и труд — всё перетрут.
• Что посеешь, то и пожнёшь.
• После грозы — вёдро, после горя — радость.
• Делай доброе дело и бросай его в воду.
• Реже видишь — больше любишь.

Словарь неизвестных слов

• Модистка — портниха.
• Замарашка — грязнуля.
• Сбруя — принадлежность для запряжки лошадей.
• Лакей — слуга.
• Ливрея — форменная одежда.
• Галун — нашивка на одежде.

Отрывок, поразивший больше всего:

И вдруг часы стали бить полночь.

Золушка вспомнила предупреждение феи.

Опрометью бросилась она из зала.

На лестнице, ведущей в сад, она оступилась и потеряла свою хрустальную туфельку.

Темнота скрыла девушку.

Скрыла и то, как бальный наряд превратился в старое запачканное платье, а карета с лошадьми и кучером вновь стали тыквой, мышами и крысой.

Бросившемуся вдогонку принцу досталась лишь подобранная им на лестнице хрустальная туфелька.

Ещё читательские дневники по произведениям Шарля Перро:

• «Кот в сапогах»
• «Мальчик-с-пальчик»
• «Ослиная шкура»
• «Красная шапочка»
• «Спящая красавица»
• «Красавица и чудовище»
• «Синяя борода»

Библиотека произведений автора пополняется.

Cinderella
Cinderella character
Cinderella as she appears in Cinderella (1950).
First appearance	Cinderella (1950)
Created by	Charles Perrault Marc Davis Eric Larson Les Clark Mark Henn Walt Disney
Portrayed by	Brandy Norwood (1997 film) Lily James (2015 film) Eloise Webb (child) (2015 film)
Voiced by	Ilene Woods (1950 film) Kath Soucie (Disney Parks) Tami Tappan (singing in Cinderella III) Karen Strassman (Mickey Mouse) Susan Stevens Logan (studio singing voice) Jennifer Hale (1999–present)
Based on	Cinderella from the Charles Perrault’s fairy tale
In-universe information
Title	Princess
Occupation	Scullery maid
Affiliation	Disney Princesses
Family	Father (dies in prologue) Lady Tremaine (stepmother) Drizella and Anastasia Tremaine (stepsisters)
Spouse	Prince Charming
Children	Chad Charming (Descendants)

Cinderella is a fictional character who appears in Walt Disney Productions’ 12th animated feature film Cinderella (1950). In the original film, Cinderella is voiced by American singer and actress Ilene Woods. For the sequels and subsequent film and television appearances, Woods was replaced by American actresses Jennifer Hale and Tami Tappan, who provide the character’s speaking and singing voices.

In the wake of her father’s untimely demise, Cinderella is left in the care of her cruel stepmother and jealous stepsisters, who constantly mistreat her, forcing Cinderella to work as a scullery maid in her own home. When Prince Charming holds a ball, the evil stepmother does not allow her to go. Cinderella, aided by her kind Fairy Godmother and equipped with a beautiful silver gown and a unique pair of glass slippers, attends, only to have to leave at midnight when the Fairy Godmother’s spell is broken.

Reception towards Cinderella has been mixed, with some film critics describing the character as much too passive, one-dimensional, and less interesting than the film’s supporting characters. Other critics found her endearing, charming, and timeless. Woods’ vocal performance has also been praised. Panned or praised, Cinderella has nonetheless become one of the most famous and recognizable princesses in the history of film. She became the second Disney Princess. With her iconic glass slippers, silver gown, hairstyle, and transformation, one of the first on-screen makeovers of its kind, the character has been established as a fashion icon, receiving accolades and recognition from InStyle, Entertainment Weekly, Glamour and Oprah.com, as well as footwear designer and fashion icon Christian Louboutin, who, in 2012, designed and released a shoe based on Cinderella’s glass slippers. Lily James played a live-action version of the character in the 2015 live action adaptation of the original 1950 film.

Development[edit]

The Disney version of Cinderella was based on the French version of the tale by Charles Perrault, Cendrillon written in 1697 in Histoires ou Contes du Temps Passé.^[1]

Personality[edit]

The script for the original film went through revisions by various writers, sometimes with different interpretations of the character. Maurice Rapf tried to make her a less passive character than Snow White, and more rebellious against her stepfamily. Rapf explained, «My thinking was you can’t have somebody who comes in and changes everything for you. You can’t be delivered it on a platter. You’ve got to earn it. So in my version, the Fairy Godmother said, ‘It’s okay till midnight but from then on it’s up to you.’ I made her earn it, and what she had to do to achieve it was to rebel against her stepmother and stepsisters, to stop being a slave in her own home. So I had a scene where they’re ordering her around and she throws the stuff back at them. She revolts, so they lock her up in the attic. I don’t think anyone took (my idea) very seriously.»^[2]

Appearance[edit]

The character was animated by Marc Davis and Eric Larson,^[3] but the two animators did not have the same perception of the character, accentuating the elegance of Davis and Larson’s opting for simplicity.^[4] As done with other Disney films, Walt Disney hired actress Helene Stanley to perform the live-action reference for Cinderella, that she before artists began sketching, playing the role of Cinderella in a particular scene,^[5] and artists to draw animated frames based on the movements of the actress.^[6] She later did the same kind of work for the characters of Princess Aurora (Mary Costa) in Sleeping Beauty and Anita Radcliff (Lisa Davis) in 101 Dalmatians.^[6]

According to Christopher Finch, author of The Art of Walt Disney:

Disney insisted that all scenes involving human characters should be shot first in live-action to determine that they would work before the expensive business of animation was permitted to start. The animators did not like this way of working, feeling it detracted from their ability to create character. However, they understood the necessity for this approach in retrospect and acknowledged that Disney had handled things with considerable subtlety.^[1]

Voice[edit]

In the original 1950 film, Cinderella is voiced by American singer and actress Ilene Woods.^[7] In 1948, Woods was a young eighteen-year-old singer working as a radio personality at the time and hosting her own eponymous radio program The Ilene Woods Show.^[8] While working at ABC Radio,^[9] Woods would regularly be visited and approached by various songwriters who wanted the singer to perform their compositions, which is ultimately how she met and befriended Cinderella songwriters Mack David and Jerry Livingston.^[10] Ultimately, David and Livingston «would play … an important role in Woods’s career.»^[8]

At the behest of David and Livingston, casually described as «a favor»,^[11] Woods agreed to record a series of demos of three songs that the songwriters had recently written for the studio’s then-upcoming animated film Cinderella. Woods recorded the songs «Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo», «So This Is Love», and «A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes»,^[12] which the songwriters then submitted to Disney himself. Upon reviewing and listening to the tracks, Disney, impressed, decided to contact Woods personally. Two days afterward, Woods received a telephone call from Disney, with whom she immediately scheduled an interview. Woods recalled in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, «We met and talked for a while, and he said, ‘How would you like to be Cinderella?'», to which she agreed.^[13]

Characteristics[edit]

Cinderella is a young woman with medium-length strawberry-blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair complexion. After her father dies, she is forced into servitude in her own home and is tormented by her evil stepmother, Lady Tremaine, and two stepsisters, Anastasia and Drizella. Despite this, she maintains hope through her dreams and remains a kind, gentle and sweet person. She has faith that someday her dreams of happiness will come true and her kindness will be repaid. Cinderella is shown to have a down-to-earth attitude, but she is also a daydreamer. For example, in «Sing Sweet Nightingale», she becomes distracted with the bubbles, allowing Lucifer to smudge the floor she was cleaning. Also, after hearing that the Grand Duke is traveling the kingdom with the missing slipper, she dreamily dances back to the attic humming the song she heard at the ball. She is also shown to have a sarcastic side and a sharp wit.

With the help of her animal friends, she fixes up an old party dress of her mother’s so she can attend a royal ball. However, when her evil stepsisters brutally tear the dress apart, she is heartbroken and fears that her dreams will never come true until her Fairy Godmother appears, restoring Cinderella’s hope by transforming her torn homemade dress into her now-iconic sparkling, light blue gown with a glittering crystalline puffy bustle, a delicate laced white petticoat, and puffy cap sleeves. Her hair is worn up in a French twist supported by a light blue headband with diamond earrings, a black choker, light blue opera gloves and glass slippers.

Her look was probably inspired by 1950s French haute couture, while her torn dress is clearly inspired by Salvador Dalì and Elsa Schiaparelli’s Tear dress.^[14]

As a servant, she wears her hair down in a ponytail, held in place with a light blue ribbon, a white scarf, and wears a brown dress with light blue sleeves, a white apron, and black flats.

Appearances[edit]

Cinderella[edit]

At the start of the film, the titular character Cinderella is working as a scullery maid in her own home for her cruel stepmother named Lady Tremaine and her two stepsisters named Anastasia and Drizella. Her only friends are the birds, the mice who also live in the manor house, including Gus and Jaq, her pet dog Bruno and her father’s horse Major.

She prepares breakfast for the animals and for her stepfamily before beginning her regular chores. An invitation to the ball arrives at the door and Cinderella wants to attend. Her stepmother tells her she may go under the condition that she must finish her chores and find something suitable to wear. Cinderella discovers her deceased mother’s old party dress and hopes to fix it to make it more modern, but she is too busy to do so. Meanwhile, when the mice see shadows of Cinderella’s stepsisters throwing down their old sash and beads, Jaq and Gus are forced to quietly retrieve them. The mice use the unwanted items to fix up the dress. Later, Cinderella fears she will not be done working in time and will not be able to attend the ball, but her friends reveal the altered dress. Cinderella is overjoyed and thanks her friends. She races down the steps just in time, but her stepsisters recognize their discarded items and accuse her of stealing their sash and beads. They tear the dress to shreds, leaving Cinderella all by herself, and she runs out to the garden, crying.

Her Fairy Godmother appears to make her dreams come true and transforms her torn dress into a beautiful blue gown. Before Cinderella leaves, her godmother warns her that the spell will be broken at midnight. At the ball, Cinderella dances with Prince Charming and they immediately fall in love with each other. As twelve o’clock approaches, she hurries to leave, hoping to prevent the spell from breaking at the ball, which could cause her to get caught by her stepmother or stepsisters. In her haste, she loses one of her glass slippers on the staircase but fails to retrieve it in time. Cinderella hurries into her coach as it prepares to leave. The spell breaks and Cinderella is in rags once more before reminiscing her dance with the prince and thanking her godmother for all she’s done for her. The next day, the prince announces he will marry the maiden whose foot fits into the glass slipper. Lady Tremaine hears Cinderella humming the same song that had played at the ball and figures out Cinderella was the girl Prince Charming fell in love with. Cinderella is locked in the tower by her stepmother, who refuses to let her have the opportunity to try on the slipper, but her animal friends help her escape. She hurries downstairs to try on the glass slipper. Knowing the slipper will fit her, Lady Tremaine intentionally causes the footman to trip and shatter the slipper. Cinderella reveals that she has kept the other slipper. She tries it on, and it fits perfectly. She and the Prince are married soon after.^[15]

Cinderella II: Dreams Come True[edit]

Gus and Jaq, with help of the other mice, and the Fairy Godmother, set off to make a new book to narrate what happens after the ending of the previous story by stringing three segments of stories together, resulting in three individual stories: «Aim to Please», «Tall Tail», and «An Uncommon Romance». In the first story, Cinderella and Prince Charming return home and a party begins shortly afterward. In the second story, «Tall Tail», Cinderella works on planning to build up a festival. The mouse named Jaq in the previous film has become a human named Sir Hugh. And in the third story, «An Uncommon Romance», Cinderella helps her younger stepsister Anastasia reconcile with the baker, even though her stepmother Lady Tremaine has forbidden it. Near the end of the film, she reads the book that the mice made for her.^[16]

Cinderella III: A Twist in Time[edit]

In Cinderella III: A Twist in Time, Cinderella’s hard-working ethics, optimism, and devotion are put to the test, when she is magically stripped away from her «happily ever after» by a vengeful and then magically-empowered Tremaine and is forced to jump into physical action to restore her happy life and relationship with Prince Charming. During these events, Cinderella is shown to be cunning, tactical, persistent, and a fierce rival to those who oppress her. With no magic, being forced to rely solely on her intelligence and fearlessness, Cinderella is able to defeat her stepmother, repair her relationship with a reformed Anastasia and retain her much-deserved life of happiness, proving both her independence and strong will.^[17]

Sofia the First[edit]

Cinderella appears in the pilot movie Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess, where she helps Sofia make friends with Amber, her stepsister.

«Le Croissant de Triomphe»[edit]

In the newest editions of Mickey Mouse short movies, a 2013 production reflects the iconic princess in a crucial moment.

Cinderella appears in the third episode of Mickey Mouse, entitled Le Croissant de Triomphe. While a café owned and operated by Minnie runs out of croissants, she makes a phone call to receive from Mickey an order of croissants. In order to arrive on time, Mickey hurries and flies through Paris, and accidentally lands in a castle where Prince Charming tries to fit the crystal slipper into Cinderella’s foot. She was still dressed in her regular maid clothes. At that time, Mickey accidentally passes in his motorcycle and breaks the glass slipper.

2015 film[edit]

Lily James portrays the character, named Ella, in Disney’s 2015 live-action version of Cinderella. Like in the original film, her father remarries after the death of her mother but after he dies as well, she then becomes the horribly mistreated servant of her stepmother Lady Tremaine and her two stepsisters, Anastasia and Drisella. They give her the nickname «Cinderella» when, one morning, she wakes up with soot on her face after sleeping near the fireplace the previous night. Unlike the original film, however, she meets the Prince (named Kit) before the ball while out in the forest. She is also shown to be more assertive when she actually stands up to her stepmother in the film’s final act; Lady Tremaine attempts to blackmail Ella by only agreeing to let her try on the glass slipper if Ella will make her head of the royal household and provide suitable husbands for her stepsisters, but Ella rejects this idea, refusing to give Lady Tremaine power over Kit after the way she ruined Ella’s life.

In other media[edit]

Cinderella is one of the official members of the Disney Princess franchise, appearing in several related video games, albums and other merchandise. Cinderella appears as one of the Disney Princesses in the manga, Kilala Princess.

The Cinderella Castle is an attraction at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland at the Tokyo Disney Resort. Both serve as globally recognized icons for their respective theme parks. Cinderella and the other Disney Princesses have a meet and greet attraction called Princess Fairytale Hall at Magic Kingdom.^[18][19]

In the season six episodes of the sitcom series Full House known as The House Meets The Mouse Parts 1 & 2, Cinderella makes cameo appearances in both Parts 1 & 2. Jessy Schram played a live-action version of the character in Once Upon a Time and its spin-off Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. Dania Ramirez portrays another version of the role in season 7 as a main character with a different storyline.

Cinderella is also voiced by the American voice-actress Patricia Parris in Disney’s Read-along version of Cinderella,^[20] Susan Steven-Logans and Cameron Tatum studio singing voice of Cinderella also voice Cinderella in various Disney albums and projects.^[21] Kate Higgins, Jennifer Paz, and Juliana Hansen for The Legacy Collection: Cinderella ^[22]

Cinderella appeared as a recurring guest character in House of Mouse,^[23] and has minor appearances its films Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse^[24] and Mickey’s House of Villains.

Cinderella also appears in various Disney books published by Random House.^[25]

Cinderella, alongside other Disney Princesses, appeared in the film Ralph Breaks the Internet, as was announced at the 2017 D23 Expo.^[26]

Video games[edit]

Cinderella appears as one of the Disney Princesses of Heart in the Kingdom Hearts series. In Kingdom Hearts, she is captured by Maleficent, who destroyed her world. The main character, Sora, rescues Cinderella, as well as the other Princesses, and she returns home. She is only mentioned in the sequel, Kingdom Hearts II. Her story prior to being captured takes place prominently with her home world, Castle of Dreams, in the prequel, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep; she meets Ventus, who she mistakes for a mouse despite the obvious fact he’s not, Aqua and Terra. In the Final Mix version of the game, her world is seen in the Realm of Darkness at the climax, Maleficent having destroyed it and captured her.

Cinderella appears in the Nintendo 3DS game Disney Magical World. Cinderella’s world is one of the four Disney movie worlds accessible to the player in this game, and many characters and items related to the movie appear. Additionally, the player has the option of attending balls at Cinderella’s castle. Cinderella also appears in Disney Magical World 2, though she now hosts balls at the Magic Castle.

Cinderella is a playable character in the world builder video game Disney Magic Kingdoms.^[27]

She also appears in Disney Princess: My Fairytale Adventure,^[28] Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey, Kinect: Disneyland Adventures,^[29] Cookie Run: Kingdom,^[30] Disney’s Princess Fashion Boutique, Disney Princess: Cinderella’s Castle Designer, and Disney Dreamlight Valley.^[31]

Reception and legacy[edit]

Critical response[edit]

Although the film has garnered critical acclaim,^[32] Cinderella herself has attracted mostly mixed reviews in modern times.^[33][34] Variety disliked the character, describing her as «colorless.»^[35] Calling her an «oppressed drudge,» Empire panned Cinderella, describing both her and Prince Charming as «bland and colourless characters — particularly when compared to Beauty and her Beast.»^[36] The New York Times‘ Bosley Crowther similarly wrote, «The beautiful Cinderella has a voluptuous face and form—not to mention an eager disposition—to compare with Al Capp’s Daisy Mae.» However, criticizing her role and personality, Bosely opined, «As a consequence, the situation in which they are mutually involved have the constraint and immobility of panel-expressed episodes. When Mr. Disney tries to make them behave like human beings, they’re banal.»^[37]

Film4 negatively described Cinderella as «one-dimensional.»^[38] Criticizing her design, Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote, «If there is an obvious difference between Cinderella and such predecessors as Pinocchio and Snow White, it’s in the general smoothing-out of the character’s appearances,» concluding, «Snow White herself looked fairly bland, but the other characters in the first decade of Disney animation had a lot of personality in their faces. They were allowed to look odd. Cinderella seems to come right out of its time, the bland postwar 1950s,» likening the character’s flawless design to that of a «Draw Me girl.»^[39] Concerned about the negative effects Cinderella’s passivity could possibly induce upon children, Nell Minow of Common Sense Media expressed, «Cinderella is the quintessential passive heroine rescued by a male character … so discussions about her meekness might be in order.»^[40] About.com’s Laurie Boeder simply described Cinderella as «blah.»^[41] Desi Jedeikin of Smosh included the character in the website’s «8 Fictional Characters That Are Horrible Role Models For Girls» list, explaining, «I’m like so happy that Cinderella found true love with a rich stranger who rescued her from her horrible life. But wouldn’t it have been better if she did it for herself?»^[42] Additionally, critics have also expressed favoritism towards Cinderella‘s supporting cast of animal characters, particularly the comic interaction and dynamic between her pet mice Jaq and Gus and her stepfamily’s pet cat Lucifer, often preferring them to Cinderella herself while noting ways in which the heroine is constantly being «upstaged.»^[43]

Among Cinderella’s positive reviews, Michael Scheinfeld of TV Guide drew similarities between the character and Belle from Beauty and the Beast (1991), writing, Cinderella holds up better because the heroine seems timeless in her courage and resourcefulness, a closer cousin to Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast than to other fairy tale protagonists.»^[44] Hailing Cinderella as «the most famous and beloved princess of all time,» HowStuffWorks’ Vicki Arkoff defended the character, writing, «highly sympathetic Cinderella is endlessly kind, patient, hard-working, and unassuming — no matter how cruelly she is treated by her exaggerated, cartoonish foes.» Arkoff elaborated, «Unlike Disney’s passive, naive Snow White, Disney’s Cinderella is a princess who decides to take charge and change her life for the better, rather than just wait for things to happen that might solve her problem.»^[45] Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes’ general consensus reads that, in addition to «The rich colors, sweet songs, adorable mice,» the «endearing (if suffering) heroine make[s] Cinderella a nostalgically lovely charmer.»^[32]

Woods herself has collected widespread acclaim for her performance. Variety wrote, «Ilene Woods, as Cinderella’s voice, uses a sweet soprano.»^[35] Craig Butler of AllMovie opined, «Ilene Woods makes a marvelous Cinderella, her voice a combination of girlishness and sophistication; she also possesses a serenity and assurance which makes one feel she is more in control of her life than might be guessed by her surroundings.»^[46] At the time of Woods’ death, animation critic and historian Charles Solomon told the Los Angeles Times, «one of the things about her performance is the warmth she gave the character. As soon as she began to speak, her voice meshed with Marc Davis’ animation to create a heroine you liked instantly.»^[13]

Lily James’ portrayal as Cinderella in the live-action film adaptation was generally well-received by critics. Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal commended James for her performance.^[47] Los Angeles Times‘ Betsy Sharkey wrote that James makes the character «seem as if the sweet and spirited young maiden is infused with an inner glow.»^[48] Richard Corliss of Time said that James created a version of the character that is «both classic and modern.»^[49] Lawrence Toppman of The Charlotte Observer wrote that James played the character, «with the right mixture of composure and pluck.»^[50] The Hollywood Reporter‘s David Rooney wrote that James brought «unaffected sweetness» to the role and also had «lovely chemistry» with her co-star Richard Madden, who played the Prince.^[51]

Accolades[edit]

Cinderella has since become one of the most famous, recognizable and popular princesses, both fictional and non-fictional, of all-time.^[52][53] According to the San Antonio Express-News, Cinderella is one of the ten most famous princesses of all-time.^[54] In 2013, Cosmopolitan ranked the character the ninth greatest Disney Princess.^[55]

In 2003 Woods received a Disney Legends award for her role as the voice of Cinderella. In 2010, she died at the age of 81 of Alzheimer’s disease.^[56] In an interview with Starlog in 2006 Woods said, «I love the idea that after I’m gone, children will still be hearing my voice [as Cinderella].”^[57] In 2013, Film School Rejects recognized Woods as one of «7 No-Name Actors Who Had Iconic Roles», ranking the actress first and writing, «Woods … really set the bar high, as she managed to audition for the part of Cinderella without even realize she had done it.»^[58]

Lily James’ performance as Cinderella in the 2015 live-action film earned her nominations for the Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress – Sci-Fi/Fantasy and the award for «Favorite Movie Actress» at the 2016 Kids’ Choice Awards.^[59][60] She also won the 2015 Breakthrough Award at the Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year Awards.^[61]

Cultural impact[edit]

Culturally, Cinderella has had a profound influence on the fashion industry. According to Sarah Osman of Young Hollywood, «Cinderella’s gown in this film is so iconic that it’s become canon that Cinderella wears a light blue dress to the ball.»^[62] To coincide with the release of the diamond edition of Cinderella in 2012, French footwear designer Christian Louboutin created and designed a contemporary rendition of the character’s iconic glass slipper. In an interview with The Express Tribune, Louboutin said that Cinderella is «not only an iconic character when it comes to beauty, grace and fairytale love, but also shoes.» The shoes are described as «made of delicate lace [instead of glass] to give them a look of transparency, and adorned with butterfly designs at the vamp and atop the Swarovski-crystal covered heel,» completed by Louboutin’s signature red soles. Only twenty copies of the shoes were manufactured.^[63] In 2014, Entertainment Weekly ranked Cinderella tenth in its article «Disney Princesses: Ranking Their Hairdos — and Don’ts!», writing, «The lowly maid’s typically rage-inducing bangs somehow develop an almost stately character once the rest of her follicular baggage has been swept into an updo closely resembling a perky butt.»^[64]

At the 86th Academy Awards in 2014, Kenyan actress and Best Supporting Actress recipient Lupita Nyong’o donned «a light blue Prada gown.»^[65] Subsequently, the media responded by drawing similarities between Nyong’o’s dress and Cinderella’s ballgown. Cosmopolitan wrote that Nyong’o «took a cue from Disney with a blue iridescent gown and matching headband a la Cinderella,»^[66] while the Daily News similarly opined «channeled another Disney princess for her Oscars gown.»^[67] Acknowledging the comparisons, Nyong’o’s stylist Micaela Erlanger described the actress’ appearance as «Lupita + Cinderella=Lupitarella.»^[68] Additionally, several critics have deemed Nyong’o’s success a «Cinderella story.»^[69][70] According to MTV, several other Academy Award attendants wore similar outfits that were reminiscent of Disney characters in addition to Nyong’o.^[71]

Makeover sequence[edit]

The iconic «Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo» musical sequence in which Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother magically transforms the character’s tattered rags into a beautiful ball gown has garnered widespread critical acclaim, receiving positive reviews, accolades and recognition from several entertainment critics. AllMovie described the sequence as «splendidly done,»^[46] while HitFix deemed it the film’s best moment.^[72] According to Disney.com, the transformation of Cinderella’s dress into a ballgown remains a common favorite and «one of the most iconic pieces of Disney animation because of what it means for the titular character.»^[73] StyleCaster wrote that the scene is responsible for introducing the common «movie makeover,» writing, «Ever since Cinderella ditched those rags and threw on a ball gown and a pair of glass slippers, movie audiences have fallen for the beloved transformation storyline.»^[74] Featuring Cinderella in its list of «13 movie makeovers that still totally rock our socks off», Glamour summarized the scene’s role in the film as «The movie makeover that sees a merry band of rodents help Cindera[sic]lla to make the perfect dress, eventually go to the ball and ultimately win the heart of a prince.»^[75] Oprah.com also included Cinderella in its «Favorite Movie Makeovers» list, accrediting the film and Disney with «first introducing us to the head-to-toe makeover,» concluding, » Unrealistic expectations are born.»^[76]

Likewise, both the sequence and Cinderella’s magical transformation have been featured on several «best movie makeover» countdown lists. On Stylist‘s list of the «50 Best Movie Makeovers», Cinderella placed first, with the magazine labeling her the «Recipient of the original makeover.» Additionally, Stylist coined the list’s other candidates «Cinematic Cinderellas,» alluding to the character’s legacy.^[77] InStyle ranked Cinderella second on its list of «The Best Movie Makeovers», writing, «Cinderella’s fairy tale transformation is the stuff that many a little girl’s real-life makeover dreams are made of.»^[78] Hailing it as «[The] makeover of makeovers» and «the movie that started it all,» The Independent Florida Alligator ranked Cinderella first in its list of «The best of movie makeovers».^[79] Style Blazer also ranked Cinderella second on its list of the «Top 11 Favorite Makeover Movies of All Time», concluding, «Cinderella and her pauper to princess makeover have already gone down in movie history as one of the best transformations.»^[80] Calling Cinderella the «Original Fairy Godmother … makeover,» Total Beauty ranked the character fifth in its article «11 Best Movie Makeovers».^[81]

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

External links[edit]

• Cinderella at Disney Princess

Cinderella
Cinderella character
Cinderella as she appears in Cinderella (1950).
First appearance	Cinderella (1950)
Created by	Charles Perrault Marc Davis Eric Larson Les Clark Mark Henn Walt Disney
Portrayed by	Brandy Norwood (1997 film) Lily James (2015 film) Eloise Webb (child) (2015 film)
Voiced by	Ilene Woods (1950 film) Kath Soucie (Disney Parks) Tami Tappan (singing in Cinderella III) Karen Strassman (Mickey Mouse) Susan Stevens Logan (studio singing voice) Jennifer Hale (1999–present)
Based on	Cinderella from the Charles Perrault’s fairy tale
In-universe information
Title	Princess
Occupation	Scullery maid
Affiliation	Disney Princesses
Family	Father (dies in prologue) Lady Tremaine (stepmother) Drizella and Anastasia Tremaine (stepsisters)
Spouse	Prince Charming
Children	Chad Charming (Descendants)

Cinderella is a fictional character who appears in Walt Disney Productions’ 12th animated feature film Cinderella (1950). In the original film, Cinderella is voiced by American singer and actress Ilene Woods. For the sequels and subsequent film and television appearances, Woods was replaced by American actresses Jennifer Hale and Tami Tappan, who provide the character’s speaking and singing voices.

In the wake of her father’s untimely demise, Cinderella is left in the care of her cruel stepmother and jealous stepsisters, who constantly mistreat her, forcing Cinderella to work as a scullery maid in her own home. When Prince Charming holds a ball, the evil stepmother does not allow her to go. Cinderella, aided by her kind Fairy Godmother and equipped with a beautiful silver gown and a unique pair of glass slippers, attends, only to have to leave at midnight when the Fairy Godmother’s spell is broken.

Reception towards Cinderella has been mixed, with some film critics describing the character as much too passive, one-dimensional, and less interesting than the film’s supporting characters. Other critics found her endearing, charming, and timeless. Woods’ vocal performance has also been praised. Panned or praised, Cinderella has nonetheless become one of the most famous and recognizable princesses in the history of film. She became the second Disney Princess. With her iconic glass slippers, silver gown, hairstyle, and transformation, one of the first on-screen makeovers of its kind, the character has been established as a fashion icon, receiving accolades and recognition from InStyle, Entertainment Weekly, Glamour and Oprah.com, as well as footwear designer and fashion icon Christian Louboutin, who, in 2012, designed and released a shoe based on Cinderella’s glass slippers. Lily James played a live-action version of the character in the 2015 live action adaptation of the original 1950 film.

Development[edit]

The Disney version of Cinderella was based on the French version of the tale by Charles Perrault, Cendrillon written in 1697 in Histoires ou Contes du Temps Passé.^[1]

Personality[edit]

The script for the original film went through revisions by various writers, sometimes with different interpretations of the character. Maurice Rapf tried to make her a less passive character than Snow White, and more rebellious against her stepfamily. Rapf explained, «My thinking was you can’t have somebody who comes in and changes everything for you. You can’t be delivered it on a platter. You’ve got to earn it. So in my version, the Fairy Godmother said, ‘It’s okay till midnight but from then on it’s up to you.’ I made her earn it, and what she had to do to achieve it was to rebel against her stepmother and stepsisters, to stop being a slave in her own home. So I had a scene where they’re ordering her around and she throws the stuff back at them. She revolts, so they lock her up in the attic. I don’t think anyone took (my idea) very seriously.»^[2]

Appearance[edit]

The character was animated by Marc Davis and Eric Larson,^[3] but the two animators did not have the same perception of the character, accentuating the elegance of Davis and Larson’s opting for simplicity.^[4] As done with other Disney films, Walt Disney hired actress Helene Stanley to perform the live-action reference for Cinderella, that she before artists began sketching, playing the role of Cinderella in a particular scene,^[5] and artists to draw animated frames based on the movements of the actress.^[6] She later did the same kind of work for the characters of Princess Aurora (Mary Costa) in Sleeping Beauty and Anita Radcliff (Lisa Davis) in 101 Dalmatians.^[6]

According to Christopher Finch, author of The Art of Walt Disney:

Disney insisted that all scenes involving human characters should be shot first in live-action to determine that they would work before the expensive business of animation was permitted to start. The animators did not like this way of working, feeling it detracted from their ability to create character. However, they understood the necessity for this approach in retrospect and acknowledged that Disney had handled things with considerable subtlety.^[1]

Voice[edit]

In the original 1950 film, Cinderella is voiced by American singer and actress Ilene Woods.^[7] In 1948, Woods was a young eighteen-year-old singer working as a radio personality at the time and hosting her own eponymous radio program The Ilene Woods Show.^[8] While working at ABC Radio,^[9] Woods would regularly be visited and approached by various songwriters who wanted the singer to perform their compositions, which is ultimately how she met and befriended Cinderella songwriters Mack David and Jerry Livingston.^[10] Ultimately, David and Livingston «would play … an important role in Woods’s career.»^[8]

At the behest of David and Livingston, casually described as «a favor»,^[11] Woods agreed to record a series of demos of three songs that the songwriters had recently written for the studio’s then-upcoming animated film Cinderella. Woods recorded the songs «Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo», «So This Is Love», and «A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes»,^[12] which the songwriters then submitted to Disney himself. Upon reviewing and listening to the tracks, Disney, impressed, decided to contact Woods personally. Two days afterward, Woods received a telephone call from Disney, with whom she immediately scheduled an interview. Woods recalled in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, «We met and talked for a while, and he said, ‘How would you like to be Cinderella?'», to which she agreed.^[13]

Characteristics[edit]

Cinderella is a young woman with medium-length strawberry-blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair complexion. After her father dies, she is forced into servitude in her own home and is tormented by her evil stepmother, Lady Tremaine, and two stepsisters, Anastasia and Drizella. Despite this, she maintains hope through her dreams and remains a kind, gentle and sweet person. She has faith that someday her dreams of happiness will come true and her kindness will be repaid. Cinderella is shown to have a down-to-earth attitude, but she is also a daydreamer. For example, in «Sing Sweet Nightingale», she becomes distracted with the bubbles, allowing Lucifer to smudge the floor she was cleaning. Also, after hearing that the Grand Duke is traveling the kingdom with the missing slipper, she dreamily dances back to the attic humming the song she heard at the ball. She is also shown to have a sarcastic side and a sharp wit.

With the help of her animal friends, she fixes up an old party dress of her mother’s so she can attend a royal ball. However, when her evil stepsisters brutally tear the dress apart, she is heartbroken and fears that her dreams will never come true until her Fairy Godmother appears, restoring Cinderella’s hope by transforming her torn homemade dress into her now-iconic sparkling, light blue gown with a glittering crystalline puffy bustle, a delicate laced white petticoat, and puffy cap sleeves. Her hair is worn up in a French twist supported by a light blue headband with diamond earrings, a black choker, light blue opera gloves and glass slippers.

Her look was probably inspired by 1950s French haute couture, while her torn dress is clearly inspired by Salvador Dalì and Elsa Schiaparelli’s Tear dress.^[14]

As a servant, she wears her hair down in a ponytail, held in place with a light blue ribbon, a white scarf, and wears a brown dress with light blue sleeves, a white apron, and black flats.

Appearances[edit]

Cinderella[edit]

At the start of the film, the titular character Cinderella is working as a scullery maid in her own home for her cruel stepmother named Lady Tremaine and her two stepsisters named Anastasia and Drizella. Her only friends are the birds, the mice who also live in the manor house, including Gus and Jaq, her pet dog Bruno and her father’s horse Major.

She prepares breakfast for the animals and for her stepfamily before beginning her regular chores. An invitation to the ball arrives at the door and Cinderella wants to attend. Her stepmother tells her she may go under the condition that she must finish her chores and find something suitable to wear. Cinderella discovers her deceased mother’s old party dress and hopes to fix it to make it more modern, but she is too busy to do so. Meanwhile, when the mice see shadows of Cinderella’s stepsisters throwing down their old sash and beads, Jaq and Gus are forced to quietly retrieve them. The mice use the unwanted items to fix up the dress. Later, Cinderella fears she will not be done working in time and will not be able to attend the ball, but her friends reveal the altered dress. Cinderella is overjoyed and thanks her friends. She races down the steps just in time, but her stepsisters recognize their discarded items and accuse her of stealing their sash and beads. They tear the dress to shreds, leaving Cinderella all by herself, and she runs out to the garden, crying.

Her Fairy Godmother appears to make her dreams come true and transforms her torn dress into a beautiful blue gown. Before Cinderella leaves, her godmother warns her that the spell will be broken at midnight. At the ball, Cinderella dances with Prince Charming and they immediately fall in love with each other. As twelve o’clock approaches, she hurries to leave, hoping to prevent the spell from breaking at the ball, which could cause her to get caught by her stepmother or stepsisters. In her haste, she loses one of her glass slippers on the staircase but fails to retrieve it in time. Cinderella hurries into her coach as it prepares to leave. The spell breaks and Cinderella is in rags once more before reminiscing her dance with the prince and thanking her godmother for all she’s done for her. The next day, the prince announces he will marry the maiden whose foot fits into the glass slipper. Lady Tremaine hears Cinderella humming the same song that had played at the ball and figures out Cinderella was the girl Prince Charming fell in love with. Cinderella is locked in the tower by her stepmother, who refuses to let her have the opportunity to try on the slipper, but her animal friends help her escape. She hurries downstairs to try on the glass slipper. Knowing the slipper will fit her, Lady Tremaine intentionally causes the footman to trip and shatter the slipper. Cinderella reveals that she has kept the other slipper. She tries it on, and it fits perfectly. She and the Prince are married soon after.^[15]

Cinderella II: Dreams Come True[edit]

Gus and Jaq, with help of the other mice, and the Fairy Godmother, set off to make a new book to narrate what happens after the ending of the previous story by stringing three segments of stories together, resulting in three individual stories: «Aim to Please», «Tall Tail», and «An Uncommon Romance». In the first story, Cinderella and Prince Charming return home and a party begins shortly afterward. In the second story, «Tall Tail», Cinderella works on planning to build up a festival. The mouse named Jaq in the previous film has become a human named Sir Hugh. And in the third story, «An Uncommon Romance», Cinderella helps her younger stepsister Anastasia reconcile with the baker, even though her stepmother Lady Tremaine has forbidden it. Near the end of the film, she reads the book that the mice made for her.^[16]

Cinderella III: A Twist in Time[edit]

In Cinderella III: A Twist in Time, Cinderella’s hard-working ethics, optimism, and devotion are put to the test, when she is magically stripped away from her «happily ever after» by a vengeful and then magically-empowered Tremaine and is forced to jump into physical action to restore her happy life and relationship with Prince Charming. During these events, Cinderella is shown to be cunning, tactical, persistent, and a fierce rival to those who oppress her. With no magic, being forced to rely solely on her intelligence and fearlessness, Cinderella is able to defeat her stepmother, repair her relationship with a reformed Anastasia and retain her much-deserved life of happiness, proving both her independence and strong will.^[17]

Sofia the First[edit]

Cinderella appears in the pilot movie Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess, where she helps Sofia make friends with Amber, her stepsister.

«Le Croissant de Triomphe»[edit]

In the newest editions of Mickey Mouse short movies, a 2013 production reflects the iconic princess in a crucial moment.

Cinderella appears in the third episode of Mickey Mouse, entitled Le Croissant de Triomphe. While a café owned and operated by Minnie runs out of croissants, she makes a phone call to receive from Mickey an order of croissants. In order to arrive on time, Mickey hurries and flies through Paris, and accidentally lands in a castle where Prince Charming tries to fit the crystal slipper into Cinderella’s foot. She was still dressed in her regular maid clothes. At that time, Mickey accidentally passes in his motorcycle and breaks the glass slipper.

2015 film[edit]

Lily James portrays the character, named Ella, in Disney’s 2015 live-action version of Cinderella. Like in the original film, her father remarries after the death of her mother but after he dies as well, she then becomes the horribly mistreated servant of her stepmother Lady Tremaine and her two stepsisters, Anastasia and Drisella. They give her the nickname «Cinderella» when, one morning, she wakes up with soot on her face after sleeping near the fireplace the previous night. Unlike the original film, however, she meets the Prince (named Kit) before the ball while out in the forest. She is also shown to be more assertive when she actually stands up to her stepmother in the film’s final act; Lady Tremaine attempts to blackmail Ella by only agreeing to let her try on the glass slipper if Ella will make her head of the royal household and provide suitable husbands for her stepsisters, but Ella rejects this idea, refusing to give Lady Tremaine power over Kit after the way she ruined Ella’s life.

In other media[edit]

Cinderella is one of the official members of the Disney Princess franchise, appearing in several related video games, albums and other merchandise. Cinderella appears as one of the Disney Princesses in the manga, Kilala Princess.

The Cinderella Castle is an attraction at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland at the Tokyo Disney Resort. Both serve as globally recognized icons for their respective theme parks. Cinderella and the other Disney Princesses have a meet and greet attraction called Princess Fairytale Hall at Magic Kingdom.^[18][19]

In the season six episodes of the sitcom series Full House known as The House Meets The Mouse Parts 1 & 2, Cinderella makes cameo appearances in both Parts 1 & 2. Jessy Schram played a live-action version of the character in Once Upon a Time and its spin-off Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. Dania Ramirez portrays another version of the role in season 7 as a main character with a different storyline.

Cinderella is also voiced by the American voice-actress Patricia Parris in Disney’s Read-along version of Cinderella,^[20] Susan Steven-Logans and Cameron Tatum studio singing voice of Cinderella also voice Cinderella in various Disney albums and projects.^[21] Kate Higgins, Jennifer Paz, and Juliana Hansen for The Legacy Collection: Cinderella ^[22]

Cinderella appeared as a recurring guest character in House of Mouse,^[23] and has minor appearances its films Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse^[24] and Mickey’s House of Villains.

Cinderella also appears in various Disney books published by Random House.^[25]

Cinderella, alongside other Disney Princesses, appeared in the film Ralph Breaks the Internet, as was announced at the 2017 D23 Expo.^[26]

Video games[edit]

Cinderella appears as one of the Disney Princesses of Heart in the Kingdom Hearts series. In Kingdom Hearts, she is captured by Maleficent, who destroyed her world. The main character, Sora, rescues Cinderella, as well as the other Princesses, and she returns home. She is only mentioned in the sequel, Kingdom Hearts II. Her story prior to being captured takes place prominently with her home world, Castle of Dreams, in the prequel, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep; she meets Ventus, who she mistakes for a mouse despite the obvious fact he’s not, Aqua and Terra. In the Final Mix version of the game, her world is seen in the Realm of Darkness at the climax, Maleficent having destroyed it and captured her.

Cinderella appears in the Nintendo 3DS game Disney Magical World. Cinderella’s world is one of the four Disney movie worlds accessible to the player in this game, and many characters and items related to the movie appear. Additionally, the player has the option of attending balls at Cinderella’s castle. Cinderella also appears in Disney Magical World 2, though she now hosts balls at the Magic Castle.

Cinderella is a playable character in the world builder video game Disney Magic Kingdoms.^[27]

She also appears in Disney Princess: My Fairytale Adventure,^[28] Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey, Kinect: Disneyland Adventures,^[29] Cookie Run: Kingdom,^[30] Disney’s Princess Fashion Boutique, Disney Princess: Cinderella’s Castle Designer, and Disney Dreamlight Valley.^[31]

Reception and legacy[edit]

Critical response[edit]

Although the film has garnered critical acclaim,^[32] Cinderella herself has attracted mostly mixed reviews in modern times.^[33][34] Variety disliked the character, describing her as «colorless.»^[35] Calling her an «oppressed drudge,» Empire panned Cinderella, describing both her and Prince Charming as «bland and colourless characters — particularly when compared to Beauty and her Beast.»^[36] The New York Times‘ Bosley Crowther similarly wrote, «The beautiful Cinderella has a voluptuous face and form—not to mention an eager disposition—to compare with Al Capp’s Daisy Mae.» However, criticizing her role and personality, Bosely opined, «As a consequence, the situation in which they are mutually involved have the constraint and immobility of panel-expressed episodes. When Mr. Disney tries to make them behave like human beings, they’re banal.»^[37]

Film4 negatively described Cinderella as «one-dimensional.»^[38] Criticizing her design, Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote, «If there is an obvious difference between Cinderella and such predecessors as Pinocchio and Snow White, it’s in the general smoothing-out of the character’s appearances,» concluding, «Snow White herself looked fairly bland, but the other characters in the first decade of Disney animation had a lot of personality in their faces. They were allowed to look odd. Cinderella seems to come right out of its time, the bland postwar 1950s,» likening the character’s flawless design to that of a «Draw Me girl.»^[39] Concerned about the negative effects Cinderella’s passivity could possibly induce upon children, Nell Minow of Common Sense Media expressed, «Cinderella is the quintessential passive heroine rescued by a male character … so discussions about her meekness might be in order.»^[40] About.com’s Laurie Boeder simply described Cinderella as «blah.»^[41] Desi Jedeikin of Smosh included the character in the website’s «8 Fictional Characters That Are Horrible Role Models For Girls» list, explaining, «I’m like so happy that Cinderella found true love with a rich stranger who rescued her from her horrible life. But wouldn’t it have been better if she did it for herself?»^[42] Additionally, critics have also expressed favoritism towards Cinderella‘s supporting cast of animal characters, particularly the comic interaction and dynamic between her pet mice Jaq and Gus and her stepfamily’s pet cat Lucifer, often preferring them to Cinderella herself while noting ways in which the heroine is constantly being «upstaged.»^[43]

Among Cinderella’s positive reviews, Michael Scheinfeld of TV Guide drew similarities between the character and Belle from Beauty and the Beast (1991), writing, Cinderella holds up better because the heroine seems timeless in her courage and resourcefulness, a closer cousin to Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast than to other fairy tale protagonists.»^[44] Hailing Cinderella as «the most famous and beloved princess of all time,» HowStuffWorks’ Vicki Arkoff defended the character, writing, «highly sympathetic Cinderella is endlessly kind, patient, hard-working, and unassuming — no matter how cruelly she is treated by her exaggerated, cartoonish foes.» Arkoff elaborated, «Unlike Disney’s passive, naive Snow White, Disney’s Cinderella is a princess who decides to take charge and change her life for the better, rather than just wait for things to happen that might solve her problem.»^[45] Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes’ general consensus reads that, in addition to «The rich colors, sweet songs, adorable mice,» the «endearing (if suffering) heroine make[s] Cinderella a nostalgically lovely charmer.»^[32]

Woods herself has collected widespread acclaim for her performance. Variety wrote, «Ilene Woods, as Cinderella’s voice, uses a sweet soprano.»^[35] Craig Butler of AllMovie opined, «Ilene Woods makes a marvelous Cinderella, her voice a combination of girlishness and sophistication; she also possesses a serenity and assurance which makes one feel she is more in control of her life than might be guessed by her surroundings.»^[46] At the time of Woods’ death, animation critic and historian Charles Solomon told the Los Angeles Times, «one of the things about her performance is the warmth she gave the character. As soon as she began to speak, her voice meshed with Marc Davis’ animation to create a heroine you liked instantly.»^[13]

Lily James’ portrayal as Cinderella in the live-action film adaptation was generally well-received by critics. Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal commended James for her performance.^[47] Los Angeles Times‘ Betsy Sharkey wrote that James makes the character «seem as if the sweet and spirited young maiden is infused with an inner glow.»^[48] Richard Corliss of Time said that James created a version of the character that is «both classic and modern.»^[49] Lawrence Toppman of The Charlotte Observer wrote that James played the character, «with the right mixture of composure and pluck.»^[50] The Hollywood Reporter‘s David Rooney wrote that James brought «unaffected sweetness» to the role and also had «lovely chemistry» with her co-star Richard Madden, who played the Prince.^[51]

Accolades[edit]

Cinderella has since become one of the most famous, recognizable and popular princesses, both fictional and non-fictional, of all-time.^[52][53] According to the San Antonio Express-News, Cinderella is one of the ten most famous princesses of all-time.^[54] In 2013, Cosmopolitan ranked the character the ninth greatest Disney Princess.^[55]

In 2003 Woods received a Disney Legends award for her role as the voice of Cinderella. In 2010, she died at the age of 81 of Alzheimer’s disease.^[56] In an interview with Starlog in 2006 Woods said, «I love the idea that after I’m gone, children will still be hearing my voice [as Cinderella].”^[57] In 2013, Film School Rejects recognized Woods as one of «7 No-Name Actors Who Had Iconic Roles», ranking the actress first and writing, «Woods … really set the bar high, as she managed to audition for the part of Cinderella without even realize she had done it.»^[58]

Lily James’ performance as Cinderella in the 2015 live-action film earned her nominations for the Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress – Sci-Fi/Fantasy and the award for «Favorite Movie Actress» at the 2016 Kids’ Choice Awards.^[59][60] She also won the 2015 Breakthrough Award at the Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year Awards.^[61]

Cultural impact[edit]

Culturally, Cinderella has had a profound influence on the fashion industry. According to Sarah Osman of Young Hollywood, «Cinderella’s gown in this film is so iconic that it’s become canon that Cinderella wears a light blue dress to the ball.»^[62] To coincide with the release of the diamond edition of Cinderella in 2012, French footwear designer Christian Louboutin created and designed a contemporary rendition of the character’s iconic glass slipper. In an interview with The Express Tribune, Louboutin said that Cinderella is «not only an iconic character when it comes to beauty, grace and fairytale love, but also shoes.» The shoes are described as «made of delicate lace [instead of glass] to give them a look of transparency, and adorned with butterfly designs at the vamp and atop the Swarovski-crystal covered heel,» completed by Louboutin’s signature red soles. Only twenty copies of the shoes were manufactured.^[63] In 2014, Entertainment Weekly ranked Cinderella tenth in its article «Disney Princesses: Ranking Their Hairdos — and Don’ts!», writing, «The lowly maid’s typically rage-inducing bangs somehow develop an almost stately character once the rest of her follicular baggage has been swept into an updo closely resembling a perky butt.»^[64]

At the 86th Academy Awards in 2014, Kenyan actress and Best Supporting Actress recipient Lupita Nyong’o donned «a light blue Prada gown.»^[65] Subsequently, the media responded by drawing similarities between Nyong’o’s dress and Cinderella’s ballgown. Cosmopolitan wrote that Nyong’o «took a cue from Disney with a blue iridescent gown and matching headband a la Cinderella,»^[66] while the Daily News similarly opined «channeled another Disney princess for her Oscars gown.»^[67] Acknowledging the comparisons, Nyong’o’s stylist Micaela Erlanger described the actress’ appearance as «Lupita + Cinderella=Lupitarella.»^[68] Additionally, several critics have deemed Nyong’o’s success a «Cinderella story.»^[69][70] According to MTV, several other Academy Award attendants wore similar outfits that were reminiscent of Disney characters in addition to Nyong’o.^[71]

Makeover sequence[edit]

The iconic «Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo» musical sequence in which Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother magically transforms the character’s tattered rags into a beautiful ball gown has garnered widespread critical acclaim, receiving positive reviews, accolades and recognition from several entertainment critics. AllMovie described the sequence as «splendidly done,»^[46] while HitFix deemed it the film’s best moment.^[72] According to Disney.com, the transformation of Cinderella’s dress into a ballgown remains a common favorite and «one of the most iconic pieces of Disney animation because of what it means for the titular character.»^[73] StyleCaster wrote that the scene is responsible for introducing the common «movie makeover,» writing, «Ever since Cinderella ditched those rags and threw on a ball gown and a pair of glass slippers, movie audiences have fallen for the beloved transformation storyline.»^[74] Featuring Cinderella in its list of «13 movie makeovers that still totally rock our socks off», Glamour summarized the scene’s role in the film as «The movie makeover that sees a merry band of rodents help Cindera[sic]lla to make the perfect dress, eventually go to the ball and ultimately win the heart of a prince.»^[75] Oprah.com also included Cinderella in its «Favorite Movie Makeovers» list, accrediting the film and Disney with «first introducing us to the head-to-toe makeover,» concluding, » Unrealistic expectations are born.»^[76]

Likewise, both the sequence and Cinderella’s magical transformation have been featured on several «best movie makeover» countdown lists. On Stylist‘s list of the «50 Best Movie Makeovers», Cinderella placed first, with the magazine labeling her the «Recipient of the original makeover.» Additionally, Stylist coined the list’s other candidates «Cinematic Cinderellas,» alluding to the character’s legacy.^[77] InStyle ranked Cinderella second on its list of «The Best Movie Makeovers», writing, «Cinderella’s fairy tale transformation is the stuff that many a little girl’s real-life makeover dreams are made of.»^[78] Hailing it as «[The] makeover of makeovers» and «the movie that started it all,» The Independent Florida Alligator ranked Cinderella first in its list of «The best of movie makeovers».^[79] Style Blazer also ranked Cinderella second on its list of the «Top 11 Favorite Makeover Movies of All Time», concluding, «Cinderella and her pauper to princess makeover have already gone down in movie history as one of the best transformations.»^[80] Calling Cinderella the «Original Fairy Godmother … makeover,» Total Beauty ranked the character fifth in its article «11 Best Movie Makeovers».^[81]

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

External links[edit]

• Cinderella at Disney Princess