My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analyses: Pocahontas - The Non-Caucasian Princess Who´s Been Labeled For Being the Epitome of the Non-White Disney Heroine

Hi folks! Welcome to my My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analysis blog. A blog where I'm analyzing several Disney films, Disney or Animation in general! These entries are just meant to be my analyses. Not reviews or statements. Just fun analyses! Though I'll make some personal remarks now and then, the content of these entries are meant to be depicted objectively. They're made for entertainment purpose only and the pictures/clips are copyright Disney or other companies.

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In honor of it's past 25th Anniversary, it was appropriate to write this entry. And while I'm once again writing an entry that is somewhat derivative, this issue will center about her staple of being the first non-Caucasian female lead (while my previous entry was about the reputation movie itself). And yes, this entry will center around racial scrutiny, but it´s meant to be an honorable and constructive debate. So I apologize if something about is offensive.

Yes, we`re offended, because we were simply neglected:)

Everyone who's familiar with the famous Disney Renaissance, are familiar with Pocahontas. While it's unfortunately stuck with a bad reputation due to various controversies, it still could be regarded as an important cornerstone in Disney's history.

After all, it was a risky feature that

centered around a clash between different races. And it was the first Disney feature to tackle historical events. Regardless of it's everlasting dud-reputation, it still was a huge, commercial hit for Disney. And is still a movie that people remember. It's components have been recycled in following movies (Tarzan, Atlantis The Lost Empire, Brother Bear and Frozen II) so that people immediately recall Pocahontas whenever people pick up it´s references.

Pocahontas` Position as the Epitome of a Non-Caucasian Disney Heroine

This is our way
of being proper :)

However, regardless of it's aforementioned reputation, Disney broke the mold with representing a non-Caucasian and non-White heroine. No, Pocahontas was far from the first Disney heroine to actually be non-White (that honor goes to Princess Jasmine from Aladdin). Nor was she the first female character of color ever to grace the screen from Disney (those honors goes to her predecessor Tiger Lily from Peter Pan and Shanti from The Jungle Book). However, she was the first non-Caucasian female to actually lead her movie. Which is a staple that her character is overall stuck with.

Yes, this will be a catfight
in Tekken-mode :)

Since Disney were expanding their cultural horizons with the Renaissance (and are frankly still doing it to this day), it was a big leap for them to actually have a non-Caucasian heroine to actually lead her film. Yet regardless, it seems like Pocahontas herself have been perceived as the epitome of the POC Disney heroine. Not only in Disney and animation, but as a real life as well. Since Pocahontas, Disney had the privilege to feature several features with female leads of color. But still everyone of them seem to hark back to Pocahontas and drawing comparison to her. And while it may be just a shallow notion to call every non-White Disney heroine a Pocahontas-copy, it is in fact true that most of the women of color gets compared to her (which the same has happened for Raya in Raya and the Last Dragon and Asha from Wish).

The Difference of the Portrayal of Native Americans Between Pocahontas and Peter Pan

Yes, we´re chasing
you, because you
chased us :) What
goes around, comes
around :)

Pocahontas was Disney's third venture into Native American property, just 42 years later than another pivotal and cherished Disney classic, Peter Pan (who followed the Silly Symphony Short Little Hiawatha. Despite that Walt wanted to make a full-length-version of the story that was discarded). Just as Pan, Pocahontas had a blend of non-Caucasian and White characters. But unlike Pan, Pocahontas was actually centered about the Native American themselves. And unlike Pan, it was about the clash between cultures (despite that the clash between the cultures gets a brief mention by the Chief in Pan).

We´re Rabbit´s from Winnie
the Pooh´s helpers :) And no,
we´re not the free ones :)

It may be redundant to even compare Pocahontas and her predecessor Tiger Lily. Despite how they`re both essentially different characters and Tiger Lily never becomes a major character (who never even gets to speak). Nor does the Natives in Peter Pan become more than miscellaneous characters. Yet both Pocahontas and Peter Pan are essentially opposites regarding representation of Native American people. While Peter Pan was made in a time where it was more acceptable to poke fun at racial stereotypes, Pocahontas was made in a time where the trend had turned. And Native Americans were being represented in a more honorable light than ever. It´s well known that Chief Powhatan´s voice actor, Russell Means, praised the film for being the finest depiction of Native Americans ever at the time (as Pocahontas went for even more authenticity by casting Natives in their parts. Especially with Irene Bedard, who had featured in another Disney property about Natives in Squanto: A Warrior´s Tale. Released the year prior to Pocahontas).

The Controversy About the Racial Scrutiny

Yet regardless of the honorable intentions Disney had with it´s portrayal of indigenous people with Pocahontas, it still fell into the non-PC category. It was still criticized for it's portrayal (despite how the major criticism was it's historical inaccuracy). Yet Disney were in a time where they were frequently attacked for their portrayal of non-White people (just look no further for Aladdin for that example).

And sure, while there has been controversy about the portrayal of their following features, it would be fair to say that the biggest havoc did Aladdin and Pocahontas receive. But regarding the everlasting controversy ahout portrayal of minorities, which always is a sensitive "damn-if you do, damn-if you don´t"-issue, we'll have to remember that there is unfortunately a reason for why it exists. The representation of POC people will always creative havoc (no offense). But Native Americans have unfortunately been victimized in history and has unfortunately suffered from bad portrayal. So the backlash is after all understandable.

The History of the Portrayal of Non-White People in Hollywood

Regarding the portrayal of non-White people in Hollywood, we`ll have to remember how African-Americans has been portrayed in movies priorly. They´ve appeared in American films since 1888. But they weren't even hired to play their own race at first (as white actors and actresses did). However, Sam Lucas was the first African-American actor to have a lead role in a movie for his performance in Uncle Tom's Cabin in 1914. Regarding the representation of Native Americans in Hollywood, the image reflects neither contemporary nor historical Native realities. It´s based on the views and desires of non-Native producers and screenwriters. The Hollywood Native has it´s roots in the Western as a literary genre. Stereotypes as the vanishing Native, or the noble and ignoble savage, were made popular by authors such as James Fenimore Cooper. And just as with African-Americans, there were non-Natives who played their parts.

The most offensive stereotypes about Natives are the noble, stoic warrior in touch with nature. The drunken Native and the mysterious shaman. While there were sympathetic Natives depicted in movies priorly, a gradual change of their portrayal happened from the 1940s and 1950s onward. At the height of the Western's popularity, when a turn towards "the gradual elimination of the stereotypes in Big Budget movies " happened. The consequences of World War II paved the way, as Native Americans were no longer the main antagonists. As World War II supplied America with new enemies, namely, the Germans, Italians, and Japanese.

Native filmmakers have had to fight to create an artistic voice for themselves and carve a space for expression through film. Most movies from the 1970`s and 80`s involved Natives in the production process more than ever. However, the most influential feature was Kevin Costner´s Dances With Wolves (1990), Which paid reasonably careful attention to the depiction of Lakota life, traditions and clothing, compared to earlier efforts. Despite that it still followed the basic formula of the Hollywood stereotypes. The Last of the Mohicans (1992) also followed the same pattern.

Dan Georgakas acknowledges in his essay They Have Not Spoken that the emergence of the noble savage stereotype was an improvement over the previous stereotype. But only at the “lowest level”, as it tells the audience little about real Natives. Modern Native filmmakers have made positive progress with representation of native peoples. Yet regarding the friendly stereotype, it did continue beyond Pocahontas. Even in full-length animation. DreamWorks´ Spirit Stallion of the Cimarron relied on it and surprisingly enough, escaped controversy (while to be fair, the Natives were just supporting characters in that movie).

Pocahontas` Characterization and Sex Appeal

Who has the prettiest eyes of
us? :) We´re trying to
hypnotize :)

As for Pocahontas` characterization, she comes across as a departure from her heroine predecessors. She´s basically a more mature heroine. With a spiritual and emotional depth that distinguish her. But what distinguishes her more is her design. Supervising animator Glen Keane wanted to push the boundaries with her design. Yet we all know how she´s criticized for being quite sexualized. While every Disney heroine have had their share of sex-appeal, it seems like Pocahontas and her follower Esmeralda were the epitomes of sexualization of Disney heroines.

Chel from The Road
to El Dorado made me
this outfit :) Blame her,
not me :)

Often being labeled of being a Native American Barbie, Pocahontas was pretty much designed as a highly athletic Barbie doll. Yet criticized for the negative consequences of her sexualization. Even Lindsay Ellis pointed out in her latest videos for Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame that these heroines have an increased sexuality compared to their white counterparts lack. While there may be various opinions on that one, it's certainly a legit criticism.

The Other Non-White Heroines From the Renaissance

I´m smitten by your red outfit :)

Yet regarding the time when Pocahontas was actually made, the 1990's was a time where Disney weren't stuck with relying on their Princess staple as they've done this past decade. So they dared to actually made heroines without giving them the Princess title (just no look further than Megara from Hercules. Who actually was a Princess in the original myths). Pocahontas somewhat belonged into the Princess category, since she was the daughter of a Chief (yet not being technically royal).

At least it´s an Oriental tea
party. And without Buzz
Lightyear :)

Yet out of the four non-White heroines Disney gave us in the 90's, two of them happened to be commoners: Esmeralda and Mulan. Despite how Esmeralda pretty much resembled Jasmine, she was still labeled to be a Pocahontas-wannabe.
Far more legit was the comparison with Mulan. Who just like Pocahontas, was a non-Caucasian to actually lead her movie. While Mulan had various components that would easily stir up controversy, it wasn't as huge as it was with it's non-Caucasian predecessors. At least Mulan´s design was somewhat of a step forward, as she wasn't as highly sexualized for the sheer reason of her dressing up as a man.

Don´t fool with us, we have
guts when we get mad :)

Regarding the heroines of color that were made in the Dark Age, it would be tempting to bring Princess Kidagakash/Kida from Atlantis The Lost Empire into this discussion. After all, she's an actual Princess who´s POC and does come across as somewhat tribal. And she does faces a similar issue as Pocahontas: Having foreign invadors coming to explore her world. But since Kida really comes from a fictional race, she haven't been vitctimized from the controversy. A far more relevant comparsion would be Nani from Lilo & Stitch.

Yes, you´ve obviously not
outgrown your baby-phase,
cause you ain´t one :)

Perhaps she never comes across as a Pocahontas ripoff. But she´s still a major non-White heroine. She may be sexualized, but still given more cartoony features and porportions than the usual, skinny Disney heroine. It would've been tempting to take Nita from Brother Bear 2 to this consideration, as well. After all, she is a indigenous heroine. But since she comes from a Disney Cheapquel, it would be tempting to dismiss her. And yes, her predecessor Brother Bear was deliberately set in the prehistoric time, in order to actually avoid racial controversy.

The Non-White Heroines From the Revival Era

With the Revival era, Disney has actually given us three non-White Princesses (yes, for once mark the word Princesses). And all of them have received comparisons to Pocahontas. Two of them came from the same directing team (John Musker and Ron Clements), despite differing in animation style. The similar element that Tiana shares with Pocahontas is originating from the same continent (but having a plot contrivance which actually makes her a Princess. Despite that the comparisons to Pocahontas may not be as huge). Far more relevant to the comparison is Moana, as she also happens to be a daughter of a tribal Chief. And her arc is instantly similar to Pocahontas'. Since she also faces to be a future Chieftess.

We don´t usually have such
pets :) They picked us, not
vice versa :)

We´re Native Ambassadors
for United Nations :)

Yet Moana was a step further for Disney in many ways. As evident to please the political correct pleas of portrayal of Disney heroines/princesses. Unlike her predecessors, Moana is actually completely devoided from any love interest whatsoever. Since her mission is first and foremost to save her people.

We`re being tough without
weapons :)

At least that was an admirable step for Disney, despite also having to do with cultural cues. Yet Moana (regardless of having some controversies of it's own) had a higher proportions of having Polynesians among the crew itself (which is a rarity for Disney). Yet the controversy around Moana haven't been as huge, despite how the character has been victimized by the constant criticism female characters get. The Princess and the Frog, however, faced it's own controversy, but still not as much as it could´ve done. Now that we`ve gotten Raya and the Last Dragon, the comparisions to Pocahontas haven`t been many. But at least it has created some racial controversy, yet it`s been within the Asian community. But with the new post-Revival era, we`ve gotten two non-White heroines who are not Princesses (yes, gasp). With the Colombian Mirabel Madrigal in Encanto. And Disney`s second African heroine with the Woke-movie Wish, who`s actually biracial. While perhaps none of them have received racial scrutiny, it`s remarkable how Disney dared to make a second semi-African Princess in a fictional Iberian Kingdom.

Final Conclusion

I´ve been with Olaf too much,
so he´s influenced me :)

Yes, it´s a hairy mess, so it´s
going to be hard to pull out
from this :)

But regarding how Pocahontas is perceived as the epitome of the POC Disney heroine, one must wonder if that staple is a shallow one? The answer is of course yes. It's not as every Disney heroine should be compared to a certain predecessor. And should be acknowledged for her own qualities, regardless of comparisons (while techincally, the heroines from the Disney Junior series Elena of Avalor and Mira Royal Detective should also count on this debate. But since they are Disney Junior properties, they doesn`t count).

This is how I´ll
look in the future :)

We´re following the hair
on the side trend :)

Yet when it comes to bare bones of it, the Pocahontas-staple is still not a bad one. In fact, her characterization (despite being labeled as the typical bland Disney princess) is overall stuck with a good reputation. As she´s a dignified, noble, wise and brave heroine of her own right. Perhaps it would be easy to label her as a goody-two-shoes. But her aforementioned qualities are the best things about her characters.

Yet regarding her overall reputation, we all know how she belongs in the famous Princess franchise. But being the least promoted of all them. She wasn't even a part of Sofia the First, which really was a vehicle for the all the Disney Princesses. Which is a pity. And while it would be easy to blame on the lack of her popularity, the truth is how the controversy surrounding her was the main reason for not including her. But as for the princesses of color in the franchise in general, there have been various rants about how that they´re overall neglected. While there are been various opinions about that statement, I can definitively understand the frustation that comes with it.

Epilogue

Yet regardless of the staple of her movie, it is unfortunate that Pocahontas is mostly stuck with a dud-staple. However, we can still be happy that her movie still has her fanbase, nonetheless. And that Disney are still acknowledging it. Perhaps not in the same league at their most exposed movies, but still in their own way. As for the intention of this derivative entry: How her character is mostly stuck with the mold of being the first non-Caucasian heroine, it´s not a bad staple. Despite that it may be perceived as shallow. However, it´s hard to believe that her movie had her Silver Anniversary when this entry was written. So Happy Past 25th Anniversary, Pocahontas and may you continue to have many more.