:100Themes: Childhood

HO-MAI-FLIPPING-GRIEFNESS! This took for freaking ever >.<

But as you can see, this isn't just about Disney Princesses, though they certainly plaid a part in shaping how I view my childhood.

Here's why I put who I put in this image, and why I like what I like about them:

Anastasia: Yes, I KNOW she's not a Disney princess. But didn't I just get through saying that this image isn't JUST about Disney? Yes, I believe I did. ANYHOW... Why do I like Anastasia? This version in particular? Well... let's count the reasons here: One, she's got the tough girl attitude, and isn't afraid to break Dimitri's nose, or call him a baby when he gripes at her about it afterwards. Two, she's not your a-typical 'save me, I'm pretty!' princess, and refuses to flat-out ask for help. Three: She's got a feminine side and is really quite pretty in a dress and renders Dimitri temporarily dumb struck at one point. Not to mention, she has a soft spot for animals (Dogs, to be exact) and one of the first things she recalls is a yellow cat that a relative had before the revolution. Man I love this princess!

Pocahontas: Yes, Pocahontas. I love how she helped breech the racial barrier in Disney, and she and John Smith became the first inter-racial Disney couple (Until she met John Roal in Pocahontas II). Plus, because of John Roal, I think she's one of the first Disney Princesses to have two boyfriends/lovers essentially. I also love the music and the animation in this movie, back before Disney started sucking! That, and Grandmother Willow, and Meeko and Flit... all really great friends of hers.

Kida: Ah Kida, one of the most snubbed princesses by Disney in my opinion. By she also inspired one of the aspects of my story telling in the past, of the power crystal that relies on a human host, yet can also think for itself in a way and affect the host in more ways than one. I also love the fact that Kida fell for the nerd/geek of the group that invaded her lands/kingdom of Atlantis She's strong, looking for a way to save her people, and is having to fight to move on from the loss of her mother at such a young age.

Ariel: The red-headed under-sea princess full of spunk and rather flirty. Always dreaming of something better, more life fulfilling, and finds it in the form of a certain Prince Eric above land. She gets nearly tricked by the Sea Witch Ursula to give up her father's power to the octo-lady (I think we all remember how that goes in the end) And winds up with Eric, and a baby girl in the second movie. I think she's also one of the few Princesses in Disney who actually has a baby, if I'm not mistaken. So she is also unique in her own way, not just because of that. Though she does go the route of super-protective-mom and builds her own version of the wall of China around Eric's castle at one point.

Cinderella: One of the few blond Disney Princesses that I like! She certainly knows how to take care of herself, even with all the abuse and humiliation her step-mom and step-sisters put her through while growing up. She also can communicate with animals and can actually talk to the mice in her home. (I find that kind of disturbing, actually. But I digress). At one point, her sisters' and step-mom's abuse of her became so much right before the ball, that she about fell into depression before her Fairy-Godmother appeared. But in the end, after marrying the Prince and being pulled away from all that, I love how she kept her sense of being and personality, even to the point of befriending one of her sisters once her mom had been disgraced!

Belle: One of the few who can stand up to the Beast and is not afraid to sequester herself in her room in protest of the Beast's behavior. She loves her books, and so do I for that matter, and even gets her own library in the castle that she can spend all the time she wants in! I want my own library!

Mulan: While she isn't technically a Princess, this cross dressing gal certainly is treated like one at the end of the movies. She throws her own shoe when she's annoyed/mad at someone- most of the time Mushu or her horse- and narrowly avoids exposing herself to a bunch of naked guys in the bathing pool at the training camp. (Luckily Mushu came to the rescue and bit one of those guys right in the ass before anything was seen/discovered!) Though at one point, her deceit about the fact that she'd disguised herself as a man nearly cost her her friendship with her troupe until she came through with a plan to prevent the Huns from taking over the palace. I decided to show the more feminine side of Mulan in this pic, though. I love the colors Disney uses for her Chinese gowns

Now for the top row, right to left:

Sailor Moon: What can I say about this gal? While my favorite characters from the series are Sailor Venus/V, Jupiter and Saturn, Sailor Moon remains responsible for my obsession for Magical Girls essentially. That powerful Silver Imperium Crystal that drains her life force whenever she uses all the power all in one shot, the history behind each character, and the love between Serenity and Endymion. Gotta love Sailor Moon!

Relena Peacecraft: Gundam Wing! God, such nostalgia! I loved Relena's character so much. Probably one of the most developed of the series next to Heero Yuy by the end of it. I loved how she always stuck to her Pacifist nature, even though she was tempted quite a few times to pick up a gun and kill someone until she realized what she was about to do and brought sense back to herself on the matter. How could she run a Pacifist Nation if she herself had bloodied hands? It's one of the many things that kept her brother, Zechs Marquise/Milliardo Peacecraft, from doing what she did. And I know there are some anti-Relena fans out there, saying she's annoying, blah, blah, that they want THEIR OC to be with Heero, blah blah, but I like her BECAUSE even though she wavered in her beliefs quite a few times, she always stuck to them. Even harboring enemy troops in her kingdom at one point as a neutral zone. I mean... she became queen of the fricken WORLD at one point until Treize came and 'liberated her from her cage'. I can't say enough about this gal, seriously.

Princess Aeyka: Ah yes, another apparently sweet but powerful Princess. This one outright alien, in all senses and meanings of the term. I love how kind and sweet she is, and how only Ryoko can get her fired up. But it's a fine line from arguments and having the power to fully restrain and capture Ryoko. Her loyalty is also something to behold. Even though she IS heartbroken when she finds out her brother married another woman when he came to Earth, she remains loyal to Yoshou and his family and opens up a lot more from being so restrained, and taking his advice from time to time. She doesn't use her power too often, but when she does, she proves even to Ryoko that she knows how to kick ass. Fighting just isn't her solution to every problem she encounters (Except over Tenchi, apparently).

Lady Kayura of the Dynasty Realm: She is pretty much the Princess of the Dynasty in Ronin Warriors/Yorriden Samurai Troopers, and can kick the Ronin's butts. Not to mention, she is one of the few people who can thoroughly piss of Touma/Rowen. I can't remember the last time I laughed so much at the dynamics between her and the group, particularly in the English dub ("Lady Kayura... She's a GIRL!" *gawking like an idiot*). Can't count how many times that she nearly killed them in a flaming energy blast, if not for Anubis stepping in and turning her back to their side. Even then, Ryou/Ryo wasn't entirely trusting of her... Considering the fact that she kicked his ass, and deflated his ego quite a bit, that's understanding though. Gotta love a chick with two swords and power over stars that can put a bunch of guys in their place without lifting so much as a finger half the time!

Fuu Hououji: I always assumed that because Ferio is the Prince of Cephiro, and by the end of the second Manga of Rayearth, they're married, that would make Fuu the Princess of Cephiro as well! I always loved her smart nature, and the fact that while she IS blonde, she doesn't fall into the 'ditzy stupid blond' sterio typing that is so typical in shows and stories these days. In fact, she's the exact opposite of that. She also starts out with a completely different weapon than her two friends, Hikaru and Umi. Instead of just another sword, she starts out with a bow and arrow! And she is quite skilled with the weapon!

Will Vandom: Why do I like this red head? When W.I.T.C.H. starts out, she is just the 'new kid' who was embarrassed constantly by her mother's babying. She at one point says that she doesn't know any magic, even though she can transform, and is quite the leader regardless. Her and Cornelia clash a number of times over what to do about the fate of Elyon, Cornelia's best friend and last heir apparent to Meridian's throne. While I admit I've fallen from the series in the last few years, I still love Will and Matt's relationship dynamics, and how they help each other out throughout the cartoon series.

Bloom: An apparently ordinary girl being raised on Earth, finding out she's a Fairy and in the process of learning about herself, the Princess of the most powerful kingdom in the magical dimension! What's not to love about that kind of story-line? She's also the keeper of the Dragon Fire, the source of all magic in the known universe, and has a nymph spirit for a sister. I admit, I mainly follow Winx Club because of her and Aisha, I'm not much of a fan of the others in the story- well, except for Tecna. I love how she sort of grows into the roll of being a teacher to Roxy, and a teacher in general by the end of Season 4. Bloom was able to share with Roxy her experience of finding out about her past and restoring her kingdom at one point, I believe.

And there you have it! Another theme from my 100 theme challenge is done! (This one is number 48 on my list).