Fierce women of the animated world

Grab some popcorn and enjoy these movies with female characters that slay the screen and our hearts

Parvana disguises herself as a boy to help her father escape from prison in 'The Breadwinner'.

Mulan

Moana

Princess Merida from ‘Brave’.

In the world of animation tough women who stare adversity in the face and don’t back down from a fight are not new. From Nala to Merida, these women have taught us to be fierce, independent, and self-sufficient. Here are six must-watch animated films with powerful female leads whose stories are inspiring to all.

Mulan

Disney’s 1998 film Mulan (1999), is a westernised adaptation of the Chinese tale of Hua Mulan, a legendary figure from ancient Chinese culture about a girl who took her weak father’s place to fight in the army, as a ploy to save him from almost certain death. The adaptation showed a strong female character who was not afraid of her individuality or going against the norm. The live-action adaptation was released last year.

Princess Merida

For many who grew up with Disney, Merida’s story was such a refreshing departure from the typical Disney princess. She is fiercely independent, and courageous. While the movie returns to the “princess who doesn’t want an arranged marriage” trope, the movie ‘Brave’ focuses on the relationship between Merida and her mother, as opposed to a quest for “true love”.

Ogino Chihiro

The protagonist of the Japanese film ‘Spirited Away’. The movie was made by Hayao Miyazaki, who was inspired by the filmmaker’s desire to make a film for the daughters of his friends. Ogino Chihiro is a young girl who finds herself working in a magical Japanese bathhouse run by a witch after a series of weird events. Chihiro is a little bratty, but she is the hero who saves the people she cares about using her own wits. She is kind, well-mannered and devoted to her family, but she is also brave and resourceful, making her very relatable hero.

Parvana

The hero of the 2017 Oscar-nominated film, ‘The Breadwinner’, Parvana is a 11-year-old girl living in Afghanistan during the Taliban rule.

When her father is arrested by the soldiers of Taliban, the responsibility of feeding the family falls on her shoulder. Disguising herself as a boy, she ventures out to bring her father home.

Moana

The movie follows a teenage girl whose destiny is one day to take over for her father as the chief of a small Polynesian island. Moana is a strong, independent girl of colour.

Her focus isn’t on winning a prince, but on being a strong, successful leader for her people.

She doesn’t shy away from her responsibilities, but she also fearlessly follows her heart.