MovieChat Forums > Anastasia (1997) Discussion > Anastasia vs. Tangled

Anastasia vs. Tangled


I have been in love with Anastasia since it came out and a few years ago fell head over heels for Tangled. I just realized that they have a lot of similarities.

Flynn Rider looks an awful lot like Dimitri. Rapunzel stares at a picture of her parents and herself as a child much like Anastasia does at the abandoned palace. Both girls are separated and raised apart from their families from a young age. Both Dimitri and Flynn are con artists, who initially set out to con the girls they've met, but then fall in love with them and ultimately sacrifice for their happiness. Mother Gothel and Rasputin die very similarly, wasting away, until they turn to dust and their cloaks and ashes float away.

I think the visuals of the movies are both good. Obviously animation has come a long way since 1997 and Tangled was breathtaking, but the CGI effects that Anastasia was able to use turned out beautifully. The colors in both films are gorgeous.

I know Anastasia is not a Disney film but it could have easily been. I wonder if Tangled either consciously or unconsciously borrowed aspects of Anastasia.

Did anyone else notice these similarities? They are two of my favorite movies ever, animated or otherwise!

reply

Tangled >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Anastasia!

reply

It's hard for me to choose. Since I've loved Anastasia for 20 (yikes, TWENTY!) years, it holds a special place in my heart. But Tangled is pretty fabulous. So I don't think I can pick a favorite!!

reply

Same here! I love both so much... 💗

...but if I did have to say, then I would probably say Anastasia! Tangled is lots of fun...but I really connect with the story and the music in Anastasia...so that would have to be my choice! 😊

ELPHABA: Eleka Nahmen Nahmen Ah Tum Ah Tum Eleka Nahmen.

reply

The similarities are there and they're overt and obvious. Yet they've still executed differently. "Anastasia" is about a girl with amnesia who longs to find out who she is and to find her family and her lost past. Whereas "Tangled" does somewhat deal with the same premise, yet Rapunzel's quest isn't initially about finding her origins or her lost family. Though what draws her to the lanterns is that "they're meant for her" and they are a ritual made for her (which has a connection to her family), yet her quest is about leaving the tower and discovering both the lanterns and the world outside. And last, but not least, she never realizes her true heritage before the third act of the movie.
Unlike Anya/Anastasia Rapunzel is a sheltered girl who is oppressed by her evil stepmother (who she believes is her mother). Their quests are similar, due to them having the same goals and set-ups, yet their journeys are different.

I've never considered Flynn to be a Dimitri look-a-like. Yet he serves as the same archetype and purpose as Dimitri, just that Flynn is more overt on his snark and modern approach. Both heroes uses their female counterpart, but differently. Dimitri deliberately uses Anya/Anastasia to get the reward, whereas Flynn uses Rapunzel differently, but mostly because he's obligated. Both goes through a similar arc, though, but each revelation is different. The revelation in "Tangled" is set up by Mother Gothel (which never leads to an confrontation between the lovebirds), whereas in "Anastasia" the revelation becomes revealed when Anya (unwillingly) gets to know about Dimitri's real intentions.

"Anastasia" could've easily been a Disney-film ,indeed. It's one of the Disney knock offs which has the Disney tone and components, without having the same logo. In a time where Disney was the king of animation and how they set the mold for full-length animated features, several studios copied the formula and some of them managed to feel Disney.

reply

Good god no, this movie is so bad.

reply

Why is it bad?

reply

Because it's far from good.

reply

Can you give reasons?

reply

You mean, what is bad about the movie? The animation is nothing special and a rip-off of the Disney style, the music sucks, the script is bad, the villain ridiculous and the whole idea of the movie is simply horrendous.

reply

I don't agree with anything you said but you don't have to like the movie if you don't want to.

reply

Well yeah, I know that.

reply

No, Anastasia could not easily have been a Disney film. Again, it sucks so hard.

reply

Dimitri and Anastasia had greater chemistry. Rapunzel and Flynn never looked like a couple to me, neither in the movie nor in the series.

reply