LA Times on Why Disney Changed "Rapunzel" to "Tangled"

The Los Angeles Times' Hero Complex weblog has delved into Disney's decision to re-title its upcoming animated feature film Rapunzel to Tangled in an attempt to attract more boys to see the movie (free registration required, read Toonzone News' earlier coverage here). According to the report, the move was made in response to the disappointing box office of The Princess and the Frog, which grossed approximately $222 million in ticket sales worldwide vs. Up's more than $700 million. The article quotes Ed Catmull, president of Pixar and Disney Animation Studios, who justified the change by saying, "Some people might assume it's a fairy tale for girls when it's not. We make movies to be appreciated and loved by everybody."

The article also includes some critical comments on the decision from retired Disney and Pixar animator Floyd Norman and seems to confirm reports that Disney's The Snow Queen has been shelved, since it would have been the company's fourth animated film with a female protagonist. It also notes that while the movie may have been a disappointment to Disney at the box office, merchandise of Tiana, The Princess and the Frog's heroine, "flew off shelves last holiday season."