Tangled
Tangled is a 2010 American 3D computer-animated musical adventure fantasy comedy film directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard and produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios for distribution by Walt Disney Pictures.[1][2] Loosely adapted from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale Rapunzel, the story follows Rapunzel, a princess with magically glowing long hair who has been sequestered in a hidden tower by a possessive woman claiming to be her mother, until a opportunistic thief named Eugene Fitzherbert (alias Flynn Rider) inadvertently leads her on an escape to see the floating lanterns of her birthday.[2] The film features voice performances by Mandy Moore as Rapunzel, Zachary Levi as Flynn, and Donna Murphy as Mother Gothel, with original songs by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater.[2] Originally developed under the title Rapunzel and initiated by animator Glen Keane in 2001, the project underwent significant revisions, including a title change to Tangled amid concerns that a female-led title would limit appeal to boys following the underwhelming box office of 2009's The Princess and the Frog.[3][4] Premiering on November 14, 2010, at the El Capitan Theatre and entering wide release on November 24, Tangled was produced at an estimated cost of $260 million, the highest for any animated film at the time, yet grossed $592.5 million worldwide, ranking as the second-highest-grossing film of 2010 and revitalizing Disney's animated feature output.[5][6] Praised for its vibrant animation, humor, and character dynamics, it received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song ("I See the Light") and multiple Annie Awards, though it faced criticism for altering traditional fairy tale elements to suit modern audience preferences.[7][8]Synopsis
Plot
The story of Tangled begins with a drop of sunlight that grows into a magical golden flower capable of healing and restoring youth.[9] This flower is used to save the life of a pregnant queen, who gives birth to Princess Rapunzel, whose hair inherits the flower's magical properties: it glows when she sings a special song, heals wounds, and reverses aging, but loses its power if severed.[9][10] A reclusive woman named Mother Gothel kidnaps the infant Rapunzel from the palace to hoard the hair's powers for her own immortality, concealing the girl in a hidden tower and raising her as her own daughter while forbidding her from leaving.[9][11] Eighteen years later, Rapunzel, now a spirited young woman with 70 feet of golden hair, lives isolated in the tower with only her chameleon companion, Pascal.[9] She yearns to see the floating lanterns that light the sky annually on her birthday, believing them to be stars, but Gothel dismisses her pleas.[9] Meanwhile, thief Flynn Rider (real name Eugene Fitzherbert) steals a valuable tiara from the palace—the symbol of the lost princess—and, pursued by the king's guards and the palace horse Maximus, seeks refuge in Rapunzel's tower.[9][7] Rapunzel knocks him unconscious with a frying pan and hides the tiara, then blackmails him into escorting her to view the lanterns in exchange for its return, leaving a note for Gothel.[9] During their journey, Rapunzel and Flynn encounter various perils and allies, including the rowdy patrons of the Snuggly Duckling pub who aid their escape from the guards.[9] They share a romantic boat ride to watch the lanterns, where Rapunzel realizes the tiara's sunburst symbol matches her tower's mural, hinting at her royal heritage.[9] Gothel, having discovered Rapunzel's absence, manipulates her insecurities to lure her back to the tower, where she chains the girl and reveals her true identity as the kidnapper.[9] Flynn, betrayed by his thieving accomplices and imprisoned, escapes with help from the pub thugs and races to the tower, where Gothel stabs him.[9] To thwart Gothel's control, Rapunzel's hair is cut, causing it to turn brown and lose its magic; a dying Flynn confesses his love before succumbing, but Rapunzel's tear—imbued with residual power—revives him.[9] Gothel disintegrates upon touching the hair, and Rapunzel reunites with her parents in the kingdom, eventually marrying Flynn.[9]Cast and Characters
Voice Cast
The principal voice cast of Tangled (2010) includes Mandy Moore as Princess Rapunzel, a young woman with magical long hair kidnapped as an infant and raised in seclusion.[12] Zachary Levi provides the voice of Eugene Fitzherbert, also known as Flynn Rider, a charming thief who becomes Rapunzel's companion.[13] Donna Murphy voices Mother Gothel, the antagonist who poses as Rapunzel's mother to exploit her hair's healing powers.[12] Supporting characters are portrayed by established actors, including Ron Perlman as the Stabbington Brothers, twin bandits pursuing Flynn.[14] M.C. Gainey voices the Captain of the Guard, leader of the kingdom's forces searching for the stolen crown.[12] Brad Garrett lends his voice to Hook Hand Thug, a pub musician with a prosthetic hook who befriends Flynn.[15] Jeffrey Tambor voices Big Nose Thug, another member of the Snuggly Duckling patrons.[12]| Character | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| Rapunzel | Mandy Moore |
| Young Rapunzel | Delaney Rose Stein |
| Flynn Rider / Eugene Fitzherbert | Zachary Levi |
| Mother Gothel | Donna Murphy |
| Stabbington Brothers | Ron Perlman |
| Captain of the Guard | M.C. Gainey |
| Hook Hand Thug | Brad Garrett |
| Big Nose Thug | Jeffrey Tambor |