Meet the first Disney princess who paved the way for the arrival of Snow White, Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty.

In the vast realm of Disney stories where princesses sing with birds and dance in a magical forest, there is a heroine who, although little is known, played an important role in this magical legacy. This is the story of Persephone, the first Disney princess who paved the way for the following princesses.

The image of the goddess, with her grace and connection with nature, Snow White was revealed to the world three years before she made her first movie. Based on the Greek goddess of the same name, she not only established the identity of a princess within the standards of the Animation Mouse Company, but also laid the foundation for the company’s future protagonists.

Persephone’s legacy in animation

In the year In 1934, Disney introduced Persephone to audiences and presented “The Goddess of Spring” as part of the Silly Symphony series. This work was short lived but revolutionary. Being the daughter of Zeus, she naturally shares a special relationship with not only princes but also with animals, which is typical of the princesses in the Mouse Company animation.

The signs and appearance of the first princess influenced the creation of later characters. The dance moves and twirls embodied in the early designs are reflected in later classics. Even her style and appearance became a model for the company’s heroes.

An important prerequisite for the “first princess” in the cinema

In the year While 1937’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” is often considered the first film to feature a Disney princess, another princess established many key elements in “The Goddess of Spring.” This short not only tested the viability of the main character, but also experimented with more realistic gestures and movements.

Although “The Goddess of Spring” has not achieved the fame of other Disney films, it is important to recognize the importance of the Greek goddess and the princess in the company of mice in the history of these images. Her pioneering role is mostly left in the shadows, but without her, the princess concept of this company that we know today could be very different.

Princesses in the first decades of the company

Princesses have been a fundamental pillar in the company’s narrative since its first decade. In 1937, the first princess was the embodiment of a Greek goddess in “Spring Goddess” (1934), although it was usually Snow White who received this recognition in her 1937 film, these first princesses established a model of grace. Princesses and kindness, qualities that have defined DC princesses for years.

During these formative years, the princesses created by the Mouse Company defined the ideal femininity of their time. Snow White, for example, was the embodiment of purity and sweetness, aspects that were highly valued at the time. Her success was followed by 1950’s Cinderella and 1959’s Sleeping Beauty, both of which portrayed this gentle and gentle female archetype.

These first princesses also shared one thing in common in their stories: overcoming adversity with kindness and hope. They are jealous of their stepmothers, cruel or cursed by their adoptive family. Despite these challenges, they maintain their integrity and goodness, which eventually leads to a happy ending.

Although these stories come from another era, they have left a lasting legacy. The influence of these first princesses remains visible in the narratives and styles of today’s characters, marking an important beginning in the evolution of princesses.