I recently saw Disney’s Encanto, and while I thoroughly enjoyed it (several songs are stuck in my head for life), I could not help but notice that of all the Madrigal children, the so-described “perfect, golden child” is the only one who has straight hair.
Curly hair is often used as a metaphor for wildness, passion, and unruliness. So naturally, the seemingly perfect, well-behaved child is the only one with straight hair. Not that I want to get into a metaphorical analysis of curly versus straight hair in film and literature, let alone the racial and ethnic implications. I’m almost positive that’s been done before. Probably many times.
But it did get me thinking about curly hair in animated movies, and how far it’s come. The curly hair in Encanto looks phenomenal; it moves so naturally. The only complaint one could possibly have is that it looks too perfect. Every curl is so defined. Where’s all the frizz? Is it too much to ask for a single split end, or just a bit of static electricity, for realism’s sake? But I admit, these are minor quibbles.
I remember how excited I was back when Pixar’s Brave came out back in 2012. I was never really into Disney princesses as a kid, probably because I resented their long beautiful hair. Looking back on it now, seeing all that long straight hair as the only example of beauty was not at all good for my self-esteem. But here was a Disney(-ish) princess who looked just like me. And I had taken an archery class as a college PE requirement. Yet another similarity!
It was a huge step up to have people tell me I looked like Merida rather than Pippi Longstocking, which is what usually happened. If random strangers are going to talk to me – and they always will – I’d rather be told I remind them of a Disney princess than a literary ragamuffin.
And sure, the curly hair in Brave is still idealized curly hair. For instance, for Merida’s hair to be past her waist when dry, it should be trailing on the ground when wet, instead of remaining around the same length. And, as the large man in small shorts told us on the first day of archery class, pulling your hair back is essential when a bowstring can easily yank it out of your head.
But I think that’s probably related more to the way “action girls” are portrayed in film than anything else. If you were really beating up hordes of henchpeople in real life, you’d definitely want to keep your hair out of your face. And you’d be wearing comfortable clothes.
But for all my quibbles, I’m happy that Brave and Encanto exist. They may show idealized versions of curly hair, but at least they show it. I’ll take that.