Flower, gleam and glow, let your power shine. Who doesn’t love Tangled? It has everything: swash buckling adventure, a sweet romance, hilarious jokes and dialogue, beautiful music, and absolutely gorgeous animation. This was the movie that showed us Disney was back in business again. And it was a perfect meld of a classic fairy tale story with new ideas and modern animation.
I’m pretty sure I saw this movie in theaters at least three times. I loved the story, the characters, the visuals, and the music. Tangled for me was a callback to the classic Disney Princess movies, but it still felt fresh and new. Do you realize how hard it is for a movie to achieve that combination? Many have tried and failed.
But despite the fact that it’s Disney, Tangled does have its darker moments. The whole concept of Mother Gothel manipulating Rapunzel to stay in the tower and essentially being emotionally abusive to her is pretty strange. And then there’s the scene where Eugene gets hurt (I’m kind of surprised that happened in a Disney movie; they usually don’t go for direct stuff like that.) And there are quite a few interesting facts and secrets you probably didn’t realize that could change the whole movie’s outlook.
So here are 20 interesting (and kind of strange) secrets about Tangled that you likely didn’t know. These secrets may change forever the way you see this beloved movie. So, hang on to your frying pans!
Think we missed a few good secrets? Make sure to let us know in the comments section below.
20 She’s A Very Old Lady
It’s a known fact that Mother Gothel is a pretty old woman. After all, that’s why she wants the power of the magic golden flower to stay young and beautiful forever. But do we know just how old this woman is? Well, the truth is in the dress.
If you look closely at Mother Gothel’s dress, you’ll notice it’s in a much different style than Rapunzel’s.
That’s because it’s in the style of the Renaissance Era. So, we know for a fact that Mother Gothel has been alive since at least the Renaissance. Considering Tangled is supposed to take place around the late 1700s and the Renaissance started in the 1300s, this lady has been around for over 400 years. No wonder she turned to dust when Rapunzel’s hair was cut.
19 He Was Going To Look Very Different
It’s amazing how a little chameleon can be so expressive without having to say a single word. Pascal is both adorable and sassy as Rapunzel’s companion, and he shows his loyalty to Rapunzel over and over. We couldn’t imagine this movie without our favorite little green chameleon.
Can you imagine Pascal as a squirrel?
But did you know that Pascal originally wasn’t going to be a chameleon? In fact, he was supposed to be a squirrel in the early plans of the movie. Can you imagine Pascal as a squirrel? What’s even crazier is that when they changed his design to a chameleon, he wasn’t going to be green, but purple instead. Personally, I’m glad Pascal is a chameleon, mostly because Disney hadn’t done a reptile animal sidekick before. But how on earth did he come to be Rapunzel’s pet?
18 This Kingdom Has A Real-World Inspiration
Since the beginning, Disney has taken inspiration from the real world, whether it’s studying animals to see how they move, to taking inspiration from real locations. (Did you know that when they did The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Disney had the staff travel to Paris in order to study the cathedral?) In the case of the kingdom Corona, it also has a real-world inspiration.
Corona is based on the city Mont Saint Michel, which is in Normandy, France. The area is basically a small town on an island with a huge monastery at the top. It’s a very striking area, and I can see why Disney decided to base Corona on this unique place. Admittedly, Corona is quite a bit bigger than Mont Saint Michel, but you can tell it was the source of inspiration.
17 The Tone Was Going To Be Way Different
Tangled was a breath of fresh air, and yet nostalgic of the classic Disney films at the same time. In many ways, it was a classic Disney Princess fairytale with a few fun twists thrown in. I think half the reason why so many people liked it is because it’s a callback to those princess movies, full of singing, epic adventures, and beautiful visuals.
But did you know that the movie wasn’t originally going to be as fairy tale-like?
In fact, they had originally planned to make Tangled more of a satire of fairy tales (probably a bit like Shrek, but less crude.) But Glen Keane, who pitched the original idea, rejected the satire, saying that he couldn’t do that kind of movie. Personally, I’m glad they went for the more genuine fairy tale route. It was done wonderfully.
16 This Couple Has Quite The Gap
You have to admit that Rapunzel and Flynn are a very sweet couple. Yes, they had the cliché of getting together only after a few days, but those days did consist of the two actually getting to know each other, saving each other from danger, and just going through a lot. I’d feel a lot closer to someone after all that too. Anyway, they’re still a cute couple.
But did you know there’s a pretty big age gap between the two? Apparently, Eugene is 26, while Rapunzel just turned 18. That’s an eight-year gap, making it the biggest age gap of all the Disney couples. It is slightly creepy if you think about it, that Eugene is quite a bit older than Rapunzel. But at least they didn’t get married right away.
15 Things Got Pretty Intense
While there were a lot of crazy things that happened in the Disney Princess movies, they were all pretty benign when it came to ratings. In fact, all of the previous Disney Princess movies were rated G. (Snow White surprises me; that movie is actually pretty freaky.) And then Tangled came along.
Tangled is the first Disney Princess movie to be rated PG.
Tangled is the first Disney Princess movie to be rated PG. To be fair, there is quite a bit of action going on in this movie, as well as references to violence and mortality. And there’s that part where Eugene gets stabbed by Mother Gothel and there’s actual blood (that’s probably the sole reason why the rating got upped). There is a good reason why this movie is rated PG, though I’d probably put it on the lighter end of PG movies.
14 She’s Got The Power
Despite their fame, most Disney Princesses are actually pretty ordinary people. Their talents often included making friends, being able to sing, and things like that. You do have some princesses with more unique skills like Mulan and her combat abilities and Belle and her extensive literature knowledge, but for the most part, the Disney Princesses are fairly ordinary.
But then there’s Rapunzel. The fact that she has crazy long hair is unique in of itself, but then throw in magic powers, and you’ve got one unique Disney Princess. The fact is Rapuznel is the first Disney Princess to have supernatural powers. No other princess before her has had anything like that. While she doesn’t use this power a ton on her journey, it’s still there and it’s a marker of why Mother Gothel was so obsessed with her.
13 This Movie Was Not Cheap
You can’t deny that Tangled is an absolutely gorgeous movie. Between the amazingly smooth animation of Rapunzel’s hair (that they had to develop a whole new software for), the breathtaking scenery, and the vibrant colors, this movie is just a treat to look at. And don’t even get me started on the music. Considering it was the first Disney Princess movie to be made in computer 3D, it looks and sounds just spectacular.
Well, there’s a reason behind that. Making Tangled cost Disney over $260 million. That makes it one of Disney’s most expensive films, right behind Pirates of the Carribean: At World’s End. Considering Tangled made almost $600 million, I think it was well worth the cost. Sometimes you have to pay the high price in order to make something truly amazing.
12 Rapunzel Could’ve Sounded Very Different
It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Mandy Moore voicing Rapunzel; she brings this youthful quality to the character that makes her so charming. And her singing voice is very beautiful and clear. But there were a few other high-profile actresses considered for this movie.
In fact, one of the actresses considered was Idina Menzel. She’s best known for her role as Elphaba in Wicked. I could see why they considered her since she has a very impressive set of pipes. But I think going with Mandy Moore was a good idea, mostly because Idina would’ve sounded a bit too old as Rapunzel. But don’t worry, Idina did get to be in Enchanted, though ironically, she didn’t sing once throughout that movie. Seriously, what was going on there?
11 They’re The Strong Silent Type
We don’t really know too much about Rapunzel’s parents, other than they’re the King and Queen of Corona, the Queen nearly perished when she was pregnant with Rapunzel, and they were absolutely heartbroken when Rapunzel was taken. It probably doesn’t help that we never hear them say a word throughout the movie.
It’s still impressive that we can see all the emotions they go through even though they never say a word.
It’s true, the King and Queen have zero dialogue throughout Tangled. The most we hear from them is when the King does a little joyful laugh when they find Rapunzel. That being said, it’s still impressive that we can see all the emotions they go through even though they never say a word. That scene before they light the lanterns is a beautifully poignant one, showing that even after all these years, they’re still hurting and missing their daughter. Sometimes you don’t need words.
10 This Scene Was Going To Be Much Louder
The floating lantern scene is probably one of the most iconic scenes in Tangled, if not all of Disney. It’s a gorgeous scene that leaves you sitting there with your jaw open as you take in the sights. If there is a festival anything like what we see in Tangled, I want to go to it. But did you know that the lantern festival was going to be very different?
The movie originally had it that fireworks would go off every year on Rapunzel’s birthday. But then the story artist, John Ripa, came up with the idea to do lanterns instead of fireworks. He pitched the idea to John Lasseter, who loved it, and the rest is history. I’m glad they went with lanterns instead. Fireworks are nice, but there’s just something about millions of lanterns in the sky that’s both awe-inspiring and rather soft. It fits the movie well.
9 The Hair’s A Heavy Burden
People with long hair can all agree that it can get heavy sometimes, especially if you have particularly thick hair. I know my head always feels so much lighter when I go for a shorter haircut. Now can you imagine how poor Rapunzel felt with her massive amounts of hair? Just how much did that weigh?
Well, according to Disney, Rapunzel’s hair weighs 10.4 pounds. Holy cow, that must mean Rapunzel has a neck of steel. Seriously, how did she handle having that much hair? I’d probably go insane (though I’ve always been more of a short-hair person.) You can only imagine how much lighter she felt when Eugene cut it (though her mind was probably on other things at that moment.) But yeah, Rapunzel definitely has a lot of neck strength thanks to her crazy hair.
8 Do Not Get On Her Bad Side
We know Mother Gothel isn’t a good person. She manipulates Rapunzel, she makes a dubious deal with the Stabbington Brothers, and she stabs Eugene, almost eliminating him. (Well, he did technically perish, but was brought back through flower power. You know, Disney stuff.) But I don’t think we’ve realized just how high the crime count is for Mother Gothel.
Mother Gothel has been around for a long time and keeping the magic healing flower to herself. By doing so, she refused to help those that could’ve benefited from the flower. In a way, Mother Gothel has been indirectly responsible for countless passings over the centuries because she refused to share the healing power of this magic golden flower. Dang, we know this lady was bad, but this is pretty crazy.
7 She’s Surprisingly Mentally Sound
If you were locked up in a tower with no one to talk to for eighteen years, I can imagine what that would do to your psyche. At the very least, you wouldn’t know how to interact with other people. At worst, you’d probably be a complete wreck. So, what’s up with Rapunzel?
Rapunzel should’ve been way more messed up than she is.
Considering that she hasn’t really talked to anyone her whole life besides Mother Gothel, Rapunzel should’ve been way more messed up than she is. And considering the way Mother Gothel manipulates her, it’s surprising she got the courage to leave the tower at all. I mean, she’s not this perfect being; she is a little naïve and a tad bit socially awkward. But she should have way more problems. She must be a very resilient person.
6 And It’s Back
At the end of Tangled, Rapunzel’s long blonde hair is cut. Her hair then turned brown and she instead sports a nice pixie cut. You’d think that she would be a brunette forever after that, and that we’d never see her crazy long hair ever again. But did you know that the hair came back?
In the Tangled Before Ever After movie, Rapunzel’s long blonde hair somehow grows back. Apparently, when she went to the place where the flower originally grew, her hair came back. While it didn’t retain its healing powers, it did gain invincibility, which is pretty cool. This idea carries over into the Tangled series. Personally, I’d be a little annoyed if I had to deal with that much hair again. It would just be so frustrating to me.
5 He’s A Man Of Many Names
I think all of us were a bit surprised to find out that the roguish Flynn Rider was actually named Eugene Fitzherbert. (I’d probably change my name too. Eugene is nice and all, but it doesn’t have the same swashbuckling ring as Flynn Rider.) But did you know that Eugene wasn’t originally going to be his name either?
Flynn’s real name was going to be Bastian.
In the early days of writing this movie, Flynn’s real name was going to be Bastian (Was he originally going to be French? Because Bastian is a very French name.) And apparently, he was going to be a bit bulkier in body shape, more like the Stabbington Brothers. But his character went through a few rewrites and we got Eugene Fitzherbert, aka Flynn Rider. I think I prefer Eugene over Bastian. Eugene seems to fit him a bit better.
4 Making This Movie Took Forever
Some movies are in development for a pretty long time. Considering what it takes for a movie to get made, it’s a pretty intense process. But did you know how long Tangled was in development for? Well, it’s been in the making for decades.
No seriously, Disney had been thinking about doing a movie based on the Rapunzel fairy tale since 1937. It was one of the original movies considered post the Snow White craze. It was ultimately rejected, but it stayed on the back burner for the next few decades. Even when the idea was revisited in the 90s, it still didn’t start full development until 2002. And then the movie was released in 2010. Basically, this movie was a long time coming. But I think we’re all glad for the wait since it’s pretty amazing!
3 She’s Not As Smart As You’d Think
Mother Gothel is known for being fairly clever and manipulative. This is a lady who gets by more on her wits, though if you put a knife in her hand, she’s just as dangerous. But with all her smarts, her big goal when it came to staying young forever was a bit shortsighted.
Eventually, Rapunzel is going to perish, and then what will Gothel do?
Yeah, when she had the flower, everything was fine, but since the powers transferred to a human being, Mother Gothel’s plan to steal the child and raise it as her own was a bit shortsighted. Because eventually, Rapunzel is going to perish, and then what will Gothel do? Her plan to just keep Rapunzel isolated from everyone kind of makes sense, but it doesn’t benefit her ultimately. (Unless Rapunzel turns out to be immortal from the flower. Now that would be an interesting plot twist.)
2 All My Friends Are Heathens
It’s pretty funny that the first friends Rapunzel makes after leaving the tower are a group of ruffians and thugs. But their whole musical number was pretty awesome! And in the end, having these guys as friends ended up saving both Rapunzel and Eugene.
But we also can’t forget that even though these guys all have that fun roguish charm, they’re also criminals that have harmed people. (The guy with the hook pretty much did everything but blatantly say he ended someone. And let’s not forget the guy with blood in his mustache.) It’s safe to assume that pretty much all of Rapunzel’s new friends are also likely criminals. But it does come in handy to have a bunch of hardened criminals on your side (who are secretly softies at heart).
1 How Was He Not In A Body Cast?
It’s safe to say that this movie was not very kind to Eugene Fitzherbert, aka Flynn Rider. He goes through a lot. He was hunted by the royal guards, was chased by the Stabbington brothers, almost drowned, cut his hand, was stabbed by Mother Gothel, and then perished (temporarily). But considering what else happens, Eugene should’ve had a lot more injuries.
There are a few instances that probably should’ve given him at least couple of broken bones. That whole scene where Rapunzel stuffed him in the dresser should’ve broken his hand at least. And let’s not forget that moment at the dam where he slams into a wooden beam. He should’ve had a few broken ribs. Now, maybe he does have those injuries and they just didn’t show them, but seriously, he probably should’ve been a lot worse off.