TANGLED

TANGLED

Rapunzel does not appear in the pantheon of story-telling heroines alongside Cinderella and Snow White. Things may change as it shines now among "Disney princesses". Meeting with those who have woven a new destiny.

Among the tales of the Brothers Grimm is Rapunzel. The story of this girl trapped in a tower without a door, where one enters by throwing: "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, get down your long hair." Rapunzel then passes his long braids through the window. And the visitor - in fact, the witch who holds her between these walls - hoists herself towards her. Until the day a handsome young man passes by ...

"This tale has been in the project stage at Disney since 1940. But as it lacked thickness, nobody lingered long enough to crack it and find a story for the public today" , notes Nathan Greno, who co-directed Tangled with Byron Howard.

Tangled is the final title of this 3D animated film in its original version. He is no longer wearing the name of his heroine (Rapunzel / Rapunzel), but a word reflecting the situation exposed here. "Tangled" means entanglement, clutter, confusion. We can take it literally (the hair of Rapunzel is still 30 meters long!) As figuratively.


Rapunzel is erased from the title

Is not it risky to put aside the "princess" in favor of a more generic word? After all, Disney's hits are called Cinderella, Snow White, The Little Mermaid ... Not at all, says Byron Howard: "Tangled better reflects the reality of the film: the story is not that of Rapunzel is as much as Flynn's. "

Flynn? A thief (cracking) pursued by the king's guards and his former accomplices. And who happens, by chance, in view of the tower where Raiponce lives in the company of Mother Gothel. Which, beneath benevolent outside, actually kidnapped the princess - Rapunzel is the daughter of the rulers of the kingdom - when she was a baby in order to use the magic of her hair. Touching them ensures eternal youth. She keeps her locked in the high tower. But on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, the girl is more and more obsessed with the idea of ​​discovering the world - in particular, the reason for the thousands of lanterns that, on her birthday, rise. in the sky, in the distance, out of his reach.

"Our Rapunzel has never seen the world, but she is attracted to him. Yes, she is afraid, but her curiosity is that she has what it takes to try the adventure. We did not want to make it a prostrate and terrified character, "says Mark Kennedy, who acted as director of history in this adventure. It should be understood that his role is to bridge the gap between directors, screenwriters and lead animators, and that he "signs" the scenario presented to producers ... which is in fact, in the case of a animated film, a storyboard way. The story, the artistic vision and the characters are thus, at a glance, revealed to those who ultimately take (financial) decisions.

In the present case, among the original characters was a certain Maximus - one who is in the footsteps of Flynn and who does not let the young thief off a sole. "He's the best policeman in the world," laughs Mark Kennedy ... because the policeman in question is a horse. He belonged to a guard of the royal army. He behaves like a dog (policeman). "And it was inspired by the character Tommy Lee Jones embodies in The Fugitive." Knowing this makes the character even more hilarious than he is - which is saying a lot.

Hair, challenge for 3D

And then, there was Rapunzel and his hair mass. "When you work in 3D, you know that one of the things you have to avoid is long hair. As soon as they touch the shoulders, it becomes incredibly complex, "says Nathan Greno. "People have been working for seven years on the technique we've used," says Byron Howard. Because they were not going to cut it: Rapunzel without her hair meters is not Rapunzel - "besides, she does not just comb them, she uses them like a lasso, a liane, etc. "says Byron Howard - and Disney was 3D. For several reasons. Among other things, because this film will occupy a very special place in the history of the studio: it is its 50th animated feature film.

Both directors, Mark Kennedy and their team have worked in this direction. Combine the classic Snow White with a story with a contemporary flavor, all driven by the possibilities offered by 3D. They set out to find an adventure that would justify the cost of the ticket and the wearing of the infamous glasses. They gave birth to a film where humor, songs and tender moments intertwine. Great art, not just hair.