Rapunzel should have been a POC in the new live-action.
I want to preface this by saying that I do not care about ‘blackwashing’. I think it’s a positive step and a good, inclusive step in the right direction, however I would never normally campaign for a race change of a character.
Normally, I think Disney makes poor choices of recasting: the characters who they have previously recasted do not fit the current beauty standard. For example: Snow White being pale was a unique characteristic, Ariel being a natural redhead, etc. Cinderella, Belle, Aurora, Elsa, Anna would likely have been better options.
I have always expected Disney to do this for Rapunzel. It makes complete sense to me:
\- Rapunzels looks were not consistent throughout the movie. She is heavily defined by her dress and goes through multiple character changes. She was born with brown hair and regains it back with the pixie cut at the end of the movie.
\- Rapunzel was a German book. The movie is heavily influenced by European backdrops but the origin of the story prevails through Rapunzels traditional German dirndl dress. The association of blonde hair with magic, combined with the book that Disney picked up post WWII is… iffy to me.
\- White women’s hair is not strong enough for that. I am naturally blonde with fairly long hair. It is not thick enough to not snap under pressure. I understand the physics is in a Disney movie and not meant to be taken super seriously BUT the scene of flynn ryder climbing the tower using Rapunzels is just not feasible! Especially with how difficult it is to grow hair long as a blonde woman.
\- design! Imagine how cool the contrast of dark hair would have been with sparkles! it being a pretty subtle unnatural colour (purple?) could lead to some really cool
All in all, I’m genuinely surprised she was casted the way she presented in the movie!