Sleeping Beauty (franchise) explained

Disney's Sleeping Beauty
Owner:The Walt Disney Company
Origin:Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Tv Specials:The Peter Tchaikovsky Story
Dtv: (2007; Keys to the Kingdom segment)
Music:"Once Upon a Dream"
Footnotes:Characters and/or settings from this franchise appear as part of a crossover
Sp:Empty
Years:1955–present

Sleeping Beauty is a Disney media franchise that began in 1959 with the theatrical release of the animated film Sleeping Beauty, based on the homonymous fairy tale.

Films

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

See main article: Sleeping Beauty (1959 film). Sleeping Beauty is a 1959 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney based on The Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault. In 2019, Sleeping Beauty was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[1]

Maleficent films

See main article: Maleficent (film series).

Maleficent (2014)

See main article: Maleficent (film). Maleficent is a live-action adaptation/retelling of 1959 animated film from the eponymous antagonist portrayed by Angelina Jolie.[2]

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)

See main article: Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. is the sequel of the 2014 film Maleficent, continuing the story of the first film.[3] The film was released on October 18, 2019.[4]

Untitled third Maleficent film (TBA)

In September 2021, a third Maleficent film was confirmed to be in early development, with Angelina Jolie expected to return.[5] [6]

Direct-to-video and television films

Keys to the Kingdom (2007)

See main article: Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams. As a segment of Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams, "Keys to the Kingdom" focuses on Princess Aurora, who reigns the kingdom in the absence of her parents, and Merryweather gives Aurora her wand in case she needs any assistance and warns her to be very careful with it.

Descendants series

See main article: Descendants (franchise).

Descendants (2015)

See main article: Descendants (2015 film). Descendants is a live-action Disney Channel Original Movie based on the lives of the children of various Disney heroes and villains when they attend the same prep school. The film focused mainly on Mal, daughter of Maleficent, who is the main antagonist of the movie. The film also includes Audrey, Aurora and Phillip's daughter, and Queen Leah also makes a minor appearance.

Descendants 2 (2017)

See main article: Descendants 2. Descendants 2 is the sequel to the 2015 film Descendants. The film again focuses on Mal, however Maleficent only appears briefly transformed into a lizard (staying in this form in the previous movie). Audrey, Aurora and Prince Phillip's daughter, being only mentioned in the film.

Descendants 3 (2019)

See main article: Descendants 3. A third film in the Descendants franchise was released in mid 2019.[7] It featured Mal and Audrey, the daughters of Maleficent and Aurora respectively, with Queen Leah returning in a supporting role. In the film, Mal and Audrey fulfill roles reversed from their mothers in Sleeping Beauty, with Mal acting as the heroine of the story, while Audrey acts as the main antagonist.

Descendants: The Rise of Red (2024)

See main article: Descendants: The Rise of Red. A fourth film from the Descendants franchise was released in mid 2024. In the film, Maleficent is seen in her teenage years.

Television series

House of Mouse (2001–2003)

See main article: House of Mouse. Disney's animated television series House of Mouse included many Disney animated character cameos, including the Sleeping Beauty characters. Characters from Sleeping Beauty also make minor appearances in the direct-to-video films based in the show, and Mickey's House of Villains.

Sofia the First (2012–2018)

See main article: Sofia the First. Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather appear as recurring characters in the American animated television series Sofia the First, as the headmistresses of Royal Prep.

The series features characters from the Disney Princess franchise, with Aurora appearing in the 24th episode of the series, "Holiday in Enchancia".

Theme park attractions

Sleeping Beauty Castle

See main article: Sleeping Beauty Castle. Sleeping Beauty Castle is a fairy tale castle at the center of Disneyland and Disneyland Park (Paris) and formerly at Hong Kong Disneyland. It is based on the late-19th century Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany.

Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant

See main article: Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant. Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant (English: The Castle of the Sleeping Beauty) is the fairy tale castle at the centre of Disneyland Paris and is a continuation of Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Video games

Kingdom Hearts series (2002–present)

Maleficent is one of the main antagonists in the Kingdom Hearts video game series, appearing in most entries in the series. Aurora appears for first time in Kingdom Hearts as one of the Seven Princesses of Heart. Flora, Fauna and Merryweather, as well as Maleficent's raven, appear for the first time in Kingdom Hearts II. Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep include a world based on the animation film, Enchanted Dominion, which includes for the first time in the games to Prince Phillip and Maleficent's goons.

Disney Princess: Magical Jewels (2007)

Aurora appears in as a playable character.[8]

Disney Infinity series (2014–2016)

The 2014 live-action version of Maleficent is a playable character in the Disney Infinity video game series, beginning with Disney Infinity 2.0 (2015).[9] As with the other playable characters in the game, a tie-in figure for Maleficent was also released.

Disney Magic Kingdoms (2016)

Maleficent appears as a non-player character and the main antagonist in the video game Disney Magic Kingdoms, where she casts a curse on the titular Kingdom.[10] Aurora, Prince Phillip, Flora, Fauna and Merryweather appear as playable characters in the main storyline of the game.[11]

Other

The franchise's titular protagonist, Aurora, is part of the characters in the Disney Princess franchise.[12] The main antagonist of the franchise, Maleficent, is included as a regular character of the Disney Villains franchise,[13] [14] [15] while her sidekick raven Diablo also has minor recurring appearances in said franchise.[16] [17]

Cast and characters

See main article: List of Disney's Sleeping Beauty characters.

Overview of cast and characters in the Sleeping Beauty franchise
CharactersAnimated filmsLive-action films
Sleeping BeautyKeys to the KingdomMaleficent
Mistress of Evil
1959200720142019
AuroraMary CostaErin Torpey
Cassidy Ladden (singing)
Elle Fanning
Vivienne Jolie-Pitt
Eleanor Worthington Cox
Janet McTeer
Elle Fanning
MaleficentEleanor AudleyAngelina Jolie
Isobelle Molloy
Ella Purnell
Angelina Jolie
Flora
Verna FeltonBarbara DiriksonImelda Staunton
Fauna
Barbara Jo AllenRussi TaylorLesley Manville
Merryweather
Barbara Luddy
Colleen Collins
Tress MacNeilleJuno Temple
Prince PhillipBill ShirleyRoger Craig SmithBrenton ThwaitesHarris Dickinson
King StefanCorey BurtonSharlto Copley
Michael Higgins
Jackson Bews
Queen Leah
Verna FeltonBarbara DiriksonHannah New
King Hubert
Bill ThompsonJeff BennettRobert Lindsay
Diablo the Raven
Sam Riley

Notes and References

  1. News: Itzoff. Dave. 'She's Gotta Have It' and 'Purple Rain' Join National Film Registry. The New York Times. December 11, 2019. December 15, 2022. limited.
  2. Web site: Maleficent: Press Kit . . June 6, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140609044511/http://www.wdsmediafile.com/media/maleficent/writen-material/maleficent5375639426893.pdf . June 9, 2014 . live .
  3. News: Maleficent 2 Sets Spring Filming Start Date. Screen Rant. January 5, 2018. January 13, 2018. Carolyn. Burke.
  4. Web site: Disney Movie Release Dates: Poppins Moves Up, Jungle Cruise Delayed. 2018-07-10. ComingSoon.net. en-US. 2019-04-01.
  5. Web site: Angelina Jolie is expected to return in Maleficent 3 . Giant Freakin Robot. Faith. Mckay. 9 September 2021 . September 9, 2021.
  6. Web site: Angelina Jolie is reportedly returning for Maleficent 3 . We Got This Covered. Scott. Campbell. September 10, 2021.
  7. Web site: Disney Announces 'Descendants 3' for 2019. Brockington. Ariana. 2018-02-17. Variety. en. 2019-04-01.
  8. http://disneyinteractivestudios.custhelp.com/euf/assets/images/documents/dpmj_ds.pdf Disney Princess: Magical Jewels game manual
  9. Web site: Merida and Maleficent Are Coming to Disney Infinity. Disney Blogs.
  10. Web site: Disney Magic Kingdoms - Official Launch Trailer. YouTube. March 17, 2016.
  11. Web site: Update 1: Sleeping Beauty Trailer. YouTube. May 6, 2016.
  12. Web site: Aurora Disney Princess. Disney Princess . Disney . August 3, 2023.
  13. Web site: Disney Archive's List of Disney Villains . 2008-08-14 . Dave Smith . Disney Archives . Disney Enterprises . https://web.archive.org/web/20100402221109/http://disney.go.com/vault/archives/villains_ai.html . 2010-04-02 . dead.
  14. Book: Dakin, Glenn . Glenn Dakin . Disney Villains: The Essential Guide . 18 . January 1, 2004 . . 1405305673.
  15. Book: Dakin, Glenn . Glenn Dakin . Disney Villains: The Essential Guide to the Evilest of Them All . 20 . September 8, 2020 . . 9780241401224.
  16. Web site: Celebrate National Play Monopoly Day With the New Monopoly: Disney Villains Henchmen Edition . November 19, 2021 . Rebekah Moseley . Laughing Place.
  17. Web site: Game Review: "Disney Villains Labyrinth" Adds a Wicked Twist to a Classic Game . September 4, 2022 . Alex Reif . Laughing Place.