I was recently inspired by @Evilgidgit's excellent idea for a re-imagining of The Aristocats, and it inspired me to make my own threads about my own ideas for movies. This idea I've had buzzing around in the back of my head for years. It's a Disney traditionally-animated adaptation of the classic fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Largely inspired by the Faerie Tale Theatre adaptation, with a few of my own ideas mixed in. There's no villain and no major conflict, it's just an organic love story.
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The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Story Layout by DisneyManOne
Long ago, in a faraway kingdom, there live twelve princesses, each one as beautiful and as graceful as can be. Ever since their mother, the late Queen, died, their father, the good King Heinrich, has kept them away from society, for fear that the cynicism and gloom the world brings shall corrupt his daughters. But this doesn't stop his daughters from yearning to explore the world, and thus, they've developed a cunning plan. Every night, their father locks the door to their room as they sleep. But by morning, their shoes are tattered and hole-filled, and the daughters refuse to spill the beans as to why this is. In order to solve this mystery once and for all, Heinrich issues forth a proclamation: Any prince that can solve the mystery within three days' time shall be wed to any one of the twelve princesses that he chooses, and will be recognized as the King's rightful heir. If not, he is imprisoned. (In the original story, the failures are put to death, but hey--Disney movie!)
News of this proclamation spreads fast, preferably through a musical number, and many princes arrive to try, but are all imprisoned. One man who is intrigued by this concept is a poor peasant named Alistair. Alistair grew up in the kingdom as a youth, and his widowed mother still lives there, but he has left in order to pursue studies. We first meet Alistair as he returns to his boyhood home, joined by his friends Horatio and Lafayette. Horatio and Lafayette scoff at the fact that Alistair, a poor peasant, wants to try and solve the mystery, but Alistair remains confident. After all, "one man's problem is another man's good fortune." After stopping in to visit his mother, the trio set out once more.
Along the way, the boys spy an old woman being abused by hostile nobility. They fight them off and comes to the woman's aid. Taking the boys to her cottage, she reveals herself to be a witch...but a benevolent one. She reveals that because of their kind hearts, she shall grant whatever desires they have. Alistair admits to having one desire: to solve the King's mystery. The witch declares that not only shall Alistair be given the chance to solve the mystery, she shall also make sure that he emerges victorious. Because of her magic powers, she knows all about the princesses and what they do. The princesses are able to leave the castle at night thanks to a hidden passageway built into their bedroom wall. However, where they go to is still a mystery. Not even the witch's magic has been able to figure that out. That is something Alistair has to figure himself. And on top of that, the princesses have a very special method of making sure the men fail to solve the mystery: whenever they offer the man in question a drink at dinnertime, they lace it with a sleeping potion. So, she advises him not to drink anything the princesses offer him, and loans him an invisibility cloak so that he may follow the princesses to their mystery place without being noticed.
When Alistair reaches the castle, Heinrich is apprehensive to allow him to try his luck, seeing how he is nothing but a poor peasant--certainly not a prince. However, the eldest princess, Amelia, takes pity on the poor peasant, and helps Alistair plead his case. After all, "one man's peasant is another man's prince." Convinced, Heinrich allows him to stay. Leaving the two alone, Alistair and Amelia strike up a conversation, noticing how well they get along. At a welcoming feast at sunset, he meets the other princesses. When Heinrich proposes a toast to welcome the newcomer, Alistair finds that Amelia has given him a goblet to drink from. Remembering the witch's words, Alistair pretends to drink and pretends to become sleepy. Noticing Alistair's "drowsiness", Heinrich dismisses the feast so that all may retire to bed.
As Heinrich locks the door for the night, the princesses prepare to go to their mystery place. They dress in the most beautiful gowns and wear pure golden tiaras. As they prepare, they sing of what their dream men would be; with Amelia's dream man being "a prince among men" (Foreshadowing, much?). Ready to go, and true to what the witch told the boys, Amelia activates a trap-door in the wall of their bedchamber, which leads through a tunnel and out the back of the castle. Alistair follows behind, invisibility cloak draped round his body.
The journey to the mystery place takes the princesses (and Alistair, who is visible to us as the audience through an effect similar to the Force ghosts) through three beautiful tree-filled forests; one with leaves made of gold, one with leaves made of silver, and one with leaves made of diamond. Alistair nearly gives himself away when, in awe of the forests' beauty, he steps upon the hem of Angelina's dress (Angelina being the youngest of the twelve). Her cries of alarm are brushed off by Amelia, who tells her there's nothing to fear. At the edge of the diamond-leafed forest is a great lagoon, shrouded in mist. There, waiting by the bay, are twelve golden gondolas, each one driven by a dashing young prince. Each princess gets into one, and Alistair steps into the same boat with Angelina, who complains that the prince is not rowing fast enough, not knowing Alistair is in the boat.
Across the lagoon, the mist parts to reveal an extravagant castle--the most beautiful castle Disney has ever designed! Inside is a large ballroom, with a long table with a feast fit for a king, and a large dance floor. The princes and princesses eat and dance the night away. Alistair also eats, leading to a gag involving a steward watching a pastry float up and disappear...followed by said steward tossing a bottle of wine aside. As dawn approaches, the princesses and Alistair leave the castle and head back. Alistair runs ahead of the princesses, stopping to pick a leaf off a golden-leaf tree, and jumps back in bed just as the princesses come to check on him. Alone, Alistair marvels at how wonderful the night was, like something out of a dream, more than likely reprising the Princesses' song, but this time, about his experiences there. He decides that he will wait until Heinrich calls upon him to explain the mystery, so that way, he can enjoy everything twice more.
As morning comes, we find Alistair and Heinrich engaged in conversation, Alistair telling him about his late father and his mother. Heinrich sympathizes with the lad, having lost his wife, the Queen, years ago. Alistair proceeds to spend the rest of the morning with the twelve princesses, joining them in their respective hobbies. The last one he socializes with is Amelia, and they talk of how they each view the world. When Amelia brings up Heinrich's fears that the world may be nothing but cynical, Alistair begs to differ. He tells her that as a peasant, he's seen it all; and while there might be cynicism in this world, there is more good than evil. To demonstrate, he asks Heinrich's permission to take her out into the village, so that he may show her all the wonderful things in the world. Although reluctant, Heinrich allows him to go. Through a song sequence, Alistair shows Amelia, now dressed like a peasant herself in order to hide her identity as princess, the good of the world. Alistair even takes her to see his mother, Horatio and Lafayette. Alistair's mother reprises her son's song, but this time, about the good in the world as seen through the eyes of a mother. Amelia is touched by her story, and Horatio and Lafayette promise to keep the princess' visit a secret. Suddenly, the clock tower begins to strike. It's almost dinnertime! Alistair and Amelia rush back to the castle just in time. As night falls, Alistair once again pretends to drink the wine the princesses offer him, and follows the princesses to their dream castle. This time around, on the return trip, he picks a leaf off a silver-leaf tree.
The third day approaches. Heinrich asks Alistair how he is getting on; Alistair responds that he is getting on swimmingly. Alistair find himself wandering about aimlessly throughout the castle. He stumbles into the castle's grand ballroom, which is noticeably more dull than the dream castle's ballroom, and finds Amelia, dressed in her ballgown, twirling about to a tune long forgotten. Slightly embarrassed, Amelia tells Alistair that a ball hasn't been held here in the longest time. She says that since their mother died, Heinrich has become a tad more cynical about things. He's still a jolly guy, no doubt about that, but there's something about him that seems rather off. Alistair sympathizes with Heinrich, and with Amelia. He felt the same way when his father died when he was just a kid. He recalls how inconsolable he was when his father died, and how he felt that there was no good left in the world. But yet, his mother reminded him that there is still good in this world, and that one must never lose hope.
To lighten the mood, Alistair tells Amelia of his memories of the castle when he was a boy. When he was young, he always looked forward to balls at the castle, because he loved seeing a seemingly-endless parade of carriages and coaches going up to the castle for a celebration. He always wished that he may go to one one day, and he admits he's always wanted to learn how to waltz. In the spur of the moment, he asks Amelia to teach him. In true Disney fashion, this is accomplished through song, and soon, they are off, dancing a glorious waltz together. And of course, it is through this waltz that they realize they are falling in love with each other. Heinrich watches them waltz, and makes a private visit to Alistair's mother, and admits to her that he hopes that Alistair will win. He would love to have him as an heir. As sunset approaches and they walk the gardens together, the two young lovers end up sharing a kiss...or two. As the time to go to the dream castle approaches, Amelia is noticeably more apprehensive about giving him the poisoned wine; for fear that this may be the last time she sees Alistair. She has come to love him, and she doesn't want to see him imprisoned. Even when they go to the dream castle, Amelia seems more apprehensive about dancing with the dream prince. This time around, Alistair brings with him two tokens: a goblet from the feast table and a leaf from a diamond-leaf tree.
Morning comes. The princesses are excited about keeping their secret, but Amelia is a bit more solemn about the occasion. Heinrich calls Alistair forward and asks him about the mystery. Alistair explains everything to him: the secret tunnel, the beautiful forests, the mysterious lagoon, the gondolas, the princes, the dream-castle, the feasting and the dancing; and showcases the leaves and the goblet as proof when Heinrich doubts his tale is so. The princesses are shocked, but Amelia is relieved that Alistair won't be imprisoned. With Heinrich convinced about this story, he calls the princesses forth and asks if the peasant speaks the truth. The princesses know that there is no use in denying the truth, and confess. Heinrich asks them why they do this, and Amelia tells them that they only wished to step out of the kingdom and explore the world, and they are no longer the children they once were. "If only you would trust us a little, instead of locking us in at night, you could see how grown-up we are", she tells him. Realizing his overprotective ways, Heinrich admits that it's been tough for him ever since the Queen passed away, and that he's been living in the past since then. It's not easy to raise so many children by yourself, and he's been conflicted on what to do.
Earning his daughters' trust and forgiveness, Heinrich allows Alistair to choose his bride. Of course, he chooses Amelia, on the condition that it is her choice, and she happily accepts. She tells Heinrich about how Alistair has shown her that there is still good in this world, and Alistair showcases how he was able to solve the mystery. After all, "one man's witch is another man's good fairy." Heinrich blesses their marriage and all the kingdom is invited to the wedding of Princess Amelia and Prince Alistair. Horatio, Lafayette and Alistair's mother are guests of honor. Much dancing and rejoicing abound, maybe with a reprise of one of the songs we've heard before or an original ending piece, and our newlyweds live happily ever after.
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The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Story Layout by DisneyManOne
Long ago, in a faraway kingdom, there live twelve princesses, each one as beautiful and as graceful as can be. Ever since their mother, the late Queen, died, their father, the good King Heinrich, has kept them away from society, for fear that the cynicism and gloom the world brings shall corrupt his daughters. But this doesn't stop his daughters from yearning to explore the world, and thus, they've developed a cunning plan. Every night, their father locks the door to their room as they sleep. But by morning, their shoes are tattered and hole-filled, and the daughters refuse to spill the beans as to why this is. In order to solve this mystery once and for all, Heinrich issues forth a proclamation: Any prince that can solve the mystery within three days' time shall be wed to any one of the twelve princesses that he chooses, and will be recognized as the King's rightful heir. If not, he is imprisoned. (In the original story, the failures are put to death, but hey--Disney movie!)
News of this proclamation spreads fast, preferably through a musical number, and many princes arrive to try, but are all imprisoned. One man who is intrigued by this concept is a poor peasant named Alistair. Alistair grew up in the kingdom as a youth, and his widowed mother still lives there, but he has left in order to pursue studies. We first meet Alistair as he returns to his boyhood home, joined by his friends Horatio and Lafayette. Horatio and Lafayette scoff at the fact that Alistair, a poor peasant, wants to try and solve the mystery, but Alistair remains confident. After all, "one man's problem is another man's good fortune." After stopping in to visit his mother, the trio set out once more.
Along the way, the boys spy an old woman being abused by hostile nobility. They fight them off and comes to the woman's aid. Taking the boys to her cottage, she reveals herself to be a witch...but a benevolent one. She reveals that because of their kind hearts, she shall grant whatever desires they have. Alistair admits to having one desire: to solve the King's mystery. The witch declares that not only shall Alistair be given the chance to solve the mystery, she shall also make sure that he emerges victorious. Because of her magic powers, she knows all about the princesses and what they do. The princesses are able to leave the castle at night thanks to a hidden passageway built into their bedroom wall. However, where they go to is still a mystery. Not even the witch's magic has been able to figure that out. That is something Alistair has to figure himself. And on top of that, the princesses have a very special method of making sure the men fail to solve the mystery: whenever they offer the man in question a drink at dinnertime, they lace it with a sleeping potion. So, she advises him not to drink anything the princesses offer him, and loans him an invisibility cloak so that he may follow the princesses to their mystery place without being noticed.
When Alistair reaches the castle, Heinrich is apprehensive to allow him to try his luck, seeing how he is nothing but a poor peasant--certainly not a prince. However, the eldest princess, Amelia, takes pity on the poor peasant, and helps Alistair plead his case. After all, "one man's peasant is another man's prince." Convinced, Heinrich allows him to stay. Leaving the two alone, Alistair and Amelia strike up a conversation, noticing how well they get along. At a welcoming feast at sunset, he meets the other princesses. When Heinrich proposes a toast to welcome the newcomer, Alistair finds that Amelia has given him a goblet to drink from. Remembering the witch's words, Alistair pretends to drink and pretends to become sleepy. Noticing Alistair's "drowsiness", Heinrich dismisses the feast so that all may retire to bed.
As Heinrich locks the door for the night, the princesses prepare to go to their mystery place. They dress in the most beautiful gowns and wear pure golden tiaras. As they prepare, they sing of what their dream men would be; with Amelia's dream man being "a prince among men" (Foreshadowing, much?). Ready to go, and true to what the witch told the boys, Amelia activates a trap-door in the wall of their bedchamber, which leads through a tunnel and out the back of the castle. Alistair follows behind, invisibility cloak draped round his body.
The journey to the mystery place takes the princesses (and Alistair, who is visible to us as the audience through an effect similar to the Force ghosts) through three beautiful tree-filled forests; one with leaves made of gold, one with leaves made of silver, and one with leaves made of diamond. Alistair nearly gives himself away when, in awe of the forests' beauty, he steps upon the hem of Angelina's dress (Angelina being the youngest of the twelve). Her cries of alarm are brushed off by Amelia, who tells her there's nothing to fear. At the edge of the diamond-leafed forest is a great lagoon, shrouded in mist. There, waiting by the bay, are twelve golden gondolas, each one driven by a dashing young prince. Each princess gets into one, and Alistair steps into the same boat with Angelina, who complains that the prince is not rowing fast enough, not knowing Alistair is in the boat.
Across the lagoon, the mist parts to reveal an extravagant castle--the most beautiful castle Disney has ever designed! Inside is a large ballroom, with a long table with a feast fit for a king, and a large dance floor. The princes and princesses eat and dance the night away. Alistair also eats, leading to a gag involving a steward watching a pastry float up and disappear...followed by said steward tossing a bottle of wine aside. As dawn approaches, the princesses and Alistair leave the castle and head back. Alistair runs ahead of the princesses, stopping to pick a leaf off a golden-leaf tree, and jumps back in bed just as the princesses come to check on him. Alone, Alistair marvels at how wonderful the night was, like something out of a dream, more than likely reprising the Princesses' song, but this time, about his experiences there. He decides that he will wait until Heinrich calls upon him to explain the mystery, so that way, he can enjoy everything twice more.
As morning comes, we find Alistair and Heinrich engaged in conversation, Alistair telling him about his late father and his mother. Heinrich sympathizes with the lad, having lost his wife, the Queen, years ago. Alistair proceeds to spend the rest of the morning with the twelve princesses, joining them in their respective hobbies. The last one he socializes with is Amelia, and they talk of how they each view the world. When Amelia brings up Heinrich's fears that the world may be nothing but cynical, Alistair begs to differ. He tells her that as a peasant, he's seen it all; and while there might be cynicism in this world, there is more good than evil. To demonstrate, he asks Heinrich's permission to take her out into the village, so that he may show her all the wonderful things in the world. Although reluctant, Heinrich allows him to go. Through a song sequence, Alistair shows Amelia, now dressed like a peasant herself in order to hide her identity as princess, the good of the world. Alistair even takes her to see his mother, Horatio and Lafayette. Alistair's mother reprises her son's song, but this time, about the good in the world as seen through the eyes of a mother. Amelia is touched by her story, and Horatio and Lafayette promise to keep the princess' visit a secret. Suddenly, the clock tower begins to strike. It's almost dinnertime! Alistair and Amelia rush back to the castle just in time. As night falls, Alistair once again pretends to drink the wine the princesses offer him, and follows the princesses to their dream castle. This time around, on the return trip, he picks a leaf off a silver-leaf tree.
The third day approaches. Heinrich asks Alistair how he is getting on; Alistair responds that he is getting on swimmingly. Alistair find himself wandering about aimlessly throughout the castle. He stumbles into the castle's grand ballroom, which is noticeably more dull than the dream castle's ballroom, and finds Amelia, dressed in her ballgown, twirling about to a tune long forgotten. Slightly embarrassed, Amelia tells Alistair that a ball hasn't been held here in the longest time. She says that since their mother died, Heinrich has become a tad more cynical about things. He's still a jolly guy, no doubt about that, but there's something about him that seems rather off. Alistair sympathizes with Heinrich, and with Amelia. He felt the same way when his father died when he was just a kid. He recalls how inconsolable he was when his father died, and how he felt that there was no good left in the world. But yet, his mother reminded him that there is still good in this world, and that one must never lose hope.
To lighten the mood, Alistair tells Amelia of his memories of the castle when he was a boy. When he was young, he always looked forward to balls at the castle, because he loved seeing a seemingly-endless parade of carriages and coaches going up to the castle for a celebration. He always wished that he may go to one one day, and he admits he's always wanted to learn how to waltz. In the spur of the moment, he asks Amelia to teach him. In true Disney fashion, this is accomplished through song, and soon, they are off, dancing a glorious waltz together. And of course, it is through this waltz that they realize they are falling in love with each other. Heinrich watches them waltz, and makes a private visit to Alistair's mother, and admits to her that he hopes that Alistair will win. He would love to have him as an heir. As sunset approaches and they walk the gardens together, the two young lovers end up sharing a kiss...or two. As the time to go to the dream castle approaches, Amelia is noticeably more apprehensive about giving him the poisoned wine; for fear that this may be the last time she sees Alistair. She has come to love him, and she doesn't want to see him imprisoned. Even when they go to the dream castle, Amelia seems more apprehensive about dancing with the dream prince. This time around, Alistair brings with him two tokens: a goblet from the feast table and a leaf from a diamond-leaf tree.
Morning comes. The princesses are excited about keeping their secret, but Amelia is a bit more solemn about the occasion. Heinrich calls Alistair forward and asks him about the mystery. Alistair explains everything to him: the secret tunnel, the beautiful forests, the mysterious lagoon, the gondolas, the princes, the dream-castle, the feasting and the dancing; and showcases the leaves and the goblet as proof when Heinrich doubts his tale is so. The princesses are shocked, but Amelia is relieved that Alistair won't be imprisoned. With Heinrich convinced about this story, he calls the princesses forth and asks if the peasant speaks the truth. The princesses know that there is no use in denying the truth, and confess. Heinrich asks them why they do this, and Amelia tells them that they only wished to step out of the kingdom and explore the world, and they are no longer the children they once were. "If only you would trust us a little, instead of locking us in at night, you could see how grown-up we are", she tells him. Realizing his overprotective ways, Heinrich admits that it's been tough for him ever since the Queen passed away, and that he's been living in the past since then. It's not easy to raise so many children by yourself, and he's been conflicted on what to do.
Earning his daughters' trust and forgiveness, Heinrich allows Alistair to choose his bride. Of course, he chooses Amelia, on the condition that it is her choice, and she happily accepts. She tells Heinrich about how Alistair has shown her that there is still good in this world, and Alistair showcases how he was able to solve the mystery. After all, "one man's witch is another man's good fairy." Heinrich blesses their marriage and all the kingdom is invited to the wedding of Princess Amelia and Prince Alistair. Horatio, Lafayette and Alistair's mother are guests of honor. Much dancing and rejoicing abound, maybe with a reprise of one of the songs we've heard before or an original ending piece, and our newlyweds live happily ever after.
