I don't see how the story of Rapunzel could be done without her at least starting as a damsel. If she wasn't she wouldn't wait for a prince to save her, she'd tie that big long hair of hers to something and use it to climb down herself, no rescue needed, since it's clearly strong enough for that ;)

I wouldn't like her to stay damsel-like, It's not something I find appealing, and I think it's a culturally stale character too, not that all leading characters need to be butt kickers but I think a story's heroine, especally one aimed at kids needs some kind of strength. It doesn't need to be physical, but mental or emotional too. Besdies, you can be a sweet kind character but not a damsel (that's really a separete issue of mine. I hate how these days we send the message that you need to choose between being sweet and being empowered, like it's one or the other. Ideally she'd be sweet, kind and strong).
But I hate when characters are called 'sassy' because if you look at all the characters that writers/directors call sassy they're always two dimensional and annoying. Sassy is the lazy version of empowered, so I hope that's not how she is. That word just reminds me of a bunch of middleaged men trying to appeal to little girls, so instead of making a character with depth and realistic stregnth they make her 'sassy'. Frankly, I think that's part of the reason I'm not too excited about Rapunzel. From the images released so far she looks like exactly the kind of character that would be called sassy.

I would like her to be more butt-kicking than Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora, but more traditional than Ariel, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, and Tiana. Somewhere around the Belle neighborhood is where I would like Rapunzel to be.

I agree with the posters above :)

thats what I want, but apparently she's the total butt kicker one.

Yeah, apparently she uses her hair as a whip?!! And I agree, that it wouldn't make any sense that she would be a prisoner in the tower if she was an 'empowered' female character unless she was just a total idiot of a character with "attitude". And being isolated in a tower all her life, where would she have learned the attitude from anyway? Since sassiness is a relatively modern, socially-taught behavior.

I have very high hopes for this film but only mediocre expectations. I want a traditional fairytale. I want to be taken away to a fairyland and NOT constantly distracted by any modern pop culture references. I don't necessairly want to relate to Rapunzel...I'd want to emulate her. I don't want to say "wow, she's alot like me and that's cool" ...i'd rather say, "wow, she's classy and charming. I should be more like her"

I like stories where the character evolves.

I completely agree with alafastanzio, one of the main reasons why I wasn't impressed with Princess and the Frog is because it lacked that fairy tale quality- it's set in New Orleans, the heroine works two jobs...it's a little too realistic. I kind of do want to go back to that damsel in distress thing, because I completely agree with alafastanzio- I don't want a princess to relate to, I want a more fairytalish character. This is why people like Belle- she's a very perfect version of a human.

nice question! i also like the idea of an evolving character but most of the rapunzel movies i've seen or books i've read, she's usually a damsel with little personality. would be interesting to see more of a jasmine or maybe pocahontas kind of character in her.

I hate when they start out trying to be all tough and independent. I.E. Meg. I hate her.

^ I actually admire Meg as she's different to most heroines. Hate is a strong word, dear.

I totally agree with alafastanzio.

Well then, I strongly dislike.

I strongly dislike is a strong word, dear.

mongoose09, i like meg too but everyone's entitled to their own opinion

i know im only joking lol sorry

I'm not a big fan of Meg either- actually, because out of all the disney heroines, I am most similar to her, personality wise. I dislike Meg too.

And i read on wikipedia that someone said that she'll have a lot of girl power

starting out as sassy would just make her a clone of Jasmine and Megara.

The sassy ones are always my favourite. If you're trapped in a tower all day, you're going to be a little defensive towards other humans if the only human you know locked you away for all eternity.