Rapunzel

Disney is wringing the pink out of its princess movies. After the less-than-fairy-tale results for its most recent animated release, "The Princess and the Frog," executives at the Burbank studio believe they know why the acclaimed movie came up short at the box office. Brace yourself: Boys didn't want to see a movie with "princess" in the title. This time, Disney is taking measures to ensure that doesn't happen again. The studio renamed its next animated film with the girl-centric name "Rapunzel" to the less gender-specific "Tangled."

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom A Novel Christopher Healy HarperCollins: 432 pp., $16.99, ages 8 and up Whether it's Cinderella or Snow White, Rapunzel or Sleeping Beauty, princes play a key role in the happily ever afters of fairy tales. But what happens once these dashing young lads have swooped in to save their distressed damsels? What if, as Christopher Healy theorizes with his cheeky middle-grade debut, these princes turned out to be insufferable losers?

For "Tangled," the studio's 50th feature-length cartoon, the team at Disney has taken a deep breath and tried to be all things to all animation-loving people. There are some hiccups along the way, but by the end there is success. Whether you like stirring adventure or sentimental romance, traditional fairy tales or stories of modern families, musicals or comedies, even blonds or brunets, "Tangled" has something for you. Sampling so many animation touchstones has its risks, but once "Tangled" calms down and accepts the essential sweetness of its better nature the rewards are clear.

For "Tangled," the studio's 50th feature-length cartoon, the team at Disney has taken a deep breath and tried to be all things to all animation-loving people. There are some hiccups along the way, but by the end there is success. Whether you like stirring adventure or sentimental romance, traditional fairy tales or stories of modern families, musicals or comedies, even blonds or brunets, "Tangled" has something for you. Sampling so many animation touchstones has its risks, but once "Tangled" calms down and accepts the essential sweetness of its better nature the rewards are clear.

There's no other way to say it: Pascal was just a party pooper. After a few early test screenings, Disney animators knew things weren't working with the chameleon character in the new animated musical "Tangled," which opens Nov. 24. "We weren't getting enough entertainment out of Pascal," admits supervising animator Lino DiSalvo. "Animation-wise, originally, he was very realistic. He moved like a real chameleon, his eyes would move independently. " And while that's fine for fans of the bug-eyed reptiles, this particular creature just wasn't giving off the right vibe for a princess movie.

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom A Novel Christopher Healy HarperCollins: 432 pp., $16.99, ages 8 and up Whether it's Cinderella or Snow White, Rapunzel or Sleeping Beauty, princes play a key role in the happily ever afters of fairy tales. But what happens once these dashing young lads have swooped in to save their distressed damsels? What if, as Christopher Healy theorizes with his cheeky middle-grade debut, these princes turned out to be insufferable losers?

IT'S A WINDY WINTER night, and the gusts send a low hum through the attic, as if Mother Nature is drawing a bass fiddle bow across the roof line. "That's a concert G," I tell my wife. "What is?" "That hum," I say. "I think it's a G. Or a G sharp." "Or an H," she says. "There is no H," I say. "Not yet," she says. We are in bed, a bunch of us -- me, my first wife, a couple of kids, a couple of dogs. A cat of questionable character. That's seven in all.

"Into the Woods" opened on Broadway Thursday night. The first act of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's fairy-tale musical is even more dazzling than it was a year ago at San Diego's Old Globe Theater--and the second act is, alas, even more of a letdown. One big difference--and all to the good--is the hiring of Bernadette Peters to play the wicked witch. Peters is adorably maleficent, quite the most satisfactory thing in this line since Margaret Hamilton melted.

Stephen Sondheim writing about Little Red Riding Hood. Can you wait? Sondheim and James Lapine probably wish they could try out their new musical, "Into the Woods," in the woods, before a audience that has never heard of Stephen Sondheim. Barring that, they've chosen San Diego's Balboa Park, where "Into the Woods" will have its world premiere Thursday at the Old Globe Theatre. After that it will go to Broadway--but nobody's saying how soon.

The first phase of the multi-stage unveiling of the Fantasyland makeover has moved into "soft opening" mode in advance of an official unveiling later this month at the Magic Kingdom in Florida. Photos: Fantasyland expansion at the Magic Kingdom Three years in the making, the new Fantasyland at Orlando's Walt Disney World resort adds a Little Mermaid dark ride and a Seven Dwarfs roller coaster while updating the classic Dumbo ride and recreating the village from "Beauty and the Beast.

There's no other way to say it: Pascal was just a party pooper. After a few early test screenings, Disney animators knew things weren't working with the chameleon character in the new animated musical "Tangled," which opens Nov. 24. "We weren't getting enough entertainment out of Pascal," admits supervising animator Lino DiSalvo. "Animation-wise, originally, he was very realistic. He moved like a real chameleon, his eyes would move independently. " And while that's fine for fans of the bug-eyed reptiles, this particular creature just wasn't giving off the right vibe for a princess movie.

Disney is wringing the pink out of its princess movies. After the less-than-fairy-tale results for its most recent animated release, "The Princess and the Frog," executives at the Burbank studio believe they know why the acclaimed movie came up short at the box office. Brace yourself: Boys didn't want to see a movie with "princess" in the title. This time, Disney is taking measures to ensure that doesn't happen again. The studio renamed its next animated film with the girl-centric name "Rapunzel" to the less gender-specific "Tangled."

IT'S A WINDY WINTER night, and the gusts send a low hum through the attic, as if Mother Nature is drawing a bass fiddle bow across the roof line. "That's a concert G," I tell my wife. "What is?" "That hum," I say. "I think it's a G. Or a G sharp." "Or an H," she says. "There is no H," I say. "Not yet," she says. We are in bed, a bunch of us -- me, my first wife, a couple of kids, a couple of dogs. A cat of questionable character. That's seven in all.

The Brothers Grimm got it right nearly 200 years ago in their fairy tale: Once upon a time, women were defined by their hair and captive to those who would control them by its allure. Hair was a tool a woman wielded to land a man; without radiant locks, she might well have to abandon hope of wedded bliss. What happened, after all, to Rapunzel when the sorceress cut off her famous mane? She was separated from her prince.

Occidental Children's Theater and Garry Marshall's Falcon Theatre in Burbank offer contrasting styles with their summer productions. With "Goldilocks and the Three Tenors," Occidental scores high marks for its imagination-celebrating romp at its once-a-year outdoor event in Eagle Rock. Meanwhile, the sleek, year-round professionalism of Falcon makes the most of less challenging, stereotypical "kiddie theater" fare in a comic "Rapunzel."

Mattel Inc.'s Rapunzel Barbie doll is expected to be the bestselling toy this holiday season as girls nationwide return to choosing dolls as a plaything of choice. The prediction is based on a survey of retailers to be released today by PlayDate Inc., a New York marketing services firm. Retailers say the doll, which is already on store shelves, is popular for her long hair and starring role in an animated video version of the classic "Rapunzel" fairy tale.

DVD Barbie as Rapunzel. Artisan's Family Home Entertainment/Matell Entertainment. DVD and VHS: $19.98. www.barbie.com Sure, the store shelves will be loaded with all kinds of merchandise related to this lavish, computer-animated fairy tale--all those Rapunzel Barbies, fancy dresses, the rose-covered carriage, the cute purple dragon sidekick.... But there's much more going on in this Oct. 3 release than a big fat marketing opportunity. It's simply terrific storytelling.

You think Cinderella got a bum deal? Poor Rapunzel! First, her parents trade her for a bunch of radishes. Then she is forced to spend her childhood knocking around an enchanted garden talking to the landscaping. Finally, she is locked up in a tower with no doors, no stairs--heck, the kid probably doesn't even get cable--until she finally flags down a passing prince and a one-way ticket to her happily ever after. Although it has its faults, Jack A.

DVD Barbie as Rapunzel. Artisan's Family Home Entertainment/Matell Entertainment. DVD and VHS: $19.98. www.barbie.com Sure, the store shelves will be loaded with all kinds of merchandise related to this lavish, computer-animated fairy tale--all those Rapunzel Barbies, fancy dresses, the rose-covered carriage, the cute purple dragon sidekick.... But there's much more going on in this Oct. 3 release than a big fat marketing opportunity. It's simply terrific storytelling.

Rapunzel is a story that can usually be summed up in a single image--a captive girl lowering her blond tresses down a tower for her beau to climb up on. That's what artist Catherine Satterlee remembered about the fairy tale until the day she had a strange revelation in her therapist's office. She was exactly like the 17th-century damsel in distress, she said out loud, then went home to reread her daughter's copy of the story. "For me, it has to do with desire," Satterlee said of the tale.