i mean it kinda took it to a new level with the handsome prince actually being the problem not the solution. honestly though i still give the award to lilo and stitch since the male hero was a friend/pet/family member instead of a suitor.
And are we forgetting Merida in Brave?? I mean the whole premise in the movie was woven around her, a skillful archer no less, blatantly refusing to be married and then around how her mother and she saved the kingdom, restored unity between the clans, and brought it out of the dark ages (so to speak, hehe) of betrothal based alliances, all while learning to love and respect each other more. The only males that weren't essentially bit parts were Merida's father, brothers, and Mor'du. King Angus clearly acquiesced to his wife continually, even provoking shocked/scornful reactions from the other lords when the queen took over the announcement due to his lamentable public speaking skill. The brothers worked together to help save their mother under Merida's direct supervision. And Mor'du was killed by the queen, liberating the prince's soul from his body.
It's like Pixar was screaming "Look at our blinking neon sign! It says that a girl can be a princess and still be a tomboy!"
Your point on it's own is valid, but Merida is moot in this context, as the point here was that female leads had been dealing with things without a man to help since long before Frozen, and Brave is too recent to help make that point.
Did y'all forget Brave? All these women, minus Alice, who was a child, still got married. Merida never wanted to marry, she opposed the idea of marriage, the strongest male lead was probably the bad guy, who in fact was a minor role in the movie. And Lilo and Stitch. A small girl and her pet alien save the whole movie, along with her big sister that, alone, takes care of Lilo and Stitch until she agrees to be in a relationship. I agree with this, but don't lack in the truest strong, independent female leads.
Like in The Beauty and the Beast, you mean?
It's like Pixar was screaming "Look at our blinking neon sign! It says that a girl can be a princess and still be a tomboy!"