Want to know more about that EPIC Disney Princess scene in Ralph Breaks the Internet? We sat down with Pamela Ribon, screenwriter, TV writer, comic book writer, author, blogger, and voice talent, to learn more about how she came up with this concept and found out a few fun facts as well!
Fun facts about the Disney Princess Scene with Co-Writer Pamela Ribon
Ribon started thinking about the Disney Princess concept when she was working on Moana. Pamela Ribon, co-writer of Ralph Breaks the Internet, started working at Disney in 2013 as a writer on Moana. There was a great debate about whether Moana should be a Disney princess or not and they discussed which characteristics and qualities those princesses possess. Ribon said that led her to start thinking about Vanellope. She said, "Vanellope is a technically a princess, but she's also a president. I think a lady can rock more than one title! So, why can't she be canon? That's my kind of princess. One that wears a hoody and is just in her comfy clothes. That's how I get things done."
When the writers and directors got together to work on the film, they knew they wanted to do something meta and kind of making fun of themselves. Ribon said, "We thought, 'What if Vanellope met all the princess?' Ribon went on to explain that the princesses wouldn't just accept Vanellope as a princess. They'd want to know more about her and what makes her a princess since their roles are all so well-defined. That's when she knew she needed to develop the idea further.
Ribon went home and called a friend who knows all about Disney films. She asked her friend which Disney princesses were poisoned, kidnaped, or enslaved. When her friend chuckled and asked why she wanted to know, Ribon told her she was working on something and she'd send her a little something when she could. Then, she wrote the first draft.
Ribon had a little panic attack when she completed the first draft of the princess scene.
Ribon said that she laid down on the ground and couldn't breathe. She thought she might get fired for bringing the draft in, or she might have just did something that might become a really big deal.
She sent her friend a little run of it and the feedback was glowing. But, Ribon responded with, "I'm sure it will never get made." How about that?! Not only was it made, but it's also turned out to be a huge deal!
©2018 Disney
The princess scene was hush-hush until the first screening.
The writers and directors were trying to figure out if they could get away with making a scene like this, that was essentially poking fun at their own history, so they decided to keep it under wraps. Ribon said they decided to, "Just tell nobody." They boarded it, had it animated, then figured they'd know if it was well-received after the first screening.
Fun fact: I was in the audience at initial clip reveal at the D23 Expo in 2017 and it was exhilarating! Watching this clip among other Disney fanatics was something I'll never forget. Needless to say, it was a success and extremely well-received.
SELFIE! In Ralph Breaks the Internet, Vanellope von Schweetz hits the internet where she encounters and then befriends the Disney princesses. ©2018 Disney.
Oh My Disney was a natural fit for the princess scene.
Ribon explained that Oh My Disney is essentially THE destination for Disney fans. It's a place for those who can unabashedly love what they love and those around them are like, "I know, right?!" It seemed like a perfect spot for Vanellope to meet the princesses.
There were a lot of meetings about the princess t-shirts.
As you'll see in Ralph Breaks the Internet, there's a scene with all of the princess wearing comfy clothes. All of the princesses are wearing a signature shirt or jacket that matches their character. They are pretty amazing! Ribon told us there were a lot of meetings about the shirts and which puns would make it to print. You can see some of the shirts HERE.
Screenwriter/Actor Pamela Ribon attends the World Premiere of Disney's "RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET" at the El Capitan Theatre on November 5, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
Ribon also voices one of the princesses in Ralph Breaks the Internet.
All of the original Disney princess voice talents reprised their roles for Ralph Break the Internet, except of course the voice of Snow White who passed away. Ribon, who is a trained actor, took on the role and played Snow White perfectly.
Special thanks to Pamela Ribon for sitting down with us
and chatting about the princess scene in Ralph Breaks the Internet!
Don't forget to check out my experience at the Ralph Breaks the Internet premiere for even more info about the movie and more celebrity photos! Also, check out what I thought about the Ralph Breaks VR experience at The VOID (spoiler: it was SO cool) and about the hottest Ralph Breaks the Internet and Wreck-It Ralph toys for kids!
View the Ralph Breaks the Internet Trailer here:
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Ralph Breaks the Internet arrives in theatres everywhere on November 21st!
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Mia Rose says
What a fabulous opportunity to learn these fun facts about how the movie was conceptualized and made. Looks like you had a blast.