Strong women and girls in children's movies

  • Rogue One
    Rogue One Photo: Disney/LucasFilm
  • Ghostbusters
    Ghostbusters Photo: Columbia Pictures
  • How to Train Your Dragon
    How to Train Your Dragon Photo: DreamWorks
  • Trolls
    Trolls Photo: supplied
  • Finding Dory
    Finding Dory Photo: Pixar
  • Moana
    Moana Photo: Disney
  • Anna and Elsa, from Frozen.
    Anna and Elsa, from Frozen. Photo: Disney
  • Merida, from Brave.
    Merida, from Brave. Photo: Brave
  • Matilda, from Matilda.
    Matilda, from Matilda. 
  • Belle, from Beauty and the Beast
    Belle, from Beauty and the Beast 
  • Anne Shirley, from Anne of Green Gables.
    Anne Shirley, from Anne of Green Gables. 
  • Sara, from A Little Princess.
    Sara, from A Little Princess. 
  • Mulan, from Mulan.
    Mulan, from Mulan. Photo: Mulan
  • Hero to future Supreme Court Justices, Hermione Granger.
    Hero to future Supreme Court Justices, Hermione Granger. 
  • Lilo and her big sister Nani, from Lilo and Stitch.
    Lilo and her big sister Nani, from Lilo and Stitch. 
  • <em>Tomorrow</em>, from <i>Annie</i>, is one of David Campbell's favourite songs.
    Tomorrow, from Annie, is one of David Campbell's favourite songs. 
  • Chihiro, from Spirited Away.
    Chihiro, from Spirited Away. 
  • Tiana, from the Princess and the Frog.
    Tiana, from the Princess and the Frog. Photo: Disney
  • Pia, from the New Zealand movie Whale Rider.
    Pia, from the New Zealand movie Whale Rider. 
  • Pocahontas, from Pocahontas.
    Pocahontas, from Pocahontas. 
  • Wendy, from the Wizard of Oz.
    Wendy, from the Wizard of Oz. 

  • You may also like these photo galleries

    Recall on a long list of strollers, prams and portacots. See editorial for the full list <a href="" target="_blank">here</a>.

    Children's shoes found to contain cancer-causing chemical

    Recall on a long list of strollers, prams and portacots. See editorial for the full list <a href="" target="_blank">here</a>.

    Recall: LED Fidget Spinner

    Paul McCartney has five children.

    21 celebrities with the most kids

of
  • Rogue One
  • Ghostbusters
  • How to Train Your Dragon
  • Trolls
  • Finding Dory
  • Moana
  • Anna and Elsa, from Frozen.
  • Merida, from Brave.
  • Matilda, from Matilda.
  • Belle, from Beauty and the Beast
  • Anne Shirley, from Anne of Green Gables.
  • Sara, from A Little Princess.
  • Mulan, from Mulan.
  • Hero to future Supreme Court Justices, Hermione Granger.
  • Lilo and her big sister Nani, from Lilo and Stitch.
  • <em>Tomorrow</em>, from <i>Annie</i>, is one of David Campbell's favourite songs.
  • Chihiro, from Spirited Away.
  • Tiana, from the Princess and the Frog.
  • Pia, from the New Zealand movie Whale Rider.
  • Pocahontas, from Pocahontas.
  • Wendy, from the Wizard of Oz.

These female characters in children's movies show that women and girls can be strong, independent heroines of their own making.

Nobody here needs any rescuing. 

Follow Essential Kids on Twitter

Nobody here needs any rescuing.
Nobody here needs any rescuing.  Photo: Disney