• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.40
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• pp.315-336
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• 2015

Since it is imperative to share the values with the spectators to convince the public of the era, the main characters of a story that underwent numerous adaptation through time would change gradually. This paper examined changes of the main characters in various versions of Cinderella. Until the mid-20th century, Cinderella would be portrayed as a meek, passive and obedient girl as in the original fairy tale version of Perrault. As moving to 70s, a heroine who acts with her own feelings and thoughts began to appear. In the 90s, spectators could meet a protagonist who fought fiercely to be the owner of her own fate, and in the recent Disney movie, Cinderella stood up for herself while accepting herself as she was. The prince character also underwent similar transition. In the early versions of Cinderella, the prince would be a vague figure with a title who was desired by all maids in the country. It is in the 70s that the prince began to be portrayed as a person who has his own problems. In the recent years, the spectators could see the process that the prince transformed from a naive aristocrat to a man with responsibilities. In modern society, women have more social opportunities compared to the past, and women's social statuses do not need to be secured by relationship with men any longer. Thus Cinderella story is not as popular nowadays, moreover somebody whose dream is becoming Cinderella would subject to social reproach. However, beside the gender, the story could be the only hope for people who feel a sense of helplessness that there is no chance in their lives. As result variations of Cinderella story will go on as long as people of social deprivation exist.