We so loved Linda Holmes' letter to Pixar, we decided to support her with a petition. Here it is:
Dear Dr. Catmull and Mr. Iger,
We read Linda Holmes’s wonderful letter to Pixar (link below) asking you to create a feature film with a girl or women as the main character. We’ve had enough of Disney princesses with doe eyes and Barbie doll bodies. We love your inventive, brilliant movies. We know you have it in you. We loved feisty Princess Atta in A Bug’s Life and Shrek’s Princess Fiona was our kind of girl, but the stories weren’t theirs to tell, nor the journeys theirs to take. We want a female LEAD character, a nonprincess LEAD character who is complex and interesting. While you’re at it, could you give her a passion for something other than fashion and shopping, and how about a realistic body type? Girls are 25% of characters in animated films and 52% of the population. Research tells us boys care less about gender than interesting characters. They’ll watch if she’s cool enough. Come on, give us just one. If you make it, we will come to the theaters in droves. Promise!
Sincerely,
Your concerned customers
Maybe there could be a movie based on the Backyard Sports video games. They have female characters of all kinds.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 07, 2009 at 08:10 AM
Or maybe just a really creative original character not defined by gender stereotypes! A cool, complex, interesting girl who goes on a journey to find some truth about herself or the world, like all those boys do in Pixar movies.
Lyn
Posted by: Lyn Mikel Brown | June 08, 2009 at 05:03 AM
Just giving an idea.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 09, 2009 at 02:50 PM
Hey guys,
I'm all for the petition, but you could use a fact checker. Princess Fiona was in Shrek, which is a Dreamworks film. Not that Dreamworks couldn't stand to have some female leads, but the letter was specifically to Pixar.
Posted by: Ian | June 14, 2009 at 03:19 PM
I have an idea for older girls: Girl Power Soundtrack! I don't know if you could put songs on a CD, my friend did it once, but you can download these songs onto an Ipod if that's not possible.
1. P!nk: Stupid Girls: The title says it all "Maybe if I act like that/that guy will call me back/Porno Paparazzi girls/I don't wanna be a stupid girl" "I'm so glad that I'll never fit in/That will never be me/Outcasts and girls with ambition/That's what I wanna see!" Not only does it glorify tomboys and independent girls, it is really catchy so there's no reason for your girl not like it.
2. Kelly Clarkson "I Do Not Hook Up" Shows the strong, assertive girl KC really is.
3. Ne-Yo "Miss Independent" Yes, this song is written by a male artist. However, it shows that it is cool/sexy for a girl to be independent, smart, and assertive. Not a lot of male singers can sing about that.
4. Kristinia DeBarge "Goodbye" Kristinia, like KC, is a well-balanced girl who can tell her lame boyfriend to get lost. Awesome.
5. "Breakaway" (also Kelly Clarkson) "I'll make a wish/take a chance/make a change/and break away." Real girl power.
Five more!
Posted by: Jennifer | June 14, 2009 at 05:32 PM
Thanks Ian, we fixed that to be more specific in the petition. We knew but just didn't mention Dreamworks--the point we wanted to make was that Pixar could take the lead since no one was offering anything but princesses. But thanks for noticing, Dreamworks is now mentioned, and we hope you still signed!
Posted by: Lyn Mikel Brown | June 15, 2009 at 04:05 AM
Great idea Jennifer! Anyone reading have more suggestions for a compilation Girl Power Soundtrack?
Posted by: Lyn Mikel Brown | June 15, 2009 at 04:07 AM
6. Miley Cyrus "The Climb" Nothing like "The Big Three" (i.e. Paris, Lindsay, Britney.) Miley works for her dreams when she loses everything.
7. Lindsay Lohan "I Decide" Miss Lohan hasn't taken this song to heart. She was even put on my list of "people who did not use their brains." This song is a really nice girl-power ballad, though.
8. Britney Spears "Womanizer" Britney stands up to a bully in this song, in spite of her problems two years ago.
9. Estelle "American Boy" Estelle is very flirty in this song. Nevertheless this song glorifies female assertiveness/power.
10. "Sober" (also Pink) Not really a Girl Power song, but Pink tries to be sober when everyone else is trying to fit in.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 15, 2009 at 02:13 PM
Yes, Girl Power soundtrack! I facilitate empowerment groups for pre-teen girls, and I did make them a CD -
- "Soul Sister" by Cree Summer (song about female best friends)
- "This One's For the Girls" by Martina McBride
- "Independent Women" by Destiny's Child
- "What It Feels Like For a Girl," by Madonna
- "Good Mother" by Jann Arden
- "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," by Cyndi Lauper
Other ideas -
"No Man" by Von Iva
"No Man's Woman" by Sinead O'Connor
"Le Disko" by Shiny Toy Guns (WARNING: includes the F word!)
"Rebel Girl," by Bikini Kill (WARNING: sexually explicit)
"Independence Day" by Martina McBride
"When I Say No" by Debbie Gibson
"She" and "Smile Girl" by Antara
Posted by: Britta | June 15, 2009 at 02:16 PM
Didn't listen to any of them except for Girl Just Wanna Have Fun.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 15, 2009 at 04:15 PM
I also recommend "Hot N Cold" (Katy Perry) in case you don't like one of the songs. Or there are too few songs.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 21, 2009 at 07:58 AM
Blogs are so interactive where we get lots of informative on any topics nice job keep it up !!
Posted by: dissertation writing help | July 07, 2009 at 02:05 AM
Songs get old easily. Maybe we can make the CD famous? PS "Stupid Girls" has bad words; get the edited version for younger girls.
Posted by: Jennifer | July 07, 2009 at 08:13 AM
I love "Hot N Cold" because it's fun and catchy, but... how is it empowering to girls? I consider it one of my "guilty pleasure" songs, not something I'd want to recommend to girls! Sample lyrics:
"You change your mind like a girl changes clothes
You PMS like a b*tch, I would know."
Not cool....
Posted by: Britta | July 15, 2009 at 02:40 PM
Please excuse me for being a "stupid girl," but its not like Im clueless about feminist songs: I know that So What and Girlfriend are by no means empowering to girls (the former is little more than geting back at a guy for making your life miserable, the latter is about stealing another guy;s girlfriend because you want him; female stereotypes, tsk tsk!) I messed up on "Sober" (the girl turns to alcohol for support. Use Take a Bow (stand up for yourself, girl message; Rihanna), and I'll check out If I were a boy (Beyonce.)
PS You have to say more than that when you say that the song is not the most feminist on the planet. Sometimes the radio edits the b-word.
Posted by: Jennifer | July 31, 2009 at 02:19 PM
Okay...I've reached the pinnacle of my frustration!>:(>:( (Excuse the smileys, I'm very frustrated.) Do you like my idea to make a Backyard Sports movie or not? It has a female lead....
PS Dont use Sober or Hot n Cold for the girl power thing. Those were "mistake songs."
Posted by: Jennifer | August 16, 2009 at 09:07 AM
Nice post keeps on posting this type of interesting and informative articles.
thanks
Posted by: custom dissertation | August 19, 2009 at 02:12 AM
Okay...check out my other GP songs on the "Princess Frog" board.
PS Do you like my movie idea? Anyone?
Posted by: Jennifer | August 19, 2009 at 05:11 AM
Hey Jennifer. i couldnt agree with you more.its about time a girl-hero would act this character.i used to download lots of movies, and only in drama movies you find it. girl power!
Posted by: download new movies | November 24, 2009 at 08:21 AM
OMG u agree w/ me? Well, you can see the plot on boards called
Super-Lonely!
The Real High School Musical
Well that's about it.
Posted by: Jennifer | November 27, 2009 at 04:47 AM
PS I HAVE heard "Independent woman, part 1 on 102.7 earlier this month. Catchy song!:)
I have also heard "Rebel Girl" on guitar in the trailer for "Girls Rock!" Okay, but we need to watch out, too much feminism=same thing happens all over again w/ boys=movie called Boys Rock! hits theaters.
Posted by: Jennifer | November 27, 2009 at 04:51 AM
What's that got to do with anything?
Posted by: Jennifer | January 13, 2010 at 01:18 PM
It's an obvious spam. On topic, I too vote for a girl lead character. Japanese animation has a lot of female lead and they were quite succesful. I guess Pixar can follow their example.
Posted by: Pinay Teen Pics | January 15, 2010 at 06:38 AM
Yeah, I thought that too.
Posted by: Jennifer | January 15, 2010 at 05:59 PM
"I think it's her next sexy video," says director Diane Martel. "It's a very simple video for her -- I don't think you've seen her this much under a magnifying glass. Everything's really strong and playful."
Posted by: buy viagra | April 06, 2010 at 02:42 PM