Queen Rapunzel is the protagonist of the Tangled franchise. She is the current ruler of Corona, the daughter of the beloved former monarchs of the kingdom King Frederic and Queen Arianna, and the wife of Eugene Fitzherbert. Likewise, she is the only heir apparent to the Coronan throne and its former crown princess and current queen. She is the youngest monarch in Coronan history becoming ruler at age 20.
History
Early life
Rapunzel was born of King Frederic and Queen Arianna, being by birth the princess of Corona and the heir to the throne. When her mother was expecting her she fell ill, so she drank the legendary golden flower to recover. As a result, Rapunzel acquired magical abilities through her long golden hair. Shortly after her birth, Mother Gothel, a witch who used the flower to rejuvenate, sneaks into her room one night to take a piece of Rapunzel's hair, but realizes that by doing so she loses her powers, so she kidnaps the princess and takes her away from her parents. Gothel hid her in a tower and raised her there as if she were his own daughter, using her as his source of rejuvenation.[1]
Locked up in the tower
Almost eighteen years after her kidnapping, Rapunzel, now a young woman with 70 feet of hair, plays a quick game of hide-and-seek with her pet chameleon, Pascal. While Mother Gothel (whom she views as her mother) is away, Rapunzel does many tasks throughout the tower to occupy her time. Though she is happy with her life in the tower, Rapunzel longs to someday explore the outside world. Since childhood, she has become fascinated by an annual event that seems to happen only on her birthday. That night, every year, she witnesses thousands of beautiful floating lights in the sky, brighter than the stars, rise over the tops of the alcove and into view of the tower's largest window. Wanting to know the meaning behind this phenomenon, Rapunzel develops a dream to see these lights in person. The day before her eighteenth birthday, she decides with Pascal that she will finally ask Mother Gothel to see the lights.
Soon after, Mother Gothel finally arrives at the base of the tower and calls for Rapunzel to let down her long hair. Rapunzel complies and uses her hair and a lantern holder as a rope and pulley to bring Gothel to the window. Gothel then insensitively teases Rapunzel for her slowness and decreases her confidence in front of a mirror, before saying she loves her, as usual, and asking her to sing the incantation to her hair. Instinctively, Rapunzel pulls up a chair and sings the incantation hurriedly, causing Gothel to become younger almost instantly. With her eighteenth birthday arriving, Rapunzel has gained the courage to ask Mother Gothel if she can see the floating lanterns because she believes they are somehow connected to her and does so. Gothel spurns her request, however, informing Rapunzel through song that the world is much too dangerous for someone as naive and gullible as her and that she wants to keep Rapunzel safe. She proceeds to warn and frighten her of men with sharp teeth, ruffians, poison ivy, snakes, cannibals, and even the plague and harshly request that she never ask her to leave the tower again. Her previous courage shattered, Rapunzel solemnly promises not to ask to leave the tower again and helps Gothel depart from the tower.[1]
Meeting a person
Back at the tower, a young thief by the name of Flynn Rider has just completed a daring daylight robbery at Corona Castle, successfully stealing the crown of the lost princess, betraying his partners, and eluding the palace guards, as well as a fierce military horse named Maximus. Seeking refuge from his combatants, the bandit accidentally stumbles into the clearing where Rapunzel's tower resides. Deciding to hide within the tower, he proceeds to scale the wall of the tower with arrows and enters into what turns out to be Rapunzel's room. Seemingly alone, Flynn pulls the crown from his satchel to admire his successful stolen prize but is instantly knocked out cold by Rapunzel's frying pan. Scared, Rapunzel cowers behind a dress form, before stepping forward to investigate the intruder with Pascal. Pascal advises Rapunzel to be wary of the young man since Gothel has often told stories of men baring sharp teeth, and they both fear he is a monster from the outside. However, Rapunzel finds nothing outwardly menacing about Flynn.
Concluding that he is just another person, she decides to hide him in her wardrobe. Afterward, she finds his satchel containing the crown. Although she has never seen a crown before and doesn't know what one is, she tries to wear it in a few different ways and sets it on her head, before being interrupted by Gothel calling to her from outside. She swiftly hides the crown and satchel and brings Gothel up the tower once more. Rapunzel decides she will show her mother the young man she has captured, proving that she can take care of herself, and again hopes that she will be let out of the tower for her approaching 18th birthday. Unfortunately for Rapunzel, Gothel becomes enraged when she brings up the subject of leaving again and shouts that she will never leave the tower as long as she lives. Rapunzel is crushed by her words, as her dreams of exploring outside the tower and watching the lanterns are dashed to the ground. She keeps from telling her that she has a stranger locked away in her closet, and instead asks for paint made from special white seashells as a gift instead. Although Gothel is hesitant at first and bemoans the fact that the paint requires a three-day journey, she agrees to retrieve the paint to appease her and bids her disappointed "daughter" farewell.
Once out of sight, Rapunzel takes Flynn out of her closet and uses her hair to tie him up to a chair. Pascal wakes him up by sticking his tongue in his ear, and Flynn, not seeing Rapunzel at first, is frightened by his current predicament. When she steps into view, however, he realizes that she is just a beautiful young girl and starts hitting on her, much to her confusion. She immediately assumes he's there to kidnap her and steal her hair and interrogates him, but he has no knowledge what she's talking about. When she realizes he's telling the truth, Rapunzel decided that she has found her chance to see the lanterns. Knowing that he wants his satchel, she strikes him over the head, hides his satchel within the tower, and proposes a deal. The two of them will leave the tower together, and he will take her to see the floating lights the next night. He will then bring her back to the tower the following day before Gothel returns. In exchange for his efforts, she promises to give him back the crown and let him leave. Flynn reluctantly agrees, simply to retrieve his loot.[1]
In the outside world
Outside the tower, Rapunzel nervously digs her toes into the grass for the first time and runs about the forest in bursts of elation and panic, like a child, while Flynn can only watch. While excited to be out in the world for the first time, Rapunzel feels equally ashamed for having defied her mother. She thinks she is a terrible daughter for disobeying her mother's directions and worries that her misbehavior will break her mother's heart. Flynn attempts to discourage her from traveling away from the tower by guaranteeing that her rebellious actions will break her mother's heart and crush her soul. He suggested that she should simply give him the satchel back and return to the tower, but Rapunzel's desire to see the lanterns sees through his ploy. Despite her guilt and confusion, she assures Flynn that she is fine enough to continue the journey.
Hoping to dissuade her, Flynn takes her to the nearby Snuggly Duckling: a local tavern which is frequented by an assortment of ruffians and thugs like the ones Gothel warned of. Flynn's plan to scare Rapunzel into going back to the tower backfires when the thugs recognize him from wanted posters and attempt to hold him for a reward while one of their associates goes to tip off the guards. Rapunzel pleads with them to release him because she needs him to fulfill her dreams of seeing the lanterns and asks if they've ever had a dream. Their leader Hook Hand approaches as if he will strike her, but Rapunzel's innocence melts his heart, and he admits he has a dream to become a pianist. The entire pub soon begins to come alive as the other members confess their dreams alongside Rapunzel. When the guards arrive, the thugs stage a distraction to help Rapunzel and Flynn escape through a secret cellar tunnel and encourage Rapunzel to live her dream. As they traverse the cavern, Rapunzel curiously asks about Flynn's origins, but Flynn casually refuses to answer. While he acknowledges that she too has secrets she doesn't want to tell, he can't help but ask her why she hasn't gone to see the lanterns before. She hesitates, but just then, they realize they are being rapidly pursued by the palace guards.
Heading outside the tunnel, the Rapunzel and Flynn find themselves on a ledge overlooking a quarry created below a massive dam. Rapunzel is very surprised to find that besides the palace guards, the Stabbington twins are also giving chase, having escaped their chains, and the horse, Maximus, is also on their path. Appearing to be cornered, Rapunzel uses her hair to swing to an opposing edge and leaves Flynn her frying pan, enabling him to fend off the guards and sword fight with Maximus. As Maximus disarms Flynn and corners him, Rapunzel lassos him with her hair and pulls him to safety. Unable to reach him, the furious horse unhinges a large wooden beam from the dam in an attempt to reach them but renders the dam overlooking the quarry unstable.
It soon collapses and a wave of water surges into the quarry, quickly flooding it. The pair narrowly outruns the massive wave, but become trapped inside a small dead end tunnel, as a massive pillar of stone collapses and blocks the entrance. Water rapidly begins to flood into the cave and, realizing their doom, they try to pull at the rocks to no avail, and Flynn only manages to cut his hand. They both try to look for an escape under the rapidly-rising water, but there's no light in the cave, and they can barely see each other above it. As they think they're about to die, Rapunzel cries and apologizes to Flynn for dragging him into this, and Flynn admits that his real name is Eugene Fitzherbert, because he thought someone should know before he died. Rapunzel tries to make him feel better by admitting that she has magic hair that glows, only to realize that they can use her hair to search for escape in the dark water. She sings the magic song just as their air pocket disappears, and they end up underwater, where Rapunzel's hair illuminates the cave. In the lit water, Eugene discovers a break in the rocks where water flows out and manages to dislodge them, releasing them out the other side.
That night they set up a campfire in the woods and Rapunzel heals Eugene's hand with her hair. The dumbstruck thief just manages to keep his cool, and Rapunzel explains everything to him, including her lifelong imprisonment by Gothel to protect her magic hair, and that if the hair is ever cut, it will turn brown and lose its power. Flynn is empathetic toward her ambiguous feelings over returning to the tower. When questioned about his real name, Flynn tells his childhood story of growing up as an orphan and reading a book called "The Tales of Flynnigan Rider", the escapades of a daring adventurer with every benefit to an exciting life full of dangers, riches, and ladies. Flynn has chosen to adopt the name and lifestyle, even though the real Flynn Rider wasn't a thief, and feeling anything would be a better option than being a helpless orphan. Rapunzel tells him that she likes the name Eugene Fitzherbert much better than his adopted name, and the pair forms a close bond. When Eugene leaves to collect more firewood, Gothel appears and tells Rapunzel they are going home. Rapunzel refuses, believing that Eugene is beginning to like her. Gothel presents Rapunzel with Eugene's satchel and challenges her to return it to him, warning her that he will simply abandon her as he only wants the satchel back. Gothel then disappears, leaving Rapunzel feeling doubtful about her new romance.
The next morning, Rapunzel wakes to find that they have been discovered by Maximus, a high-ranking palace horse on a personal mission to bring Eugene to justice. Rapunzel calms and befriends the frenzied horse, and requests that he refrain from arresting Eugene for the next 24 hours so that they can see the lanterns. Maximus and Eugene make a reluctant truce and journey into the kingdom with Rapunzel and Pascal. Eugene and Rapunzel enjoy each other's company greatly as they spend the day touring the kingdom and indulging in everything it has to offer. Along with that, Rapunzel makes a wondrous impression on the villagers, bringing whimsy and excitement to their already enjoyable festival, winning their hearts instantly. She also learns of the Lost Princess, though she doesn't recognize it's her in the mural of the royal family, and before she has time to ponder further, she engages in more fun-filled activities with the villagers and Eugene. During the day, their romantic feelings for each other begin to grow stronger and slowly start to emerge. At dusk, Eugene and Rapunzel row out onto the lake to watch the lanterns rise into the sky.
As they wait for the lanterns to appear, Eugene notices that Rapunzel is not too happy; in fact, she's terrified. She confesses that after all the excitement that has built up inside her about seeing the floating lights, she is worried that they may not be everything that she expected. Eugene assures her they will be, and if they are, she gets to go find herself a new dream afterward. That night, Rapunzel is overjoyed to finally be living her dream as she enchantingly watches the lanterns float from the streets of the kingdom to the boats on the lake. When Eugene presents her with a pair of their own lanterns, Rapunzel shows him his satchel, saying she was scared to give it to him before. Eugene refuses the satchel and says he knows how she feels. As Rapunzel watches the lanterns, Eugene unexpectedly takes her hand, much to her delight, as they both finally and fully realize they have fallen in love with each other as they finish singing "I See the Light" together. They are just about to kiss, when Eugene pulls back apprehensively as he sees the Stabbington Brothers on the other side of the lake, unbeknownst to Rapunzel. He assures her everything is fine and quickly takes the boat ashore. He then takes the satchel and walks off into the fog, promising to return. Rapunzel becomes worried as Eugene leaves, and she ruminates on Gothel's warnings.
After a moment of waiting, she sees a figure returning to her through the fog. She sighs with relief that Eugene did not take the crown and leave her. But the figure actually turns out to be two tall and brutal thugs whom she recognizes as two of the men from the dam. They inform her that Eugene did actually leave her. At first, she doesn't believe them, but they show her a boat sailing across the lake towards the kingdom with Eugene's silhouette at the helm. Rapunzel has little time to grieve as the two men show interest in her magical hair. They scheme to kidnap her and use her powers to earn them money, but Gothel appears and rescues her. Believing that she has been deserted by the man she thought loved her, a heartbroken Rapunzel goes with Gothel back to the tower.[1]
Discovering truths
Back at the tower, as she mourns over losing Eugene, Rapunzel discovers that the emblem of the kingdom of Corona has been unwittingly sketched into all the pictures she has painted over the years in her room. A sudden wave of memories and emotions from lying in her royal crib to trying on her crown floods her mind, causing her to realize that she is the lost princess of Corona. Rapunzel then confronts Gothel, expressing her repulsion at everything Gothel has done and that she has been hiding with the person she should have been hiding from all along. Gothel says that she only wanted to protect Rapunzel and informs her that Eugene is scheduled to be hanged. Rapunzel becomes even angrier and states that she will never let Gothel use her hair again, but before she can do anything, an enraged Gothel says she's now the "bad guy". Gothel gags her and chains her to the wall.
A little while later, she hears Eugene calling to her from outside but can say or do nothing as Gothel throws Rapunzel's hair out the window for him to climb up. As Eugene gets to the top, Rapunzel attempts to warn him through her gag, but Eugene is fatally stabbed in the stomach by Gothel before he can do anything. Rapunzel's attempts to reach him are in vain as Gothel leaves Eugene clutching his side on the floor and prepares to make her escape with the captive Rapunzel and leave Eugene to die in the tower. Rapunzel, with a lot of struggling and fighting, manages to get the gag off and declares that she will never stop fighting Gothel as long as she lives, but makes a promise to submit to her if only she is allowed to heal Eugene. Gothel, knowing Rapunzel never broke her promises, agrees and chains Eugene down to prevent him from following them. Eugene begs Rapunzel to leave him and escape, but Rapunzel refuses, saying she won't let Eugene die and promises him that everything will be alright. Eugene, however, chooses to die rather than let Rapunzel be a prisoner again, so he cuts her hair before she can heal him. Rapunzel reacts in shock and watches in despair as the endless lengths of golden hair turn brown and lose their magic.
With her source of magic gone, Gothel begins to rapidly age, losing her youth and beauty in a matter of seconds. Seeing her true form revealed, Gothel falls into a fit of hysteria, shrouding her face with her hood as she does so, and failing to realize Pascal tugging on a length of Rapunzel's dead hair, which she immediately trips over, falling out of the tower's entrance and plummeting to the ground. By the time she hits the surface, all that's left of the witch is her cloak and piles of dust. After a brief moment of shock over the death of her false mother, Rapunzel rushes to the side of a dying Eugene, in hopes of saving him. Rapunzel desperately cradles the dying Eugene and sings the healing incantation, but Eugene interrupts her as he weakly tells her, with his dying breaths, that she was his new dream. Rapunzel, in reply, says that he was hers as well. Eugene then dies in her arms, leaving a heartbroken Rapunzel to hopelessly finish singing the incantation. She begins to cry over his body, letting a single teardrop fall onto his cheek, which is revealed to have the same power as the magic flower, as it glows as it sinks into Eugene's body and heals his chest wound, reviving him. An overjoyed Rapunzel jubilantly embraces him, and the two then share their first kiss, finally proclaiming their love.[1]
Return to Corona
Meeting her parents
Eugene accompanies Rapunzel back to the kingdom. Though the King and Queen fail to recognize her, at first, the Queen takes a closer look and takes note of the striking resemblance; realizing her daughter has finally returned. It isn't long before the King learns the truth as well, and the royal family is reunited for the first time in years. Eugene watches on, and knowing the former thief played a part in the safe return of their daughter, the Queen welcomes him into the reunion, as well. In celebration of Rapunzel's return, the kingdom rejoiced with a party lasting an entire week.[1]
New life
Rapunzel returns to her kingdom to resume her rightful place in the royal family. Having been reunited with her parents, Rapunzel tries to adjust to her new life as a princess, receiving help from Pascal and her lady-in-waiting, Cassandra. She tries her best, and despite having a loving family and supportive circle of friends, Rapunzel feels overwhelmed with the amount of responsibility that comes with being a princess. She asks her father for a change of pace in this regard, but he denies her request, fearing Rapunzel's desire to explore the world will lead to her falling into harm's way, much as she did eighteen years prior, when she was kidnapped by Mother Gothel. On top of this — and the fact that Rapunzel's bubbly way of carrying herself is looked down upon by the royal community — Eugene Fitzherbert, the former thief who had helped her escape from Gothel's tower and Rapunzel's boyfriend, feels confident enough to propose to Rapunzel, and does so, much to the princess' shock and delight. However, despite her love for him, Rapunzel does not feel ready to marry, instead wanting to figure herself out and live the life she's been longing for. Overwhelmed and anxious, she rejects Eugene's proposal and leaves the scene in a huff.
In her bedroom, Rapunzel laments her feeling of guilt to Cassandra, who believes Rapunzel could use some down-time. She offers to take Rapunzel beyond Corona's security wall — a forbidden act — and sneaks the princess out with the help of Maximus, the heroic horse who is a member of the King's Guard and Rapunzel's friend. During their outing, Cassandra takes Rapunzel to the former location of the healing flower that saved Rapunzel and her mother when the latter fell ill during her pregnancy. Mysterious thorn-like rocks have appeared in the area, and not only are they ominous, but also unbreakable. As Rapunzel examines the area further, she is struck by magic that causes her long, golden hair to grow back.
After returning to the castle, Rapunzel and Cassandra try to rid themselves of the hair, but like the thorns, it is unbreakable. Eugene arrives and discovers the truth, offering assistance in hiding the change from Queen Arianna and King Frederic. Rapunzel gets the idea of hiding the hair under an oversized wig, which helps well enough despite its awkwardness. She then joins her parents for breakfast, during which Frederic admits that his methods of protecting Rapunzel have been rather unfair and notes that he is reconsidering his decisions, much to Rapunzel's excitement. Afterward, Arianna visits Rapunzel in the latter's bedroom to bestow a coronation gift. She encourages Rapunzel to choose how to live her own life — and eventually rule the kingdom — despite her father's stubbornness and what others may think. She gives Rapunzel a journal she herself once used in her younger years, with a note the reads: "Plus est en vous," meaning, "There is more to you."[2]
Coronation
Later on, Rapunzel's coronation ceremony begins, in the course of which the royal family is confronted by a criminal known as Lady Caine, who seeks vengeance on King Frederic for imprisoning her father. Frederic and the rest of the royal guests are kidnapped, but Rapunzel refuses to stand down and reveals her golden hair. She uses it as a weapon to defeat Lady Caine's accomplices with Eugene and Cassandra's help, saving her father. That night, despite Rapunzel's having proved her worth, Frederic feels more insecure about Rapunzel's safety than ever before. With her hair, the very reason Rapunzel was taken in the first place, having returned, Frederic feels he's forced to forbid Rapunzel from ever leaving the walls of Corona without his consent, driving his daughter to tears.
Under her father's new law, Rapunzel feels trapped once more, similar to her imprisonment within the tower. Eugene arrives and comforts her, uplifting her spirits a bit. After he leaves, Rapunzel reads a message in the journal given to her by Arianna, and becomes inspired to pursue the adventure she's always desired, despite the obstacles she will have to face.[2]
Princess life
One week after the events of the coronation, Rapunzel suffers from nightmares concerning her hair, driving her to seek answers regarding its return. Cassandra suggests they visit a young alchemist named Varian, and during the visit, Rapunzel learns that her hair has lost its healing powers, but can act as a human shield to protect herself and those around her from catastrophe such as falling debris. Unfortunately, Varian's workshop is destroyed before further information can be obtained. Afterwards, Rapunzel confesses the truth about how her hair returned to Eugene, reestablishing their mutual trust despite Cassandra's apprehensions.[3]
Throughout the course of her new life, Rapunzel steadily continues to grow as a person, as the relationships she shares with her family, friends and subjects provide her with new experiences that challenge her and her ideals, such as when she tries to win the favor of Uncle Monty, a kindly old man who booed her after she had unveiled the new seal for the 500th Gopher Grab. All attempts to make him like her fail, so Rapunzel resorts to disguising herself. At first things go well between the two of them, but the Gopher Grab starts before he can reveal why he doesn't like the princess. Unfortunately, the Gopher Grab gets out of control when the gopher goes berserk (due to Eugene's feeding it dimberries instead of bimberries), so the two venture to a river. Monty tries to grab it from some rocks, but falls into the water. With no choice, Rapunzel drops her disguise and rescues him from a waterfall. Despite this, he explains that his naysaying is because of the new seal, as well as a disregard to tradition. He softens up by revealing the gopher he snatched up, which made him the champion of the Gopher Grab as he dreamed of being, but is still sour at the princess for lying to him. Rapunzel finally accepts that not everybody has to like everyone, and that she doesn't like him either.[4]
Time after, Rapunzel takes attends a science exposition and even competes by inventing a Megadry, a giant fan. She also makes Varian promise to keep her hair's magic a secret when he tells her and Cassandra that the black rocks physically respond to her and that they are growing in the village of Old Corona. Rapunzel then declares that Cassandra, Varian, and herself will work together to learn more about the rocks and the connection they have to her hair.[5]
Queen for a day
When her parents leave to celebrate their anniversary, she replaces them in their royal duties, but she realizes that being Queen will not be easy; when Corona is facing a snowstorm disaster caused by the magic of the evil warlock Zhan Tiri, she needs to protect all the royal subjects including her friends. Meanwhile, Varian has tried some experiments, but when his dad, Quirin, has finally decided to reveal his secret to Varian, he instead finds out that Varian has been trying to experiment with the black rocks and stops him. While they argue, Varian's experiment goes terribly wrong and the Black Rocks starts to encase his dad; desperate, Varian heads to the palace to seek Rapunzel's help, however, in the face of multiple emergencies, Rapunzel feels bound to defer her promise to Varian, though he pleads for her help so vehemently that the King's guards assume he is attacking the princess and expel him. Rapunzel, though distressed by this, decides she must immediately find a legendary weather device created by Demanitus to stop the harmful snowstorm, which she does with help from Cassandra and the apparent self-sacrifice of Pascal. Meanwhile, Varian, who has discover his father completely engulfed by the amber, vows to release him at any cost, and further swears revenge on Rapunzel and on all Corona for her betrayal.[6] Varian later manipulates Rapunzel into gaining him access to the Sundrop, whereupon she finds that Varian's real intention is not to help Corona but to use the entire flower to save his father. She is shocked by his betrayal and at the end of the episode she tells her worries to Eugene; meanwhile, Varian discovers that the Sundrop is no longer in the flower but it is now Rapunzel herself.[7]
Varian's betrayal
After that, Rapunzel is celebrating her 19th birthday when she learns that her father had read her journal and plans to send Cassandra to a convent. Worse yet, Varian sends an automaton like the one he and Rapunzel had faced to attack her and her friends. After it is defeated, her father decides to lock her up in order to keep her safe, much to her dismay. Her friends help her escape, but as soon as she's free Varian sends a monstrous version of Ruddiger to attack everyone, while he sneaks in and kidnaps her mother. Faced with this, Rapunzel and her father reconcile and plan a rescue mission, while the King's Guard occupy Varian with a frontal attack. While Cassandra and Eugene lead the assault (since her father has been gravely wounded by the transmogrified Ruddiger), Rapunzel and her father sneak into Varian's house through an underground tunnel. However, Varian had foreseen their plan, and captures Rapunzel and Frederic, taunting them and the captive Ariana, and leaving everyone else to fight a whole army of automatons. Varian demands that Rapunzel use her hair as a tip of a drill with which to free his father or else he will keep harming her family, even going as far as pouring one of his chemicals on a black rock next to the Queen that will encase her in the same amber. Fearing for her mother’s life, Rapunzel complies. While Rapunzel's hair does react to the amber, it does not break it, overwhelming Varian with frustration. Ruddiger, horrified by Varian's actions, frees Pascal, who in turn frees King Frederic, who then freed Arianna. Driven to frenzy by the collapse of his plans, Varian attacks Rapunzel and the others with his own automaton that he controls from within: he attempts to crush Cassandra and the queen in order to make Rapunzel suffer. However, the black rocks' reaction to Rapunzel causes her to realize that her connection to them allows her to control them, and with their aid, she manages to defeat Varian. The rocks then raze the wall that separates Corona from the outside world and form a path. Encouraged by her father, Rapunzel determines to follow this path to her destiny.[8]
Adventuring into her destiny
Rapunzel, to follow the path left by the rocks, sets off in company of Eugene, Pascal, Cassandra, Maximus, Lance, Fidella, Owl, Hook Foot, and Shorty in a customized caravan, and as her first time outside of Corona, she embraces her newfound freedom with zeal and finds enjoyment at nearly every stop.[9]
Problems with Eugene and meeting Adira
After one week of the trip, they reach out to Vardaros. There, Eugene tries to propose to Rapunzel for second time, but she is hesitant to marry him at first. While discussing Eugene's proposal with Cassandra, a mysterious warrior named Adira appears at the camp, wishing to speak to Rapunzel alone. Cassandra, however, does not trust her, and a fight begins between the three, which Adira easily wins, and before leaving she tells Rapunzel that she will look for her later. Hook Foot informs Rapunzel and Cassandra that Eugene, Lance, and Shorty were captured by the Varon. Upon being brought before the Baron, Eugene is reunited with the Baron's daughter, Stalyan, who is also his ex-fiancée, and the Varon forces Eugene to keep the promise he made to his daughter and marry her or else suffer painful consequences along with Lance and Shorty, and Eugene reluctantly agrees after Lance is bitten by a poisonous spider. Eugene tries to convince Stalyan to call off the wedding and tells him that he is in love with someone else, only to realize that Stalyan knows all about his affair with Rapunzel, and she manipulates him by telling him that if he marries her, all it will do is take away his newfound freedom.
As she searches the city for Eugene, she overhears the Varon announcing the wedding between Stalyan and Eugene, surprising Rapunzel. She goes on stage and claims him, but Stalyan interrupts her and reveals that Eugene has joined them, but she refuses to believe; Eugene seeing how Lance is disabled, decides not to reveal the truth to her and only apologizes, saying that he has made his choice, leaving Rapunzel heartbroken. After a talk with Cassandra, Rapunzel decides to go back to find Eugene. With the help of a local girl named Vex, they crash the wedding and Rapunzel declares her love to Eugene. She touches the Black Rocks with the intention of releasing her power, but to her surprise and confusion nothing happens. After a fight breaks out, Adira returns and joins her, and reveals to Rapunzel that they are no longer reacting because they have found the Sun Drop. After managing to escape from the Baron and Stalyan, Rapunzel realizes just how much she truly loves Eugene and decides to marry him straightaway, only for him to insist that they should wait until she truly decides it is the right time; discreetly disappointed, Rapunzel halfheartedly accepts, but nevertheless is happy that she and Eugene are together again.
The next day, Rapunzel meets Adira again and she reveals herself as an ally and friend to help guide Rapunzel on her journey to her destiny. She shows Rapunzel the remaining part of the ancient scroll and reveals the rocks had been searching for her, explaining why they appeared in Corona. Having succeeded in finding her, the rocks have now formed a trail leading to the Dark Kingdom; only by journeying there will Rapunzel fulfill her destiny. Eugene assures they will make it on their journey and will reach their destination together.[9]
Season 2
In "The Return of Quaid," she convinces a beekeeper to return to his old job as a sheriff.
In "Goodbye and Goodwill," she attempts to celebrate a Goodwill festival with the people of Vardaros, but soon becomes jealous of Cassandra when her activities were more popular than her own.
In "Freebird," her sense of adventure gets her and Cass, and soon the others, turned into birds.
In "King Pascal," Rapunzel and the gang end up stranded on a tropical island.
In "There's Something About Hook Foot," Raps tries to convince Hook Foot to just be himself on a date he has with a mermaid.
In "Happiness Is...," Raps finds an idol that grants whomever holds it happiness. Raps has been homesick and lets the power of the Idol corrupt her normally selfless nature.
Season 3
She is quite shocked, feeling so betrayed, seeing Cassandra take the mighty Moonstone Opal for herself and merge with its dark magics.
Marrying Eugene
On her wedding day, she first appears in her wedding attire and standing at the entrance of the wedding hall, attracting the attention of everyone in attendance. Her father, the King, then walks her down the center aisle, so that she can join her groom at the altar. The priest starts his speech, but Maximus sneezes and accidentally loses their wedding rings. The two appear in a vision of Maximus and Pascal where everyone in attendance becomes upset at the loss of the rings, though, in reality, neither Rapunzel nor Eugene notice the dilemma, or their animal companions leaving the ceremony to retrieve the missing rings.[10]
After Maximus and Pascal manage to get the rings back, the couple (and everyone else) are shocked at the grotesque-looking Maximus and Pascal, both covered with tar, who offer the rings. The two exchange their rings as the priest pronounce the couple husband and wife. Eugene and Rapunzel kiss and everyone in attendance rejoices.[10]
Rapunzel became a beloved ruler and governed her land with grace and wisdom. Meanwhile, Eugene is accepted into the royal family and pardoned for his crimes.[10][11]
Appearance
Physical appearance
Rapunzel is a very beautiful 18-year old (in the film) girl with fair skin, rosy cheeks, large green eyes, brown eyelashes, brown eyebrows and light freckles around her nose. She's 5'1 with a slender frame and slightly wide hips. She is famously known for her long golden blonde hair which is roughly around 70 feet in length.
Attire
Rapunzel's dress is a traditional German dress called a "dirndl", with a longer skirt than that of a normal dirndl. Her dress has a purple theme with a pink accent. The dress consists of a lavender corset top laced with a pink ribbon. The skirt is purple. It is decorated with swirling and floral designs in pink, dark purple, and white. She wears a white petticoat underneath. The skirt's hemline is above her ankles, but well below her calves. Her sleeves at the top are short, puffed, and striped with pink and lavender; the rest are long and it is pale baby pink with white lace at the hems. She usually does not wear shoes and dislikes wearing them. At the Kingdom Dance, she wears her hair in a thick braid with smaller braids woven in and adorned with various flowers.
Rapunzel's homecoming dress has a white lacing on the neckline and the sleeves. It has a pink bodice that has swirly patterns on it and a corset lacing at the back. The skirt is purplish-pink with similar patterns that are found on her old dress.
Personality
Rapunzel has a heart of gold; she is kind, generous, caring, and trusting to most anyone she encounters. She loves trying new things and hanging out with her closest friends. Rapunzel is loyal to her friends and family and is willing to do anything for them. She is fiercely protective against those who try to endanger her loved ones. Despite growing up in a tower mostly alone for the majority of her life, Rapunzel is extremely sociable and extroverted. Her entrapment in the tower gave her adventurous drive and irrepressible spirit. Because of her imprisonment, she also hates restrictive rules, like those imposed by her father, and snobby royal etiquette.
Relationships
Eugene Fitzherbert
Rapunzel and Eugene have a long complicated history, first explored in the movie Tangled. They first meet when Eugene, then known as "Flynn Ryder," is trying to escape after stealing from the kingdom and must find a place to hide.
Eugene and Rapunzel, after the events of Tangled: Before Ever After were merely a couple, and during that moment, Eugene had proposed to Rapunzel. Afterwards, Rapunzel declined, while Cassandra, supporting her best friend's wishes glared at a devastated Eugene.
During the events of Tangled: Before Ever After, we see that Rapunzel and Eugene are a happily dating. Eugene feels that the relationship is going well and decides to propose to Rapunzel. Having just gotten her freedom back, Rapunzel feels like she would lose it if she decides to settle down. She, therefore, rejects his proposal, storming out of the room. Cassandra supports her best friend's wishes by glaring at the devastated Eugene. By the end of the movie, Rapunzel and Eugene make up and their relationship returns to normal. Although he does not understand exactly why she said no, Eugene promises to take things more slowly and to be patient with her.
At the end of the short, "Tangled Ever After," Rapunzel and Eugene finally marry. Rapunzel is the current heir to the Corona throne and Eugene would act as the king consort, not having any actual powers, as demonstrated in "Queen for a Day."
Powers and Abilities
Abilities
- Adaptation: Rapunzel has shown a high level of adaptability, as she was able to adjust quickly to the outside world, despite being isolated in her tower for most of her life. For example, she appears to have been able to swim when she was trapped in an underwater cave with Eugene, when it is assumed that she was never taught how to swim by Gothel.
- Artistry: Rapunzel is highly creative and has an aptitude for a number of different hobbies and crafts. Her most notable talent is art, as she is able to paint beautiful works such as portraits and landscapes.
- Strategic ability: Though not regarded as a warrior the way Cassandra is, Rapunzel has repeatedly outsmarted and outmaneuvered others in the name of victory. before claiming the Sun and Moonstones, Zhan Tiri described Raqunzel as a 'worth foe'. And even after, Rapunzel was able to outmaneuver and defeat Zhan Tiri at the height of her power.
Powers
- Extremely Long Hair: Rapunzel can use her extremely long hair to grasp and manipulate objects and people. On many occasions, she has been shown using her hair as a rope to swing around, a lasso to grab/hold objects and people, or a whip in combat. Her hair also appears to be incredibly lightweight, as she is quite agile and is able to move around quite easily despite its sheer size.
- Healing Incantation: Channeling the power of the Sundrop Flower, Rapunzel was able to use her hair to heal both minor and fatal wounds, and reverse aging to a certain degree. The subject to be healed must have had physical contact with her hair in order for the incantation to work when sung; Rapunzel's hair emitted a glowing yellow light when the incantation was activated. Using the Sundrop's power, Rapunzel was able to slow Gothel's ageing and restore her youth and beauty. Although her hair was later cut by Eugene, therefore losing its power, her tears turned out to have healing powers, as she was able to bring Eugene back to life after Gothel fatally stabbed him. It is unknown if Rapunzel's actual body had the Sundrop's regeneration abilities. It may be that the Sundrop's power merged with her soul, as she seemed to be able to bring love, happiness and harmony wherever she went. It is also possible that Rapunzel actually released the drop of sunlight that created the Sundrop through her tears. As such, her healing tears may have been a one-off ability. However, it is still unclear how her healing powers worked when not channeled through her hair. Rapunzel appears to have lost this ability after her hair grew back during the events of Tangled: Before Ever After.
- Unbreakable Hair: Rapunzel's hair has become indestructible after growing back during the events of Tangled: Before Ever After. Her hair appears to have taken on the strength of the the Black Rocks (which caused her hair to grow back after she touched them), as it is unusually resilient and impervious to any harm or damage, even from weapons. On some occasions, Rapunzel's hair is able to form an extremely durable, glowing shield around her and her allies, protecting them from harm or damage. On some occasions, her hair was shown to glow yellow when she was near the Black Rocks, although this appears to have ceased upon Cassandra's attainment of the Moonstone Opal.
- Shock Wave Generation: Rapunzel was able to trigger massive shock waves when in physical contact with the Black Rocks. When she touched the rocks, her hair glowed bright yellow, and she was able to will walls of new rocks to burst from the ground and destroy her opponents/targets. Rapunzel has not been seen using this ability after Cassandra gained ownership of the Moonstone Opal, so it is assumed that she lost this ability. (although it was attempted in the episode Beyond the Corona Walls)
- Decay Incantation: By singing the Decay Incantation, Rapunzel's hair can suck the life out of everything near her, whether it be living beings or inanimate objects, causing them to rot and die. This power is almost the exact opposite of the Healing Incantation, but with one crucial difference: she is forced into a trance, and as such, relies on her friends to break her out of it and return her to normal. This incantation causes her hair and eyes to become black in a very sinister fashion. Her skin and clothes also appear to have withering and decaying abilities, as they burned Cassandra's right hand black and melted Varian's gloves off when they touched her.
- Moonstone Opal Detection: Rapunzel's hair was able to detect the presence of the Moonstone Opal, as it glowed bright yellow whenever the Moonstone was near. This ability appears to have been lost following Cassandra's attainment of the Moonstone.
- Sun Incantation: Channeling the full power of the Sundrop, Rapunzel is able to enter a godlike state of power. Her eyes and hair glow bright yellow, and she can levitate in the air. Empowered by hope, she is able to generate and manipulate waves of pure solar energy, which she used to effortlessly destroy the Black Rocks that an enraged Cassandra propelled toward her. She also appears to be able to manipulate the Black Rocks themselves, as she was able to halt and destroy them telekinetic ally. Such is the extent of her power, that she was able to chip part of the Moonstone during her battle with Cassandra.
Outfits
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Gallery
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Trivia
- In the Disney movie Frozen, it is seen that Rapunzel and Eugene attended Queen Elsa's coronation in Arendelle together.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Dan Fogelman (writer) and Nathan Greno, Byron Howard (directors) (November 24, 2010). Tangled.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jase Ricci (writer) and Tom Caulfield, Stephen Sandoval (directors) (March 10, 2017). Tangled: Before Ever After. Disney Channel.
- ↑ Dave Schiff (writer) and Tom Caulfield (director) (March 24, 2017). "What the Hair?!". Tangled: The Series. Season 1. Episode 1. Disney Channel.
- ↑ Katie Mattila (writer) and Joe Oh (director) (March 31, 2017). "Rapunzel's Enemy". Tangled: The Series. Season 1. Episode 2. Disney Channel.
- ↑ Ricky Roxburgh (writer) and Joe Oh (director) (July 30, 2017). "Great Expotations". Tangled: The Series. Season 1. Episode 8. Disney Channel.
- ↑ Jase Ricci (writer) and Joe Oh (director) (November 19, 2017). "Queen for a Day". Tangled: The Series. Season 1. Episodes 16 and 17. Disney Channel.
- ↑ Dave Schiff (writer) and Joe Oh (director) (December 16, 2017). "The Alchemist Returns". Tangled: The Series. Season 1. Episode 21. Disney Channel.
- ↑ Kelly Hannon, Jase Ricci, Ricky Roxburgh, Dave Schiff, Jeremy Shipp (writers) and Stephen Sandoval (director) (January 13, 2018). "Secret of the Sun Drop". Tangled: The Series. Season 1. Episodes 22 and 23. Disney Channel.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Jase Ricci (writer) and Joe Oh (director) (June 24, 2018). "Beyond the Corona Walls". Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure. Season 2. Episodes 1 and 2. Disney Channel.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Nathan Greno, Byron Howard (writers and directors) (January 13, 2012). Tangled Ever After.
- ↑ Jase Ricci (writer) and Benjamin Balistreri, Phillip Pignotti, Shane Zalvin (directors) (March 1, 2020). "Plus Est En Vous". Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure. Season 3. Episode 18. Disney Channel.
v • e — Characters — | |
Main characters | Rapunzel • Eugene Fitzherbert • Cassandra • Pascal • Maximus |
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Other characters | King Frederic • Queen Arianna • Varian • Quirin • Angry and Red • Lance Strongbow • Fidella • Nigel • Hook Foot • Ulf • Xavier • Weasel • Ruddiger • Monty • Mrs. Sugarby • Old Lady Crowley • Owl • Ruthless Ruth • The Stabbington Brothers • Friedborg • Feldspar • Four Sisters • Attila • Axel • Lady Caine • Dwayne • Willow • Captain of the Guards • Andrew • Uumlaut • Shorty • Pete and Stan • Fernanda Pizazzo • Separatists of Saporia • The Collector • The Baron • Stalyan • Captain Quaid • Vex • King Herz Der Sonne • King Trevor • King Edmund • General Shampanier • Seraphina |