Tale as old as time is that of any great Disney romance story.
When it comes to Disney’s female-driven content library, the entertainment company has always allowed the worlds of fantasy and romance to intertwine in harmony. Making them staple pillars in a great many of Disney’s more classic film entries. From the very first film of “Snow White” to even that of slightly more recent efforts such as “Tangled.” Viewers of all ages have been enchanted by the romance around Disney.
Over the last decade or so, Disney has remained dedicated to creating fantasy-focused projects. From large-scale theatrical offerings, to projects created for their media networks and even streaming services.
But romance to accompany that fantasy? Outside of the ongoing live-action film adaptation pipeline, it hasn’t been anywhere near as prominent. Certainly not as regarded as a concerted effort as it was back in the early 2000s.
Rather than focusing on meshing the two key genres on screen, Disney has instead moved those focus points towards publishing ventures. From the what-if book series “Twisted Tales” to the more modernized version of the Disney Princesses with “Meant to Be.” These series have filled the void for older consumers seeking the whimsy of a classic Disney romance.
That is until today.
Thanks to a new development hot off the heels of D23, Disney’s biannual expo, a new dawn of the now-dubbed subgenre of “romantasy” has begun thanks to the partnership between Disney and Webtoon.
Webtoon, the powerhouse online comic platform, has allowed more unique and innovative stories to be told. With a large catalog of more female-centric and shoujo- and josei-inspired storytelling, female readers have helped drive the space and made titles such as “True Beauty,” “The Makeup Remover” and other series popular in online spaces. As well as transforming these digital-native stories into tangible published books inside booksellers.
A move that it appears Disney is hoping to also win at with their first adventure with female-driven stories inside the Webtoon space.
Penned by author Emily McIntire, Disney is starting things off with a bang in a new story centered around the beloved tale of “Beauty and the Beast.”
Titled “The Curse of a Forsaken Heart,” the story is set following the events of the film. Based on details around the logline, the series will chronicle Belle and the Prince as they are pulled into a Cursed Kingdom. There, a price will be paid in the form of their love. Without their love for one another, their memories of the other and life together appear to have vanished. In the place of their fondness are sentiments that echo their first impressions of the other. Naturally leading to conflict between the once-loving couple.
Despite this tribulation, the two must work together to assist Emberlynne, a princess whom no one recalls at all. As they fight to save a realm where love simply has died.
Along with this news, Disney Publishing’s Instagram account, DisneyBooks, has released a post featuring some pages of the new comic along with the main cover art.
These handful of images showcase the stunning art style and distinctive color palettes the story is using to help visually carry the story along to the reader. As well as allowing us to see the defined “before” and “after” of the loss of love between our leading couple.
Presently, there are no details around the release of the first chapter, as well as plans for what the release cadence will be or if the end goal will be published print editions. Though it’s likely we will have future information as time marches on.
Given the rise in popularity of webcomics and how Disney has really opened up to new interpretations of their existing and legacy stories, having new stories woven for characters like Belle isn’t a shocking development. If anything, offering continuation-based stories aimed at adults who grew up on these films feels overdue.
Provided “The Curse of a Forsaken Heart” meets expectations, it remains highly likely other princesses will also get their own webcomic in the future.