Being re-released onto DVD on September 8 is Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams. The DVD features two different main selections, a story with Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) and one with Jasmine (Aladdin). Each runs just under a half-hour long (it feels as though they have been developed to run on a non-ad supported cable channel as half-hour shows). While in no way as magical as the big screen films featuring these princesses, the stories will certainly be welcome additions to your little princess's collection.
Aurora's tale centers on her having to take over duties in the Kingdom when her father, father-in-law, and Prince Philip are out of town for a convention. It is not the easiest of tasks as there is much paperwork to be done and common folk to be seen, but Aurora gives it her best shot. She does, however, make the unfortunate mistake of accepting some of Merriweather's help, borrowing the fairy's wand.
Jasmine's story also centers upon her taking a more active role in the power structure of her kingdom. In Jasmine's case, only Aladdin is away; her father, the Sultan, is still there. Jasmine's distress comes from her position being a purely ceremonial one – she wants to take on some responsibilities. It's something that her father pooh-poohs until Jasmine is able to use all her skill and determination to make her mother's unruly horse, Sahara, follow her wishes.
Neither of the stories are terribly in-depth and the animation is none too spectacular, but the messages of both are good ones. Both stories center on the importance of working hard and not taking short-cuts; they also try and present positive, strong images of women (I would argue that they succeed, but the opposite point of view could be taken as well – it's a never-to-be-settled discussion for another time and place).
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