The Legacy of Princess Fantaghirò

Based on an Italian folktale called "Fanta-Ghiro the Beautiful," Fantaghirò, or Cave of the Golden Rose in the egregiously titled English version, is an iconic and beloved European franchise of movies and animation from the '90s that perfectly embodies the shift from femininity to feminism that took place that decade. The series, which is practically unheard of outside of Europe, is essentially a Western version of Mulan without the ambiguity of the main character's royal status. It follows a traditional "chosen hero's journey" archetype, with the twist being that the chosen hero is a woman born to a king who was desperately seeking a male heir. Fantaghriro disguises herself as a man to fight for her kingdom, falls in love with an enemy king, and ends the centuries-long war between their two kingdoms.

Although elements of these films are hokey and don't always make sense, they take place in a high fantasy setting that provides many fairy tale-inspired elements. Fantaghirò has her own fairy godmother in the White Witch (or White Fairy in the animated version), who watches over her and protects her so she can fulfill her destiny. Her kingdom is located near an enchanted forest, where she befriends a magical talking rock and learns how to fight from the spirits of the forest. She also gains the ability to speak to animals in true princess fashion. The first set of movies is presented like a traditional fairy tale romance, while later sequels experiment more with the fantasy setting. The second set of films pits her against the Dark Witch, a powerful sorceress bent on stealing King Romualdo's love for herself. Later, Fantaghirò meets Tarabas, a dark wizard whom she must kiss to save the man she loves (Yes, that really happens).

As the movies stray further and further off course from the original story, Fantaghirò ultimately chooses a new love interest in the final film despite how heavily it is established that her relationship with Romualdo is destined and necessary to maintain peace in the kingdoms. The 1999 animated series attempts to resolve this by taking the disjointed events of the ten films and stitching them into a more cohesive story. While the animated series does a better job of protecting the sanctity of Fantaghirò's relationship with Romualdo, it is more fast-paced than the films, making it difficult to follow at times. The series has a similar tone and pacing to the Saban princess cartoons from the '90s and could easily have been made by the same people. It is full of fantasy, magic, and romance, but generally lacks substance and consistency.

One aspect I particularly enjoyed about the Fantaghirò franchise is the dichotomy between Fantaghirò and her sisters. Princess Caterina and Carolina are raised as traditional princesses because the king was expecting his third child to be a boy. When Fantaghirò was born, she was treated differently and began picking up more masculine traits as a result. Even when the king decided to send his daughters to fight as soldiers because of the prophecy that one of his children would restore peace to Tuan, Caterina and Carolina cannot fight like Fantaghirò. If this had been a modern princess story, Fantaghirò would have likely brought out their inner Warrior Princess and turned them into secondary versions of herself. Instead, they argue and go their separate ways, eventually coming to terms with their differences. Fortunately, King Romualdo has two knights who instantly fall head over heels for the other two princesses, so they get their happy ending as well. This shows that there is more than one way to be happy as a woman.

At the time that Fantaghirò came out, romance was still heavily prioritized in women's media, particularly those about princesses. Fantaghirò was considered unique as a heroine because she fought like a man and loved like a woman. In every movie, she changes people and defeats the forces of evil with her love. Could Fantaghirò have been a man and still brought peace to the kingdoms by falling in love with an enemy princess? Probably. Yet, the unique combination of romance and action is what made this series such a hit, and it's something we rarely see anymore in modern media. Fantaghirò also becomes a maternal figure in later films, frequently befriending children and fighting to protect them. Nowadays, characters like Fantaghirò don't need love interests because they can do everything themselves, and motherhood is also discouraged in many feminist films.

In a world where fairy tale romance is frowned upon, the Fantaghirò franchise remains a beloved and iconic series that perfectly captures the spirit of '90s feminism. With its unique blend of action, romance, and fantasy, it's a European pop culture phenomenon that explores themes of femininity and empowerment. While women dressing as men and going to war has been a fairly popular concept in the Eastern world for many years, Fantaghirò is an inspirational heroine for Western audiences. If you're interested in revisiting this nostalgic gem, all ten of the original films and the 26-episode animated series are available to watch for free on YouTube, offering a delightful journey into a magical world of wonder and adventure.