Common Sense Media Review
By Tracey Petherick
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Strong characters, some stereotypes in fairy tale adventure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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The Stolen Princess
What's the Story?
Set in a fairy tale land, THE STOLEN PRINCESS tells the story of Ruslan (voiced by Daniel J. Edwards), a traveling actor who dreams of becoming a knight. He meets the beautiful Mila (Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld) and, not realizing she is a princess, falls in love. When Mila is kidnapped by the wicked sorcerer Chernomor, the King announces that the knight who saves her will have her hand in marriage. Now Ruslan is on a mission to find Mila and defeat Chernomor. Along the way he encounters a mystical cat, teams up with a naughty hamster, and takes on a series of magical challenges.
Is It Any Good?
Though The Stolen Princess has many of the right elements for a quality animated fairy tale, it won't be knocking Frozen or Tangled off their perches any time soon. Vibrant and colorful with impressively illustrated scenery, it's stuffed full of imaginative plot lines and varied characters with some entertaining slapstick humor. There are magical quests, high-octane battles, evil cupcakes, and an eccentric cat. But all the anthropomorphized creatures (and food) in the world can't gloss over the bizarre lack of female characters and frustrating stereotyping.
Mila has the makings of a legendary movie princess -- bold, feisty and curious, but bored, frustrated, and amusingly clumsy -- so it's a great shame she is destined to be the kidnap victim in need of rescuing who misses out on most of the action. The Stolen Princess certainly has adventure, a few laughs, and a colorful charm that will appeal to younger viewers. But in a world full of smart and stylish animations, this one is probably not sophisticated enough to impress older -- or movie-savvy -- kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the fairy tale stereotypes in The Stolen Princess. Discuss why brave knights, wicked sorcerers, and princesses that need to be rescued don't necessarily make good role models. Why must we be careful of stereotyping people?
Discuss the lack of female characters. How could the movie have incorporated more roles for women? How does it compare to other animated movies with strong female role models? Why media role models matter.
This movie is adapted from a Russian fairy tale. How does this movie compare to other movies that are based on classic fairy tales, for example Frozen and Tangled?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : March 7, 2018
- Cast : Daniel J Edwards , Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld , Jake Paque
- Director : Oleh Malamuzh
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : FILM.UA Distribution
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic , Fairy Tales )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Teamwork
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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