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Errol Flynn-inspired cartoon characters

29 Nov

Hi fellow Flynnians!

Aside from being a Flynn fan, I'm also a big Disney fan (and a fan of animation in general). Yesterday I saw Disney's new (50th) animated film “Tangled”. It's a really great retelling/re-imagining of the fairytale of Rapunzel. Anyway, so what does this have to do with Errol Flynn?

Well…the main hero in the film is a guy named Flynn Rider (actual first name Eugene — note the first initial “E”). The Disney filmmakers named him after Errol, and partially modeled his character on Errol and his swashbuckling hero persona. Here's a brief description of Flynn Rider, taken from a promotional magazine for “Tangled”: “The rogue bandit Flynn Rider is daring, and has always relied on his wit, charm and good looks to get out of even the stickiest of situations.”

Also, here's a quote about the character from one reviewer of the movie: “He's named Flynn by the way, and may remind parents, or grandparents, of a similar hero, circa 1937's 'The Prince and the Pauper'.”

And, to top it off, in the film Flynn Rider tells Rapunzel that he took his name from a legendary swashbuckler by the name of Flynnigan Rider — a man who was daring, heroic, good with the ladies, rich, and could do anything and go anywhere in the world. Sound familiar? :-)

So, this is the 2nd time (if you count their animated version of Robin Hood) that Disney has created an Errol Flynn-inspired animated character. I also know of 3 other Errol-inspired animated characters: The heroic archer-poet called Bow and the hero pirate called Sea Hawk — both from the 1980's animated TV series “She-Ra: Princess of Power”, and the heroic swashbuckling mouse Reepicheep — a computer-animated character in the Disney live-action “Narnia” films.

Anyone else know of any others?

— Rachel

 
4 Comments

Posted in Main Page, New Articles, Rachel Nesser

 

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  1. Anonymous

    November 29, 2010 at 3:49 pm

    Thanks for posting this, Rachel. The film won't be out in Germany until December 9th, and I can't wait to see it. It seems, though, that our fellow bloggers received this effort of Disney not so well, judging from a previous entry… I think it good, however, that this film keeps the memory of Errol alive and maybe inspires people to go back in history a little…

     

  2. Anonymous

    December 1, 2010 at 12:45 am

    Hi Rachel,
    I saw it Sunday with the kids. A cute movie. It is most definately inspired by Errol. Flynn Rider is a thief as was EF in RobinHood. My girlfriend came along and instantly stated the character was so very much like Errol Flynn when he appeared and when he was trying to use his charm, etc. She is not as avid a Flynn fan as some of us who frequent the blog so it was interesting for me to hear her take on it.
    Yes, I agree about your comments with respect to how he “took his name.” I found myself thinking it could only have been better if the character's real name was “Leslie Thomson.”

     

  3. Anonymous

    March 5, 2011 at 6:01 pm

    So I finally managed to watch it, too, and have to agree with you girls, it's a wonderful movie. Even the Flynn smile and the cocked eyebrow are there! Wow! And, Rachel, it's not only the “E” in “Eugene”, it's even EF as it's Eugene Fitzherbert… And didn't Rapunzel look a little like a blonde Olivia?

     

  4. Anonymous

    March 6, 2011 at 2:39 pm

    Ah yes, you're right Inga — the initials EF are in Eugene Fitzherbert. Silly me, can't believe I missed that. How clever of the Disney folk to do that. :-)
    As for Rapunzel looking like a blonde Olivia…well, perhaps. :-)