Creative Illustrative Series Depicts 7 Classic Disney Princesses In A Gothic Style

All it takes sometimes is a little boredom for a Disney fan to create something unique.

Elana

• Published in Disney
• March 3, 2022

Malaysian artist and illustrator "skullyan" was in the perfect headspace one day for boredom to inspire quite the creative endeavor. Boredom can inspire people to do all sorts of things, and not all of it is constructive.

Thankfully in skullyan's case, her inspiration was both constructive and creative. The artist assembled a seven-part series where she depicted classic Disney princesses in a gothic style.

When Disney fans are also artists of any variety, you can easily expect them to reinvent or reimagine their favorite characters into incredible, new designs and interpretations. Over the years we have seen Disney characters transform into mermaids, Disney animals as humans, and even caucasian Disney princesses into gorgeous Black women.

There is no end to what Disney fans can create when they are also artists, and skullyan is no exception to the curiosity and creativity that lays within us. Her series features iconic features from characters we know and love like Snow White and Ariel but gives them a gothic twist that is undeniably aesthetically pleasing.

You don't have to have ever gone through a gothic phase yourself to think these illustrations are wicked-cool, but you'll probably get an even bigger kick out of them if you did have one of those phases.

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1. Princess Jasmine

2. Mulan

3. Belle

4. Cinderella

As the 1970s ended and the 1980s took charge, the goth style was born from the British Punk movement. According to AlwaysUttori:

"The original goth aesthetic is credited to the band Bauhaus and specifically the single, Bela Lugosi’s Dead, which was released in 1979. This serves as the inspiration for many gothic tropes such as references to undead, dark androgynous appearances, and macabre and eerie vocals."

However, as the New York Times reports, Cintra Wilson declares that "The origins of contemporary goth style are found in the Victorian cult of mourning." Some people credit Theda Bara, the 1910s femme fatale known for her dark eyeshadow, as being a major source of gothic fashion inspiration.

Still, it is true that 1980's London inspired a massive increase in the gothic subculture, which is well documented. Today, there are quite a few variations of Gothic subculture including Haute Goth, Gothic Lolita, and Cyber Goth (to name a few!)

Writer Brinda Pulli says that goths were the "first" to start all-black culture:

"There is no standard dress code for Goth so they have the freedom to play with their thoughts, ideas, and style. Gothic fashion is gender-neutral and is seen breaking the typical and cliché gender norms."

5. Princess Aurora

6. Snow White

7. Ariel, The Little Mermaid

Skullyan's designs are truly able to capture the essence of early 2000s Gothic fashion and culture, and with that Disney twist, you know Disney fans don't mind diving in and gushing over yet another cool design to appreciate. It will never cease to amaze us the clever and creative ways artistically inclined Disney fans continue to recreate our favorite characters.

Which Gothic Disney Princess was your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

Elana