MANILA, Philippines - For Mandy Moore, lending her voice to the character of Rapunzel in Walt Disney Animation Studio’s Tangled was an eye-opening experience.
She explains, “There’s a unique challenge in having to imagine a world that doesn’t necessarily exist, using story sketches and the directors’ descriptions to visualize the storyline. At the end of the day, all you really have to rely on is your imagination. The most enjoyable part of being involved in Tangled has been tapping into a creative side of my brain that I’ve never tapped into before.”
Who is Rapunzel in this reinvented version?
“Rapunzel is a feisty, spirited, curious really engaged young woman. She’s 17, about to be 18, and we meet her right on the cusp of that very important birthday. She’s lived in a tower all her life, but she’s extremely passionate, creative and eager to investigate the world. She’s so open and ready to embrace whatever comes her way; she definitely has a sense of adventure. She’s been dreaming her entire life about going out into the world to learn more about these floating lights that appear every year on her birthday. The film has an overwhelming theme of female empowerment. She’s a lot stronger than even she realizes.”
Describe Rapunzel’s 70 feet of hair.
“Rapunzel has a gigantic mass of magical, almost other-worldly hair that’s almost its own living entity with all sorts of abilities. It’s a pretty hot commodity. Mother Gothel selfishly keeps Rapunzel and her unique powers hidden from the world, using them for her own benefit.”
Why did you want to portray her?
“I grew up with the best of the best — The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast. What little girl doesn’t fantasize about being part of that? I love the Rapunzel’s story and I knew that Disney would put its signature twist on the story. It’s really, really funny and heartwarming. It has a feel-good, empowering message.”
(Opening soon in Digital 3D and regular cinemas, Tangled is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.)