Rapunzel's Revenge

Because I read Rapunzel's Revenge shortly before Tangled started being hyped up, all I could see were the similarities! And Disney is pretty well known for stealing other people's storylines (e.g. The Lion King, Shrek). And I'm not the only one to think so.

So let's have a quick look at the evidence...
Both have a Rapunzel character, who is the heroine, after being locked in a tower and has long hair.
Pretty standard Rapunzel story

Both Rapunzels use their hair to swing from and lassoo things and carry it looped around themselves.
More similar, but there's really not many other things you can do with hair. The Disney version doesn't braid it, and her hair is all golden and flowing - this is probably due to the main stated influence of The Swing painting.

Disney's Rapunzel is pretty and pink, and blonde and a princess. Shannon Hale's Rapunzel is freckled and rehaired and cowboyish, although she is raised as a princess (or equivalent) she ends up with no actual status.
Hard to say. Most of the attraction of Rapunzel's Revenge is the character of Rapunzel, but Disney does tend to pretty things up. They are nothing alike, really, based on externalities.

Personality - both innocent of the world, righteous, and 'good'.
Expected to be naive after being locked up, Can't really say about the Disney version for sure yet, but she looks more simple... I mean, childlike and happy, than the Rapunzel's Revenge version, who is stubborn and heroic.

Both are referred to as 'Punzie' by the thief/love interest.
Eh, only so many ways you can shorten 'Rapunzel'. Although I did like the book Zel

Both have a Mother Gothel and end up on the run from her.
Actually, this is accurate to the original Grimm version (well... the best known, not the original). Mother Gothel means 'Godmother' in German. The personalities look similar, and both play the 'absent evil and controlling nemesis' for much of the storyline. The [Disney version of Mother Gothel, while also a witch, is young and sexy for most of the film, and very much a loner.

And obviously, once one escapes a tower, one spends a lot of effort trying to keep out of it.

Both have a thief/lovable rogue love interest/companion.
Rapunzel's Revenge DID have a real prince - she passes him after getting out of her tower and doesn't get on! But the real 'prince' of the story was Jack. And Flynn Rider has a lot in common with Jack - both are thieves, both cocky - although Flynn Rider looks more obnoxious. Hard to say, here.

Stolen for different reasons
Disney have apparently abandoned the original 'pregnant cravings and theft' story. Either it just didn't make sense for a Queen to be stealing food, or the food stolen gave Rapunzel her magic.

Magic
Disney's Rapunzel has magical hair that restores youth, Hale's Rapunzel doesn't, her hair grows due to the amount of growth magic in her giant tree tower.

Timing of book/film: Disney's film came after Rapunzel's Revenge was published and successful.
Possible, not conclusive in any way. Could have indicated to someone that 'now is the time for Rapunzel'.

Do you think Disney's Tangled was based on Rapunzel's Revenge?

It looks very possible

Jordan says:

I think so they both use their hair as a weapon!!!

Susanna says:

That was my opinion exactly!

Jacqui says:

yesssssssssss, totally! Everything screamed "rapunzels revenge" i was sure it was based on it-

Rebecca says:

When I saw Tangled ads the first thing I thought was, "oh cool, they bought the right's to Rupunzel's Revenge." now sadly it sounds like they stole it. The original authors need to sue Disney like crazy. I sure would if it were me!

Cookiedough says:

The witch's name is Mother Gothel in both. She uses her hair as weapons in both. The guy who enters the tower is a "wanted criminal" in both. It's very possible!

Nah! They're completely different!

 

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