It’s undeniable. Two of Disney’s newest productions, Tangled and Frozen, are uncannily similar. The plots, the characters, the comedy, the music, the animation – everything about the two movies embodies Disney’s new trend of modernization.

Tangled, released in November of 2010, created a new version of the classic fairy tale Rapunzel. Princess Rapunzel, the main protagonist of the film, is trapped for the first 18 years of her life in a tower by the evil Mother Gothel, who hopes to use the magical powers of the princess’s hair to keep her young forever. Despite her desperate living conditions, Rapunzel remains positive and gentle and grows into a beautiful young woman.

Her chance for escape arrives when she strikes up a deal with the thief Flynn Rider (also known as Eugene). He agrees to take her to see the flying lanterns, which are released every year on her birthday, if she returns his satchel containing a stolen tiara.

The two embark on an adventure to the palace along with their sidekicks Pascal, Rapunzel’s pet chameleon, and Maximus, Flynn’s horse. Along the way, they fall in love.

The lovers are separated when the evil Mother Gothel eventually recaptures Rapunzel and sends Flynn to be executed. Rapunzel finally realizes that she is the missing royal princess and confronts Mother Gothel. Mother Gothel becomes angry and violent, tying Rapunzel up and stabbing Flynn (who escaped from prison with help from Maximus) when he tries to rescue her.

Flynn bravely cuts Rapunzel’s magical golden hair, which becomes short and brown, to defeat Mother Gothel and set Rapunzel free. Mother Gothel becomes old and falls out of the tower while Flynn is left dying from the dagger wound. Without her golden hair, Rapunzel believes that she will be unable to cure her love. Fortunately, a last bit of magic cures Flynn and the two are married after Rapunzel is reunited with her parents, the king and the queen.

Coincidentally, the two are rumored to enjoy their honeymoon in the kingdom of Arendelle, the setting of Disney’s newest production Frozen, which entered theaters in November of 2013. Indeed the couple can be spotted on coronation day in Frozen.

Frozen features not one but two princesses: Elsa and Anna. Elsa, Anna’s older sister, possesses a unique power of controlling ice. One day when Elsa and Anna are playing, Elsa accidentally hits Anna with an ice beam. Fortunately, Anna is able to be cured, but her parents, unwilling to risk such a dangerous recurrence, erase the incident and Elsa’s powers from her memory.

The two sisters, who were once very close, are driven apart by Elsa’s state of isolation. When their parents, the king and queen, drown in an accident overseas, Elsa is to be crowned queen.

On coronation day, Anna, who has been very lonely since the deaths of her parents, falls in love with Prince Hans seemingly at first sight. The two request Elsa’s permission to be married and are denied.

Angry with her sister, Anna argues with Elsa until Elsa’s ice power is accidentally revealed in front of the entire kingdom. After unintentionally initiating an eternal winter in Arendelle, Elsa flees the palace and creates an ice palace of her own in the mountains where she believes she can truly be herself.

Anna sets off to find her, leaving her beloved Prince Hans in charge of affairs in Arendelle. During her journey, Anna is accompanied by Olaf, a comedic snowman, and a man called Kristoff and his reindeer Sven.

When Anna attempts to bring Elsa back to Arendelle, Elsa accidentally shoots an ice beam into her heart. Since only an act of true love can cure a frozen heart, Kristoff, who has begun to fall in love with Anna, races her back to Arendelle and Prince Hans.

Prince Hans, however, reveals his true colors when he mercilessly leaves Anna to die. Anna leaves the castle in time to see Kristoff, her true love, racing towards her to cure her.

However, Anna chooses instead to save Elsa from being murdered by the power-hungry Prince Hans. She successfully saves Elsa but freezes into an icy statue before Kristoff can reach her. Devastated, Elsa hugs and cries over her frozen little sister and Anna is miraculously cured. Sisterly love, not romantic love, saved her life.

There are countless parallels between the two movies. The animation is seemingly identical and the three princesses, Anna, Elsa, and Rapunzel, appear very similar. Each princess has the standard Disney look of long hair, large eyes, and a slender figure. They all embody the admirable traits of courage, independence, and kindness.

Each of the protagonists is in turn supported by loyal sidekicks (Pascal for Rapunzel, Maximus for Flynn Rider, Olaf for Anna, and Sven for Kristoff). The music featured in the two films is also similar, the most popular song from Tangled being “When Will My Life Begin” performed by Rapunzel and from Frozen undoubtedly being “Let it Go” performed by Elsa.

However, the movies contrast greatly in that Tangled features a more traditional plot while Frozen is unprecedented. Rapunzel is saved by her “Prince Charming” while Anna and Elsa save each other. While Tangled has an obvious villain, Hans surprisingly reveals his dark side midway through Frozen. Finally, Frozen features not one but TWO heroines, both of which are stunning and independent.

So, which movie is better?

“I like Frozen better because the music is really good and it’s a lot more silly. There’s also two princesses and Olaf [the snowman] is definitely better than than the horse in Tangled! I like that the princesses are also more independent and adventurous,” said Arin Muhic, an RHS senior.

Alex Diocson, a sophomore at RHS, has also jumped on the Frozen bandwagon. “Frozen has a better message because it’s about sisters. And the songs are a lot better!”

And my ruling? I think it’s pretty obvious. Due to its originality, superior music, unparalleled comedy, and representation of modern ideals like feminism and independence, Frozen is undoubtedly the winner.

Still, both Tangled and Frozen are trendsetters in that they help usher in a new era of Disney princesses who are more characterized by their bravery and independence than their delicacy and beauty.