MovieChat Forums > Tangled (2010) Discussion > Shouldn't Rapunzel have a British accent...

Shouldn't Rapunzel have a British accent?

posted 8 years ago by hollylargo
13 replies | jump to latest

Watching Tangled just now, it struck me for the first time that Gothel has a 'British' accent (as a Brit, I can confirm that there is no single "British accent", but I'll leave it at that for argument's sake). If Rapunzel has never left the tower and therefore probably learnt English from her mother, shouldn't she have picked up her mother's accent? I know there are many unrealistic things that happen in this film, but this one fascinates me. Any theories?

[–] Adcro 8 years ago

Gothel doesn't have a British accent, it's a well-spoken/enunciated American accent. But I'll agree, Rapunzel should have a much more similar accent to hers than the accent she has.

[–] hollylargo 8 years ago

Agreed, now I've heard her speak a bit more it's not actually British, I was going off something I read somewhere. It is incredibly enunciated though!

[–] DimlyGlowingEmber 8 years ago

It's like Mr Feeny (BMW). Everyone growing up thought he was british. They even joke about it on the show. But Williams Daniels isn't british and neither is Feeny. It's just extremely precise and pretty perfect.

[–] louiseculmer 8 years ago

rapunzel is not a British story, it's German. I don't think it is meant to be set in any real place though.

[–] Voice-of-Discernment 8 years ago

Tangled's setting is meant to be in some sort of fairytale Germany (the kingdom of "Corona"). Based on the original fairytale and on the clothes and architecture. So British would be... beyond weird.

[–] mikeyg24 8 years ago

That's funny Donna Murphy who voices Mother Gothel is from Corona, New York.

Hey! You're not old enough to drink! Now go and die for your country!!!

[–] suebob-28169 8 years ago

I was confused by some of Mother Gothel's enunciation too. For example, at one point as she was preparing to climb up to the tower she is telling Rapunzel "I bet my surprise is BIGGAH!" Or later as she says "You are not leaving this TOWAH EVAH!" Otherwise most of the time when she is calm she speaks without an obvious accent. Anyone have any insights into Mother Gothel's background?

[–] Hold_the_door 8 years ago

As everyone said, the tale the film is based on is German. Well, she doesn't have a German accent but that's not a problem to me.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Live_Dream 8 years ago

I think Rapunzel has spent a lot of time alone, while Mother Gothel has been away, and has probably spent much of that time talking to herself and the chameleon, so she's developed her own accent.

[–] savvydawn-23801 8 years ago

technically the story of rapunzel takes place in Germany, so they should all be speaking german

[–] !!!deleted!!! (64564146) 7 years ago

All Disney villainesses have high-brow accents. Except for Te Ka.