The Disney Princess franchise was officially launched in 2000.
The franchise grew from a merchandising idea rather than from a new film. Andy Mooney became president of Disney Consumer Products in December 1999 and noticed girls wearing homemade or generic princess costumes at a Disney on Ice show. He believed Disney was missing an opportunity to bring its heroines together under one recognizable brand.
The original line was formalized in 2000 and included characters such as Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tinker Bell, and Esmeralda. The lineup was later revised: Tinker Bell moved to the Disney Fairies brand, and Esmeralda was removed from the official Princess roster.
The year can be confused with later expansions, merchandise campaigns, or individual film releases. Disney Princess is a branded franchise and toy line, not simply a list of every royal or female character in Disney animation. Its members are selected according to Disney’s own franchise rules.