# Humanized Princess Portraits The Jirka Vaatainen 'Real Life Disney Characters' are Surreal Snaps By Regan Canie | Published 2011-10-22 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/real-life-disney-characters References: [buzzfeed](http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrismenning/actually-realistic-disney-princesses) & [behance.net](http://www.behance.net/gallery/Envisioning-Disney-Characters-in-Real-Life/2072296) It's a well-known fact that the [Little Mermaid](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/disney-the-little-mermaid-collection) wanted human legs and Sleeping Beauty yearned to wake up to reality, but no one has brought the princesses into the realm of real-life more than Jirka Vaatainen with his 'Real Life [Disney](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/creativesoul) Characters.' Finnish graphic design student, Vaatainen, decided to take on the task of turning the [iconic cartoon characters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marvel-and-disney) into very human-like illustrations while maintaining all of their wonderfully Walt-given qualities. Sure, they have impossibly immaculate hair and flawlessly sketched bone structures, but the Disney divas really do look like regular people despite the fins. The Jirka Vaatainen 'Real Life Disney Characters' are so accurate and exact that they'll make you wonder if these perfect princesses really do exist. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.9/10 - Popularity: 99% | Activity: 100% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Media](https://www.trendhunter.com/media) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Real-life Illustrations:** Illustrators can use this trend to create realistic iterations of fictional characters. - **Humanizing Characters:** Film and animation industry can utilize humanized portrayals to enhance characters and plots. - **Iconic Character Reinventions:** Brands can experiment and transform their iconic characters to stay relevant with changing times. ### Where This Applies - **Illustration:** Illustration industry can incorporate realistic humanizing of fictional icons to add more depth to their work. - **Film and Animation:** Film and animation industry can use humanization to add emotional weight to their characters and storylines. - **Media and Entertainment:** Media and entertainment industry can incorporate reinventions of classic characters to keep their brand fresh in audience's minds. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Diverse African Doll Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/creativesoul.md) - [Sparkling Detailed Princess Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/american-girl-doll-1.md) - [Whimsical Character-Inspired Statement Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aldo-x-disney.md) - [Enchanting Classic-Animation-Inspired Jewelry](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/girls-crew.md) - [Fairytale-Inspired Fragrances](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-enchanting-collection.md) - [Couture Collector Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/viktorrolf-x-disney.md) - [Soft-Colored Disney Apparel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cinderella-capsule.md) - [Princess-Themed Lip Glosses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ultra-glossy-lip.md) - [Film-Resembling Mermaid Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/little-mermaid-doll.md)