Snow White is the protagonist of Walt Disney Productions' first full-length animated feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, released in 1937. Adapted from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale of 1812, the character was developed under the supervision of Walt Disney, with directing animators Hamilton Luske and Marc Davis, and voiced by Adriana Caselotti. She is depicted as a young princess with skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony, typically styled in a short bob with a signature red bow. Her iconic outfit consists of a dress with a blue bodice, slashed red-and-blue puffy sleeves, a high white collar, and a long yellow skirt, often complemented by a short red cape.
In the narrative, Snow White begins as the stepdaughter of a vain and jealous Queen who forces her into servitude as a scullery maid. When the Queen's Magic Mirror declares Snow White the fairest in the land, the Queen orders a huntsman to kill her; he spares her life instead, urging her to flee. Lost in the forest, she discovers the cottage of the Seven Dwarfs—Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Bashful, Sneezy, and Dopey—and earns their protection through her kindness, housekeeping, and maternal care. Despite the dwarfs' warnings, her trusting nature leads her to accept a poisoned apple from the Queen disguised as an old peddler, causing her to fall into a Sleeping Death. The dwarfs place her in a glass coffin, and she is ultimately revived by the Prince's kiss of true love, allowing her to depart with him for a happy future.
Snow White's gentle, optimistic, and compassionate personality, combined with occasional displays of assertiveness, established the archetype for subsequent Disney princesses. As the first official Disney Princess, she has maintained a prominent presence in the franchise, appearing in theme park attractions since 1955, merchandise, video games such as the Kingdom Hearts series, and later media including cameo roles in films and expanded portrayals in series like Once Upon a Time. Her creation marked a milestone in animation history, demonstrating the viability of feature-length animated films and influencing character design and storytelling in Disney's enduring legacy.