Disney has kicked off World Princess Week with the release of ‘Once A Princess, Always A Princess: A Disney Short Film’, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Alex Prager and now streaming on Disney+ and Disney’s YouTube channel.

In India, the film is available on JioHotstar platform.

The short film, positioned as an emotional centerpiece of the week-long D23 fan event, follows two young girls living in neighbouring apartment buildings whose shared love of Disney Princess stories sparks a friendship.

Their imaginations transform everyday moments into adventures inspired by Disney Princess worlds. Years later, the friends pass those stories and traditions on to their own daughters, underscoring the franchise’s appeal across generations.

“I grew up with the Disney Princesses and their colourful, weightless worlds, full of beauty and drama, adventure, friendship, and true love,” said Prager.

“One of the things that drew me to making the Disney Princess film is at its heart, it’s about relationships and human connection. The film highlights that Disney stories give kids a shared language through which they can connect and play and imagine together,” he added.

The film also showcases elaborate practical filmmaking, including handcrafted “bigature” castles inspired by ‘Beauty and the Beast’, ‘Aladdin’ and ‘The Little Mermaid’, custom puppets, hand-painted matte backdrops and a score performed by a 56-piece live orchestra. Practical techniques were used for effects including floating magic carpets and underwater adventures.

World Princess Week, starting August 17, celebrates Disney Princess characters through new stories, entertainment, special events, consumer products and experiences across Disney’s global ecosystem.

The broader ‘Create Your World’ campaign encourages girls and families to embrace creativity, dream boldly and write their own stories.

“The enduring strength of Disney Princesses lies in its ability to evolve with each new generation while remaining rooted in stories that inspire courage, compassion, and possibility,” said Joanna Balikian, Senior Vice President, Brand Management, The Walt Disney Company.

“That’s what makes these characters so meaningful to fans around the world. This year’s World Princess Week celebrates this legacy,” she added.

The celebrations also include ‘Disney Princess: The Ultimate Concert Celebration’, which brings together what Disney describes as the largest collection of Disney Princess talent ever assembled.

Recorded live at Disney California Adventure Park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, the concert features performers from Disney animation, live-action films and the stage, and is now streaming on Disney+ and YouTube.

The concert lineup includes Brandy, Paige O’Hara, Susan Egan, Jodi Benson, Halle Bailey, Auli’i Cravalho, Catherine Laga’aia, Lea Salonga, Judy Kuhn and Anika Noni Rose. Make-A-Wish children and alumni were also among the guests at the event.

Further World Princess Week programming includes new episodes of ‘Sofia the First: Royal Magic’ and the Disney+ debut of ‘LEGO Disney Princess: Magical Mayhem’ on August 21.

The animated special brings Ariel, Jasmine, Mulan, Moana, Rapunzel, Snow White and Tiana, along with their sidekicks, together for an adventure sparked by a heavy rainstorm, a group of animals and an increasingly chaotic situation inside their castle.

Disney’s ABC, Disney Jr., Disney Channel and Freeform will also air Princess films throughout the week, including ‘Tangled’, ‘Beauty and the Beast’, ‘Aladdin’ and ‘Mulan’, among others.