Tangled concept art, by Glen Keane
Flynn from Tangled was going to be huge and Stabbington-sized, in comparison to Rapunzel, to make the relationship seem “accepting”, so Rapunzel would seem less shallow.
As if to teach a lesson that not ALL 16th century urchin thieves (half the populace) were rapists and murderers; general scary mean guys, despite their intimidating looks.
Then, to appeal more to the target audience of female teens and little girls, they made him Prince Charming with a personality, so you know he’s ‘good and pretty’, and there wouldn’t be a societal issue in pairing a 25+ year old ex-con with someone the size of a 14 year old.
The panel of women who decided what makes a man attractive had the ideal of a man who looks like this, with a constant Dreamworks face, thus the ‘handsome’ Flynn was born, and the lovable giant Bastion was scrapped.
