Rapunzel und die Rückkehr der Falken (2023)

Once abandoned as a newborn by her biological parents, Rapunzel grows up deep in the forest with the sorceress Eleonor. When Queen Freya unexpectedly summons the sorceress to court to witness the succession ritual for her son, Prince Sigismund, Rapunzel follows her and befriends the prince, who is more interested in science, as well as his friend Pip. During the ritual, Eleonor is confronted by her past: many years earlier, she served the king and had inadvertently caused his death with her magic. Now the queen calls upon the sorceress’s services to protect her supposedly weak son. Eleonor does help the young prince with the ritual climb up the tower, but does not feel able to swear eternal loyalty to him as well. In anger, the queen has Rapunzel and Eleonor imprisoned on false charges. Sigismund and his best friend Pip secretly free them, and Rapunzel and Eleonor flee to a hidden tower in the woods. Years later, Rapunzel is still living in the tower and has never left it. Prince Sigismund joins his vengeful mother’s search parties, but only so he can see his beloved again. When Rapunzel disobeys Eleonor’s order and leaves the tower for the first time, she encounters Sigismund. But because he is accompanied by soldiers, she believes he is acting on his mother’s orders and flees back to the tower. Sigismund follows her. With Pip, who by now serves as the court jester, the prince manages to climb the tower. Rapunzel and Sigismund regain the trust they once shared. But as they try to escape their domineering parents, Queen Freya and her entourage catch up with them. With one final, powerful spell, the sorceress Eleonor is able to magically transport her foster daughter away. But the spell costs Eleonor her life and Sigismund his eyesight. The blind prince does not give up on Rapunzel, however, and has Pip lead him deep into the woods. With tears of reunion, Rapunzel heals him. The two decide to break with tradition and leave the past behind—Sigismund does not ascend the throne, but lives with Rapunzel in the woods. Pip delivers the news to the queen and makes sure things stay that way for the rest of her life.