I can't pinpoint exactly why, but I sort of also agree that belle doesn't have flaws, but it bothers me. I do see belle as sort of stuck up and condescending to others in the town as others have said (though I still adore her) but I Think that's more our perception and leftover development from the writers and how the lyrics can be interpreted.... rather than something they tried to intentionally make her out to be. but it's not wrong. but they never show her to be snobby and having to learn her lesson, they set out to make her pretty all around great. still though, I guess because belle isn't hyper adorable-ized like Rapunzel is..maybe someone else can help me out with this?

And both of them are in my TOP-5. It's not a coincidence.

Most peoples forgot that Belle was somehow overpride and stubborn.

I agree with princesslullaby. Belle was intended to be written without flaws, and the movie always posits her in the "right", but it isn't to difficult to read her as a flawed character.

Rapunzel is reticent and hesitates to make her decisions. Punzie won't trust her instincts. Punzie believes whatever Gothel tells her. Punzie also spends a whole lot of time waffling back and forth over whether she should or she shouldn't ( this reminds me a whole lot of Moana, which is also the same flaw I see in Moana).

Belle is still nosy, is too proud ( for little reason), and still seems to believe that everyone around her is a "lesser person" because they don't share her hobbies.

Well, Belle has flaws, but the thing is, they're not really portrayed as flaws. More like relatable quirks ("odd", even though compared to genuinely strange heroes like Luna Lovegood she's quite normal a person) or not wrong at all (her nosiness is presented as justified and it's the beast who is at fault, as well as the whole friendless issue). I actually think Belle is just as idealized as Walt's girls. But she does have some flaws at least.

Rapunzel? Nope. Her naivety is adorable, her insecurity relatable, her sneakiness/rebellion justified. Everything about her you're supposed to like, and those are barely negative attributes anyway. Not like snobbery, selfishness, cowardice, being judgmental, etc.

I would say Belle is more of a self insert (and yes, she's a rounded character, but those aren't mutually exclusive; see Darcy in Thor) while Punz is a full on Sue, or close enough. And I'm fine with idealized characters (obviously, since the Classics are my favorite group) as long as the movie doesn't try to act like they're the girl next door with super-relatable flaws.

I think both have flaws. Belle doesn't really appreciate privacy and Rapunzel is insecure and naive and not really confident about many things.

I think Rapunzel has flaws from her lack of flaws.

100% agree with AudreyFreak

In the best way