He also wrote a series of books about an American who traveled to Mars and fell in love with a beautiful princess.

VOA: special.2010.07.11

It attempts to tackle the opera's main difficulty: how can the cold-hearted ice princess Turandot fall suddenly and deeply in love with her suitor, Calaf?

NPR: Chinese Composer Gives 'Turandot' a Fresh Finale

When a young, dewy-faced Gwyneth Paltrow accepted the Best Actress Oscar for Shakespeare In Love, the world caught a four-minute glimpse of the Harry Winston Princess Necklace, glistening in time with every benevolent gesture.

FORBES: How Movie Stars Pick Oscars Jewelry For The Red Carpet

To put it bluntly, Merida is the first animated princess in major American film history who does not fall in love, who does not act on the basis of romantic motivation, and who does not (mild spoiler alert) choose a handsome mate in the end.

FORBES: 'Brave' Is Actually Quite Brave: Pixar's Fantastic Feminist Document