A young woman with unreasonably long hair is kept in a tower by a controlling mother figure who is only using her for her magic. She dreams of seeing the floating lights that appear every year on her birthday.

A charming wanted thief breaks into the tower while fleeing the authorities. She knocks him out with a frying pan, hides his stolen goods, and blackmails him into escorting her to see the lights. Negotiation is important in every relationship.

They travel together. There is a musical number in a tavern full of ruffians, a dam breaks, they almost drown, and he reveals his real name. She reveals her hair glows. Everyone is being very vulnerable.

Boats. Lanterns. The single most romantic scene in animated film history. They both realize the dream they were chasing was actually each other, which is exactly the kind of thing we would say too.

Betrayal, a stabbing, a haircut, a magic tear, a resurrection. They return to the kingdom, the lost princess is restored, and after "years and years of asking," she finally says yes. They live happily ever after.