Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Disney's first black princess coming to theaters in 2009

editor

It only took 84 years and an African American presidential candidate for Disney to bring its first black princess to fruition with The Princess and the Frog. For the upcoming movie they’ve returned both to hand-drawn animation (CGI is awesome and all, but how about some old school 2-D love for cartoons already?) and the writer/director combo of John Musker and Ron Clemens who worked on some of the last Disney films we remember that didn’t suck, The Little Mermaid and Aladdin.

Somehow though, the task of creating a black princess has not been easy for the Disney team. In fact, they've had to go back and rework every aspect of the title character from her appearance to her name (she went from “Maddy” to a more modern “Tiana”) to her occupation (was originally dubbed a chambermaid) after concern for playing to African American stereotypes. We somehow doubt there was a woman named Tiana living in 1920s New Orleans, where the story is set, but we’ll let that slide as we have a bigger issue with the new trailer: the toothless narrating firefly. Yeah.

We’ll have to wait till Christmas 2009 for The Princess and the Frog's theatrical release, but for now check out the trailer and let us know what you think. [EW]

Related: trailer, the princess and the frog, princess, movie, disney, african american

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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 278
  • Kiandra's Avatar
    Posted by Kiandra Thu Jul 31, 2008 5:36pm PDT

    Although it took awhile I think it is great that there is finally a African American Disney princess. I am a African American woman are growning up I did not see any images of cartoon females that looked like me. I am glad that now little African American girls will be able to see a princess that they can racially identify with. America is growing slowly but surely.

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  • Demetria's Avatar
    Posted by Demetria Thu Jul 31, 2008 6:20pm PDT

    this is a good thing but i hope they dint make it tooooo over the top like fried chicken, weave , and all that other good stuff they associate with us black people

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  • cupnoodle's Avatar
    Posted by cupnoodle Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:55pm PDT

    I'M SO WATCHING THAT MOVIE!! Yaaaay~~~!! =)

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  • Diva's Avatar
    Posted by Diva Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:50pm PDT

    I can't wait to see the movie. This will have a positive impact on the young generation of children growing up right now.

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  • Kitten's Avatar
    Posted by Kitten Fri Aug 1, 2008 6:18am PDT

    Okay, what's up with the firefly's teeth?? Are they trying to say something with that?

    Other than that blantant error, it looks rather cute. Wonder if I can get past the firefly's teeth to see the movie.

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  • Elle's Avatar
    Posted by Elle Fri Aug 1, 2008 6:26am PDT

    Yay

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  • 1StephAhead's Avatar
    Posted by 1StephAhead Fri Aug 1, 2008 6:43am PDT

    Oh man...one HUGE step forward, WAY too many steps back! At least it's only a teaser.

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  • Nicki S's Avatar
    Posted by Nicki S Fri Aug 1, 2008 6:53am PDT

    Let's talk reality....how many girls in the demographic they are shooting for are really going to see it? They are into the whole Bratz thing, Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers, etc. A generation ago, sure. We were all over the princess thing and cartoon animation was normal. The kids are interested in very different things these days. I will be surprised if it does well at the box office, they might be better off just releasing it to video. If it was CGI it would stand a better chance. And as for trailers, they will have to get a better one that is faster paced and full of kid-funny stuff. To me, it looks like a traditional Disney princess movie, stuff I grew up with. But the teacher me looks at that and doesn't see a lot of kids buying into it. Sadly.

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  • Caitie's Avatar
    Posted by Caitie Fri Aug 1, 2008 6:58am PDT

    When I saw the fire fly I thought red neck? Are they putting the white guy down to make up for not having an African American Princess? Where Is the Asian Princes? Mulan was not a princess EQUAL RIGHTS!!!!! lol.

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  • Bowhead's Avatar
    Posted by Bowhead Fri Aug 1, 2008 7:06am PDT

    Cute looking Princess, and the frog is priceless, but really the Firefly has to go. I know Disney was looking for a more "modern" name for the Princess, but why not use a popular name from the 1920s in which the movie takes place such as: Lillian, Ruby, Hazel, Audrey, Vera, and Stella. I mean really, the names of the past Princesses have some form of historical context. How about using a name popular in the Roarin' 20s?

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