http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/...s_N.htm?csp=34

This release could go a couple of ways




A stereotyped black princess (from Harlem)

Your archetypal white princes just painted black

Or a realistical black princess with stereotypical animalistic sidekicks ala dumbo the crows singing “ I see a elephant fly�

p.s. sorry about the swearing, i thought the auto-censor would edit it.

It sounds like a long wait though, 2009.

Mar 10, 2007
Disney's newest princess
For the new film "The Frog Princess," Walt Disney will introduce its first black princess. »What's her name?


DISNEY'S 2009 ANIMATED RELEASE "THE FROG PRINCESS" TAPS INTO STUDIO'S RICH FAIRY TALE LEGACY
OSCAR-WINNER RANDY NEWMAN TEAMS UP WITH ACCLAIMED VETERAN DIRECTORS MUSKER & CLEMENTS
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana – (March 8, 2007) -- The Walt Disney Studios will continue its fairy tale legacy in animation by taking moviegoers on an all-new "once upon a time" musical adventure with its 2009 release of "The Frog Princess," it was announced today by Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, and John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. A musical set in the legendary birthplace of jazz – New Orleans -- "The Frog Princess" will introduce the newest Disney princess, Maddy, a young African-American girl living amid the charming elegance and grandeur of the fabled French Quarter. From the heart of Louisiana's mystical bayous and the banks of the mighty Mississippi comes an unforgettable tale of love, enchantment and discovery with a soulful singing crocodile, voodoo spells and Cajun charm at every turn.
"The Frog Princess" is based on an original story written by Disney's acclaimed filmmaking duo John Musker & Ron Clements ("The Little Mermaid," "Aladdin," "Hercules"), who will also direct. Oscar®-winning songwriter/composer and New Orleans native Randy Newman ("Toy Story," "A Bug's Life," "Toy Story 2," "Monsters, Inc." and "Cars") will write songs and the score for this project. Peter Del Vecho, a 12-year Disney animation veteran, will produce.
Commenting on the announcement from The Walt Disney Company's 2007 Annual Meeting of shareholders, Cook said, "We're pleased to be here in the heart of New Orleans to announce 'The Frog Princess,' a great story with all the ingredients that go into making an extraordinary motion picture experience. Like many of Disney's most popular fairy tales, it has elements of magic, fantasy, adventure, heart, humor, and music. The film's New Orleans setting and strong princess character give the film lots of excitement and texture. We're also thrilled to have John Musker, Ron Clements and Randy Newman lending their talents and creative energies to this project. John and Ron helped to usher in Disney's second golden age of animation nearly two decades ago with 'The Little Mermaid,' and are on track to create the Studio's next great fairy tale adventure."
John Lasseter added, "Aside from being longtime friends and colleagues, John and Ron are two of the most influential and imaginative filmmakers in the animation medium, and I am so excited to be working with them in bringing their creative vision
for 'The Frog Princess' to the big screen. They've come up with an original story that is deeply rooted in the fairy tale tradition, and it's filled with great humor, emotion, and musical moments. Randy Newman brings fun and excitement to every project, and I couldn't think of a better choice to deliver some wonderful New Orleans style music."

mike pain wrote: What is a stereotyped Black princess from Harlem? The Film is set in New Orleans.confused3

Who cares about this.

Disney has no problem portraying everybody else's historical greatness except Africans - why not do something basedon an ancient African kingdom?

"Your archetypal white princes just painted black" - for real. Just looking at the drawing it's pain to see that this "princess" was drawn with european features. It may as well be a cartoon about Barbie for all I give a toss.

Prince Hakeem wrote: Because Disney is an American company.I'm glad our young girls will have something to look at that reflects them.



Hell if it was set in an African kingdom folks will moan about that.

Burning Spear wrote:
Hell if it was an African Kingdom folks wouldn't moan about that.

Prince Hakeem wrote:

Prince Hakeem wrote: Yes we would !

We would complain because the writer would likley be non-blackandwouldnt 'understand' the culture/struggle.

If the accents were supposedly 'off' we would complain about that as well. Which leads on to my next point

No doubt there will be anti-African American sentiments as well if they took up most/all of the voice jobs

Atleast they are documentinga positive part of African American history. New Orleans at the height of the Jazz era is a good start. And I don't see films like Phocanotas and the Hunchback of Notredame as exactly reflecting the great aspects of Native and Gypsy culture respectively.