the classic princess from snow white, sleeping beauty, beauty and the beast, to the little mermaid etc, are all white.
but we've had an asian mulan, middle eastern jasmine, native american pocahontas, so that's good.

but finally, a black disney princess!! 
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17524865/
the movie is set to be released in 2009.

what do you guys think? do you feel that this is important? does it matter?
------

UPDATE: the movie has been out for a short while now since it's 2010 already.
if you've seen it, how was it any REVIEWS?

lol.
but no doubt their films play a HUGE role in our society.

Who cares its just a cartoon, they should not bring race into cartoons now, cos no one really noticed that most princesses were white, quite frankly no one cares what colour they decide to make their prince's and princesses

Hmmm. Wasn't Mulan quite black? Why does the first black princess have to be a frog princess?

lol.
mulan is Asian. Chinese to be exact.

i think they've changed the name to "the princess and the frog" or something like that. i'm not exactly sure

because no one really noticed that most princesses were white, quite frankly no one cares what colour they decide to make their prince's and princesses

that's what you think.
but to be quite honest with you, people do pay mind, even if it is subconsciously.

who says no one noticed? quit playing.

Disney has cast every race except the black one in most of their Princess movies.

Its about time they had a black princess. The problem is can they portray her in a culturally sensitive way that wont antagonize or be offensive to blacks (or any race). The black princess will also have to be acceptable to non-blacks, ie someone they can identify with. Its a tricky situation, as they could loose money if they arent careful.

Even Tarzan (one of my favorite Disney movies by the way), was set in Africa but had white main characters. I don't have a problem with that though. The movie is good, whichever way you look at it.

The Lion King (another classic), also set in Africa, had no humans at all.


The list of Disney princesses so far:

Snow White - (white) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Cinderella - (white) Cinderella (1950)
Aurora (white)  Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Ariel ( white) The Little Mermaid (1989)
Belle  ( white)  Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Jasmine (Arab)  Aladdin (1992)
Pocahontas (American Indian) Pocahontas (1995)
Mulan (Asian/Chinese)




The movie title has been changed from The Frog princess to The Princess and the Frog.  I think this will also be the first time a black actress will feature as the main character in a Disney princess movie.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Tiana

http://www.eonline.com/gossip/planetgossip/detail/index.jsp?uuid=32acc85e-a531-4ba2-93d6-650ee3432d89#commentstart

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Princess_and_the_Frog



come to think of it, there's never been a black prince either. Even Rodger & Hammerstein's Cinderella with Brandy as the princess, and Whitney Houston as the fairy godmother, had a Filipino prince, not a black one. 

It's gonna be a flop. Whites won't be interested and blacks will be disgusted.

Mulan is from Asia and this gal seems to be from NIGERIA

Seun:

It's going to be a flop. Whites won't be interested and blacks will be disgusted.

That's exactly what was said before the COSBYs show aired!

Seun:

It's going to be a flop. Whites won't be interested and blacks will be disgusted.

Am sure it's not going to be as you've anticipated, let wait and see.

WesleyanA:

lol.
mulan is Asian. Chinese to be exact.

i think they've changed the name to "the princess and the frog" or something like that. i'm not exactly sure

And the movie was culturally suited accordingly.

'Blacks' could be culturally sub-divided into Western Blacks and African Blacks. Both societies have different cultures, obviously.

If the frog princess is going to be the main character, the story line and the setting is/are going to have to be adapted to either of these cultures. Otherwise it will be a waste of time and what Seun said will inevitably happen.

The setting is 1920s Louisiana.  The princess was originally cast as a maid, but later changed to a princess maybe after doing some market surveys.

The storyline will probably be African American, not directly African.

Louisiana has a rich culture anyway. So there should be plenty of themes and material to use.

I think the movie may appeal more to an African American audience, rather than an African one.

What does Louisiana have to do with a kingdom though?

If it's supposed to have a princess theme, it definitely SHOULD be situated in a country in Africa

tpia:

The setting is 1920s Louisiana.  The princess was originally cast as a maid, but later changed to a princess maybe after doing some market surveys.

The storyline will probably be African American, not directly African.

Louisiana has a rich culture anyway. So there should be plenty of themes and material to use.

I think the movie may appeal more to an African American audience, rather than an African one.

you're right. but something is telling me that when this movie comes out, it is not going to be big even among african amerians. and the africans aren't going to care too much.

TOH:

What does Louisiana have to do with a kingdom though?

If it's supposed to have a princess theme, it definitely SHOULD be situated in a country in Africa

true but you have to think, if its an american film, most african americans are going to be pissed because its not about them.

who cares about flipping six year olds fairytale, i always find it enjoyable even if they are as white as snow, does anyone really think of race when they are watching magical tale? but this frog princess shows respect though

Race is very much an issue in the colour hodgepodge of America, and Disney knows that. The fact that they're introducing a black princess and it's news is very revealing. If race wasn't an issue they would have had a long tradition of black characters and no one would be batting an eyelid now. But they'll be having a black presido soon, and why not ride the new pro-all-things-Obama-so-most-things-black-are-in wave?

They've promoted the cuddly,lovable,singing,beautiful WHITE princes and princesses so most Disney fans are used to that and conditioned to accept white characters as flag bearers of Fairy Tales. That's why there are people on the thread who think a black princess'll flop. They're no used to the idea. Let's hope Disney does its homework and makes the princess irresistible.

It's bold (and frigging manipulative) of them to go black. Let's hope it works out o.

A half-black, half-white character (Obama, Mulan) has the best chance of making it in the market.

the prince will probably be white, Hispanic, Middle eastern or Asian.

that's what they did for Brandy in Cinderella.

wow i found this topic again. lol such a long time ago
well, update:

there is a short trailer on the disney site.
http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/princessandthefrog/

what a good timing, . . with Obama's victory and all. . .

tpia:

the prince will probably be white, Hispanic, Middle eastern or Asian.

that's what they did for Brandy in Cinderella.

the prince's voice is a brazillian actor apparently. I wonder what he'll look like.

Seun:


A half-black, half-white character (Obama, Mulan) has the best chance of making it in the market.

America for you! I guess they don't want the movie to seem like a "black movie"

sure there will be some subliminal racism

i think its great that they are branching out and representing their characters the same way society is represented.

from the trailers, the movie has a very intense creole/cajun feel. Hope they throw in some appetizing food scenes for good measure. Catfish too.


is it just me or does there seem to be a strong anastasia feel to this film. Probably the louisiana effect.

they changed her look to something more elegant




anyone notice anything about her hair and gown or do I have an overactive imagination?

And it has to be a frog? I'm just happy that it's not THE MONKEY PRINCESS

YESSSSS!!! i was just thinking about this today.
FINALLY!!!
funny story:
you know how you can go to disneychannel . com and email your favorite characters?
WAY BACK WHEN, YEARS AGO
well i used to go and email hannah montana, raven, zack and cody, ect ect
i used to email then CUSSING THEM OUT!! talking about where are all the black shows going? taking off raven was the last straw for me!
i even complained that we have no black movies.
disney is watched by all ethnicities, why always whites and latinos that get appreciated?
i would email hannah, raven, ect ect. lol
and it was so funny, after sending it would say "THANKS FOR THE EMAIL!" lolol
i hope someone read it and took it into consideration.
but FINALLY!!!!! there is a movie for us.
damn, about time.

tpia:

the prince will probably be white, Hispanic, Middle eastern or Asian.

that's what they did for Brandy in Cinderella.

Roger and Heminstein (however you spell that) are known for putting people of all races in movies, no matter what.
whoopi with her black self, the white guy as king, and an ASIAN BABY?!? lol
i used to love that movie but that never made sense.
the step sisters, one black and one white and the mom white?? and brandy's dad was black and just one came out all white? lolol
but they are known for doing that, using all races to play any character, even if it doesnt look right.
i actually like that.
love that movie till this day.

and FYI, the prince looked black from the previews.

THE.AMAKA:

Roger and Heminstein (however you spell that) are known for putting people of all races in movies, no matter what.
whoopi with her black self, the white guy as king, and an ASIAN BABY?!? lol
i used to love that movie but that never made sense.
the step sisters, one black and one white and the mom white?? and brandy's dad was black and just one came out all white? lolol
but they are known for doing that, using all races to play any character, even if it doesnt look right.
i actually like that.
love that movie till this day.

There was a movie where Brandy was Cinderella?