Monday, March 12, 2007

Disney's New Princess

First there was Snow White, then Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Belle, Princess Jasmine, Pocahontas and now...The Frog Princess.

Disney unveiled its plans for introducing the world to its first black princess to the billion dollar princess line, according to an article on MSNBC. The Frog Princess will return Disney back to its old-school animation style. Jennifer Hudson and Anika Noni Rose from Dream Girls and the Grammy-Award winning singer Alicia Keys have been reported to be contenders for the lead role of Maddy, the Frog Princess according to the film's Wikipedia entry. My personal pick would be Alicia Keys because she has that cool smokey voice, but I'm thinking that Disney might go in a totally different direction.

So what does it all mean? What's the significance of this new Disney princess?

First, Disney is realizing that hand-drawn animation isn't all bad in a Pixar driven world when it's backed behind a good story. Second, the black community is finally getting their much awaited black princess so this is probably what it was like for little girls who were around when the first black Barbie Doll was unveiled. Third, this film pays homage to New Orleans with its setting and will hopefully remind people of the resources still needed to help rebuild the lives of those who were effected by Hurricane Katrina's devastation.

Pocahontas is my favorite Disney princess but all of them hold a special place in my heart because they've become icons for most young girls growing up in the United States. And now, hopefully Disney will do its magic again and give us another princess to embed in our hearts and culture.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

I'm thrilled to hear and see that Disney is finally coming around to being a more colorful company. It seems really late in the game, but since racial prejudice still exists, any work being done to end it is welcome, especially in the form of what's sure to be a fun, wonderful song filled, CLASSIC animated tale. I'm looking very forward to this movie.

Danielle Bressoud said...

Yay Karen! I just found your blog from Dave's blog. I'm excited to read your posts and check in on you! You can check out my shared blog with my husband Chris. thoughtsongod.blogspot.com!

Love,
Danielle

Anonymous said...

hi Karen. i just came across your blog from Dubusi's blog. its amazing to find someone like you there still thinking and writing about God ,virtue and justice in this present mad no-God world.

I got a blog too but time wont permit me write as you do. keep up the goodwork and if you have time check on my scanty christian blog http://www.eetayong.blogspot.com.

Karen said...

Cdbressoud, are you the Danielle who I think you are?!?! If so, sweet! Glad to see you are blogging too.

Anonymous said...

Yeh I just blogged about this over at Highbrid Nation, check it out if you get a chance. Anyway, it really is about time Disney gave little girls a black princess to look up to. Its long overdue. I also think its great that the film will take place in New Orleans. I'll definately have to take my neice to the Frog Princess.

Karen said...

Thanks for stopping by Evorgleb. You have a cool site.

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