Disney’s First Animated Black Princess Draws Controversy
ugo.com posted a article a couple of days ago and I found it very interesting. Disney finally has a black lead in a animated feature, but so far there’s been some coincidental problems with the whole film.
ogu.com writes “Disney’s first animated feature with a black princess has already forced the studio to change the title of the film and the name of the lead character. Originally titled The Frog Princess, the film is now being called The Princess and the Frog and the lead character is now called Tiana instead of Maddy. But the controversy doesn’t end there.
Charlotte Observer columnist William Blackburn comments: “This princess’ story is set in New Orleans, the setting of one of the most devastating tragedies to beset a black community. And then they throw in the voodoo theme and an alligator sidekick. When you put New Orleans, alligators and voodoo together, there’s no beauty there.”
Straight Mess…. I mean– really. Who the hell do they have working on this project– they need to be fired. Straight up.
Tina
September 6, 2008 at 1:30 pm
People need to stop thinking so much.
Lovely
September 27, 2008 at 11:10 pm
I think the controversy behind the Frog Princess is absolutely crazy. So what if she was originally said to be a chamber maid? So what if it is placed in New Orleans! Yes it suffered greatly, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be thought of as a place of damage and loss still. I’m sure it was a beautiful place rich with history and it’s nice that, for once, Disney is making a film placed in a real world! The 1920s was a fascinating time with Jazz age and it isn’t racist at all to think a black women at that time would be a chamber maid. Was not Cinderella and Snow White women that have gone from rags to riches? And with more progressive heroines like Mulan and Pocahontas, I’m sure this new princess will also not just wait around for prince charming to do all the work and help herself as well.
I can only hope that all the anger coming from the black community doesn’t force Disney to change their story plans into something bland by trying to be politically-correct. I think Maddy was a much more fitting name than Tiana considering the time it takes place. After all, it could have been short for Madeline, but a name is just a name.
I wonder how daring Disney will be with this. I think it would be something else if they went for an interracial romance at the end as well! Either way, I hope it will bring back more attention to traditional animation, which is what we could really use after being saturated with half-baked computer animated films. And just to put it out there, I am an African-American woman not at all offended by this project.
Shauna
September 27, 2008 at 11:24 pm
As a character design student, I find this to be an intriguing problem. Though I’m excited to see the return to cell animation, I don’t know how I feel about the choice of typography and character stylization. I did a double-take the first time I saw the title page…Am I the only one who sees the similarity between this and Swan Princess? Between the dark blue and ornate mood of the swamp and then the title, and their treatment of the frog and alligators, I’m a little disappointed. It’s all so very safe and familiar. I hope the story is a little more original–the setting for the story sounded really ambitious–the parts I haven’t seen yet probably are. I’m sure as more concept art and movie clips are released, there will be more original opportunities. A storyboard depicting what looked like a Mardi Gras scene hinted at some interesting flavor. And Shauna, I totally agree with everything you said–I hope the rich 1920’s setting is used to its full advantage, and it would be sweet if they used Jazz to move the story along.
Hannah
October 27, 2008 at 2:21 pm
straight mess. what kind of name is TIANA?? the girl is supposed to be from new orleans, LA, she should have had a french name…. smh
HOTE
October 27, 2008 at 8:58 pm
I appreciate Disney for trying to incorporate the black community into their fantasy land but thats just it there are too many harsh realities that the Black community has faced to be placed in a hate free fantasy land. If all the white folks in this movie are treating her respectfully this will be the most bogus movie ever. 1920’s new orleans brown skin woman. Better get it right Disney
Will
November 14, 2008 at 3:13 pm
hello everyone
I just have to say we need to first know who we are than accept it. Maddy for a name connects with our ancestors the only reason why it sounds ugly is because thats we are told. For example is black a good or bad color? In the back of our minds we believe it is bad because over time that is what it has represented. Althoug Africans are closer to that color than no other. We all konw that were strong,humble, and talented individuals. As for the movie I love it… I think, I have not seen it yet. As long thers no twist and Tiana keeps it real im good.
Kiona
December 8, 2008 at 12:40 am
This info is collectively gathered…
IMO I think they never should’ve changed the name from “The Frog Princess” or her role from chambermaid or even her name if it went better with the story
I had no idea Maddie was a typical “slave” name as I thought it was a shortened version of Madeline “a name commonly associated with people of European decent”
also the chambermaid thing, please, two of Disney’s most famous princesses were chambermaids, the VERY FIRST Snow White and the most famous Cinderella… essentially all that mattered was that “Princess Tiana” is bettered by the end of the story and grows from her adventure as most all Disney Princesses do… so please people stop being so critical if too many people complain they’re going to keep changing things until the story is weakened and then we’ll end up with a bad movie… Disney has done how many films now? (and haven’t the majority of them, MAINLY THEIR PRINCESS FILMS been succesful)… so why would they make a horrible film all of a sudden because there’s a black princess named Maddie whose from New Orleans… the story is a reflection of the time it is set in and I think New Orleans is one of the many places which needs some media attention right now as well as provide an interesting cilture and beautiful backdrop in a Disney film-really has the illustrations in a Disney Princess film ever been ugly… seriously Cinderella’s freinds were filthy rats, yet they were portrayed as loveable sidekicks and Sebastian and flounder were wierdo sea creatures who are memorable and recognizable characters all across the globe
pleas relax and let Disney do what it does best
wow… that’s long
JP
January 14, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Hey,
First off, I am annoyed and upset with our black community… Disney finally recognizes us in full-feature animation and we do what we do best, make an excuse to complain! I mean come on… if they named her Katie and set the movie in England you’d complain that she wasn’t black enough, if they named her Basi and set the movie in Africa you’d complain that it was stereotypical. When are we just happy to see change? Open your eyes and look for the good… finally our children have an animated image on television that they can relate to. Be thankful they drew her with dark skin color not as if she were half white with long brown hair (like a beyonce) be happy that they set in in a community that is familiar to the black culture and that black people have lived in for many years. Get over yourselves and stop standing around looking for reasons to be mad, be happy. We are making steps forward and if we weren’t so busy stereotyping ourselves, maybe we’d see what’s really happening and appreciate it and make up in our minds that we’re going to be a part of it. Be an animator, be a movie director, be a graphic designer so that you can be a part of the change instead of standing around waiting for it to happen.
Get Real!
nikoya
January 28, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Wow you wrote what I’ve been thinking for years, preach on!
Sterling B
January 28, 2009 at 11:38 pm
I am happy To see a black princess. I work in an inner city preschool and all the little girls love the Disney princess’ but I felt sad that none of them looked like my children and now they will have one. People should stop analyzing and being so negative, it’s about time and I am thankful.
Jessica
February 22, 2009 at 3:38 pm
I honestly think that even if Disney, made the story in New York, LA or even overseas somebody would still have something to say…I’m black and Im not saying that it cool, bcuz it seemed like just bcuz there is a black president, thay they decided to mke this movie…and thats not true,,, this movies has been in th making for many months and years.. and I think if they put princess Tiana in La or NY, people would say “Why is she in LA, She’s not white or they could of at least put her somewhere were the black community is most” and even if they did that it still would of have not been right….lets just allwait and see what happens when they movie comes out…
Tai
May 17, 2009 at 8:54 am
It’s just a movie people!! A DISNEY MOVIE for KIDS! You adults just look at the bad side, don’t you? If it’s a white character it’s bad, if it’s black then it’s bad, if it’s in New Orleans it’s bad, if it’s in NY it’s bad too! Now even using alligators is bad. Geez! as if this one was the first princess to be a chambermaid…Forgive the Disney studios for trying to show a little equality between people.
I believe this is an amazing idea for a movie. Maybe it’ll help leave in the past things like the New Orleans stuff and give the future generations a bit of hope…I’m 16, I can tell.
Frog
June 18, 2009 at 7:10 pm
I personally see nothing wrong with the movie, except the complaints centering around it. Seriously, it’s a KID’S MOVIE!!! I’m glad to see some variety! The name Maddy is fine! I find nothing wrong with it! And the name Tiana makes me think she’s some sort of Mary-Sue/Beyonce/Bad Character which I’m sure this new princess isn’t. Disney hasn’t messed up before, or else my sister at age four wouldn’t have watched them all about 50 times in a row every day until we hid them when she was 6 and she still sang a Little Mermaid song at a talent show.
I’m 11 years old, and I think we should leave Disney be. Let THEM make the movie, not us.
Maddy
June 28, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Well said.
Sterling B
June 28, 2009 at 2:21 pm
For the first time browsing forums on this topic, I see people with something intelligent to say. I agree 100% with nikoya and Shauna. I hate the way adults overanalyse children’s movies. They want to make kids movies to suit their own politically correct needs, not those of the target audience (seriously man what 7 – year – old cares if she’s called Maddy or Tiana?). All people do nowadays is complain – there’s people at my university that could make a seminar on politically correct animation. All the haters and critics should wait until the movie is ACTUALLY RELEASED and if they still want to complain after seeing it, then fine, that is their right. But saying a movie is going to be crap before it’s even out is just bad form.
Iris
August 26, 2009 at 8:28 am
“This princess’ story is set in New Orleans, the setting of one of the most devastating tragedies to beset a black community.”
And that now means that the city can never again be the centre of something beautiful and celebratory? Does it mean New Orleans can only be regarded as “the city that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina”?! I understand people may have fears about mocking the city or insulting the affected people, but those fears are pretty stupid.
S. Naik
September 29, 2009 at 5:37 am
I saw this movie I really did like it a lot. I really didn’t see anything offensive. But, I did question the chambermaid issue; but I remembered that Cinderella and Snow White were chambermaids also. Life is hard and we all have to work hard to get whatever we want. Nothing is ever
given to us and if it is there are some strings that are attached. I think Tiana is a beautiful name and it is time for us to have a black princess and I am grateful for that and that she is presented in a positive way she showed us that if we want somethng we have to work hard for it and I think all kids should know this. I thought she was drawn beautifully and her clothes were beautiful….
alesha
December 27, 2009 at 7:45 am