Friday
Aug012008
First Black Disney Princess In Theaters Christmas 2009- Trailer
Friday, August 1, 2008 at 5:22AM The Blogmother
According to Young, Black and Fabulous, the Princess and the Frog the first Disney film featuring a Black princess will hit theatres in Christmas 2009. The film stars Anika Noni Rose Here is the trailer.
We are SOOOOO going to have a WAOD watch party!
We are SOOOOO going to have a WAOD watch party!
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Princess and the frog
Reader Comments (30)
I need to brace myself...I have a 6year old who has been immersed into the Disney Princesses-are-really-stepford-wives culutre.
Well she gets her wish...a princes that looks like her. Although when I reviewed the Princess Movie for Disney...she asked if a Princess could have dred-locs. Yes I said...of course!
I got my fingers, toes, and braids crossed hoping that this movie lives up to all the hype. I also hope that WE all take our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews to see it to send a message to disney. The same way WE sent a message to Italian Vogue when they released an issue with only BLACK models which is now in a 2nd printing....
really. after all of this time? Say it IS so.
jeez... finally... sike... she looks like she needs an afro tho...
Overall, I still think Disney is the debil and doubt that the message will be any better with a Black lead. Each story teaches you to wish you were something you are not. My daughter watched Mulan II (someone figured I wouldn't mind since she was non-white, that is NOT the criteria) and is now singing, "I want to be like other girls" and I have to stop her and tell her that she should want to be herself because she is beautiful, smart and funny. I remain hopeful...but doubtful.
Christmas 2009? It looks ready to me now. Disney always got to milk.
So the firefly is toothless, speaks ebonics, and looks like it may be drunk.
Yep, Disney has done it again!!! I can WAIT to see how it portrays black people in animation... again.
I won't hold my breath.
What's up with the firefly speaking like a southern drunk?
Will be taking the girls to see this one.
Ugh, I hate when the initial post does not go through...but I'll attempt to recreate.
There was/is some controversy with this movie. Some folks complained about her name. It was Mattie, but some people thought it sounded too close to Mammie. I don't know about that. Her fairy godmother was a voodoo priestess, or something, and her Prince was not black. I think they changed everything but the latter. Here's a link to NPR where the discussed it on the blogger's roundtable.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92822366
http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur45448.cfm
My daughter is already pass the princess age but for the sake of being informed when I blog I will of course check it out! There is already buzz about it. Black folks are already disgruntled, up in arms, etc because the princess isn't dark enough, and the godmother is a voodoo witch or some mess, her hair is too straight, and blah, blah blah!
whatever, I'll be taking my grandbaby! and reserving judgment until I've seen it...
Well Well well, is this not wonderful? I will be taking my Princess Aaliyah to see this movie. Sounds like it might be really cute. Not so sure about that firefly but I cannot tell a fib my fam is from that area and the language spoken there is not even ebonics! So...I will leave that there. and just enjoy the movie.
I don't know. It seems to me that it's saying something about black women and relationships. The trailer immediately looked like black women will never achieve their dreams because they refuse to kiss a few frogs first. White princesses aren't lonely because they are willing to submit to the frogs in thier lives. I'm not sure this film is going to be a departure from stereotypes.
Why does she have to be from N'awlins with a southern accent?
The damn firefly has missing teeth, and is fat and drunk.
I suspect this is the tip of the iceberg. Given Hollywood's credit report of stereotyping, no thanks, my girls will stick with Cosby Show DVDs.
Mod 2
THE FIREFLY IS CAJUN, NOT BLACK.
A lovely and beautiful black woman!
...Why are we being so critical about a movie we haven't even seen yet. People are so against stereotypes and I can understand why but at the same time some stereotypes are just part of certain cultures and is a common thread. I don't mind the fact that she is from New Orleans with a Southern Accent. I'm from the south and adore the fact that the first black Disney Princess will be also. The biggest problem I have with what I know so far of the movie, when I think PRINCESS I don't think United States. So I kind of don't understand where the concept of a princess from the states came from. I mean sure all of our little ladies are princesses but does anybody else agree? When I had an idea for a black princess I thought back to Africa and YES that may seem stereotypical but to me, it's more realistic than a princess from the states. I don't mind that the prince is white (if that's still true) I like the fact that, that particular barrier was broken with the race lines. My daughter is mixed (well my fiance is mixed and I'm black so she's 25% white) and for her to see a couple like mommy and daddy would be cool to me. now why he is a white prince in New Orleans... I don't get lol but I don't mind it. I don't mind that the frog has to be kissed, I've heard that story many of times with the white girl in play and she STILL didn't want to kiss the frog so to me it says nothing about the stereotype about black women in relationships. Would any woman want to kiss a frog I mean REALLY I'm sure a lot of us have kissed a few before we got to our prince charming lol
I just think people should give it a chance and not be so critical because it IS the first black Disney Princess. We want to be represented correctly yes but they can not please everyone. I just ask that we keep an open mind! Maybe even ask what's so different about this Princess in comparison to the story line of the other princesses other than her skin color. Ariel had to give up her beautiful singing voice be with who she felt she loved. Jazmine was sassy but didn't have her right to choose who she wanted as prince but changed that in the end. Cinderella poor child had to be a SERVANT to her step mother and two step sisters but in the end her inner spirit is what captured the prince. Bell had to deal with a BEAST. So is a little frog having to be kissed that big of a deal? They all had to deal with something in order to get something and isn't that apparent in real life? I don't know... Peace N Love
Personally, I'm really tired of hearing all of these complaints about the movie. I applaud disney for their decisions they've made. I'm sure if they had the black princess from the North, people would still find a reason to complain (typical a white man had to save her from the south or some other inane complaints). I think it's fantastic that New Orleans is the setting, we have a lot of culture that is strictly African American and that is something that I will be very happy for my daughter to see. Voodoo was, and still is in a major way, part of that culture. If her godmother believes in voodoo, more power the Disney for staying true to the culture of the area, did people expect to see a wood nymph like tinkerbell or a fairy like Cinderella's Godmother? I'm sure if the story were set in Europe, you would see those things, since that is what they believed in through fairy tales. And as for the firefly, his voice did take me back at first, but we've traveled to New Orleans and that is how a lot of the older generations speak down there, it's not ebonics, it's more it's own accent all together. Bringing creole and english together. I just hate to see all the complaints and criticisms for a movie that we've been begging to see from them for years. I think that the backlash that they've seen since they thought of the idea is probably part of the reason they hadn't tried earlier. They're damned if they do it, damned if they don't.
FINALLY!!! After so many years.. it was about time guys!!! I can't wait to take my daughters and ALL my latinoamerican friends... yes, we have to send DISNEY a message!!! Beautiful!!! una princesa negre... FENOMENAL!!! no lo puedo crer POR FIN YUPIIIIII!
I LOVE ALL THE COMMENTS....you are all right about your point of view.
However, DISNEY took TOO LONG and now they have to assume responsibility. responsibility in choosing the right princess, right pince (please, please not a white man, like pocahontas?? por favor!!) a right EVERY THING!!! yes, Disney have to be VERY CAREFUL, and I belive its so right to be picky and to complain!!
In my opinion , I look white BUT I am not white married with my handsome african american husband and beautiful mix daughters... I WANT A BLACK PRINCE FROM AFRICA... actually a KING from Africa!!!!
This is the time for black people.. Obama as a president PLEASE DISNEY you have to do a good super duper work...
All I can say is there is going to be a great big bunch of people that are gonna be none to happy about this.... Their called Red-Necks..... And they are EveryWere!!!
I think Disney is taking a pretty big gamble. I mean they are most likely going to be boycotted by over half the country. At least this chick will be.
Oh well, good luck y'all
All I have to say is... Why does the black princess HAVE to be the one to kiss the frog? A million fairy tales out there and they pic this one for the storyline? Why does she have such short hair all rolled up in a ghetto bun? WHY can't she have long flowing hair like the other princesses do? WHY can't she live in a magical foreign country instead of America? WHY is she so plain looking? The other princesses weren't plain! It just seems like Disney did this because they knew that hey were long overdue for a black princess and wanted to just get it over with.
To the above comment^^^^are you serious. So what if she has to kiss a frog, what about Belle having to kiss a Beast?
Long flowing hair? Is this a black princess or white? For the most part African-American's hair are thick and afroish(sp), not flowing. Are you complaining that she doesn't have a relaxer? You saw one shot of the movie, how do you know her hair isn't down in other parts? Also her hair isn't short, it's in a bun. By the way Snow White's hair is short, but are people complaining about that? And in my opinion, Snow White is plain.
Can you imagine if Disney made this fairy tale set in Africa.Then the prince would have to be black.But Disney would have set itself as the most admired company in the view of a billion africans.But with no blacks green lighting this movie or any movie that show them in a positive light,this missed opportunity is very unfortunate.If Oprah was a consultant this movie would be perfect...
Randy -
Oprah is a voice actor for this movie.
I am a 19 year old, who grew up on Disney. I have a 13-year-old sister who was raised the same way. I remember thinking that I was never going to be good enough or pretty enough to be a princess and have a prince because I looked nothing like Cinderella or snow white. I had so many self-image problems growing up, it's not funny. I was the only black in my elementary school, as was my sister, and the only re-enforcement I had about me being black and beautiful came from my family. My mom and dad made sure I knew I was a princess that I had a prince waiting on my somewhere. I still believe that...no thanks to Disney. When I heard years ago Disney was making a black princess, I cried, I was so happy. I couldn't wait to take all my cousins and the little girls at my church to go see it. Now, I learn that the prince to this beautiful black girl--is not black. I don't understand why there is not more of an outcry in the black society about this...you mean to tell me we can elect a black president, have a beautiful, bold black first lady, but Disney still can't, after all these years, acknowledge African-American Men. And then we wonder why so many of our boys are behind bars or in a casket... I thank God for my parents, but I know I am indescribably blessed. What about all those girls who don't have a dad to tell them they're worthy? Those girls who are what I used to be? And I know this site is "what about our daughters", but what about our sons? What does this say about them? I am so disappointed with Disney, but I sadly, I am not surprised. Disney has let me down in the past...
We're kidding, right? We have to be! We are STILL WAITING for DISNEY, of all cultural bandits, to throw out on its big-screen toilet seat a culturally sensitive version of a woman?...a princess?...let alone an AFRICAN(-America) princess? We have every right to watch out for this one. Disney has done nothing but create models of dependent, weak, sexualized women in their major franchise of so-called princesses (ain't one of 'em got an army and I ain't seen no map of their princessdoms...where are their families? Show me some real female power here....but no....that's not what they do!)
For all of the women clamouring to take their daughters to this movie.....please, please, PLEASE, I implore you.....go first by yourself. Media images can be powerful. Listen to the bell hooks critiques or to Jean Kilbourne or Susan Faludi. These women are actually thinking and caring about your daughters. Disney wants YOUR money and your daughters' allegiance to characters that don't represent them, that narrow their definitions as women and create stories of dependency and oppression. PLEASE check out the documentary, "Mickey Mouse Monopoly" before you watch or buy anything else Disney-fied (Demand it from your local libraries!). Please, for the sake of their self-esteem. If any of you are so concerned, but need more information, please look at the above writers/academics. Also reference, "THe Mouse That Roared" by Giroux. (Sweet mother, my sentence structure is all discombobulated now!)....(sigh....methinks I'm sweating)....
It truly concerns me that in this day and age, we have knee-jerk reactions to anything promised to be "black" in the public eye. Neither Obama nor Tiana is gonna save African people from our own task of redefining ourselves (have we learned nothing from Kwanzaa? - or are we waiting for Disney to make a Kwanzaa movie before we think that's ok?!), looking into our past to mine the depth, the wealth of queendoms, kingdoms and chiefdoms, of political and spiritual ascendency, of governance, of communalism beyond "why can't we all just get along", of real technological advancement on every level of being. Disney knows nothing of all that and I wouldn't trust them with 1% of our history as African people. We have way too many film and tv producers, far too many writers, far too many teachers and professors, far to many thinkers and doers and lovers of truth and creators and poets to depend on a $ingle-minded, cycloptic megalith like Disney to throw us one more doe-eyed, disempowered princess....whether she be black, Black, Blaque, African, African-American, Afro-American, Negroid, Africoid, Carribean, Nubian, Abyssinian, Ethiopian or whatever they wanna draw us as.
As I read the comments, I'm really disappointed in what people are focusing on about this movie.
Issue 1: she's an African American Princess. Of course the US doesn't have royalty, but we do have Southern Belles...I think it's wonderful.
Issue 2: Who cares if the prince is not African American himself. America is not about black/white/hispanic/asian/middle eastern. Its about the freedom of choice and voice.
Issue 3: Why complain about something you haven't seen yet? From what I understand Tiana has some competition with another "Southern Belle" who knows, he could be an African American gentleman...but are the young boys really gonna be watchin this movie?
Issue 4: For those that complain about the firefly...Do you know what a Cajun is? The French (Acadians) that were kicked outta Canada by the British and traveled down to Louisiana and had their language mix with English. Not to mention over time, Haitians and other islanders settled down there as well. Its part of the culture down there, get over it. it's not that serious.
Issue 5: her hair...i have dred locks, but don't care what her hair looks like. she is representing all the young African American princesses out there.
I grew up wishing that there was some princess that looked like me, I almost cried to find out that finally, at 21, there will be. I'm proud of Disney for doing this. I believe in independence for women, but seriously, no man can do it alone and no woman can do it alone. Disney princesses don't depend on the prince, infact, some if not all were stubborn in their ways at some point and had to get over themselves to let love in. Belle...she talked back. Jasmine...well, she not only talked back, she was just down right rebellious to her family. Mulan...clearly, she was independent and not a princess but close enough. Pocahontas... do I need to say more? I'm just happy that if I ever have a daughter, or children for that matter, they will see the beauty of people TRYING to break down the racial barriers. complaining only maintains these barriers and stereotypes. and seriously, to the redneck "skeptic" that said half of America is gonna boycott...half of America voted for Obama. Some for Change, some to get outta a tight spot, some for other political reasons, but staying in the past just makes you even more ignorant. Now Disney should be working on the first Hispanic Princess. I'd love to see that as well.
The key point here with this movie to me is, the caucasian prince. EVERY movie by disney (purposefully not capitalized!) has a white male as the savior or love interest.
I see there are many black women (UNLIKE MYSELF) that seem ok with this type of negelect of black men in how they are protrayed in films and cartoons.
I have a 7 year old son who is black and has a black father, that God I don't have a daughter which would probably want to see this movie because young people's minds at my son's age can be very manipulated into thinking black men=bad evil problematic and hateful, and white men=saviors, caring a love interest, someone you can count on, etc...
Then we wonder why so many black men have given up on society, which is what this film in it's underlying tones of the black father is bad, is really trying to say to not just black america but ALL of america.
T
Really? Criticizing a disney fairytale because it's not accurate enough? I never had any talking mice..or carriages that turned into pumpkins..It's a CARTOON FAIRY TALE. I think everyone should look around and realize there is a lot more to criticize in our Society than Disney's failure to make a black princess that all you whiners finds politically correct. Watch the News, Read a Book.