Disney Animation... a love hate relationship

The much anticipated "Black Disney Princess" is to be featured in Walt Disney's The Princess and the Frog, to be released on December 11, 2009. Now much hoopla and controversy has surrounded this production from its conception. The working title was The frog princess and the main character's name was Maddy, both of which upset the public. The title of Frog Princess was perceived as offensive as well as the name Maddy in that it was too similar to Mammy. Moreover the original role of the main charcter was a chambermaid to a caucasian/white character which was deemed too similar to slavery. The list of greivances against Disney and this movie are endless, everything from names, vernacular, location, religion and of course ethnicity.

More Issues/Grievances against movie

• Prince Naveen (love interest) is not black/African American, but racially ambigous


• A setting in New Orleans, Louisiana is being insensitive to Hurricane Katrina victims


• the villainizing of the Voodoo religion


• the dialect, or speech pattern of certain charcters is unbecoming


• the princess, new name Tiana, is in the form of a frog for a majority of the movies
  

I am sure there are more issues that are not listed here. What I am most surprised about is the public reception of the movie so far. Yes, this may be the first Black/African American princess but it is not the first time Disney has created characters, scenarios, or movies that are offensive. This is defiently not the first time Disney has included racial stereotypes and ethnic prejudices in their films.

After so many Disney movies audiences should not be surprised that a princess does not have a mother, that she talks to animals (which is usually her sidekick), she is heavily dependent upon a man to rescue her, and the villain has significantly darker and/or ethnic features. Prime examples are The Little Mermaid Ariel does not have a mother, she talks to crabs and fish, and the villian Ursula is a strange purplish blue color. Another example is Aladdin, Jasmine does not have a mother, talks to tigers, and the villian Javar has darker skin and ethnic features in comparison to the rest of the characters. The film Mulan may break from the norm in that she is not dependent upon a man to rescue her, she enlists in the army in her father's place, but like all the others she talks to animals and the Huns (villians)are blue. All of these things are not new but just a formula set down by Walt himself.

With this movie the company has come a long way, albeit very slowy, noting that the first animated Black/African American character was featured in Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) a Dr. Joshua Strongbear Sweet which was also the first Native American character since Pocahontas. Now you may be surprised by this tidbit then think of movies such as Tarzan or The Lion King. Then remember that although some of these movies were voiced by African Americans the characters they portrayed were not human.

The current princess monopoly has diversified yet there are still issues that probably wont go away but The Princess and the Frog is a step in the right direction flaws and all. I personally look forward to the debut of the American princess Tiana which we have not seen the likes of since Pocahontas. Think about it, these two princesses are the only ones that are blatantly American.

Yes, I want to see the revival of the classic 2D, hand drawn musical but I also cringe at the reappearance of the formulaic stereotypes that are bound to pop up. Disney... a love/hate relationship.

take a look at the trailer for The Princess and the Frog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6DmEgtibOg

for a look at the 9 most racist moments in Disney movie history check this out,
http://www.cracked.com/article_15677_9-most-racist-disney-characters.html

if your curious take a look at the newest edition to the princess monopoly, note that Princess Kida of Atlantis is not included
http://disney.go.com/princess/#/home/

alisha_lee

21sturbaneasel.blogspot.com

ixyhtv6c8p