Jan 14 2008First Look: Disney's Princess of New Orleans, Which Makes Perfect Sense
Following the tragic consequences of Hurricane Katrina, the nation was quick to respond with emergency efforts in the New Orleans region. Emergency aid funds were doled out; volunteers came to help; families were taken in; tribute albums were recorded; Sean Penn showed up. But what will be the contribution that's remembered as most important, most crucial, years from now, possibly when it's released in a special Platinum Edition only in stores for a short time? It could only be Disney's princess of New Orleans' French Quarter, Tiana, star of The Princess and the Frog. This is the first image from the film, where we see Disney is finally expanding its princess lineup to include African-Americans, but, true to form, only in the most exploitive way possible.
First Look at The Princess and the Frog [Coming Soon]
Reader Comments
1. Noah - January 14, 2008 4:07 PM
Hasn't it been proven that kids don't respond to traditional hand-drawn animation anymore? I'm sure this will be decent, but I see this as being a disappointment.
2. Rose - January 14, 2008 4:23 PM
Pictures of Tiana have been floating around since last summer, actually. I'm looking forward to this film anyway though.
3. KC - January 14, 2008 6:24 PM
Sadly, the kids (or maybe their parents) only seem to respond to the white princesses. Pocahontas and Mulan did far worse than the other Disney princess movies even though they were better movies with stronger characters. They also don't get the Prince in the end.
4. Hannah - January 14, 2008 6:51 PM
forgetting Jasmine?
Besides recently there hasn't been many princesses in general....Belle was the last one and that was in 1990ish. Since the early 90s most hand drawn disney movies haven't done as well. oh and mulan did get the guy...not a prince sure but then she wasn't a princess anyway.
5. cUtIe&GiRl - January 15, 2008 1:56 AM
Very nice. I have seen this film on www.militarysoulmate.com as you say, Since the early 90s most hand drawn disney movies haven't done as well. I agree.
6. Yo Yo - January 15, 2008 6:17 AM
I don't know, it seems to me that Mulan is pretty well-regarded by my generation and that it was a lot of people's favorite Disney movie. However, making the first black princess a chamber maid just shows Disney's lack of self-awareness. It's like the boardroom is trapped in the Robert Smigel TV Funhouse bit from SNL on the Disney vault.
7. NZ - January 15, 2008 7:14 AM
KC, Pocahontas and Mulan sucked. That's why they didn't do well. But hey, it's easier to make everything about race, right?
8. Giggleloop - January 15, 2008 8:05 AM
I've wondered if Disney would ever try to make a decently hand-animated feature again. I really hope it's good; as much as I love Pixar movies, it would be nice to see some non-computer animation again.
9. Bobeyo - January 15, 2008 8:32 AM
Guys, news flash: How do you make a movie about a black princess that has any real historical accuracy?
Answer: Either make it about the princess of a village in Africa, thus making it impossible to include pretty dresses, which is what Disney princess films are all about, or... put it in modern times and make her a fake princess, like in this instance. Because let's be honest, there weren't really any black princesses.
BTW, I loved Mulan and enjoyed Pocahontas greatly. Although I'm not thrilled about the subject matter, I'm glad to see Disney returning to hand-drawn cartoons, because I don't think I can take many more years of uninterrupted CGI comedy bullshit.
10. JT - January 15, 2008 10:21 AM
I like the part of this post that says "Following the tragic consequences of Hurricane Katrina, the nation was quick to respond with emergency efforts in the New Orleans region." It's funny because it's as believable and true as the idea of a French Quarter Princess.
11. Captain Obvious - January 15, 2008 12:29 PM
Let's hope they don't have any watermellon jokes or comical references to voodoo. But I hope they have nude gyrating scenes about Carnival and characters doing all sorts of wacky for beads. And frozen Daiquiris.
12. proteon - January 15, 2008 12:34 PM
AVALANCHE IS WHITE!!
13. JT - January 15, 2008 2:11 PM
This racism is killing me inside.
14. loni - August 12, 2009 2:30 AM
I looked at comments above and have the following comments.Bobeyo read some history. There were kingdoms all over Africa. Have you never heard of Pharoh's they are even listed in the Biblical records. They could have done it on Nefertiti or another African Queen and gowns they had them and they were beautiful. Native American's didn't ave them and it didn't hurt the story. (the Disney-fication of facts did). Take a look at Textiles found from the Eras of the Pharoh we still can't produce some of them and they were beautiful. Now as far as making a story for now and updating something. Why couldn't we see a myth that might be somewhat modern. They could have done something like Cap O Rushes or The Twelve Huntsmen. Both using the moral and human looking cast to teach a lesson of acceptance. Both would have made great timeless stories little know but brilliant.
As far as sensitivity is concerned I think it's the other way around. If it had been maddy the chamber maid. People might have to discuss the politics of the times to children and cover truths like in Pocahontas. Again we are talking about a company who's spokes peole were heard to say the following to the press. They have Song of the South don't they? Then when talking about a Prince/Princess movie for African Americans. "Well we maded the Lion King"
Sorry to tell some of you this but unfortunately a lot of stuff is about perception of race. It's had to get pass the Elephant blocking the door if 1/2 the people refuse to acknowledge it's there.
15. Jenn - September 10, 2009 1:45 AM
Loni-
Go to college and learn to write, or don't voice your jumbled opinion on the interwebs. You're hurting my eyes.