Disney's newest animated feature, which hits theaters December 2009, has already generated a ton of negative buzz around the blogosphere. The Princess and The Frog (originally titled Uncle Tom's Cabin) is Disney's first effort to add a Black heroine to their Princess franchise and the poor unfortunate corporation has already come under attack for the feature's allegedly racist cast of characters.
This is a low blow for Disney, a company that has a long history of breaking new ground with their cultural tolerance and political irreverence. For instance, there was Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, the first cartoon with narcolepsy. Even before that, Snow White was the first children's character to struggle with a debilitating drug addiction. And let's not forget Beauty and the Beast, animation's first love story about paraphilia (google it).
I believe Disney's heart is in the right place with this movie. But if it's not, just forward your remaining criticisms to Oprah (one of Disney's paid "cultural consultants" on the project), who is super accessible via her website at Oprah.com. And let's not forget what's really important here: tapping into the psychographics of insatiable aspiring little princesses everywhere and cashing in on their purchasing power - regardless of size, skin color or socioeconomic background.
I believe Disney's heart is in the right place with this movie. But if it's not, just forward your remaining criticisms to Oprah (one of Disney's paid "cultural consultants" on the project), who is super accessible via her website at Oprah.com. And let's not forget what's really important here: tapping into the psychographics of insatiable aspiring little princesses everywhere and cashing in on their purchasing power - regardless of size, skin color or socioeconomic background.
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