Disney has announced they are finally adding a Black princess to the tremendously popular line-up of Disney princesses that we and our little girls grew up with. Production has started on “The Frog Princess” the first Disney movie to feature an African-American princess. In a tribute to New Orleans and the resiliency of that city, the story will be set in the recovering Louisiana city.
Also interesting in this film is that it will be the first hand-drawn movie released by Disney since Disney pledged to return to the traditional animation that made the company a household name.
Rumors about the story-line for “The Frog Princess” are flying. But, apparently, Disney is keeping it under pretty tight wraps. Whatever (well not what ever) the storyline is, I’m just glad to finally see an African-American Disney princess. Disney is a huge influence in our society and our little girls have had no one in the line-up that looked like them. In 1999 Disney collected the princesses under the name of Disney Princesses and has put out books, clothes, toys, furniture and other merchandise targeted for girls from the ages of 3 years to 8 years. Those eight princesses have brought in about $3 billion for Disney. But, a Black princess has been conspicuous by her absence. Finally, about 10 years after launching the Disney Princess line, a Black princess will be in it.
“The Frog Princess” will feature Maddy, an African American princess. Disney began diversifying its princess line up in 1992 when Jasmine appeared in “Aladdin”. Jasmine was a middle-eastern princess. In 1995, Disney featured Pocahontas, an American Indian. Three years after that, Mulan, a Chinese heroine appeared. The other princesses rounding out the line-up are Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Belle from “Beauty and the Beast” and Ariel from “The Little Mermaid”. Maddy has finally made it to the big time.
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