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Browse: Home / Movies / First Look at Disney's Controversial Cartoon The Princess and the Frog
Jason

First Look at Disney's Controversial Cartoon The Princess and the Frog

By Jason on January 16, 2008

Walt Disney Pictures has revealed the first photo from “The Princess and the Frog,” their first traditionally animated (2D) film since “Home On The Range” in 2004, set to hit theaters in 2009. The movie is written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements and features the music of seventeen-time Oscar nominee Randy Newman.

The photo is of the main character, Princess Tiana.

Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog /></a></center></p>
<p><em><strong><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780521/">The Princess and the Frog</a></strong> is a musical set in the legendary birthplace of jazz, New Orleans.  The film will take place during the 1920s jazz age and will introduce Disney’s first African-American princess, Tiana (voiced by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0741242/">Anika Noni Rose</a>).  From the heart of Louisiana’s mystical bayous and the banks of the mighty Mississippi comes an unforgettable tale of love, enchantment and discovery with a soulful singing crocodile, voodoo spells and Cajun charm at every turn.</em></p>
<p>Just what I want, a Disney cartoon that will teach my child all about voodoo and witchcraft.</p>
<p>Not so surprisingly, the voodoo and witchcraft undertones are not the part of the film that has caused controversy.  The film was originally titled “The Frog Princess” and featured a black heroin who was a chambermaid named Maddy.  Well, it didn’t take long for the Race Cops to jump on this one.</p>
<p>How could Disney even think about having a black heroin who was a stereotypical chambermaid?  And how could Disney give her the name Maddy which, apparently, is a stereotypical low class name in black communities?  And they want to call it “The Frog Princess?”  Well, they couldn’t let that happen.</p>
<p>Disney conceded every point, of course.</p>
<p>Give me a break.</p>
<p>Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Snow White and Cinderella both work as chambermaid type household servants?  Those films have been classics for like 50 years and no one has had a problem with the lead characters’ occupations in those films.</p>
<p>And Madison is one of the most popular names in the United States for several years running.  Almost every Madison I’ve ever known has been white (including my niece).  Maddy is a very popular shortened form of Madison.  Besides, who else knew that Maddy is considered a low class name?</p>
<p>And the title?  They had a problem calling it “The Frog Princess?”  What difference does it make?  I’m sure the title would have been explained.  Halle Berry won an Oscar for a movie called “Monster’s Ball.”  Is that somehow racist as well?</p>
<p>I think people get carried away protesting things that are absolutely insane.  I’m not saying that the changes Disney made to the film are bad.  I really don’t know that it makes a difference.  I am saying that it’s crazy that they were forced to make them for the reasons they did.</p>
<p>“<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780521/">The Princess and the Frog</a>” is currently scheduled for release on <strong>December 18, 2009</strong>.<br />
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				<p class="entry-meta"><span class="category">Posted in <a href="http://popcritics.com/topics/movies" rel="tag">Movies</a></span> <span class="post_tag">| Tagged <a href="http://popcritics.com/tags/disney" rel="tag">disney</a>, <a href="http://popcritics.com/tags/john-musker" rel="tag">John Musker</a>, <a href="http://popcritics.com/tags/randy-newman" rel="tag">Randy Newman</a>, <a href="http://popcritics.com/tags/ron-clements" rel="tag">Ron Clements</a>, <a href="http://popcritics.com/tags/the-princess-and-the-frog" rel="tag">The Princess and the Frog</a></span> | <a class="comments-link" href="http://popcritics.com/2008/01/16/first-look-at-disneys-controversial-cartoon-the-princess-and-the-frog#comments" title="Comment on First Look at Disney's Controversial Cartoon The Princess and the Frog">8 Responses</a></p>
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		<h4 class="author-name fn n">Article written by <a href="http://popcritics.com/users/jclark/" title="Posts by Jason">Jason</a></h4>

		<img alt=

Jason is a one-time film major from the University of Texas. Life’s journey took him out of film school and into business, but the love of film and television never left his blood.

8 responses to “First Look at Disney's Controversial Cartoon The Princess and the Frog”

  1. Mike Olbinski
    Mike Olbinski
    January 16, 2008 at 7:23 pm | Permalink | Reply

    Pretty much agree with you…in these days, you can’t blow your nose without offending someone and getting in trouble.

    It’s just ridiculous.

    Mike Olbinski’s last blog post..The Bank Job trailer and poster

  2. Cap'n Schwartz
    Cap'n Schwartz
    January 17, 2008 at 3:07 pm | Permalink | Reply

    I remember when Mr. do as I say not as I do cause I had an affair Jackson thought it was time to round up friends and feed them all lies and start picketing JcPenny White-sales…..and sure enough JcPenny, abandoned a camapign they had for 25 years for their linen sales.

  3. cup beans
    cup beans
    January 20, 2008 at 3:11 am | Permalink | Reply

    Well.. If someone feels insulted and ridiculed than better indulge them.

    Of course if they looked at the situation without all the interpretations that is played in their heads they could react objectively, but we are burdened by our believes everywhere, so I agree that it seems silly to others but if the changes makes someone happy, why not.

  4. Jason A Clark
    Jason A Clark
    January 21, 2008 at 10:25 pm | Permalink | Reply

    Because you can never make EVERYONE happy. As soon as you start changing things to make one group happy a million other groups are going to start finding things they don’t like and they want changed. Where does it stop? I’ll change it for African Americans and Hispanics because they’re big groups, but not albinos from Germany. I’ll change it for gay people but not for people from Arkansas. That’s even sillier than changing it in the first place.

  5. Colourissa =]
    Colourissa =]
    May 26, 2008 at 7:22 am | Permalink | Reply

    Well, I’m certainly not racist or overly involved in racial issues, but wouldn’t it be nice for Disney to have something new?

    Yeah, the times have moved on and just about everyone’s accepted, and maybe because I’m only fifteen, I don’t know what I’m on about. But isn’t it a bit sad when you walk into a shop with your niece or whatever and when she asks for a disney doll that resembles her (at least partially), the closest you get is Pocohantas?

    I can’t lie, Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) and Pocohantas are my faves, but it would be so nice to have some diversity.

    Back to the point ^_^ –> it’s called The Frog Princess and is set to be released around 2009, so thumbs up =] (and don’t believe that Disney are by any means racist even if the film doesn’t turn out to be a success!)

    One more issue for my “essay”; even though she is ethnic, her prince doesn’t have to be, if he is, then it’s all good, but I’d also kinda want to see some mixed relationships happening with Disney!! The times are moving man! XD)

  6. Melody
    Melody
    July 2, 2008 at 7:18 pm | Permalink | Reply

    Hi my name is Melody and I am an African American.I think this movie is going to be great not just for African American girls but for girls of all races.Unlike most people I do not believe in racism.

  7. Windstorm
    Windstorm
    July 23, 2008 at 5:09 pm | Permalink | Reply

    This is going to be a great film people. I don’t think that the voo-doo thing is imposing. If they scrapped it and “churchified” it…now that would be imposing because we all have our rights to freedom of religion. Stop focusing on the negatives and just think positive. She is a beautiful black princess who just may out shine the others.

  8. Rachel Courtney
    Rachel Courtney
    November 22, 2009 at 11:40 pm | Permalink | Reply

    I agree with everyone who agains racism. Beauty is not always white. This black princess is beautiful as other white princess. People can not choose their skin color right?

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