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Forever Friday: Oprah! Oprah! Oprah!
As a nerdy black feminist, how do I feel about The Princess and the Frog, Disney’s first African-American princess movie?
CAN’T WAIT! CAN’T WAIT! CAN’T WAIT!
So that confessed, I just about lost my ish when I learned that my goddess — I mean my queen — I mean my Oprah has signed on to play the princess’s mom.
This almost makes up for the toothless firefly and the lack of color on the soundtrack. Randy Newman (who, in all fairness, I love) is doing 6 songs, and Dr. John is also said to be on the soundtrack. I have a feeling they will soon announce that New Orlean’s son, Harry Connick Jr., will sing a few ditties, too, then act surprised when black people (like me) get mad that Disney’s first animated movie about black people has no songs written by black people or sung by black people outside of the cast. “What?!?! Nobody said anything when we tapped Elton John for The Lion King!”
I’m still going to see it, though. My inner-little girl won’t let be get political about this.
Hakuna Matada.
Thanks to Stereohyped for the heads up on this story. Check out the teaser trailer after the jump.
I’m also excited about this film. Disney’s return to what it does best with Ron & John who brought us “Little Mermaid”
When I saw Disney remove animation boards from the studio 7 years ago, I thought it was the saddest day every. I just walked away with the memories.
I’m also excited about this film. Disney’s return to what it does best with Ron & John who brought us “Little Mermaid”
When I saw Disney remove animation boards from the studio 7 years ago, I thought it was the saddest day every. I just walked away with the memories.
Totally agree. I spoke on my old blog about how happy I am that they’ve returned to traditional animation for this one. So charming. And I didn’t know the “Little Mermaid” team was behind it. Now I’m even more excited. Why can’t 2009 be here now?!?!
OH JESUS!!! THE TOOTHLESS FIREFLY!!!
That is TERRIBLE!
Why would they ever do that?! I’m horrified…
Even more horrified than when I found out my mom and her 6 sisters used to open for the mistrel show… yeah. its THAT bad.
OH JESUS!!! THE TOOTHLESS FIREFLY!!!
That is TERRIBLE!
Why would they ever do that?! I’m horrified…
Even more horrified than when I found out my mom and her 6 sisters used to open for the mistrel show… yeah. its THAT bad.
Don’t be so hard on Ray — one of my favorite animators is doing the animation. I don’t think the teaser is an accurate representation of the character.
And while you’re waiting for 2009 to get here and Frog to be released, fill the animation void with Bolt — in theaters on Nov. 21! It’s not 2D, but it is filled with Disney talking animal charm!
Debra
(written while sitting in a story meeting for their 2010 release — I think it’s safe to say I’m now a full on corporate drone.)
Don’t be so hard on Ray — one of my favorite animators is doing the animation. I don’t think the teaser is an accurate representation of the character.
And while you’re waiting for 2009 to get here and Frog to be released, fill the animation void with Bolt — in theaters on Nov. 21! It’s not 2D, but it is filled with Disney talking animal charm!
Debra
(written while sitting in a story meeting for their 2010 release — I think it’s safe to say I’m now a full on corporate drone.)
Surely your animator friend didn’t decide all on their own to make one of the characters a racist stereotype?
Surely if Disney will allow this type of character to help represent the black people of New Orleans, they will consider re-releasing “song of south”.
Surely your animator friend didn’t decide all on their own to make one of the characters a racist stereotype?
Surely if Disney will allow this type of character to help represent the black people of New Orleans, they will consider re-releasing “song of south”.
Wow, I was just going to log on to day that I agreed with ETC about my love for Oprah (which was renewed when she did the Legends Show a couple of years ago)! GO OPRAH!!!!
Now onto a not so funny, but serious note. I watched the trailer and I can see where Delia is coming from. I’m not surprised though, I guess I have always thought that Disney was always about stereotypes…..the women in every movie were fake to me (e.g., how they looked, how they were shaped, etc.). And even Disney’s previous attempts at depicting woman of color (e.g., Pocahontas, Mulan, etc.) played on stereotypes.
That said, the truth is, it probably will not stop me from seeing the movie. Like it did not stop me from seeing Mulan or one of my favorite movies of all time – Little Mermaid.
I do not know why, but the magic of Disney is “intoxicating.”
Wow, I was just going to log on to day that I agreed with ETC about my love for Oprah (which was renewed when she did the Legends Show a couple of years ago)! GO OPRAH!!!!
Now onto a not so funny, but serious note. I watched the trailer and I can see where Delia is coming from. I’m not surprised though, I guess I have always thought that Disney was always about stereotypes…..the women in every movie were fake to me (e.g., how they looked, how they were shaped, etc.). And even Disney’s previous attempts at depicting woman of color (e.g., Pocahontas, Mulan, etc.) played on stereotypes.
That said, the truth is, it probably will not stop me from seeing the movie. Like it did not stop me from seeing Mulan or one of my favorite movies of all time – Little Mermaid.
I do not know why, but the magic of Disney is “intoxicating.”
WHAAA??? Disney using out dated and offensive sterotypes to push forward a movie? When did that start happening?
Personally I would just like to see them make an animated movie with a female lead that is NOT a princess of some sort. Let’s see there is the warrior princess, maid princess, fish princess, little lost wood-cutter princess, sleeping princess, white as snow princess; I just bored myself and don’t want to go on with the list.
There has to be more to women than fluffy dresses, shoe obsessions and a desire to take over a big empty castle.
WHAAA??? Disney using out dated and offensive sterotypes to push forward a movie? When did that start happening?
Personally I would just like to see them make an animated movie with a female lead that is NOT a princess of some sort. Let’s see there is the warrior princess, maid princess, fish princess, little lost wood-cutter princess, sleeping princess, white as snow princess; I just bored myself and don’t want to go on with the list.
There has to be more to women than fluffy dresses, shoe obsessions and a desire to take over a big empty castle.
Hahaha! You have a point Kaboom. My favorite Disney princess is actually Belle from Beauty and the Beast, b/c
1) She’s not a princess, and
2) She likes to read
Lilo, from Lilo and Stitch, and one of the few minority characters that Disney has managed to do well and without controversy is also not a princess.
However, in this instance, I’d want this girl to be a princess, just because black girls NEVER get to see princesses that look like themselves. I think this is a step in the right (inclusive) direction.
Your point about the black princess is a valid one and I agree with it. There is nothing wrong with being a princess per say and we have all dreamed of it at one time or another.
But I have to say that I was thinking of Belle when I brought up the lost wood-cutter princess. I consider her a princess because that is what Disney made her into. She ends up taking over a castle and wearing big puffy dresses. In the end she marries a prince there-by becoming an official princess. Sure she was a book worm, but ultimatly she ends up as just another piece of jewlery for the masses.
Your point about the black princess is a valid one and I agree with it. There is nothing wrong with being a princess per say and we have all dreamed of it at one time or another.
But I have to say that I was thinking of Belle when I brought up the lost wood-cutter princess. I consider her a princess because that is what Disney made her into. She ends up taking over a castle and wearing big puffy dresses. In the end she marries a prince there-by becoming an official princess. Sure she was a book worm, but ultimatly she ends up as just another piece of jewlery for the masses.