The Next Disney "Classic?"

For millions of people around the world, childhood free-time is and was spent living Disney culture. Indeed, when I look back on my own childhood, I remember watching Cinderella (the first movie I ever saw), coloring in pictures from Aladdin and carrying around a giant Simba stuffed animal from my favorite children’s film, The Lion King. As a company selling innocence, Disney often defines a part of our youth. And now, Disney hopes to influence a new generation with its latest foray into 2D animation, The Princess and the Frog.

The Princess and the Frog, for the most part, tells the traditional tale of The Frog Prince set in the 1920’s New Orleans. But, there is a twist. For the first time ever, the traditional Disney princess is African American.

At first glance, this should be a proud moment for the Walt Disney Corporation. On a surface level, this film tries to defy claims that the company is a racist one. However, a firestorm of controversy has already begun to center around this film, drawing much unwanted attention to the Mouse House’s biggest risk in years.

So, what is it about The Princess and the Frog that has garnered so much negative press? Well, quite a bit actually. The original name of Disney’s newest cel-animated movie was supposed to be The Frog Princess, featuring a dark skinned princess named Maddy with tight, curly hair. However, after claims that the title drew upon racist imagery that subconsciously told audiences that black princesses were frogs, the film’s title was changed to the less controversial The Princess and the Frog.

With the renaming of the film came a redesign of the main character. Due to concerns that Maddy sounded too much like “Mammy” (a racially charged term), the ninth Disney princess was suddenly renamed Tiana, featuring lighter skin and straighter hair. After looking at before and after photos of Princess Tiana, it’s clear that she was retouched to fit a less “racial” mold, or, in other terms, a whiter mold.

Coupled with this, the latest charges against The Princess and the Frog concern its male hero, Prince Naveen. Instead of being similarly black, Prince Naveen looks white. Voiced by Brazilian actor Bruno Campos, Prince Naveen reminds me of a Ken doll with olive-tinted skin. While some are applauding Disney’s decision to feature a mixed race couple, many are upset over Naveen’s skin color. People worry that The Princess and the Frog’s representation of black men is overwhelmingly negative. Since the movie features a black male villain and a light skinned prince, what is Disney saying about black men? What subconscious messages will kids take away from the movie?

To be released during the Holiday season this year, The Princess and the Frog still has a long way to go before it hits theaters. However, I’m already worried about the film. Pinned as a “new classic,” The Princess and the Frog is supposed to be a leap forward for Disney, a company whose images of black culture have been overwhelmingly negative over the years. However, “classic” Disney films are riddled with racism and sexism, propagating unfair images to mass audiences. Consumers of Disney media look back on favorite Disney movies with a sense of nostalgia. If Disney defined a part of your childhood, it’s hard to admit that these seemingly innocent films could contain such offensive imagery. But, for over 75 years, Disney has continued to release these horribly prejudiced films under the guise of childlike innocence.

I hope that The Princess and the Frog isn’t a new classic. Indeed, I hope it doesn’t have much in common with any of the “Disney classics.” Instead, I hope that Disney succeeds in creating a film that transcends racial and gendered biases. However, with all of the slip ups that have already occurred, I fear we may have another offensive Disney film on our hands come Holiday 2009.