Animated African-American Princess in Walt Disney's The Princess and the Frog

As an African-American mother, I read all the Disney books to my children. We viewed Disney movies, hand drawn and animated. I enjoyed the beauty, the wonder of Walt Disney's creative genius. Still I longed to share with my children the importance of viewing beauty in characters that looked similar to them. I wanted my son to view animated black fantasy heroes, wanted my daughter to view beautiful black princesses in Disney's creations. My children have grown into adulthood without seeing one animated, African-American Disney lead character.

The Disney Company was created in 1923. Besides porcelain princesses like, Snow White and Cinderella, Disney also introduced a Chinese princess in the video, "Mulan," American-Indian princess in, "Pocahontas," and a Middle Eastern princess in, "Aladdin."

It's now the year 2009, and eighty-six years have passed since Disney started their animation production studio. On December 11^th, "The Princess and The Frog," will finally become the first Disney animated movie using an African-American princess. Disney will introduce, Tiana, a black princess living in New Orleans in the remake of, "The Frog and The Princess." This animated feature is returning to hand drawn format, reported by Disney.

Walt Disney Animation Studio has resolved an issue I've had with them for a long time, believing their production staff didn't think a beautiful Disney princess could be of the black persuasion.

When my children were young I bought Disney character dolls, all having flowing and straight blonde hair. It was somewhat frustrating not being able to buy a Disney video or toy based on black characters. Although, "The Lion King," is based in Africa, this movie only has animated animal characters.

Why has Disney waited so long to introduce an African-American princess in their animated fairytales? The civil rights movements changed beliefs in society, so why hasn't Disney studio progressed culturally, become politically correct and include black animated characters in their films?

When I was a child, my mother worked at Mattel Toys. Each Christmas she bought us white dolls because there weren't black dolls being made. We as children knew no better because there were no black dolls on toy store shelves. Mattel made their first realistic black facial feature doll, Christie, in 1968. Christie was introduced as Barbie's first black friend. My mother was thrilled to be able to bring her home. Francine was a black Mattel doll made in 1967, but she was made from the same mold as Barbie, except her coloring was painted a dark shade and she had curly hair. It took Mattel years before they came up with more black dolls similar to African-American flesh tones. Today children can find Hispanic and black dolls on toy store shelves, among other ethnic dolls.

When I read fairytale stories to my children, I'd use my imagination and change character's description. Rapunzel would let down her long flowing braids. Snow White played in the woods and got a chocolate tan before she even met the seven dwarfs. I tried to make my children see themselves as beautiful characters in fairytales.

Walt Disney Animation Studios finally decided to make a feature using a beautiful African-American princess in a fairytale remake. Still there's controversy on whether Disney changed the name or lifestyle, because of ethnic dilemmas.

I just hope Tiana in, "The Princess and The Frog," becomes a favorite African-American princess and enhance the list of the other well known classic princesses.

www.disney.com provided information about, "The Princess and The Frog." You can also find out further information about Walt Disney Animation Studios.

www.mattel.com provides further information about the dateline production of their dolls.

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