Disney, it is time for a black princess!

[The Merman]

She looks lovely! really.. I am so glad that she is not concerned with this topic we are debating on right now and is able to just have fun as a disney princess.
Disney has portrayed some characters that are sorta gay stereotypes.
For example Ryan in "High School Musical" is portrayed gay (even thought they dont mention his sexual prefference in the movie).

Then there is Pleakly whom is a transexual in the Lilo and Stitch series. I mean his race doesnt have a gender but in the series he just comes over as a cross dressing, cooky making transexual.

I cant think of any other characters right now... but if one pops into my mind ill let ya know. A black Disney Princess would work if they had a good story. There hasnt been a treu new Disney princess after Alladin in 1994.

But the black Princess doesnt have to be a princess... if there is a good enough story than they will market her anyway. I have seen Esmeralda costumes at the Disney stores in Paris. I have also seen Mulan merchendise ect On the Disney Princess page they have added Mulan as a Disney princess when she is not. Also Poca is on there but they dont market her as much...
Anyway I hope you are satisfied with a lot of the suppost you got from most of us.. and welcome to the forum.

[Escapay]

Disney has portrayed some characters that are sorta gay stereotypes.
For example Ryan in "High School Musical" is portrayed gay (even thought they dont mention his sexual prefference in the movie).

In the two painful times I have seen "High School Musical", I first assumed that as well. But as you think about it, it's not that they're portraying him as gay. They're portraying him more as a caricacture and parody of male theatre lovers in high school. When anyone ever thinks about the theatre people, it's always melodramatic drama queens or gay guys in love with Judy Garland, and Disney addressed that by providing caricatures of them in the movie. Sharpay is such a drama queen that she's nowhere near realistic, and the ever-loyal Ryan is just as much into theatre as her, that coupled with his wardrobe and song-and-dance, he comes off as what some would perceive to be a gay character.

Everyone in "High School Musical" is a caricature. Troy and Gabrielle are parodies of a perfect high school couple, their friends are mocking smart people and dumb jocks, and the Evans siblings are the over-the-top drama lovers.

Then there is Pleakly whom is a transexual in the Lilo and Stitch series. I mean his race doesnt have a gender but in the series he just comes over as a cross dressing, cooky making transexual.

I think you meant "transvestite", which is the term for people who choose to wear clothes "normally" worn by the opposite sex.

And his race *does* have genders. Pleakley has referred to his mother on occasion, and in one episode, was engaged to a female of his species.

Escapay

[The Merman]

Yup I mean transvestite and not transexual. Sorry for that. I think Ryan is a bit of a stereotype gay guy because when he screams, "Mabey we get to meet Ashton!", just seems more gay than straight, just my opinion.

[The Little Merboy]

Wiggins from Pocahontas always seemed pretty gay to me.

[mikemgmve]

So here's my opinion on the topic of a gay character(s), I think in Disney shows gay characters are considered taboo (unless your Gaston lol) since the shows and movies are mostly geared towards younger audiences who might not be able to comprehend the whole Gay issue(s) unlike the rest of us.

Kids are increasingly having feelings younger and younger, and while I agree with the general point your making (sex shouldn't be shoved into any childrens faces - then again, ones sexuality isn't dominated just by sex), however, what about the children who become more confused because the couples they see are always of a man and a woman. It only breeds their confusion, and possible self-hatred over something they have no control over. But - this part of the argument just goes around in circles, even I don't completely agree with one side.

So yeah, children should not be afraid to be any princess they want to be, whether or not they're the same ethnicity. Or gender... I remember one of those dateline quintuplet series they used to run following a set growing up each year - one little boy LOVED Pochahontas, and as such - demanded he be her for Halloween.

[Disney's Divinity]

btw Disney Divinity the Muses in Hercules aren't servants to the gods, if you listen to the Gospel Truth Part 1 they say "We are the goddesses of the arts and proclaimers of heros".

I was referring to the Muses from the ancient myths (not the ones in the movie). They were supposed to sing for the gods (while also being the goddesses of the arts).

And I, personally, wouldn't mind an animated gay protagonist, but I know that Disney'll consider that bad for business.

[Finchx0rz]

Yup I mean transvestite and not transexual. Sorry for that. I think Ryan is a bit of a stereotype gay guy because when he screams, "Mabey we get to meet Ashton!", just seems more gay than straight, just my opinion.

Not all effeminate guys are gay, and not all gay guys are effeminate.

[slave2moonlight]

Not to get too into the whole off topic, gay discussion, but I just thought I'd mention one or two more characters. Hugo from Hunchback is in love with Djali, a male goat. Also, hadn't Djali come around by the end of the sequel? And, if you want to talk about someone playing up the stereotype, how about "The Reluctant Dragon?" Ha.

[mikemgmve]

Not to get too into the whole off topic, gay discussion, but I just thought I'd mention one or two more characters. Hugo from Hunchback is in love with Djali, a male goat. Also, hadn't Djali come around by the end of the sequel? And, if you want to talk about someone playing up the stereotype, how about "The Reluctant Dragon?" Ha.

Whoa there! I'd stay off the subject of animals!!!! that's a slippery slope!

[Disney Duster]

Whoa there! I'd stay off the subject of animals!!!! that's a slippery slope!

Slave2moonlight's the only one who actually pointed out a possible gay relationship. It's nice that he, and other straight guys on here, have been supportive. Why would you object to gay animal romances in Disney films when there are plenty straight animal romances in Disney films?

[DARTH KNITE]

I was kind of under the impression that Kida from Atlantis would have been of some African decent. She and her mother both appeared to be. Her father, not so much but that's consistancy for you. The films success, on the other hand....

[darth_deetoo]

I think this is typical political correctness gone wrong. Why should Disney pander to you just because you feel you are being discriminated against. It is not an intentional slight against your race. Disney has shown a diverse ethnic range amongst their princesses already with Jasmine, Pocahontas, Kida, Mulan & the girl from The Jungle Book. What do you propose next - they deliberately change a story just to make the princess a little black girl.

[Jasmine1022]

If Disney decided to make a black princess (which I sincerely hope they do, they could write about a little black girl that was taken away from her slave mother when she was, say, five. She became a slave, but she fell in love with a white man or something. Then, the little girl had to choose between her dying mother and the love of her life. something like that. why would that be so bad?

as with the gay thing... i think that disney needs to be a little more open with it. gays are part of our society whether we like it or not. we need to openly embrace them. homophobia is wrong.

[The Little Merboy]

as with the gay thing... i think that disney needs to be a little more open with it. gays are part of our society whether we like it or not. we need to openly embrace them. homophobia is wrong.

Amen, I wish more people would think like you.

[Dottie]

as with the gay thing... i think that disney needs to be a little more open with it. gays are part of our society whether we like it or not. we need to openly embrace them. homophobia is wrong.

Amen, I wish more people would think like you.

I agree. There's nothing wrong about it. All people are the same, no matter what skin color they have, or what religion they have....

[Spottedfeather]

I agree that Disney should include more black characters in their movies. But in all the faerie tales/historical tales they've done so far, there weren't any black people involved, were there ? In the tale of Pocohantas(sp?), for example, there were only white people and Indians (I find native american offensive). Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and The Beast were supposed to take place somewhere in europe in the middle ages/Renaissance period, correct ? Specifically, in Sleeping Beauty, doesn't the prince mention it being the 1300s ? From the costumes in Beauty and the Beast, that story would probably be in the late 1700s/early 1800s. And Cinderella looked to be in the same period. If so, then there wouldn't be any black princesses, right ? Well, except for in Africa. But if we're talking about princesses of a darker colour, and not just black ones, then would you consider Esmerelda from Hunchback a princess ? If I remember correctly, she was sort of dark complected, kind of like Nelly Furtado. If Disney does/did a story about Africa, then they'd put a black princess. But since they've mostly done english/french/european faerie tales, then it stands to reason that they would have predominately white princesses. If you count made for tv movies, then would Brandy as Cinderella count ?

[DisneyFreak5282]

Wiggins from Pocahontas always seemed pretty gay to me.

Radcilffe and Wiggins remind me of Burns and Smithers from The Simpsons. Burns is arrogant and mean (like Radcliffe), and Smithers is the odd and gay-ish sidekick (like Wiggins).

[Disney Duster]

In the tale of Pocohantas(sp?), for example, there were only white people and Indians (I find native american offensive).

But that is the politically correct term! I thought that was what people of that descent wanted to be called! The term "Indian" was given to them by a white man who thought he was in India. "Native American" shows that they are the true people who originally lived in this land before everyone else! White people are not native, but foreigners!

[Escapay]

In the tale of Pocohantas(sp?), for example, there were only white people and Indians (I find native american offensive).

But that is the politically correct term! I thought that was what people of that descent wanted to be called! The term "Indian" was given to them by a white man who thought he was in India. "Native American" shows that they are the true people who originally lived in this land before everyone else! White people are not native, but foreigners!

If you think about it, though. The term "Native American" could be offensive. After all, it's acknowledging that these people were in the country first (before it was ever called America), and is a reminder that their land was taken by...Americans.

Perhaps it'd just be best to refer to them by their tribes' names. Stuff like "I'm an Algonquin" or "I'm a Cherokee".

Escapay

[PatrickvD]

wish granted:

Frog to introduce African American princess?

The Sea of Waking Dreams has some interesting information regarding Disney's upcoming traditionally-animated The Frog Princess. Rumor has it that the project's princess might be African American, with the story taking place in a "New Orleans-ish setting." Furthermore, the article writes that Frog Princess may sport a Jazz soundtrack. On Monday, it was reported that Randy Newman will compose the movie's music. Thanks to "theanim8r" at the Animated News Forum for this notice!