The Princess and the Frog Discussion - Part II

CampbellzSoup · Post by **CampbellzSoup** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 5:19 pm

If I ever have a daughter I'm not so sure if I should expose her to the Disney Princess line

Siren · Post by **Siren** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:19 pm

Here's how I feel....if Princess and the Frog is SOOOOOO stereotypical to blacks....and by no means are many of the black voice actors in this movie hurting for cash......why would blacks sign on for a movie if they felt it was racist and stereotypical?

I mean, I know it happened with Dumbo....yes....but the times were also different. It was difficult for them to work and not be stuck in that stereotype. These days though, African Americans are leading men and women in their own movies and tv shows. They do not need to settle and play stereotypical characters anymore.

Maybe Brooks Barnes, a white man, is the only one being stereotypical and racist in that article at all. Frankly, I'd like to hear more from the African American community about what THEY think Disney is portraying....putting a black female as the lead princess in an animated fairytale classic, thus immortalizing her forever....Poor Tiana has Obama-syndrome...Instead of just being another President/Disney Princess, everyone has to go on and on about their heritage. Its pathetic.

I wanna hear from an African American what THEY think....dammit...where's PapiBear when ya need him?

blackcauldron85 · Post by **blackcauldron85** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:27 pm

Siren wrote: Poor Tiana has Obama-syndrome...Instead of just being another President/Disney Princess, everyone has to go on and on about their heritage. Its pathetic.

I agree. I mean, on the one hand, I feel that what Obama & Hillary Clinton accomplished is great, since people have been working for so long to get to where they came, but at the same time, at the end of the day, they're just doing their job, regardless of what race or gender they are.

Siren wrote:I wanna hear from an African American what THEY think....dammit...where's PapiBear when ya need him?

He'd complain and say bad things about all of us, of course.
crazycalichic06 gave us her insight (thank you!), and, I, too, would be curious as to what others are saying. I don't think that most people have an issue; it's always the few rebel-rousers who make things bad for everyone.

crazycalichic06 · Post by **crazycalichic06** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 2:17 am

Siren wrote:Here's how I feel....if Princess and the Frog is SOOOOOO stereotypical to blacks....and by no means are many of the black voice actors in this movie hurting for cash......why would blacks sign on for a movie if they felt it was racist and stereotypical?

I was thinking the same thing the other day. I mean if Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Jennifer Lewis, Terrance Howard and Oprah (cause we all know alot of people take her opinions and what not seriously, no matter what color they are.) all signed up for this film and had no problem with it, that should clue the complainers in. Before or after they signed on for the movie they got to read the script.

Siren wrote:I wanna hear from an African American what THEY think

Where to start.........................okay got it.

It's not like Tiana and her family are dumb stupid and dirt poor. They may be working class but their not in a terrible position. The neighborhood that they live in looked nice and from the early viewings someone said that her family is really wise. I believe they said that her family is all about family too. I don't see anything wrong there.

And let's see. From all the things I know about her, Tiana seems very driven and headstrong. She's saving up to buy her own resturant. If you think about it she's the first Disney Princess who's working towards her dream right at the beginning of the movie. She's not just wishing and doing nothing to get there, then something happens (can be something good or bad) where it leads her, in the end, to her dream. (I could be wrong with that, but I think I'm right....I don't know.) Tiana might be wishing but she's already taking the steps towards her dreams. So I don't see anything wrong there.

Um, the vodoo. Got nothing wrong with that. A thought for the complainers, how was Disney supposed to bring in the magic aspect without using vodoo? The movie is set in the 1920's in a real place where, guess what, vodoo is big. And I mean Disney, in my opinion, balanced the whole vodoo thing out by having one person who uses it for good and another who uses it for evil.

Okay, let me just touch on Naveen for a second. When I first heard about the movie, I never once thought that the prince was going to be African American as well. Maybe someone of color but not African American. Yet again I have a question for the people who have a problem with this one. Naveen, from what we know of him, is kind of an arrogant, materialistic, money hungry, music loving prick. How would you feel if he was still all that but African American? And really, when are we gonna see him again outside of the movie and merch for the movie? Or if they add Tiana and Naveen to a Disney Park parade? Or maybe in a future Enchanted Tales featuring a Tiana story? The answer, we're not. This is the Tiana show. Oh and how would you complainers feel (if Naveen was African American) when it came to both the female and male leads being frogs? Cause we know someone would have had a problem if that was so. Others already have a problem with Tiana becoming a frog. At least she's a cute frog.

Lastly, the setting. The great New Orleans. I've only been there once (I was 10, so that was 11 years ago.) but it did have a lasting impression on me. Whenever I think about New Orleans, I'll admit I think about how horrible Katrina was but only for a split second. Other than that I think about the fun I had when I was there, going on riverboat rides, eating beignets and lots of other wonderful food, the French Quarter. It was all awesome. If all you can think about is how bad Katrina was when someone says New Orleans, my first question is have you been there before the storm? And second, well.....I got nothing. But my point here is Disney isn't dragging this city through the mud with this movie. If anything this movie is celebrating it.

But I think one big thing to consider is that Disney didn't have to make the movie with a black princess at all. They could have set it in a far off land with the typical cast of characters. Making this movie this way, in my opinion, is showing how Disney is moving forward. Yes we've been way overdue for a black princess but it shows progression. And hopefully we'll see more of it in the future.

Well that's my opinion/rant. I'm glad I finally got that out. I hope I gave you some good insite.

Simba3 · Post by **Simba3** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 6:16 am

All of this race talk is really getting out of hand. I'm sure at the end of the day, not everyone can be 100% pleased with this film. People are always going to find SOMETHING to complain about. But one thing I have learned about Disney over the years is that when they make a motion picture: THEY DO THEIR HOMEWORK!!

As many of us have seen on the bonus features of the Platinum Edition DVDs, or elsewhere, when Disney begins work on a project, there is a huge research and development phase. For Bambi, a real deer was brought in so the animators could watch it and see how it moves. The animators for The Lion King took a trip to Africa to absorb the spirit of African culture and to observe the animals and in the natural habitat and see the nature first hand.

For the longest time, I didn't really like Pocahontas as a Disney Animated Classic. Now I love the film, despite it's historical inaccuracies. One thing I found very interesting and impressive were some of the bonus features found on the 10th Anniversary DVD release. There were a couple of segments with some of the Native Americans who were consulted with for creating this picture. It was really interesting to see how well Disney "did it's homework" for this film. The Native American's enjoyed the film and felt proud of it, as they felt they and their ancestors were accurately portrayed.

And here we are now, some 15 years later seeing a film with black stars. You think Disney didn't do their homework on this?

Not only was Oprah cast as one of the voices, she was also brought on to the project as a consultant. And let's be real here, Oprah has enough money and power in this world to buy and sell every last one of us. If she thought there were something wrong with this film, she wouldn't stand behind it and I'm sure she would have something to say about it. Also, members of the NAACP were also brought onto the project as consultants to ensure accuracy and sensitivity.

Disney did it's homework for this film, just like they always do. There are always going to be critics, skeptics and people who complain. It's becoming more and more obvious that you can't please everyone. However, when all is said and done, I think "The Princess and the Frog" is going to be a great, successful film and will please the greater part of the black community.

PatrickvD · Post by **PatrickvD** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:13 am

the only way this will blow over is when parents realise disney films don't exist to educate kids. But why communicate with our children when letting the TV raise them is SOOO much easier.

And also, kids aren't gonna grow confused about who to marry after seeing the Princess and the Frog. Ever heard kids say they smoke because Goofy and Cruella did it?

pap64 · Post by **pap64** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:19 am

One of the things I am liking about the movie so far is that the setting (New Orleans) looks and feels very, very magical, despite the story taking place in the 20th century in the 1920s. The settings in the other Disney films got the work done but few felt magical (save for Beauty and the Beast, and it was because the castle was enchanted).

This is why it particularly bothers me when people say Disney shouldn't have set the movie there. It looks like Princess and the Frog will pay a lot of respect to the city and paint it in a most magical manner.

CampbellzSoup · Post by **CampbellzSoup** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:23 am

now this is going to sound racist but I hope Disney never makes a film about black people again...I mean I am half black for one and this is really truly getting out of hand. Disney is doing a wonderful and amazing return to 2D broadway style, and should be celebrated not disected apart...

Does anyone remember that south park episode where everyone was offended around christmas time, and the play that the ended up doing??

Marky_198 · Post by **Marky_198** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 10:32 am

Siren wrote:Here's how I feel....if Princess and the Frog is SOOOOOO stereotypical to blacks....and by no means are many of the black voice actors in this movie hurting for cash......why would blacks sign on for a movie if they felt it was racist and stereotypical?

Did you post the same thing about all the white stereotypes in previous Disney films?

They obviously don't think it is racist.
Racism is in the eye of the insecure beholder.

Showing something as it is, doesn't automatically mean "racist".

Marky_198 · Post by **Marky_198** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 10:35 am

PatrickvD wrote:the only way this will blow over is when parents realise disney films don't exist to educate kids. But why communicate with our children when letting the TV raise them is SOOO much easier.

And also, kids aren't gonna grow confused about who to marry after seeing the Princess and the Frog. Ever heard kids say they smoke because Goofy and Cruella did it?

Exactly. Showing existing things isn't automatically bad or racist.

What are some people thinking?

kbehm29 · Post by **kbehm29** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:51 pm

CampbellzSoup wrote:If I ever have a daughter I'm not so sure if I should expose her to the Disney Princess line

I have four sons and would give my right arm to have a daughter to expose to the Disney Princess line!

Escapay · Post by **Escapay** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 2:36 pm

CampbellzSoup wrote:now this is going to sound racist but I hope Disney never makes a film about black people again...I mean I am half black for one and this is really truly getting out of hand. Disney is doing a wonderful and amazing return to 2D broadway style, and should be celebrated not disected apart...

Does anyone remember that south park episode where everyone was offended around christmas time, and the play that the ended up doing??

Courtesy of the Associated Press

People Banned From Disney Movies

LOS ANGELES - In a surprise move that has plenty of insiders scratching their heads, the Walt Disney Company announced that they will no longer make movies featuring people.

Bob Iger, CEO of the Walt Disney Company, issued a press release today stating that the growing concerns and attacks towards their upcoming 2-d animated film The Princess and the Frog has prompted them to rethink all future movies involving people of every color.

"We did not expect this much criticism and outrage," Iger starts. "I mean, the movie hasn't even come out yet, and people are already writing it off as racist trash based on a couple minutes of footage."

Indeed, much of the criticism has been found online, with internet forums and websites inundated with repetitive arguments for and against the film. Not since the famous Jim Shu v. The Walt Disney Company lawsuit concerning 1998's Mulan has there been so much controversy over an animated rendition of a culture.

"It's not nice," Iger states. "We just wanted to make a nice fairy tale movie with a twist, but it's just snowballed into this great big bandwagon of racism, and we never really wanted to offend anyone. So we've decided to cancel all our films currently in development. They will be reworked to focus not on our fellow man, but on a fictional creature of similar intellect that we hope can mirror the strengths and struggles of mankind, without ever offending them."

The creature Iger mentioned will be a new "species" created especially for Disney films called "hunam beings." Regarding the Mouse House's projects already well into development, most are being reworked to turn humans into hunams, although a few films are too far into development for the change.

Moviegoers can relax knowing that films such as TR2N, Prince of Persia, and Pirates of the Caribbean 4 will be the last live-action to feature humans as we know it, and can look forward to I'm Only Hunam!, a new comedy starring veteran Disney actor Zac Efron. I'm Only Hunam! will be the first in the Disney Company's ongoing "hunam being" franchise, and features a teenager named Caz Norfe trying to fit in at his new high school.

Similarly, the company's animated studio is rushing to re-animate all the scenes in The Princess and the Frog and Rapunzel to feature hunam characters. Tiana is now being touted as the first Hunam Disney Princess, while Rapunzel will be the first CGI Hunam Disney Princess.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

albert

Disney's Divinity · Post by **Disney's Divinity** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 3:00 pm

Well, I certainly hope these hunam characters are androgynous. I’d hate to think there would be female hunams running around misrepresenting females everywhere.

blackcauldron85 · Post by **blackcauldron85** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 3:14 pm

Does this mean that there won't be animals in Disney films anymore? Because that would offend Sally, Harry, and Oliver greatly. Without dogs represented in Disney films, who will they have to bark at when they watch a film? They don't know that Disney movies are movies; they enjoy having conversations with the characters on screen, and they'll be heartbroken if this cannot continue in future films. Not that Oliver barks at the dogs, but he does enjoy hearing what his brother and sister have to say to the animals on screen.

schoollover · Post by **schoollover** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 4:09 pm

Escapay wrote:
CampbellzSoup wrote:now this is going to sound racist but I hope Disney never makes a film about black people again...I mean I am half black for one and this is really truly getting out of hand. Disney is doing a wonderful and amazing return to 2D broadway style, and should be celebrated not disected apart...

Does anyone remember that south park episode where everyone was offended around christmas time, and the play that the ended up doing??
Courtesy of the Associated Press

People Banned From Disney Movies

LOS ANGELES - In a surprise move that has plenty of insiders scratching their heads, the Walt Disney Company announced that they will no longer make movies featuring people.

Bob Iger, CEO of the Walt Disney Company, issued a press release today stating that the growing concerns and attacks towards their upcoming 2-d animated film The Princess and the Frog has prompted them to rethink all future movies involving people of every color.

"We did not expect this much criticism and outrage," Iger starts. "I mean, the movie hasn't even come out yet, and people are already writing it off as racist trash based on a couple minutes of footage."

Indeed, much of the criticism has been found online, with internet forums and websites inundated with repetitive arguments for and against the film. Not since the famous Jim Shu v. The Walt Disney Company lawsuit concerning 1998's Mulan has there been so much controversy over an animated rendition of a culture.

"It's not nice," Iger states. "We just wanted to make a nice fairy tale movie with a twist, but it's just snowballed into this great big bandwagon of racism, and we never really wanted to offend anyone. So we've decided to cancel all our films currently in development. They will be reworked to focus not on our fellow man, but on a fictional creature of similar intellect that we hope can mirror the strengths and struggles of mankind, without ever offending them."

The creature Iger mentioned will be a new "species" created especially for Disney films called "hunam beings." Regarding the Mouse House's projects already well into development, most are being reworked to turn humans into hunams, although a few films are too far into development for the change.

Moviegoers can relax knowing that films such as TR2N, Prince of Persia, and Pirates of the Caribbean 4 will be the last live-action to feature humans as we know it, and can look forward to I'm Only Hunam!, a new comedy starring veteran Disney actor Zac Efron. I'm Only Hunam! will be the first in the Disney Company's ongoing "hunam being" franchise, and features a teenager named Caz Norfe trying to fit in at his new high school.

Similarly, the company's animated studio is rushing to re-animate all the scenes in The Princess and the Frog and Rapunzel to feature hunam characters. Tiana is now being touted as the first Hunam Disney Princess, while Rapunzel will be the first CGI Hunam Disney Princess.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
albert

Albert, I pray you aren't serious, please don't be

tsom · Post by **tsom** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 4:41 pm

CampbellzSoup wrote:now this is going to sound racist but I hope Disney never makes a film about black people again...

Haha, no don't say that. I see both sides of the arguement. This is Disney's first African-American princess, so of course there's going to be an uproar. I'm sure the same thing happened when Aladdin, Pocahontas, and Mulan came out, but maybe not to this extent because the internet wasn't prevelent back then. I know the complaints can get tiring, but the African-American community just want to be represented fairly, that's all. You can't please everyone, but when this movie comes out, I'm sure lots of people, red, yellow, black, or white, will appreciate it.

I'm not trying to blame Disney or anything, but maybe if they made more culturally diverse films in the past, then maybe it wouldn't be an issue this day and age.

DisneyJedi · Post by **DisneyJedi** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 6:31 pm

What?!?! No more human features?! Well, I hope those idiots who were complaining are freakin' happy!

DisneyJedi · Post by **DisneyJedi** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 6:43 pm

Escapay wrote:
CampbellzSoup wrote:now this is going to sound racist but I hope Disney never makes a film about black people again...I mean I am half black for one and this is really truly getting out of hand. Disney is doing a wonderful and amazing return to 2D broadway style, and should be celebrated not disected apart...

Does anyone remember that south park episode where everyone was offended around christmas time, and the play that the ended up doing??
Courtesy of the Associated Press

People Banned From Disney Movies

LOS ANGELES - In a surprise move that has plenty of insiders scratching their heads, the Walt Disney Company announced that they will no longer make movies featuring people.

Bob Iger, CEO of the Walt Disney Company, issued a press release today stating that the growing concerns and attacks towards their upcoming 2-d animated film The Princess and the Frog has prompted them to rethink all future movies involving people of every color.

"We did not expect this much criticism and outrage," Iger starts. "I mean, the movie hasn't even come out yet, and people are already writing it off as racist trash based on a couple minutes of footage."

Indeed, much of the criticism has been found online, with internet forums and websites inundated with repetitive arguments for and against the film. Not since the famous Jim Shu v. The Walt Disney Company lawsuit concerning 1998's Mulan has there been so much controversy over an animated rendition of a culture.

"It's not nice," Iger states. "We just wanted to make a nice fairy tale movie with a twist, but it's just snowballed into this great big bandwagon of racism, and we never really wanted to offend anyone. So we've decided to cancel all our films currently in development. They will be reworked to focus not on our fellow man, but on a fictional creature of similar intellect that we hope can mirror the strengths and struggles of mankind, without ever offending them."

The creature Iger mentioned will be a new "species" created especially for Disney films called "hunam beings." Regarding the Mouse House's projects already well into development, most are being reworked to turn humans into hunams, although a few films are too far into development for the change.

Moviegoers can relax knowing that films such as TR2N, Prince of Persia, and Pirates of the Caribbean 4 will be the last live-action to feature humans as we know it, and can look forward to I'm Only Hunam!, a new comedy starring veteran Disney actor Zac Efron. I'm Only Hunam! will be the first in the Disney Company's ongoing "hunam being" franchise, and features a teenager named Caz Norfe trying to fit in at his new high school.

Similarly, the company's animated studio is rushing to re-animate all the scenes in The Princess and the Frog and Rapunzel to feature hunam characters. Tiana is now being touted as the first Hunam Disney Princess, while Rapunzel will be the first CGI Hunam Disney Princess.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
albert

Wait a second! That is such a lie! What're you trying to do, gimme a heart attack?!

Escapay · Post by **Escapay** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 7:36 pm

Disney's Divinity wrote:Well, I certainly hope these hunam characters are androgynous. I’d hate to think there would be female hunams running around misrepresenting females everywhere.

Ames wrote:Does this mean that there won't be animals in Disney films anymore? Because that would offend Sally, Harry, and Oliver greatly. Without dogs represented in Disney films, who will they have to bark at when they watch a film? They don't know that Disney movies are movies; they enjoy having conversations with the characters on screen, and they'll be heartbroken if this cannot continue in future films. Not that Oliver barks at the dogs, but he does enjoy hearing what his brother and sister have to say to the animals on screen.

Given that animals can't form picket lines, make online petitions, or buy the products themselves, I'm sure Disney will still allow them in their movies. It's the humans that are troublesome.

schoollover wrote:Albert, I pray you aren't serious, please don't be

When am I ever serious on UD?

DisneyJedi wrote: What?!?! No more human features?! Well, I hope those idiots who were complaining are freakin' happy!

Wait a second! That is such a lie! What're you trying to do, gimme a heart attack?!

Um, no.

albert

Siren · Post by **Siren** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 7:53 pm

Heck, even with animal movies, Disney still gets crap about it....

They say the hyenas in TLK were racist towards blacks and Hispanics....Whoopi Goldberg and Cheech Marin played them....both people who aren't really hurting for cash....they didn't feel it was stereotypical, they were playing characters and having fun.

I also remember a woman's rights group had a gripe about TLK....Scar told Sarabi and the lionesses they had to hunt while he sat on his bony ass in Pride Rock...apparently they thought it was sexist for the male character to order the female to gather the food....also apparently that woman's rights group never learned about real lions and how the females hunt while the male waits and then he beats the crap out of the females to get "the lion's share" and only after he's satisfied he got the best cuts do they get some.

And I remember some people refused to let their kids see Finding Nemo because Ellen DeGeneres is a lesbian. I remember arguing with one of them...either on this forum or another about their stupidity and their kids are gonna hate them for making them stay home and watch Veggie Tales instead

DVDizzy Forum

Latest Movie Reviews

🎬 DVDizzy Top Stories️️

The Princess and the Frog Discussion - Part II