Non Racist 'Princess and the Frog' Visual Development Pics

Whew, at least these can't stir up controversy... can they?

Is that a toothless firefly posing as a southern black from 1920s New Orleans?
Photo: Disney Animation

One thing I never brought up was the argument over the teaser trailer for The Princess and the Frog claiming the toothless firefly featured at the end of the trailer is a racist caricature of southern blacks. Personally, I had think it is more a caricature of southern poor folk from the 1920s, but that is just me. Look at the pic above, does he look black? If you haven't seen the teaser yet give it a watch at the end of this article and see what you think. Personally it seems people are getting a bit too worked up recently, but I could be wrong.

However, it has been reported that the script did have to undergo a complete rewrite when the main character, Maddy, a young African American was initially a chambermaid working for a spoilt, white Southern debutante who was helped by a voodoo priestess fairy godmother to win the heart of a white prince. I can see where that may cause a problem when Disney was boasting Maddy as the studio's first African American princess. Doesn't help to make her someone who makes the beds of some rich white folk.

But I don't want to talk anymore about race or controversy, I have had enough of that. So, before checking out the trailer and your racist alarms start blaring check out seven new pieces of concept art from Disney's animation site. The film is set in New Orleans and tells the story of Maddy, a young African-American girl living amid the charming elegance and grandeur of the fabled French Quarter.

Photo: Disney Animation

Photo: Disney Animation

Photo: Disney Animation

Photo: Disney Animation

Photo: Disney Animation

Photo: Disney Animation

Photo: Disney Animation



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He's not supposed to be black. He has spiky red hair, for goodness sake. He's Cajun, but is going to be a much more developed character than the trailer gives him credit for.

- sevenofdiamonds
( August 12th, 2008 | 9:41 pm )
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