The Princess and the Awkward Racial Overtones

Disney's upcoming The Princess and the Frog, featuring the voice of Dreamgirls' Anika Noni Rose as the company's first African-American "princess" character, had to be re-tooled after facing complaints that the film played into stereotypes.

Originally titled The Frog Princess, it was about a chambermaid named Maddy working for a spoiled white girl in New Orleans' French Quarter circa the 1920s. The script also featured voodoo and an alligator sidekick.

A re-write has changed the main character's name to Tiana and has also changed the race of the villain. The love interest is said to be Middle Eastern.

There's an argument on both sides to be made, but I'll sidestep it and ask what I think is an obvious question: Disney is still making hand-drawn cartoons? Who knew? I mean, the last one that broke the $100 million mark was Lilo & Stitch, released six years ago. And since then there have only been, like, two: 2003's Brother Bear ($85 million gross) and 2004's Home on the Range ($50 million gross).

Back to their roots, I guess. Although hopefully not Song of the South-type roots.

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