It wasn’t President Obama, Oprah Winfrey (who actually has a role in the film) or any of the black icons currently saturating mainstream American culture that finally motivated Disney to feature an African-American princess by way of its latest film, The Princess and the Frog.
According to the animators, the process of bringing Princess Tiana to the screen was much more organic than an effort to practice diversity.
“We didn’t go into it thinking, ‘Okay, we have to make a black princess,’’ animator Randy Haycock said of The Princess and the Frog. “We thought, ‘How can we make the character authentic?’”
The fairytale caught the attention of Disney executives, and they decided to adapt it as a hand-drawn animated film, a throwback in the digital age.
In the creative process it was decided that New Orleans would make for the perfect setting. The city could offer a colorful backdrop and the opportunity for rich, vibrant experiences through sights and sounds.
“We thought about what people represent the setting of the story we are trying to tell,” said animator Bruce Smith. “It was about putting the elements in her that would tell a great story.”
And the rest is literally history.
After three auditions, Anika Noni Rose, a Tony Award-winning stage actress/singer who had her film breakthrough in the acclaimed Dreamgirls, was tapped for the opportunity give Tiana her voice.
“The best thing that I can say is that I’m really pleased with who she is,” Rose told The American. “The film was made with a lot of love and care, and I invite people to come see for themselves.”
Rose’s brown skin and broad nose are much like Tiana’s – features that have not historically been a standard of beauty within the black community.
“I was thrilled to be cast in the role,” Rose said. “It’s been a dream my entire life to do a Disney voice.”
She was still delighted as she talked – and even broke into song as she reflected on the huge impact that Disney films had on her life and her career.
In a beautiful twist of fate, Rose’s story is much like Tiana’s tale of taking the path of hard work and perseverance towards her happily ever after. She hopes people will adopt the notion for themselves after seeing the movie.
“The message for me was dream as big as possible and reach for the brightest star,” Rose said. “And when you’re done dreaming, get ready to put the work in.”
