We Want Our Girl Back

A look at Walt Disney Animation Studios’ reanimation of a Black princess.

In 2009, Disney’s Princess and the Frog was very celebratory, as it was Disney’s first and only film featuring a black princess. Fans were very excited to hear that all the Disney princesses were coming together for a cameo in Disney’s Ralph Breaks the Internet, a sequel to Wreck-It Ralph, except one issue had arisen. Princess Tiana’s skin had been lightened, facial features had been altered, and hair texture had been changed.

Tiana originally appeared with darker skin, kinky/curly hair, a wide nose, and fuller lips. Her new character had lighter skin, a more slim nose, less full lips, and coiled hair.

Disney faced much backlash because of this new depiction of the Louisianan princess. Many fans called out the studio for "colorism."

Ultimately, Color of Change and was the last to act before Disney made the decision to reanimate. Color of Change is a nonprofit civil rights advocacy, racial justice organization working to "create a more humane and less hostile world for Black people in America," according to the organization's website. Color of Change created a petition to catch the attention of Walt Disney Animation Studios and tell them to stop "whitewashing" their characters (the original petition can be found at this link below)

<http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/Disney_stop_whitewashing_us/>

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Anika Noni Rose, actress who voiced Tiana, also had her say on the new animation of Tiana; she visited the animators and spoke to them about the new Tiana. Rose took to Instagram to explain her opinion on her personal experience with the issue. She stated "I was able to express how important it is to the little girls (and let’s face it, grown women) who felt represented by her that her skin tone stay as rich as it had been, and that her nose continue to be the little round nose that [The Princess and the Frog animator] Mark so beautifully rendered in the movie; the same nose on my very own face and on many other little brown faces around the world, that we so rarely get to see represented in fantasy.” (See her full Instagram post here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BoIN9ZBhhbN/?utm_source=ig_embed)

Disney did eventually reanimate Princess Tiana to more closely resemble her original animation.

Princess Tiana served as a role model and female representation for many black girls and women all over the world through her real features and headstrong characteristics, She was a strong, bold, and determined character, so why change her appearance?

Unfortunately, we experience this in today's media often and not just with fictional characters. Black men and women are often censored just for being themselves. Not even a positive organization such as Disney can be free of issues like colorism, racism, and discrimination.

ALWAYS embrace your natural hair, skin tone, and features. You are beautiful just the way you are! You are BOLD. You are BROWN. You are BEAUTIFUL. You BELONG.

Did Disney tried to reanimate Tiana in order to fit their viewer demographic? Were fans overreacting? What are your opinions on the topic? Let us know in the comments!