Actually.... of the six official Disney princesses - Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Belle, Ariel, and Jasmine - only one is of a different skin tone. I don't consider Mulan or Pocahontas princesses because they came along much later and were not of royal blood and did not marry a prince (or maybe Mulan's fellow was a prince... I don't quite recall... I know he was a soldier). There has definitely not been representation for "every racial and ethnic group." I have yet to see a Latino "royal."
I have a feeling this new "princess" is not really a princess, considering it's set in New Orleans, and as far as I know, New Orleans is not a monarchy.
I find it odd (rather ironic, really) that it's taking place in the deep south.... I wonder if she'll have a southern accent. (She better.... and it better be a
real southern accent - not a thick, fake, really drawn out, ghetto sort of accent.)
As for Tiana being a more "African American name," I also find that mildly amusing. I don't quite understand the problem with "Maddy." I think people are looking too far into it.
And if they made the prince black, what would that really teach young girls? That you must marry within your own race? Disney princesses are known for accepting (and loving!) someone who is different from them (Belle and the Beast, Ariel and Eric, Pocahontas and John, Jasmine and Aladdin.... all were opposites! In fact, Snow White and Cinderella were the only ones who notabley "married up"
- and even so, they were still quite different from their prince).
But I hope this is animated like a classic. I was afraid that Lilo and Stitch would be the last Disney film using classic animation. I am rather tired of this computer animation.