Friday, May 11, 2007
Princess Mammy... Sorry Maddy... Sorry Tiara... Sorry Tiana - And The Frog 
The Disney film previously known as The Frog Princess has undergone some changes. Now, it's The Princess and the Frog. And now, Princess Maddy is Princess Tiana. Apparently, some thought the name Maddy sounded too much like Mammy, or Addy which was, reportedly, a slave name...
And this kind of thinking is why Song of the South is still under lock and key.
Jim Hill had the scoop, as per all things Disney. Best bit: that the title change was due to some seeing the original name as a slur on French Royalty. French Royalty? They're hardly an ongoing concern, are they.
The villain is, at least currently, a "smooth sinister black man who practices voodoo" called Dr. Duvalier. Will this change to appease the hystericals? And will Randy Newman get booted from soundtrack duty because, to put it bluntly, he's white? I don't think so. I sincerely doubt John Lasseter would do anything so silly, so open to criticism, so reactionary.
And this kind of thinking is why Song of the South is still under lock and key.
Jim Hill had the scoop, as per all things Disney. Best bit: that the title change was due to some seeing the original name as a slur on French Royalty. French Royalty? They're hardly an ongoing concern, are they.
The villain is, at least currently, a "smooth sinister black man who practices voodoo" called Dr. Duvalier. Will this change to appease the hystericals? And will Randy Newman get booted from soundtrack duty because, to put it bluntly, he's white? I don't think so. I sincerely doubt John Lasseter would do anything so silly, so open to criticism, so reactionary.
Labels: disney, frog princess, john lasseter, john musker, randy newman, ron clements, song of the south
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Thinking Caps On: A New Pile Of Disney Mysteries
The good work at The Disney Enquirer continues, with another long list of Mouse-owned domain names dug up for our consideration. This stuff really gets me going - and there's bound to be something in this lot that tempts you too.
Firstly, there's a heap of new DVD and Blu-Ray domains: Saludos Amigos and The Three Cabelleros are coming to DVD, just in time to tie-in with their new Epcot attraction; The Frog Princess now has a DVD domain ready registered even while the production race is far from the final furlong; Finding Nemo's Blu-Ray release can't be far away either.
Other domains seem to reveal the names of previously unannounced TV shows: Aron Stone, Baby Sitter Fighting Force, Twitches 2, Kid Knieval, Lucky Breaks, Shezow, Rules of 57th Street, Truman and Tre.
Who Shrunk Daniel Funk is the first in an upcoming series of books from Lin Oliver - Disney have registered a series of associated domains, so can we look forward to a new film franchise based on the books? Or just a spin-off TV show?
And how about a sequel to Meet the Robinsons? Certainly looks like one is coming - Meet the Kids was on the list too and Robinsons fans will see straight away how that would pan out. Direct to DVD, no doubt.
Most interesting, however, are a series of 'Vision' branded domains - Prince Caspian, Enchanted and Pirates of the Caribbean all have 'Vision' websites alongside their main pages. The Enquirer speculates this might be related to Disney 3D, the branded Real-D process that Disney have been pushing lately. If they're right, that's great for all of us - Real-D is amazing. I'm suspecting that 'Vision' might just be a Video on Demand service, however. If you ahve any clues, please fire them over.
What a line-up. I'm already champing at the bit for Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros.
Firstly, there's a heap of new DVD and Blu-Ray domains: Saludos Amigos and The Three Cabelleros are coming to DVD, just in time to tie-in with their new Epcot attraction; The Frog Princess now has a DVD domain ready registered even while the production race is far from the final furlong; Finding Nemo's Blu-Ray release can't be far away either.
Other domains seem to reveal the names of previously unannounced TV shows: Aron Stone, Baby Sitter Fighting Force, Twitches 2, Kid Knieval, Lucky Breaks, Shezow, Rules of 57th Street, Truman and Tre.
Who Shrunk Daniel Funk is the first in an upcoming series of books from Lin Oliver - Disney have registered a series of associated domains, so can we look forward to a new film franchise based on the books? Or just a spin-off TV show?
And how about a sequel to Meet the Robinsons? Certainly looks like one is coming - Meet the Kids was on the list too and Robinsons fans will see straight away how that would pan out. Direct to DVD, no doubt.
Most interesting, however, are a series of 'Vision' branded domains - Prince Caspian, Enchanted and Pirates of the Caribbean all have 'Vision' websites alongside their main pages. The Enquirer speculates this might be related to Disney 3D, the branded Real-D process that Disney have been pushing lately. If they're right, that's great for all of us - Real-D is amazing. I'm suspecting that 'Vision' might just be a Video on Demand service, however. If you ahve any clues, please fire them over.
What a line-up. I'm already champing at the bit for Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros.
Labels: disney. dvd, enchanted, frog princess, meet the kids, meet the robinsons, pirates of the caribbean, pixar, prince caspian, saludos amigos, three caballeros, who shrunk daniel funk
Friday, April 20, 2007
Hey, Noni
E! have reported that Anika Noni Rose will be voicing Maddy, The Frog Princess in Disney's cartoon of the same name. Much fuss will ensue, hype and plaudits for the star: as I told you before, Maddy is the first African-American lead in a Disney cartoon.
Rose will also, no doubt, get a few tunes to belt out courtesy of Randy Newman.
Rose will also, no doubt, get a few tunes to belt out courtesy of Randy Newman.
Labels: anika noni rose, disney, frog princess, randy newman
Friday, March 09, 2007
Frog Princess Officially Announced
John Lasseter has unveiled the 2009 release from Walt Disney Feature Animation, The Frog Princess. As reported here in November of last year, the heroine of the film is to be Disney's first African American protagonist. Her name is Maddy and she's going to be a real money spinner for the company and their Disney Princess merchandising machine.
We also told you that Randy Newman was composing the music and Dr. John would be playing and singing on the songs, and at least the first half of that was repeated in the press release also.
Musker and Clements are directing and their previous Disney successes The Little Mermaid, Hercules and Aladdin seem to be the jumping off point for the approach here. I'm hopeful that this is going to come out rather wonderfully, and so, it seems is Lasseter.
We also told you that Randy Newman was composing the music and Dr. John would be playing and singing on the songs, and at least the first half of that was repeated in the press release also.
Musker and Clements are directing and their previous Disney successes The Little Mermaid, Hercules and Aladdin seem to be the jumping off point for the approach here. I'm hopeful that this is going to come out rather wonderfully, and so, it seems is Lasseter.
Labels: aladdin, dr john, frog princess, hercules, john lasseter, john musker, little mermaid, randy newman, ron clements
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