Sunday afternoon marked a milestone in Disney's long history of Princess characters as Princess Tiana of Disney's Princess of the Frog was officially inducted into Disney's Royal Princess Court.
As an official member of the Royal Princess Court, Tiana will now be recognized across all divisions of the Walt Disney Company and be included in all Disney Princess merchandise.
Princess Tiana had a royal-style entrance as she arrived at New York City's Palace Hotel in a horse-drawn carriage and was met with young, real-life princesses -- of all races -- eagerly waiting to greet her.
The excitement kicked in when the New Orleans-style band began trumpeting the 'When the Saints Go Marching In,' helping to amp up the crowd. Princess Tiana walked the red carpet along with her adorable followers.
The Grand Ballroom was a star studded affair, filled with a slew of celebrities and their children all awaiting Princess Tiana's Coronation. Attendees including Tina Fey, Audra McDonald, Nigel Barker, Jennifer Lewis, Melissa Joan Hart and Kelly Rutherford to name a few.
Anika Noni Rose, the voice of Princess Tiana, opened the event by professing how she wanted to play the voice of a Disney character since she was a child.
"I would have been satisfied to be a tick," she told the audience. "To play a princess has been more than a dream come true for me."
Black Voices had the opportunity to speak with Audra McDonald, the three-time Toni Award Winning star of ABC's Private Practice about what she enjoyed most about the movie.
"I love the message in the movie," she said. "I think it's inspiring that Tiana wasn't sitting around waiting for her Prince to come find her. She had her own goals and dreams that she wanted to accomplish. She's a great role model for young girls, regardless of race."
Not only has Princess Tiana proven to have influential power over audiences everywhere; she's also proven her power to turn over impressive profits for Disney. Since January more than a quarter million toys featuring Princess Tiana have already been sold. In this month alone, Disney Stores sold out of its limited edition Princess Tiana collector doll during the pre-sell period. Not too shabby Tiana.
Yesterday's Coronation event also marked the arrival of The Princess and the Frog on Disney Blu-Ray Combo pack and DVD which will be release officially on Tuesday March 16th.
Yesterday's Coronation event also marked the arrival of The Princess and the Frog on Disney Blu-Ray Combo pack and DVD which will be release officially on Tuesday March 16th.
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By: stanya on 3/16/2010 10:16PM
On its limited day release, the film grossed $263,890 at only two theaters and grossed $786,190 its opening weekend.[32][33] On its opening day in wide release, the film grossed $7,020,000 at 3,434 theaters.[34] It went on to gross $24,208,916 over the opening weekend averaging $7,050 per theater,[35] marking it the highest-grossing start to date for an animated movie in December, while being less auspicious than the animated movies from Walt Disney Pictures' 1990s traditional animation heyday.[36] After 110 days of being released the film has grossed $104,047,141 in the United States and Canada, and $143,000,000 in other markets, making a worldwide gross of $247,047,141.
The financial and critical success of The Princess and the Frog has persuaded Disney to greenlight at least one new hand-drawn animated feature to be released every two years.
Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert, giving the film three out of four stars, highly praised the film admiring Disney's step back to traditional animation saying, "This is what classic animation once was like!" and, in his print review wrote, "No 3-D! No glasses! No extra ticket charge! No frantic frenzies of meaningless action! And...good gravy! A story! Characters! A plot!"
So next time you want to talk trash, get your facts straight. Thank you.
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By: Janet Leland on 3/17/2010 1:46AM
I strongly beg to differ. You sir, have the mentality of a four year old child to stereotype blacks as well as to profess to know what we think. You are the one living in an unrealistic world because you fail to realize that Blacks are and have always, even during and after slavery, been intelligent people who have contributed significantly to America with blood, sweat and tears as well as with creativity and intellect.
Just because you repeatedly put that message out that we are stupid does not make it so, nor does it impair or malign our self esteem. You see, by your statements you have proved to be the ignorant, dellussional one.
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By: Charles on 3/17/2010 3:00AM
All I know is this Anika Noni Rose is a force to be reckon with an execellent young actress. I wish her a long and fruitful career.
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By: Bill Schrier on 3/17/2010 6:11PM
Why don't you blacks teach about "Princess" Tiana during Black History Month? Afterall, she's just as real as your other mythical heroes.
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