Disney redraws Princess Tiana
Disney has opted to reanimate the character of Princess Tiana in the “Wreck-it Ralph” sequel amid claims that the studio’s first black princess had been whitewashed.
Backlash erupted last month when a teaser trailer for “Ralph Breaks the Internet” emerged — and it appeared Tiana’s skin was lighter and her nose narrower than when she first appeared in the 2009 film “The Princess and the Frog.”
The look differed greatly from previous trailers, which showed the princess similar to how she appeared in the film. “She’s the only black princess ... let her be black,” one Twitter user wrote.
Added another, “I hate to nitpick but — no I don’t actually, why does Tiana have a tiny white girl nose in the ‘Wreck-it Ralph 2’ (trailer) specifically. We know why. But like WHY.”
Upon her introduction in 2009, Tiana was — and remains — the only black princess in Disney’s lineup, which also includes Pocahontas and Moana, who are Native American and Polynesian, respectively.
According to the The Wall Street Journal, Disney took the criticism to heart, and chose to redraw Tiana, even getting input from actress Anika Noni Rose, who provides Tiana’s voice.
Color of Change, an organization dedicated to solving racial injustice, also stepped in to help and ensure that Tiana was portrayed properly, with darker hair and skin and a wider nose and mouth.
The advocacy group told the Daily News in a statement that Disney’s decision to adjust Tiana’s look to that “of an unapologetically black princess with full lips, dark skin and dark hair” was a victory for the community.