Though I still have my doubts about the film, the dolls and accessories are sure to become sought-after collectibles, so get them while you can.
The following article, released November 30, 2009, addresses Disney Studios’ sendup of their newest film to date.
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Disney’s First African-American Princess a Hot Item
Although she hasn’t even made her national big-screen debut yet, Princess Tiana is getting the royal welcome as Disney’s first African-American princess character.
Cheryl Mayberry McKissack, CEO of NiaOnline, is making plans for multiple viewings of “The Princess and the Frog” with several godchildren. And U.S. Senate candidate Cheryle Jackson has a date with her niece for the big-screen debut.
Mom Miki Roberts has already scooped up plenty of Princess Tiana merchandise.
“I’m so excited I’m about to jump out of my skin,” said Roberts, who recently left Oakbrook Center’s Disney Store with loads of Princess Tiana merchandise — pajama sets, cups, plates, bags.
The animated musical opens Dec. 11, but Harvey mom Kina Washington ordered a hair and bath products gift set for her 8-year-old daughter, Kayhla, in September — as soon as it was available. She expects to replace some of Kayhla’s princess products with those featuring Tiana.
The anticipation is strong for “The Princess and the Frog,” an update of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, “The Frog Prince,” in which Tiana is a 19-year-old waitress who dreams of opening her own restaurant in Jazz Age New Orleans. The film opened in two theaters Wednesday, drawing huge business over the holiday weekend.
Tiana expands the $4 billion Disney Princess brand, the top selling franchise in the Disney theme parks and company stores, according to Imaginings 3 Inc., the Niles-based candy novelty licensee of Disney. Besides the role-play costume and the bath set, Tiana is featured in video games, a cookbook, Band-Aids, fruit snacks, clothing and toys. A “Princess and the Frog”-inspired wedding gown (for women, not children) will be unveiled in the spring.
And the new character’s merchandise is outselling other Disney Princess items by double-digit percentages, Disney said. Available for about a month, 45,000 dolls have been sold — 17,000 just last week.
“The Princess and the Frog” bedding has sold nearly triple the amount of other Disney Princess bedding, and Disney stores report Tiana role-play dresses are outselling all other princess dresses.
“What was surprising is the fact how much our guests were already educated about her; how much they knew about her. It was almost like they were waiting,” said Dara Trujillo, manager of merchandise synergy and franchises for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
The Disney machine heavily promoted its new princess to potential African-American customers, from the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans to the Blogalicioius conference in Atlanta to a special preview party of about 1,000 fathers and daughters at House of Hope in Chicago earlier this month. It even provided a copy of the movie to President Obama’s daughters, Sasha and Malia.
When things Tiana-related appeared at major retailers and online, consumers — black women, in particular — pounced.
Roberts bought a book with the tale as soon as it hit stores this fall. “I bought a lot of Princess Tiana stuff before it’s all gone. I bought Christmas presents,” she said.
Princess power excitement runs in Roberts’ family. Her 13-year-old daughter, Armani Baker, performs her own princess character as a story teller. She’ll be at River East 21 for the film’s opening, attired in her own costume, telling stories and handing out her brochures.
Robert’s sister, Alicia August Wright, plans a private breakfast screening of the flick Dec. 12 at ICE Theaters in the Chatham neighborhood (AventsByAugust.com) to benefit the P.U.M.P.S. organization. It’s one of several private screenings of the film that will benefit various not-for-profits.
“I love princess movies,” said Wright, 28. “It’s history as far as the very first African-American Disney princess.”
“I’m really excited about it. I’m even more excited because the story is based in New Orleans. That’s where my father’s family is from,” she said.
Relatives are traveling from New Orleans to watch the movie with her.
“Having an African-American princess pretty much conveys that African-American girls, not just white girls, are beautiful and worthy of admiration, as well,” said Melissa Harris, founder of Embracing Your Future Association, which is concerned with the development of girls.
McKissack, of NiaOnline, said the image of an African-American princess is important in conveying that African-American girls have the same aspirations as whites.
“Anything that’s done to start at a young age to give more African-Americans a higher level of self-esteem, I think is a good thing,” she said.
When she heard of the movie, Jackson “immediately thought about my niece, Nayah, who honestly believes she is a princess,” she said.
“To have Disney portray an African-American princess is pretty historic and a long time coming,” said Jackson. “I hope this movie does speak to a woman’s sense of empowerment that she doesn’t have to wait for her prince to come along because she is completed.”