<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Episode Summary&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Erin and Rachel hop on down to 1920’s New Orleans, where Disney’s first Black princess spends most of her time as a frog in the Louisiana bayou. &lt;i&gt;The Princess and the Frog&lt;/i&gt; (2010) provided much needed representation, but leaves a lot to be desired in terms of its race, class, and gender politics. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Episode Bibliography&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;The 82nd Academy Awards | 2010&lt;/i&gt;. (n.d.). Oscars. &lt;a href="https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2010/P?qt-honorees=1#block-quicktabs-honorees"&gt;https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2010/P?qt-honorees=1#block-quicktabs-honorees&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ayres, C. (2009, December 12). &lt;i&gt;The Princess and the Frog: Disney’s black fairytale&lt;/i&gt;. The Times. &lt;a href="https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/the-princess-and-the-frog-disneys-black-fairytale-lcpnw3pj3jc"&gt;https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/the-princess-and-the-frog-disneys-black-fairytale-lcpnw3pj3jc&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Baker, E.D. (2002). &lt;i&gt;The Frog Princess&lt;/i&gt;. Bloomsbury.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Barnes, B. (2009, May 29). &lt;i&gt;Her Prince Has Come. Critics, Too.&lt;/i&gt; The New York Times. &lt;a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/31/fashion/31disney.html"&gt;https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/31/fashion/31disney.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Breaux, R. M. (2010). After 75 years of magic: Disney answers its critics, rewrites African American history, and cashes in on its racist past. &lt;i&gt;Journal of African American Studies, 14&lt;/i&gt;(4), 398-416. doi: 10.1007/s12111-010-9139-9&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chang, J. (2009, November 24). &lt;i&gt;The Princess and the Frog&lt;/i&gt;. Variety. &lt;a href="https://variety.com/2009/digital/features/the-princess-and-the-frog-1200477289/"&gt;https://variety.com/2009/digital/features/the-princess-and-the-frog-1200477289/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Davis, A.M. (2014). &lt;i&gt;Handsome heroes and vile villains: Men in Disney’s feature animation&lt;/i&gt;. John Libbey &amp; Company. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Debruge, P. (2016, November 22). &lt;i&gt;Disney's Pixar Acquisition: Bob Iger, John Lasseter Reanimated Studio&lt;/i&gt;. Variety. &lt;a href="https://variety.com/2016/film/features/disney-pixar-acquisition-bob-iger-john-lasseter-1201923719/"&gt;https://variety.com/2016/film/features/disney-pixar-acquisition-bob-iger-john-lasseter-1201923719/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Disney Archives, The. (2025, January 14). &lt;i&gt;The Princess and the Frog - Magic in the Bayou: The Making of a Princess&lt;/i&gt;. YouTube. &lt;a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9Gfgey_Oc8"&gt;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9Gfgey_Oc8&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Disney Enterprises, Inc. (2009). &lt;i&gt;The Princess and the Frog Production Notes&lt;/i&gt;. Oscars.org. &lt;a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100408202417/http://www.oscars.org/press/presskits/nominations/pdf/princess_and_the_frog.pdf"&gt;https://web.archive.org/web/20100408202417/http://www.oscars.org/press/presskits/nominations/pdf/princess_and_the_frog.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ebert, R. (2009, December 9). &lt;i&gt;At Disney, they still remember how to make movies like they used to movie review (2009)&lt;/i&gt;. RogerEbert.com. &lt;a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-princess-and-the-frog-2009"&gt;https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-princess-and-the-frog-2009&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Firehouse Five Plus Two - Wikipedia&lt;/i&gt;. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. &lt;a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firehouse_Five_Plus_Two"&gt;https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firehouse_Five_Plus_Two&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Foundas, S. (2009, December 10). &lt;i&gt;The Princess and the Frog&lt;/i&gt;. Dallas Observer. &lt;a href="https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts-culture/the-princess-and-the-frog-6405784/"&gt;https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts-culture/the-princess-and-the-frog-6405784/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Frog Prince, The. (2025, October 17). In &lt;i&gt;Wikipedia&lt;/i&gt;. &lt;a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Frog_Prince"&gt;https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Frog_Prince&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Gallo, P. (2006, February 28). &lt;i&gt;Mouse inks music man&lt;/i&gt;. Variety. &lt;a href="https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/mouse-inks-music-man-1117939042/"&gt;https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/mouse-inks-music-man-1117939042/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Gehlawat, A. (2010). The strange case of "The Princess and the Frog:" Passing and the elision of race. &lt;i&gt;Journal of African American Studies, 14&lt;/i&gt;(4), 417-431. doi: 10.1007/s12111-010-9126-1&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Gilchrist, T. (2009, October 23). &lt;i&gt;Interview: 'Princess and the Frog' Directors Ron Clements and John Musker&lt;/i&gt;. Moviefone. &lt;a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054004/http://news.moviefone.com/2009/10/23/interview-princess-and-the-frog-directors-ron-clements-and-jo/"&gt;https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054004/http://news.moviefone.com/2009/10/23/interview-princess-and-the-frog-directors-ron-clements-and-jo/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Gregory, S. M. (2010). Disney’s second line: New Orleans, racial masquerade, and the reproduction of whiteness in The Princess and the Frog. &lt;i&gt;Journal of African American Studies, 14&lt;/i&gt;(4), 432-449. doi: 10.1007/s12111-010-9138-x&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Guerrero, E. (1993). The Black image in protective custody: Hollywood’s biracial buddy films of the eighties. In M. Diawara (Ed.), &lt;i&gt;Black American cinema&lt;/i&gt; (pp. 237–246). Routledge.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Hill, J. (2006, November 12). &lt;i&gt;Monday Mouse Watch: Why a change of composers on “The Frog Princess” caused lots of WDFA staffers to lose their composure&lt;/i&gt;. Jim Hill Media. &lt;a href="https://limegreen-loris-912771.hostingersite.com/monday-mouse-watch-why-a-change-of-composers-on-the-frog-princess-caused-lots-of-wdfa-staffers-to-lose-their-composure/"&gt;https://limegreen-loris-912771.hostingersite.com/monday-mouse-watch-why-a-change-of-composers-on-the-frog-princess-caused-lots-of-wdfa-staffers-to-lose-their-composure/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Holt, K. (2006, June 23). &lt;i&gt;Rhett Wickham: It's Baaack!&lt;/i&gt; Laughing Place. &lt;a href="https://www.laughingplace.com/news-id510530.asp"&gt;https://www.laughingplace.com/news-id510530.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Honeycutt, K. (2009, November 24). &lt;i&gt;The Princess and the Frog — Film Review&lt;/i&gt;. The Hollywood Reporter. &lt;a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/princess-frog-film-review-93780/"&gt;https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/princess-frog-film-review-93780/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kayembe, B. (2021, March 9). &lt;i&gt;Why are we still depicting Black women as 'Mammies'?&lt;/i&gt; Shado Mag. &lt;a href="https://shado-mag.com/articles/opinion/why-are-we-still-depicting-black-women-as-mammies/"&gt;https://shado-mag.com/articles/opinion/why-are-we-still-depicting-black-women-as-mammies/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Killer Reviews Staff. (2009). &lt;i&gt;The Princess and the Frog Filmmakers Interview&lt;/i&gt;. Killer Reviews. &lt;a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100829054531/http://www.killerreviews.com/dispinterview.php?intid=1859"&gt;https://web.archive.org/web/20100829054531/http://www.killerreviews.com/dispinterview.php?intid=1859&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;King, C.R., Bloodsworth-Lugo, M.K., &amp; Lugo-Lugo, C.R. (2010). Animated representations of Blackness. &lt;i&gt;Journal of African American Studies, 14&lt;/i&gt;(4), 395-397. doi: 10.1007/s12111-010-9141-2&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;King, S. (2009, November 22). &lt;i&gt;Q &amp; A with ‘Princess and the Frog’ animators&lt;/i&gt;. Los Angeles Times. &lt;a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-nov-22-la-ca-princess22-2009nov22-story.html"&gt;https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-nov-22-la-ca-princess22-2009nov22-story.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Leah Chase&lt;/i&gt;. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. &lt;a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leah_Chase"&gt;https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leah_Chase&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Leap of Faith: The Princess and the Frog&lt;/i&gt;. (2010, January 17). The Independent. &lt;a href="https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/features/leap-of-faith-the-princess-and-the-frog-1870801.html"&gt;https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/features/leap-of-faith-the-princess-and-the-frog-1870801.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lester, N. A. (2010). Disney’s The Princess and the Frog: The pride, the pressure, and the politics of being a first. &lt;i&gt;The Journal of American Culture, 33&lt;/i&gt;(4), 294-307. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Malkin, M. (2007, February 5). &lt;i&gt;Alicia Keys into Next Movie Role&lt;/i&gt;. E! Online. &lt;a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070210054735/http://www.eonline.com/gossip/planetgossip/blog/index.jsp?uuid=d21d0e39-9f0d-4b01-b81d-3989932f34ab"&gt;https://web.archive.org/web/20070210054735/http://www.eonline.com/gossip/planetgossip/blog/index.jsp?uuid=d21d0e39-9f0d-4b01-b81d-3989932f34ab&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;McGee, A.M. (2012). Haitian vodou and voodoo: Imagined religion and popular culture. &lt;i&gt;Studies in Religion, 41&lt;/i&gt;(2). doi: 10.1177/0008429812441311&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Misick, B. (2020, October 29). &lt;i&gt;Controversy Over 'The Princess and the Frog'&lt;/i&gt;. Essence Magazine. &lt;a href="https://www.essence.com/news/critics-dispute-princess-and-the-frog/"&gt;https://www.essence.com/news/critics-dispute-princess-and-the-frog/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Moffitt, K. R. (2019). Scripting the way for the 21st-century Disney princess in &lt;i&gt;The Princess and the Frog&lt;/i&gt;. &lt;i&gt;Women's Studies in Communication, 42&lt;/i&gt;(4), 471-489. doi: 10.1080/07491409.2019.1669757&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Moffitt, K. R., &amp; Harris, H. E. (2014). Of negation, princesses, beauty, and work: Black mothers reflect on Disney’s The Princess and the Frog. &lt;i&gt;Howard Journal of Communications, 25&lt;/i&gt;(1), 56–76. doi:10.1080/10646175.2014.865354&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Myrlados, A. (2021, January 18). &lt;i&gt;The Princess and The Frog: A case in cultural revisionism&lt;/i&gt;. The Enlightenment. &lt;a href="https://lifeisgoodblog.com/2021/01/18/princess-and-frog-cultural-revisionism/"&gt;https://lifeisgoodblog.com/2021/01/18/princess-and-frog-cultural-revisionism/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ness, M. (2016, June 2). &lt;i&gt;The End of an Era: Disney's The Princess and the Frog&lt;/i&gt;. Reactor. &lt;a href="https://reactormag.com/the-end-of-an-era-disneys-the-princess-and-the-frog/"&gt;https://reactormag.com/the-end-of-an-era-disneys-the-princess-and-the-frog/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;New Orleans Voodoo&lt;/i&gt;. (2025). New Orleans. &lt;a href="https://www.neworleans.com/things-to-do/multicultural/traditions/voodoo/"&gt;https://www.neworleans.com/things-to-do/multicultural/traditions/voodoo/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Noyer, J. (2010, June 1). &lt;i&gt;The Princess And The Frog's Directors John Musker and Ron Clements take us to “the other side” of animation!&lt;/i&gt; Animated Views. Retrieved September 22, 2025, from &lt;a href="https://animatedviews.com/2010/the-princess-and-the-frog-directors-john-musker-and-ron-clements-take-us-to-the-other-side-of-animation/"&gt;https://animatedviews.com/2010/the-princess-and-the-frog-directors-john-musker-and-ron-clements-take-us-to-the-other-side-of-animation/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Panaram, S., Rogers, H., &amp; Stoddard, T. (n.d.). &lt;i&gt;The Princess and the Frog: Rewriting Jazz Age History and Culture&lt;/i&gt;. The Black Atlantic. &lt;a href="https://sites.duke.edu/blackatlantic/sample-page/contemporary-film-and-black-atlantic/history/disneyfied-histories-disneys-intentional-inaccuracy-historical-films-and-the-black-atlantic/the-princess-and-the-frog-and-rewriting-jazz-age-history-and-culture/"&gt;https://sites.duke.edu/blackatlantic/sample-page/contemporary-film-and-black-atlantic/history/disneyfied-histories-disneys-intentional-inaccuracy-historical-films-and-the-black-atlantic/the-princess-and-the-frog-and-rewriting-jazz-age-history-and-culture/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Parasecoli, F. (2010). A taste of Louisiana: Mainstreaming Blackness through food in The Princess and the Frog. &lt;i&gt;Journal of African American Studies, 14&lt;/i&gt;(4), 450-468. doi:  10.1007/s12111-010-9137-y&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Pérez, E. (2021). “I got voodoo, I got hoodoo”: Ethnography and its objects in Disney’s &lt;i&gt;The Princess and the Frog&lt;/i&gt;. &lt;i&gt;Material Religion, 17&lt;/i&gt;(1), 56-80. doi: 10.1080/17432200.2021.1977954&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Pinsky, M. I. (2010, January 7). &lt;i&gt;What Walt Wrought&lt;/i&gt;. Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703580904574638143338424878&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;The Princess and the Frog&lt;/i&gt;. (n.d.). Box Office Mojo. &lt;a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3916137985/"&gt;https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3916137985/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Robertson, B. (2010, January). &lt;i&gt;The Tradition Lives On&lt;/i&gt;. Computer Graphics World. &lt;a href="https://www.cgw.com/Publications/CGW/2010/Volume-33-Issue-1-Jan-2010-/The-Tradition-Lives-On.aspx"&gt;https://www.cgw.com/Publications/CGW/2010/Volume-33-Issue-1-Jan-2010-/The-Tradition-Lives-On.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Roush, G. (2009, October 21). &lt;i&gt;Interview: Princess And The Frog Directors John Musker And Ron Clements. Plus 7 Brand New Images!&lt;/i&gt; LatinoReview.com. &lt;a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091022114309/http://www.latinoreview.com/news/interview-princess-and-the-frog-directors-john-musker-and-ron-clements-plus-7-brand-new-images-8310"&gt;https://web.archive.org/web/20091022114309/http://www.latinoreview.com/news/interview-princess-and-the-frog-directors-john-musker-and-ron-clements-plus-7-brand-new-images-8310&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Schwarzbaum, L. (2009, December 18). &lt;i&gt;The Princess and the Frog&lt;/i&gt;. Entertainment Weekly. &lt;a href="https://ew.com/article/2009/12/18/princess-and-frog-2/"&gt;https://ew.com/article/2009/12/18/princess-and-frog-2/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sciretta, P. (2009, 28 February). &lt;i&gt;WonderCon: The Princess And The Frog And The Future Of 2D Animation At Disney&lt;/i&gt;. Slash Film. &lt;a href="https://www.slashfilm.com/502703/wondercon-the-princess-and-the-frog-and-the-future-of-2d-aniamtion-at-disney/"&gt;https://www.slashfilm.com/502703/wondercon-the-princess-and-the-frog-and-the-future-of-2d-aniamtion-at-disney/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Scott, M. (2009, November 22). &lt;i&gt;New Orleans setting for 'Princess and the Frog' is a Disney dream come true for one man&lt;/i&gt;. NOLA.com. &lt;a href="https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/movies_tv/new-orleans-setting-for-princess-and-the-frog-is-a-disney-dream-come-true-for/article_c84036c3-ff1c-5fcd-94e3-9f7e916b774e.html"&gt;https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/movies_tv/new-orleans-setting-for-princess-and-the-frog-is-a-disney-dream-come-true-for/article_c84036c3-ff1c-5fcd-94e3-9f7e916b774e.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Scott, N. (2009, December 12). &lt;i&gt;For 'Princess and the Frog,' Disney animators go back to the drawing board&lt;/i&gt;. NOLA.com. &lt;a href="https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/movies_tv/for-princess-and-the-frog-disney-animators-go-back-to-the-drawing-board/article_70787df8-b6ee-575d-9a0e-f1648f40cced.html"&gt;https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/movies_tv/for-princess-and-the-frog-disney-animators-go-back-to-the-drawing-board/article_70787df8-b6ee-575d-9a0e-f1648f40cced.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sharkey, B. (2009, November 25). &lt;i&gt;Review: 'The Princess and the Frog'&lt;/i&gt;. Los Angeles Times. &lt;a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-nov-25-la-et-princess25-2009nov25-story.html"&gt;https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-nov-25-la-et-princess25-2009nov25-story.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Taylar. (2022, November 12). &lt;i&gt;The Firehouse Five Plus Two - Disney's Jazz Band&lt;/i&gt;. The Disney Classics. &lt;a href="https://www.thedisneyclassics.com/blog/firehouse-five-plus-two"&gt;https://www.thedisneyclassics.com/blog/firehouse-five-plus-two&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Tejada, A. (2020, July 14). &lt;i&gt;Representation Without Transformation: Can Hollywood Stop Changing Cartoon Characters of Color?&lt;/i&gt; Reactor. &lt;a href="https://reactormag.com/representation-without-transformation-can-hollywood-stop-changing-cartoon-characters-of-color/"&gt;https://reactormag.com/representation-without-transformation-can-hollywood-stop-changing-cartoon-characters-of-color/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Terry, E.J. (2010). Rural as racialized plantation vs rural as modern reconnection: Blackness and agency in Disney’s &lt;i&gt;Song of the South &lt;/i&gt;and &lt;i&gt;The Princess and the Frog&lt;/i&gt;. &lt;i&gt;Journal of African American Studies, 14&lt;/i&gt;(4), 469-481. doi: 10.1007/s12111-010-9132-3&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Turner, S.E. (2013). Blackness, bayous and gumbo: Encoding and decoding race in a colorblind world. In Cheu, J. (Ed.), &lt;i&gt;Diversity in Disney films: Critical essays on race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and disability&lt;/i&gt; (pp. 83-98). McFarland &amp; Company.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Update: Princess Anika and the Frog&lt;/i&gt;. (n.d.). E! News. &lt;a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/59173/update-princess-anika-and-the-frog"&gt;https://www.eonline.com/news/59173/update-princess-anika-and-the-frog&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Whelan, B. (2012). Power to the princess: Disney and the creation of the 20th century princess narrative.&lt;i&gt; Interdisciplinary Humanities, 29&lt;/i&gt;(1), 21–34.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Wloszczyna, S. (n.d.). &lt;i&gt;Enchanting return to 2-D: Disney animation conjures magical kingdom of yore&lt;/i&gt;. 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Erin and Rachel hop on down to 1920’s New Orleans, where Disney’s first Black princess spends most of her time as a frog in the Louisiana bayou. The Princess and the Frog (2010) provided much needed representation, but leaves a lot to be desired in terms of its race, class, and gender politics. 

Deconstructing Disney

The Princess and the Frog

The Princess and the Frog

Description