The World’s Getting a New Disney Princess Who’s Not White

By Jamilah King Nov 07, 2014

Disney is set to release "Moana," its 56th animated feature, in 2016. And this time the princess is Polynesian:

Here’s more from Entertainment Weekly:

Moana is described as a "a sweeping, CG-animated comedy-adventure," and takes place in ancient Oceania in the South Pacific. The film will tell the story of its titular character, a teenage girl and "born navigator" who "sets sail in search of a fabled island," according to a summary from Disney. "During her incredible journey, she teams up with her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui, to traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous sea creatures, breathtaking underworlds and ancient folklore," Disney reveals.

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It’s a step in the right direction, but as Maureen Shaw wrote at Mic about merchandise sales and Disney princesses, the company’s got a long way to go:

Disney critics have long accused the company of racism and heterogeneity, and while the media powerhouse has made recent strides in diversifying its princesses, perhaps it’s not doing enough on the merchandise front. Did Disney manufacture equal shares of white versus non-white princess wares? Considering that two other princesses of color, Mulan and Pocahontas, didn’t even rank in the report, it’s an alarming possibility.

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