Following a ton of backlash on social media, Disney will now reanimate Princess Tiana in the upcoming Wreck-It Ralph sequel Ralph Breaks the Internet.
The image drew controversy with fans accusing Disney of whitewashing the character as she appeared in recent trailers with lighter skin and what looked to be a narrower nose. With less than two months to go before the film is due in theaters, Disney has tasked animators with redrawing the Princess in time for its release.
According to The Wallstreet Journal, Anika Noni Rose who voices Tiana met with Disney animators and representatives from racial justice organization Color of Change who campaigns for racial representation of black characters in cinema.
Color of Change senior campaign director released an official statement:
“Disney’s decision to restore Princess Tiana’s image to that of an unapologetically Black princess with full lips, dark skin and dark hair in Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 is a victory for Color Of Change members, Black children and their parents, and Black audiences who want to see the variety of shades, shapes and sizes of Black characters accurately represented in the arts.”
John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman reprise their roles and as Ralph and Venellope. Rounding out the cast is Taraji P. Henson, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Alfred Molina, Ed O’Neill, Ali Wong, Timothy Simons, Glozell Green, and Hamish Blake.
Here is the official synopsis:
“Ralph Breaks the Internet” leaves Litwaks’ video arcade behind, venturing into the uncharted, expansive and thrilling world of the internet—which may or may not survive Ralph’s wrecking. Video game bad guy Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and fellow misfit Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) must risk it all by traveling to the world wide web in search of a replacement part to save Vanellope’s video game, Sugar Rush. In way over their heads, Ralph and Vanellope rely on the citizens of the internet—the netizens—to help navigate their way, including a webite entrepreneur named Yesss (voice of Taraji P. Henson), who is the head algorithm and the heart and soul of trend-making site “Buzztube.” Directed by Rich Moore (“Zootopia”, “Wreck-It Ralph”) and Phil Johnston (co-writer “Wreck-It Ralph”, “Cedar Rapids”, co-writer “Zootopia”), and produced by Clark Spencer (“Zootopia,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Bolt”)”
The film is directed by Rich Moore (Zootopia, Wreck-It Ralph) and Phil Johnston (co-writer Wreck-It Ralph, Cedar Rapids, co-writer Zootopia).
Ralph Breaks the Internet will hit theaters on November 21, 2018
