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[DeepEnigma]

The little mermaid is a 30-year-old Disney brand. She is literally a Barbie with fins. A relaunch with live action to introduce that diversity, much like Barbie did after all its time, is just as much a marketing ploy (Dolla Dolla bill y’all) to sell along side, with not a real heavy effort to redo the animated OG brand already established.

Honestly, it’s no big deal, but to think it’s from more of a place of genuine virtue instead of another line of products to sell, is every bit disingenuous to yourself.

Everything Disney does it to make money and to appeal to the masses of dollars they can bring in, numero uno.

 

[Da-Kid]

And people are having strokes about her being black.

Listen folks. Ariel's color has nothing to do with her character. She's a Mermaid, that has and always was the point. She can be any color just as long as she's a Mermaid.

"BUt whAT if tHeY mAde Princess Tiana whITe?!"

First of all Princess Tiana being black plays into her story and where the story takes place. It's part of her character and is integral. The original Princess and the Frog story featured a white woman, yes. But Disney's version of the story only uses the "Princess" and "Frog" concept as a basis, the actual story, characters and setting couldn't be more different and is not even close to being a retelling of the story..... even more than the other Princess movies they've made (Go read the ORIGINAL Little Mermaid story and scar your childhood).

Ariel's skin color never mattered. Doesn't matter now honestly. It's not tied to her character in any character or story related way. That's when it's bad to change a characters race. When it's integral to them.

Also Disney already made a black Cinderella. Guess what? Didn't change anything. Cinderella was Cinderella. In 1997.

But this was always funny.

 

[GreyHorace]

A Danish fairytale that came out as an animated movie 30 years ago is now being reimagined with a black girl as the lead.

Whatever man. I've never liked Disney's Little Mermaid because it changed the tragic ending of the original.

 

[ExpandKong]

"BUt whAT if tHeY mAde Princess Tiana whITe?!"

First of all Princess Tiana being black plays into her story and where the story takes place. It's part of her character and is integral.

Again, it’s been a while since I saw Disney’s the princess and the frog but I’m pretty sure there were white people living in their version of New Orleans too. And I don’t know what part of Tiana’s aspirations or actions was clearly labeled “Only Black People Can Do This.”

BUT AGAIN. It’s been a minute. Feel free to elaborate since you’re an expert I guess.

 

[All Hail C-Webb]

A 5 page thread on casting for the Little Mermaid remake. We still on Neogaf?
Oh, they made her black, so now a whole bunch of people who shouldn't, and didn't give a shit, now do.

These moves are often for the marketing, and don't feel genuine, but I like when they do it in children's stuff. Important for kids to be able to see themselves in a character they love, and important for some kids to see that not every great character will look just like them.

My casting concern is regarding Ursula. Needs to have that sexy edge to her, huge tits too. No McCarthy.

 

[Da-Kid]

Again, it’s been a while since I saw Disney’s the princess and the frog but I’m pretty sure there were white people living in their version of New Orleans too. And I don’t know what part of Tiana’s aspirations or actions was clearly labeled “Only Black People Can Do This.”

BUT AGAIN. It’s been a minute. Feel free to elaborate since you’re an expert I guess.

Do your own research. I'm not your fucking Google Assistant.

 

[brap]

These moves are often for the marketing, and don't feel genuine, but I like when they do it in children's stuff. Important for kids to be able to see themselves in a character they love, and important for some kids to see that not every great character will look just like them.

Only the white ones though right?

 

[ExpandKong]

Do your own research. I'm not your fucking Google Assistant.

How about you back up your fucking argument?

 

[Da-Kid]

How about you back up your fucking argument?

Back up your claims.

 

[GreyHorace]

These moves are often for the marketing, and don't feel genuine, but I like when they do it in children's stuff. Important for kids to be able to see themselves in a character they love, and important for some kids to see that not every great character will look just like them.

So by that logic it's totally OK to make T'challa/Black Panther a white guy?

 

[AfricanKing]

Buildings, religion and clothing. What about it? That's without considering that the concept of "black culture" and "white culture" is rather "problematic" and is often a case of self-identification, as there generally many cultural impulses merging driving new cultural impulses. "White culture", which can be pretty wide depending on where you want to set the foot down for what "white" is, does account most of the European inspired world of TLM. The original story itself is one steeped in lutheranism. The story itself is literally the cultural product of a danish guy using European geography and mythology.
I would love to see how you want to limit "white culture" for your convenience, I'm awaiting. I personally don't think "white culture" or "black culture" is a good descriptor for anything. It is often a very American perspective on things, being such a young and isolated nation.

And you did not answer my questions so let me help you out.

Witch doctors
VooDoo
JuJu

Dr Facilier’s archetype is literally built around the Ghanian trickster Figure Ananci. You would be a fool to think that none of that is part of African or Black Culture to some point. If you replaced the Princess with a white one you would instantly know something is out of place because of the cultural ques they drew from.

Replace the Little Mermaid with a black lead and you wont know none the wiser. The concept of Mermaids come from around the World and started in the Middle East.

So I'll ask again which part of The little Mermaid portrays white culture ?

Other than the fact that it’s based on a fairy tale written by a white dude?

While it’s true that cultures all around the world have myths related to mer-people, stories about them falling in love with and marrying humans (like in the Little Mermaid) are known to originate from Scotland and Wales.

And wow, I didn’t realize black people had cornered the market on “wanting to own a restaurant” and “living in Louisiana.”

Did the old white dude also wrote Under the Sea and sing it in a Caribbean accent?

Doubt it

And you might want to Google Mami Wata before you start thinking it's a Welsh tale.

What does it matter? There are plenty of times where history, culture, and facts have all been disregarded to put in token black people in roles they have no business in.

And what does this matter unless you think a fictional mermaid has to be white?

 

[ExpandKong]

Back up your claims.

I’m not the one claiming anything here. You’re the one who said Tiana’s blackness is intrinsically tied to her character and the movie’s setting, which on its face is tough to believe since - as people have been saying since the first page here with regards to the Little Mermaid - it’s all make believe. Furthermore, you said yourself that the original story the Princess and the Frog was based on featured white characters anyway, so obviously a case has already been made that those characters race’s don’t matter.

So why exactly does Tiana absolutely have to be black?

 

[Airbus Jr]

And you did not answer my questions so let me help you out.

Witch doctors
VooDoo
JuJu

Dr Facilier’s archetype is literally built around the Ghanian trickster Figure Ananci. You would be a fool to think that none of that is part of African or Black Culture to some point. If you replaced the Princess with a white one you would instantly know something is out of place because of the cultural ques they drew from.

Replace the Little Mermaid with a black lead and you wont know none the wiser. The concept of Mermaids come from around the World and started in the Middle East.

So I'll ask again which part of The little Mermaid portrays white culture ?



Did the old white dude also wrote Under the Sea and sing it in a Caribbean accent?

Doubt it

And you might want to Google Mami Wata before you start thinking it's a Welsh tale.




And what does this matter unless you think a fictional mermaid has to be white?

Mermaid and sirens are based on greek/celtic/ scandinavian mytologies

Make absolutely no sense casting african american for that role

 

[Da-Kid]

I’m not the one claiming anything here. You’re the one who said Tiana’s blackness is intrinsically tied to her character and the movie’s setting, which on its face is tough to believe since - as people have been saying since the first page here with regards to the Little Mermaid - it’s all make believe. Furthermore, you said yourself that the original story the Princess and the Frog was based on featured white characters anyway, so obviously a case has already been made that those characters race’s don’t matter.

So why exactly does Tiana absolutely have to be black?

The whole movie is set in New Orleans a place where 60.2% is black and drenched in black culture, voodoo. The setting ALONE is there. There's different races living everywhere, but it's clear this movie was meant to star black characters in a black cultural setting as it's whole story is based around black culture. Theme-wise, music-wise, and cultural-wise. It's pretty obvious from the start of the movie. It's the reason this movie in no way is an actual retelling of the original story.

 

[AfricanKing]

Mermaid and sirens are based on greek/celtic/ scandinavian mytologies

Make absolutely no sense casting african american for that role

Mermaid

For other uses, see Mermaid (disambiguation).
In folklore, a mermaid is an aquatic creature with the head and upper body of a female human and the tail of a fish.[1] Mermaids appear in the folklore of many cultures worldwide, including the Near East, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The first stories appeared in ancient Assyria, in which the goddess Atargatis transformed herself into a mermaid out of shame for accidentally killing her human lover.

 

[Da-Kid]

Mermaid and sirens are based on greek/celtic/ scandinavian mytologies

Make absolutely no sense casting african american for that role

Ok, but these mythical creatures.... so no that doesn't work.

 

[ExpandKong]

The whole movie is set in New Orleans a place where 60.2% is black and drenched in black culture, voodoo. The setting ALONE is there. There's different races living everywhere, but it's clear this movie was meant to star black characters in a black cultural setting as it's whole story is based around black culture. Theme-wise, music-wise, and cultural-wise. It's pretty obvious from the start of the movie. It's the reason this movie in no way is an actual retelling of the original story.

But the only character who messes with voodoo is the villain. Tiana doesn’t do any of that.

Are you also implying that only certain races of people are permitted to enjoy certain types of music?

And hello, it’s 2019. People of any race can practice voodoo if they choose to, you bigot.

60% black = 40% not black. Does Disney have a problem with showing minority cultures in New Orleans?

 

[womfalcs3]

I was hesitant upon hearing the news, mainly because of her role on Grown-ish, but I'm all in. I saw videos of her singing, and she's mighty hot. Her boobs are glorious.

Grown-ish is filled with these millennials who make me hate my generation.

 

[brap]

Is this really what passes for hot now?

 

[Airbus Jr]

Ok, but these mythical creatures.... so no that doesn't work.

You cant put african american in greek/ chinese/aztec mytos and vice versa

It doesnt work like that

What do you think if pocahontas were casted with a white girl?

have a litle sense of originality

 

[5secondrulesucks]

Is this really what passes for hot now?

her fuckin eyes are so far apart. bitch looks like the monster from splice

 

[All Hail C-Webb]

So by that logic it's totally OK to make T'challa/Black Panther a white guy?

I'm not going to put much time discussing this with grown men crying about a singing cartoon mermaid, but that's not at alm similar.
Was her name White Ariel?
They're not changing Snow White or Hitler, they won't replace us when whiteness is vital to the role.

 

[Mimi's tummy tuck]

Here is a useful link for the butthurt members
https://learnaboutfilm.com/making-a-film/

 

[5secondrulesucks]

They're not changing Snow White or Hitler, they won't replace us when whiteness is vital to the role.

id watch a movie with black hitler

 

[brap]

Here is a useful link for the butthurt members
https://learnaboutfilm.com/making-a-film/

See black people? Instead of complaining you don't see people like yourself in a movie make it yourself.

id watch a movie with black hitler

It's called Black Panther.

They're not changing Snow White or Hitler, they won't replace us when whiteness is vital to the role.

Oh ok. Wypipo only allowed to be white when it calls for it or else goodbye.

 

[ExpandKong]

I'm not going to put much time discussing this with grown men crying about a singing cartoon mermaid, but that's not at alm similar.
Was her name White Ariel?
They're not changing Snow White or Hitler, they won't replace us when whiteness is vital to the role.

Whoah Whoah Whoah Whoah whoah

Why does Hitler have to be white huh

You think a black man doesn’t have the acting chops to play Hitler?

 

[MilkyJoe]

Is anyone actually surprised?

They could have had a red headed, white chick, with an actual fishes tail instead of legs, audition for this part and they were going to give it to a black chick anyway. Disney is at full woke speed and it ain't going anywhere until it hits their bottom line.

 

[5secondrulesucks]

walt disney is a nazi

 

[BlackBuzzard]

Bob Iger needs to fuck off. Anyone still happy that Disney is buying up everything, just so you can have your fucking xmen in the MCU.

 

[merlinevo]

her fuckin eyes are so far apart. bitch looks like the monster from splice

Sorry but there is no way a hair weave will work in a movie that is supposed to take place under water. And what is up with her actual hair? Ring, glitter, braids, is that supposed to be some sort of fashion. Looks like mountain goat horns.

Disney gone full retard with this. What next, Mulan played by camila cabello or john smith played by will smith in pocahontas?

 

[5secondrulesucks]

Is this really what passes for hot now?

i looked at her pic again i dont know why and i noticed her fucking hair has a lip ring in it. this is what disney wants. piercings in hair. a hair lip ring. no pun intended

 

[Stitch]

 

[Da-Kid]

See black people? Instead of complaining you don't see people like yourself in a movie make it yourself.

I'm pretty sure he meant if you don't like something to make a film yourself. Not aiming it towards any race. But you just sound really racist with your comment there clown.

 

[Dacon]

The only good black characters are palette swaps of white characters I guess.

The funny thing is the role they should have cast a black woman in they didn't, but hey that doesnt matter, that character is only a villain and totally not the most charismatic person in the original film.

 

[nush]

Is anyone actually surprised?

They could have had a red headed, white chick, with an actual fishes tail instead of legs, audition for this part and they were going to give it to a black chick anyway. Disney is at full woke speed and it ain't going anywhere until it hits their bottom line.

I think this is the point people that are claiming others are butthurt about this are missing. Also probably some racists in there too regardless.

 

[Dacon]

Is this really what passes for hot now?

her hair looks like dooky

 

[Mimi's tummy tuck]

The only good black characters are palette swaps of white characters I guess.

The funny thing is the role they should have cast a black woman in they didn't, but hey that doesnt matter, that character is only a villain and totally not the most charismatic person in the original film.

Elaborate, elucidate.

 

[Javthusiast]

All these live action versions are inferior to their animated counterparts in every creative way. Just a cash grab, so who cares.

 

[MilkyJoe]

her hair looks like dooky

Hmmm... think she'd be better off cast in a re-make of E.T. with those peepers.

 

[Airbus Jr]

 

[brap]

I'm pretty sure he meant if you don't like something to make a film yourself. Not aiming it towards any race. But you just sound really racist with your comment there clown.

Figured it was pretty obvious my post was sarcasm. Did you really think I was serious about the black panther comment too? Really coming off like a brainlet here, pal. Black people always seem to be whining that there's too many whites in films so maybe you should take the advice anyway or you'll never be happy. I don't really watch modern movies so whatever. Mainly came into this thread because yet another redhead character in hollywood is being blackwashed.

 

[Airbus Jr]

When DC does a better job at imitating Ariel in Aquaman than Disney in this movie

 

[Dacon]

Elaborate, elucidate.

Melissa McCarthy in Talks to Play Ursula in Live-Action ‘Little Mermaid’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Melissa McCarthy is joining Disney's "The Little Mermaid" as the villain Ursula.

variety.com

 

[Orpheum]

Even worse Melissa McCarthy is in talks to play Ursula.

NOW THIS is the real deal. I hate Melissa McCarthy so goddamn much as an actress. Any film with her is an instant dealbreaker and a complete cringefest

 

[Mimi's tummy tuck]

Melissa McCarthy in Talks to Play Ursula in Live-Action ‘Little Mermaid’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Melissa McCarthy is joining Disney's "The Little Mermaid" as the villain Ursula.

variety.com

How about explaining this part, ''The only good black characters are palette swaps of white characters I guess.''?

 

[Slings and Arrows]

Maybe they instructed them to hire a ginger, but the guy taking notes was dyslexic?

Holy shit. This is the best comment I have ever read on GAF*. Very clever my man, Bravo

*No joking or drama. I Know people say best thing ever or pre-order cancelled all the time, but this is genuinely an amazing comment.

 

[Dacon]

How about explaining this part, ''The only good black characters are palette swaps of white characters I guess.''?

Uh, it's pretty self explanatory? Obv being flip about Hollywood's bizarre fetish for changing a character's race instead of making good original black characters, Like how in comic book adaptions instead of using the existing black characters in the comics, they'll choose to change a character's race instead.

 

[Hissing Sid]

Under Disneeey
Under Disneeey
We like it mostest down where it’s wokest
Under Disneeeey
Up on the shore the normies say
Don’t blackwash Ariel that way
But we devotin'
Full time to wokin
Under Disneeeey.

 

[Vampire On Titus]

People trying to find historical or regional reasons why the race swap is justified are kind of missing the point imo. Once something, a character, like Ariel becomes iconic and ingrained into the cultural canon making drastic changes -- even aesthetic changes -- reads as inauthentic. It doesn't feel like Ariel anymore, it's not that character. That's fine for people who want something else or don't mind either way but for people who want Ariel it's upsetting.

One of my favorite characters ever is Michonne from The Walking Dead (the comic version). There's really no pressing narrative reason why she needs to be a black woman. Still if some adaptation in the future changed her race. Made her an Indian woman, let's say, I'd be pissed because "that's not Michonne." It doesn't feel like the same character anymore.

There's no purely right or wrong answer from an artistic perspective. But for the people who want the iconic, canonized Ariel adapted it is a let down.

 

[JimiNutz]

In my personal opinion, if you, as an adult person really care that a MERMAID in a Disney film, something that doesn't exist is being played by a black actress, you might carry more prejudice that you actually think you do. Racism isn't an on and off switch. It's a scale. Be careful to not fall on it.

I don't think anyone is being serious.
I just enjoy hot red heads.

At least Aquaman had me covered.