The Walt Disney Co. has started production on an animated musical fairy tale called “The Frog Princess,” which will be set in New Orleans and feature the Walt Disney Studio’s first black princess.

The film, set for release in 2009, also is the first hand-drawn film Disney has committed to since pledging last month to return to the traditional animation that made it a worldwide brand.

“The Frog Princess,” a musical scored by composer Randy Newman, is “an American fairy tale” starring a girl named Maddy who lives in the French Quarter in New Orleans, said John Lasseter, chief creative director for Disney and Pixar Animation Studios.

I think this is wonderful for two reasons. First, if(very Big if) we adopt again, it will probably be a beautiful black Ethiopian princess. Secondly, I love hand drawn animation. Many of our daughters love to dress like disney princesses. I feel every girl should realize that they are beautiful no matter what color their skin. We have plenty of white princesses, one Asian princess, an Arabic princess, and an native American princess. It is way past time there was a black princess!!!