JOHN LASSETER - DISNEY CREATE FIRST BLACK PRINCESS

Disney animators are going royally politically correct by creating the company's first black princess. The star of new film THE FROG PRINCESS, which is set in New Orleans, Louisiana, will be an African-American character, called MADDY. Studio bosses unveiled their latest project at an annual shareholders' meeting in New Orleans yesterday (14MAR07). Disney's chief creative officer, JOHN LASSETER, has also revealed the new film would return to the classic hand-drawn animation process, instead of using computer animation. Oscar-winning songwriter RANDY NEWMAN also attended the shareholder's meeting, where he performed a new song from The Frog Princess score. The film is set for release in 2009.