Disney’s Latina princess debuts

By Lynn Elber

AP Television Writer

LOS ANGELES

The rarified sorority of Disney princesses has come a long way since 1937’s Snow White set the tone, gradually expanding to add Asian, African-American, Native American and Middle Eastern tiara-wearers. Prepare to curtsy before another fresh face: Elena, the first Latina to take the vaunted throne.

Her realm is “Elena of Avalor,” an animated Disney Channel series debuting tonight at 7 with an hourlong special. While Elena isn’t a big-screen royal like – and they need no introduction – Anna and Elsa of “Frozen,” she and the 26-episode series are getting majestic merchandising and tie-in fanfare from the Walt Disney Co. at large.

Latino advocacy and civil-rights groups say their impatience has finally been rewarded.

“It’s long overdue for Disney to have a Latino princess,” said Lisa Navarrete, spokeswoman for the National Council of La Raza. “Even if it’s not the highest priority for a civil-rights organization, it’s important for little girls to see themselves on screen.”

Indeed, said Alex Nogales, president and CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition. The group has long been active in seeking Hollywood diversity and, like La Raza, was lobbying Disney to take the step.

Nogales said he was reminded why by his 4-year-old granddaughter, Chloe, after they attended a recent screening of the show. “’She looks like me. She has brown eyes, and look at her skin,”’ he recalled her saying of the title character, a spirited, smart teenager who mirrors the new-wave Disney princess, as in empowered.

“Our children are being reflected through the screen, and it’s affecting them in a very positive way,” Nogales said. The series’ look, style and sound are shaped by a variety of old and new Latino and Hispanic cultures, but the dialogue is in English.

Voiced by Aimee Carrero, Elena is an appealing hero for the show’s 2-to-11 target audience and beyond, a combination of intelligence, empathy and daring, and with a magic amulet to back it up.