Disney introduces its first Black Princess

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.. er.. Afro-American princess.

The company unveiled the plans at its annual shareholders’ meeting in New Orleans.

John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Disney and the Disney-owned unit Pixar Animation Studios, said the movie would return to the classic hand-drawn animation process, instead of using computer animation that has become the industry standard like Disney’s own “Toy Story,” “A Bug’s Life,” “Toy Story 2,” “Monsters, Inc.” and “Cars” and Pixar's incredible "The Incredibles".

“The film’s New Orleans setting and strong princess character give the film lots of excitement and texture,” Walt Disney Studios Chairman Dick Cook said who called the film "an American fairy tale."

John Musker and Ron Clements, who co-directed “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” and “Hercules” will co-direct the movie. The pair also wrote the story for the film.

Disney said its new animated princess — Maddy — will be added to its collection of animated princesses used at the company’s theme parks and on consumer products.

The film is set for release in 2009.