Celebrating Juneteenth and Diversity in Disney

44: Ariel, Stef, and special guest Chance Calloway discuss Juneteenth, media representation, and Disney’s portrayal of Black characters. They highlight Juneteenth’s significance and embodiment of “we’re not free until we are all free.” The episode promotes authentic representations and diverse voices in future Disney projects and teaches audiences about The Transformation Trope, Projection Representation, and Black coded characters. Summary Summary of HPOE 44: 00:00 Introduction: Meet Ariel, Stef, and Chance Calloway, and learn about their unique approaches to therapy, education, and creative arts. 01:33 Juneteenth Significance: An in-depth look at Juneteenth, its history, and its recent recognition as a federal holiday. The hosts discuss its unique place among American holidays and its traditions. 07:07 Media Representation: The importance of diverse representation in media, particularly in children’s films. The discussion includes the federal recognition of Juneteenth and calls for authentic portrayals of characters of color in Disney movies. 10:18 Brandy Cinderella Movie: An exploration of the impact of the Brandy Cinderella movie on media representation and its continued relevance in promoting diversity. 21:11 Black Panther: Reflecting on the success of Black Panther and its significance in showcasing Black excellence and representation both in front of and behind the camera. 32:34 Princess Tiana: Critiquing Disney’s portrayal of Princess Tiana in The Princess and the Frog, and advocating for more genuine representations of protagonists of color. 37:55 Black Coding in Disney Films: Discussing the concept of Black coding in Disney movies, the challenges in marketing diverse content, and the importance of amplifying diverse voices in future projects. 43:36 Conclusion: Summarizing the episode’s key points on Juneteenth, media representation, and the portrayal of Black characters in Disney films. The hosts encourage listeners to engage with these critical topics. Transcription 00:00:09,094 –> 00:00:11,894 Ariel Landrum: Hello, everyone. Welcome to the happiest pod on Earth. 00:00:11,894 –> 00:00:18,530 I’m Ariel, a licensed therapist who uses clients’ passions and fandoms to help them grow and heal from trauma and mental development. 00:00:18,690 –> 00:00:24,690 Stefanie Bautista: And I’m Stef. I’m an educator who uses her passions and fandoms to educate the kids that I work with. 00:00:24,690 –> 00:00:33,345 Chance Calloway: I’m Chance Calloway. I’m a producer, filmmaker, musician, writer, all around multi hyphenate. Creativity is my passion. 00:00:33,450 –> 00:00:36,410 Stefanie Bautista: And happiest pod is where we dissect Disney mediums with a 00:00:36,410 –> 00:00:41,710 Ariel Landrum: critical lens. Why? Because we are more than just Stef, and we expect more from the mediums we consume. 00:00:42,005 –> 00:00:44,825 So, see, so I have a guest today. Chance, what are we talking about? 00:00:45,204 –> 00:00:48,425 Chance Calloway: Today we’re talking about Juneteenth, and we’re talking about representation. 00:00:48,805 –> 00:00:56,720 Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. Yeah. Chance, as you all know, if you’ve been following us on our podcast and also have seen us at Comic Con or WonderCon, 00:00:56,860 –> 00:01:02,465 Chance is 1 of our very good friends, 1 of our most talented friends, like you said, multi hyphenate. 00:01:02,925 –> 00:01:10,500 And, you know, I feel even when this podcast was coming to its conception, we would organically have a lot of really good 00:01:10,500 –> 00:01:18,425 discussions about the way we consume media and the different things that we expect from it and also want to see from it in the future. 00:01:18,425 –> 00:01:26,080 So I hope that today’s discussion is gonna be very enlightening for those of you aren’t familiar with Juneteenth. So, Chance, would you be 00:01:26,080 –> 00:01:28,420 Ariel Landrum: able to explain what exactly is Juneteenth? 00:01:28,640 –> 00:01:33,845 It became recently a federal holiday, but just because it wasn’t a federal holiday, doesn’t mean that it wasn’t a holiday. 00:01:34,165 –> 00:01:40,825 Chance Calloway: Correct. Yes. Juneteenth, basically, is the embodiment of the term, we’re not free until we’re all free. 00:01:41,180 –> 00:01:47,680 So when, the Emancipation Proclamation was passed, some, black Americans were still enslaved. 00:01:48,060 –> 00:01:51,585 Some black Americans did not know that freedom had arrived. 00:01:51,884 –> 00:02:00,350 And on June 19th, that was the day that they did basically the final, like, enforcement, and made sure that the enslaved people were made free. 00:02:00,430 –> 00:02:05,170 And that’s when a lot of, people in the black community started celebrating it as a holiday. 00:02:05,390 –> 00:02:11,705 Ariel Landrum: I think it’s important to note because it’s hard for people to fathom not getting information immediately. 00:02:12,245 –> 00:02:12,724 Chance Calloway: Sure. 00:02:12,724 –> 00:02:16,620 Ariel Landrum: There’s an acknowledgment that we get media so quickly. 00:02:16,760 –> 00:02:25,885 We get news so quickly, especially, like, breaking news, reactions to it, that there isn’t this time to, like, digest and 00:02:25,885 –> 00:02:28,465 understand before you’ve moved on to the next thing. 00:02:28,605 –> 00:02:37,650 And I think that the fact that it became a holiday amongst the black community just shows, like, how important and informative it was. 00:02:38,189 –> 00:02:45,695 Chance Calloway: Absolutely. Suleens. Yeah. And I think, for a lot of people, there’s a a hitch that comes with thinking of American holidays, 00:02:46,050 –> 00:02:47,810 you know, and the American flag, things like that. 00:02:47,810 –> 00:02:51,569 We’ve seen you know, it’s been the media a lot because of the cover of Beyonce’s new album. 00:02:51,569 –> 00:02:56,465 A lot of, black Americans kind of don’t respect, like, holidays like the 4th July. 00:02:56,685 –> 00:03:01,905 So then when something like Juneteenth came along, that I can respect. That feels like a celebration. 00:03:02,045 –> 00:03:02,569 Ariel Landrum: And I think 00:03:02,569 –> 00:03:08,510 Stefanie Bautista: when it comes to holidays, there are diff there’s different layers of celebrating and even the word celebrating a holiday. 00:03:08,650 –> 00:03:14,975 Because, essentially, this is 1 of those holidays where it was a realization of something that hadn’t been realized, fully. 00:03:15,115 –> 00:03:22,799 When you’re talking about people celebrating the 4th July, they normally talk about barbecues and doing fun stuff and not, 00:03:22,799 –> 00:03:26,180 you know, the actual reason for the holiday. 00:03:26,400 –> 00:03:34,595 This is 1 of those holidays that kind of wakes us up to the different ways we celebrate and the different ways we honor certain 00:03:34,595 –> 00:03:38,694 people, especially when we’re talking about, honoring everyone equal. 00:03:39,710 –> 00:03:43,470 And, like, celebrating it with a purpose and not just celebrating to sell. 00:03:43,470 –> 00:03:51,455 Chance Calloway: And that that’s a really great point, Steph, because there’s a lot of holidays that, you know, have lost the meaning behind them for various reasons. Yeah. 00:03:51,455 –> 00:03:53,775 And people feel different ways depending on the holiday. But Yeah. 00:03:53,855 –> 00:03:58,430 Think about the majority of the holidays that we celebrate, it’s more because it’s a day off. Yeah. Right. Yeah. 00:03:58,430 –> 00:04:00,989 And there’s some aesthetic theme around it that we like. 00:04:00,989 –> 00:04:06,415 And we we celebrate Christmas or don’t even follow, like, the religion that Christmas is based on. 00:04:06,415 –> 00:04:14,840 So, like, holidays become other things that, you know, whereas Juneteenth is still very resonant for the reason that it exists. 00:04:14,980 –> 00:04:22,525 Stefanie Bautista: I’m coming from a standpoint where at school, that is your first foray into celebrating holidays and doing themed activities. Mhmm. 00:04:22,525 –> 00:04:30,050 And I think the way that I’ve been experiencing it in the school culture that I’m currently in, which is very diversity, equity, 00:04:30,110 –> 00:04:39,285 inclusion, and belonging based, we really take a deeper dive into what exactly are we celebrating or why exactly do we have that date. 00:04:39,665 –> 00:04:47,850 And if, you know, that means taking a little bit more time and not just doing the hand turkey or doing, you know, the snowman. 00:04:48,070 –> 00:04:56,345 I mean, that’s okay because we would rather have the kids have a bigger and full understanding of the holiday or the day off. 00:04:56,505 –> 00:05:03,465 Ariel Landrum: I know that there are some traditions that have come about for the black community in celebrating Juneteenth, including colors 00:05:03,465 –> 00:05:05,310 that you can wear and things that you could eat. 00:05:05,310 –> 00:05:09,729 Would you be able to share for audience what that is, or what you did? 00:05:09,870 –> 00:05:14,925 Chance Calloway: Sure. I mean, I I always celebrate many holidays just by nature of my bachelor. The 00:05:16,444 –> 00:05:18,944 Stefanie Bautista: Every day’s a holiday. Okay. You know, 00:05:19,164 –> 00:05:23,104 Chance Calloway: there are some Juneteenth cotillions, you know, which are which are very popular. 00:05:23,270 –> 00:05:29,509 A lot of people like to do the, the kinda Afrocentric colors of the red, green, and black. 00:05:29,509 –> 00:05:32,295 You know, some people have flags that are in those colors. 00:05:32,455 –> 00:05:35,515 I wanna get 1 myself, he got out my window. 00:05:37,015 –> 00:05:43,919 But, honestly, you know, when you talk about, you know, all your advice to the cookout, Juneteenth is a great time to have a cookout because it’s summertime. 00:05:44,060 –> 00:05:52,285 Cookouts are probably the most common ways to celebrate Juneteenth since it hasn’t always been a federal holiday, not everyone always got it off. 00:05:52,285 –> 00:06:00,050 So I don’t think a lot of families, you know, unless you lived in a community where it was celebrated, I don’t think it was something I knew about growing up. We never celebrated it. 00:06:00,270 –> 00:06:08,044 Stefanie Bautista: Interesting. I’m curious to know since it wasn’t a funeral holiday since recently, were there, like, adjacent weekends that 00:06:08,044 –> 00:06:13,405 you would take to honor during that week, or would you just, like, be more mindful? Yeah. 00:06:13,405 –> 00:06:16,430 Chance Calloway: It was more just being being mindful Okay. For sure. Yeah. 00:06:16,430 –> 00:06:20,830 Because, you know, it it was 1 of those things where if you’re trying to get together with the family, it was like, before 00:06:20,830 –> 00:06:23,010 the July is coming up, March is just something again. 00:06:23,194 –> 00:06:28,155 I think that’s another sign of why it is important for some things to get officially recognized. Yes. 00:06:28,155 –> 00:06:34,040 Because now that it’s federal holiday, people can plan around it, make time for it, make space. 00:06:34,180 –> 00:06:35,000 Stefanie Bautista: I love that. 00:06:35,220 –> 00:06:41,514 Ariel Landrum: My stepmom, how she celebrates Juneteenth is they go to church. Like, there’ll be church celebrations. 00:06:42,134 –> 00:06:54,770 And that, was, like, the only spaces where you would openly talk about, and it was to praise that you got the news, that you were delivered, that you were free. Both. Yes. Yeah. 00:06:55,755 –> 00:07:00,655 And it was it was interesting because now that it’s a federal holiday, it’s it has her reorganizing. 00:07:01,035 –> 00:07:06,360 You know, my grandbaby is out of school, like, has the day off, will be able to, like, do something with me. 00:07:06,659 –> 00:07:12,819 It was a talked about thing around the church, but wasn’t a talked about thing, like, in the if that makes sense. 00:07:12,819 –> 00:07:23,270 Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. Yeah. I think there’s even a bigger realization that because us working folks are people who are in that socioeconomic background of working all the time. 00:07:23,270 –> 00:07:30,045 If they don’t have a day off to do something, they will most likely not pay attention to it because everything is so work 00:07:30,045 –> 00:07:35,885 centered and everything, you know, pretty much goes off of what your schedule is to be able to make a living. 00:07:36,125 –> 00:07:43,160 And I think having Juneteenth off is so important because, like you said, all of these other thoughts and all of this other 00:07:43,160 –> 00:07:45,639 planning just comes because they you know, I have 00:07:45,639 –> 00:07:50,395 Ariel Landrum: a day off to myself, for my family, for people of my heritage. 00:07:50,395 –> 00:07:54,015 It’s been federally recognized, and something comes from recognition. 00:07:54,750 –> 00:07:58,189 And then looking at, like, recognition, this is a Disney pun. 00:07:58,189 –> 00:08:06,215 So I’m wondering for you when you think of, representation and black recognition, like, who comes up for you? Or what shows or TV? 00:08:06,435 –> 00:08:12,150 Chance Calloway: Brittany can be number 1. It’s always gonna be the only Cinderella that matters to me, which is the Brandy Cinderella. 00:08:13,490 –> 00:08:20,675 You know, also, you know, shout out to the late Whitney Houston, who’s the very godmother and the late Natalie Patel who was, you know, 1 of the stepsisters. 00:08:21,135 –> 00:08:26,355 That to me was, like, peak Disney. I mean, the world stopped. 00:08:26,610 –> 00:08:32,470 Evan was watching the wonderful world of Disney on ABC that night because, you know, Whitney Houston, Randy White, and Cinderella. 00:08:32,529 –> 00:08:36,834 That to me is the ultimate Disney representation still to this day. 00:08:36,834 –> 00:08:43,769 Stefanie Bautista: I love that. I know me and Chance have connected so many times, maybe countless times, over the impact of that particular 00:08:43,769 –> 00:08:52,575 Cinderella and how important it was to see diversity on, the wonderful world of Disney, which is something that everybody stopped to watch back then. 00:08:52,955 –> 00:08:54,575 Ariel Landrum: Fun. For us, the prince is Filipino. 00:08:54,875 –> 00:08:56,495 Stefanie Bautista: I was just gonna say that. 00:08:56,555 –> 00:08:58,740 Chance Calloway: Voice. Yeah. God, I Yeah. 00:08:58,800 –> 00:09:05,220 Ariel Landrum: I think, the interesting thing too is that that Cinderella is so loved. Brandy has been asked back. 00:09:05,535 –> 00:09:15,360 Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. It’s Yeah. She is reprising her role as Cinderella in Descendants, The Rise of Red, which I think at this point has not come out yet. It has not come out yet. 00:09:15,440 –> 00:09:21,519 But Descendants, if, some of you listeners don’t know, all of Disney Princesses basically are mummies, and they have kids, 00:09:21,519 –> 00:09:26,765 and, they are all together in this series, and it has been huge. 00:09:26,825 –> 00:09:28,945 Even when we went to Disney Channel Night Yeah. 00:09:29,145 –> 00:09:32,100 A lot of people dressed up as descendants characters. Yeah. 00:09:32,100 –> 00:09:34,040 Even though we we thought it was 90 centric. 00:09:34,899 –> 00:09:37,319 Did we see a Brandy Cinderella there? 00:09:37,699 –> 00:09:44,995 Ariel Landrum: We’re a see No. I saw a lot of Neil Thermopolis. Rinaldi from Genovia. Yeah. 00:09:44,995 –> 00:09:45,795 Chance Calloway: Yeah. As long as 00:09:45,795 –> 00:09:48,890 Stefanie Bautista: his desire. Which? By Whitney Houston. Yes. No. 00:09:48,890 –> 00:09:54,010 I was just reminded of that on my reels, and I was just like, ugh, yes. Yes. Fed my soul. 00:09:54,010 –> 00:09:58,435 Chance Calloway: Whitney used to get, like, a, a posthumous, Disney Legend Award. 00:09:58,435 –> 00:10:03,394 Stefanie Bautista: Whitney Houston, huge driving force in actually many Disney things that did not that 00:10:03,394 –> 00:10:06,300 Chance Calloway: she did girls that she did girls too. Yes. At least yeah. 00:10:06,360 –> 00:10:12,600 Stefanie Bautista: It’s really funny because the reel that I saw was her talking to Howie and Kevin from the Backstreet Boys because they were 00:10:12,600 –> 00:10:18,495 on a video for the song from Princess Diaries. The song was called Supergirl. 00:10:18,875 –> 00:10:23,435 Chance Calloway: There’s a really big video of, Eric Von Detten. Right? He’s in the Princess Diaries. Mhmm. 00:10:23,435 –> 00:10:36,704 Going up to Whitney Houston, like, to introduce himself, and Bobby Brown be like, I’m Bobby Brown. I’m Bobby Brown. It’s all quality. It’s so funny. Yeah. Ready? Cinderella definitely was huge for me. 00:10:36,704 –> 00:10:42,520 Interesting thing that we bring up the Apollo situation because as much as I adore him and I would not change anything by 00:10:42,520 –> 00:10:49,575 his performance of, you know, him being that film, Disney has not yet given us a black male glory. Yeah. Yeah. 00:10:49,575 –> 00:10:51,575 And that bothers me to this day. 00:10:51,575 –> 00:10:55,575 Ariel Landrum: Yes. Because Naveen is brown. Right. He’s a brown person. Yeah. 00:10:55,735 –> 00:10:59,850 Naveen from From a a made up place, so we can’t even From person the frog. 00:10:59,990 –> 00:11:00,950 Chance Calloway: Voiced by Brazilian 00:11:01,510 –> 00:11:02,350 Ariel Landrum: Yes. Yes. 00:11:02,790 –> 00:11:09,585 Chance Calloway: Even with the live action, Little Mermaid last year, that only, you know, was Prince Eric not black, which, again, I don’t have a problem with that. 00:11:09,585 –> 00:11:13,185 But then Chitin also was not black, played by a Spanish actor. Mhmm. 00:11:13,185 –> 00:11:17,630 So I I would love to see a Disney royal male, you know? 00:11:17,770 –> 00:11:22,605 Even Prince Eric didn’t have a black he had a black mom, but, like, he didn’t have it now. That’s, like Yep. 00:11:22,685 –> 00:11:27,185 You guys are doing everything you can to not put a black man in the crown. I’m on Disney. 00:11:27,245 –> 00:11:31,320 You know, Whoopi Goldberg, also was in, you know, Cinderella. 00:11:31,460 –> 00:11:36,260 So shout out to Whoopi Goldberg, but also her prince was Victor Garber, who was not black. 00:11:36,260 –> 00:11:42,815 Again, I didn’t no problem with with Victor Garber, but just, you know, as a kid as a kid, especially a gay black kid, yes, 00:11:42,815 –> 00:11:45,135 I wouldn’t be wearing purple and wearing a crown too. 00:11:45,135 –> 00:11:47,535 So, you know, it I started noticing. 00:11:47,535 –> 00:11:53,300 I was like, where’s where’s this these black, you know, prince or king? And Right. Yeah. Still waiting. 00:11:53,300 –> 00:11:56,520 Stefanie Bautista: I think the closest we get to that is Black Panther. 00:11:56,580 –> 00:11:59,225 That’s Closest we have to a black king Yeah. 00:11:59,305 –> 00:12:06,605 Who comes from lineage that is royal. However, that was a Marvel concept. Yeah. It wasn’t initially a Disney concept. 00:12:06,839 –> 00:12:14,140 Ariel Landrum: And what had already been established, right, in comics and lore versus, like, when we’re trying to make up a whole new character 00:12:14,360 –> 00:12:21,755 for for T’Challa, him living in Africa being African was essential to who he was. 00:12:21,755 –> 00:12:28,150 Like, we can’t change the the, phenotype of that character, and it may exactly. 00:12:28,290 –> 00:12:35,455 Chance Calloway: Right. And that was also I always forget that Marvel is now under the Disney umbrella, but, like, yeah. Black Panther. That was definitely an experience. 00:12:35,755 –> 00:12:43,430 Stefanie Bautista: So let me ask. I know we talk a lot about black representation and the different ways that it shows up in Disney movies. 00:12:43,430 –> 00:12:47,110 We talked about princess and the frog where essentially Tiana and Naveen. 00:12:47,110 –> 00:12:51,265 Tiana really turns into a frog for most of the movie. 00:12:51,404 –> 00:12:58,365 Now we have just experienced a little resurgence of the Lion King because it is celebrating its anniversary, and they just 00:12:58,365 –> 00:13:01,290 had a Hollywood Bowl performance that people are talking about. 00:13:02,070 –> 00:13:09,045 And when I think about Mufasa, who was voiced by James Earl Jones, that is a very powerful character to mute. 00:13:09,045 –> 00:13:16,050 However, it was masked by not seeing James Earl Jones, and he was Darth Vader, which you did not see his face. 00:13:16,050 –> 00:13:18,930 Ariel Landrum: And when he got unmasked Yeah. Jeff really was that James. 00:13:18,930 –> 00:13:21,170 Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. Definitely not James Earl Jones. Right. 00:13:21,170 –> 00:13:23,855 Do you think he could have been represented a little bit better? 00:13:23,935 –> 00:13:31,795 Chance Calloway: I think the the James Earl Jones thing is an interesting case because both James Earl Jones and Madge Sinclair played king and queen in Coming to America. 00:13:31,855 –> 00:13:32,355 Stefanie Bautista: Mhmm. 00:13:32,450 –> 00:13:37,730 Chance Calloway: So it almost kind of felt like shout out type of casting, and James j Jones has such an iconic voice. 00:13:37,730 –> 00:13:42,215 There are very few things about The Lion King that I would change. Mhmm. I wouldn’t film Mufasa. That’s enough. 00:13:42,755 –> 00:13:44,915 Ariel Landrum: That’s not a little pic that’s staging. Like, that 00:13:44,915 –> 00:13:47,975 Stefanie Bautista: is the that’s literally the plot 0, 00:13:48,195 –> 00:13:57,090 Chance Calloway: no. But, I feel like if Disney had done its due diligence and had more representation for people who essentially were not 00:13:57,090 –> 00:14:03,595 white, The Lion King wouldn’t feel so, you know, in that way, you know, because it’s like, okay. Period. 00:14:03,595 –> 00:14:08,495 It’s set in Africa a lot, not all, but a lot of, you know, black voice actors. 00:14:09,339 –> 00:14:12,800 But every character on screen is an animal. 00:14:13,100 –> 00:14:20,645 So enjoyable film and, of course, do that project projection representation, which is, you know, you do that a lot when you don’t have enough of it. 00:14:20,645 –> 00:14:22,485 But, yeah, I feel like Y King was great. 00:14:22,485 –> 00:14:26,560 Would have been great if they had followed that up a lot sooner with the Black Princess movie. 00:14:26,560 –> 00:14:35,505 Ariel Landrum: Yeah. Would you say the Broadway production kind of does what what should have been for that that because the production is very dive 00:14:36,144 –> 00:14:42,165 Chance Calloway: Yeah. Okay. That’s that’s a really great that’s a really great question. I have complicated feelings about that. 00:14:42,280 –> 00:14:51,075 Stefanie Bautista: Why not? I saw I’ve seen the Broadway performance on Broadway, actually, as a kid, and then I’ve seen iterations of it because they have it at Disney World. 00:14:51,155 –> 00:14:56,375 And aside from some of the dancers, it is a mainly it is an all black cast. Yeah. It’s beautifully done. 00:14:56,515 –> 00:15:02,570 Chance Calloway: But they and they they’ve employed so many black actors, you know, because of that production. 00:15:02,630 –> 00:15:09,385 Though interestingly, the first symbol was Jason Rae’s who was adopted, and you don’t know what his background was. 00:15:09,445 –> 00:15:12,505 So there’s no telling if he was actually, you know, a black actor. 00:15:12,645 –> 00:15:14,005 Stefanie Bautista: Is this the original Broadway film? 00:15:14,005 –> 00:15:16,581 Chance Calloway: The original Broadway film. Yeah. Maheep’s Jason Reinschaun ran away. 00:15:16,581 –> 00:15:18,967 I’m surprised that we’re talking about it at all. 00:15:18,967 –> 00:15:26,305 I I still feel like the Broadway show, the production, even though you have black actors, is still being told a story about animals. You know? 00:15:26,305 –> 00:15:30,465 So, like, again, I don’t begrudge the fact that it’s employing a lot of black actors. 00:15:30,465 –> 00:15:33,930 But for me, it’s, like, still not represent representation. You know why? 00:15:33,930 –> 00:15:36,970 Because the director, Julie Taymor, is not black. 00:15:36,970 –> 00:15:41,975 Songwriters, Tim Rice, Ellen Joc, they’re not black. Alipo Lim, of course, is black. Right? 00:15:41,975 –> 00:15:43,895 So so there is there is that touch there. 00:15:43,895 –> 00:15:47,949 But for me, you know, the strip writers were not black. 00:15:47,949 –> 00:15:50,050 So that’s the complicated part about representation. 00:15:50,430 –> 00:15:55,230 To have Matt Damon tell it, it only matters if you have representation in front of the camera, but that’s not true. 00:15:55,230 –> 00:15:55,694 Ariel Landrum: Yeah. Yeah. 00:15:56,014 –> 00:15:57,774 Chance Calloway: So that’s why I said it’s a complicated question. 00:15:57,774 –> 00:16:02,334 Do you think there’s a type of representation to be found in The Lion King? 00:16:02,334 –> 00:16:04,320 But I think there are better options now. 00:16:04,560 –> 00:16:04,800 Stefanie Bautista: I I 00:16:04,800 –> 00:16:10,100 Ariel Landrum: think you are bringing up a a crucial point because I think that’s what made Black Panther successful. 00:16:10,240 –> 00:16:10,640 Chance Calloway: Yes. 00:16:10,640 –> 00:16:15,365 Ariel Landrum: When both people behind and in front of the camera were telling the story of a black perspective. 00:16:15,585 –> 00:16:16,085 Chance Calloway: Yes. 00:16:16,145 –> 00:16:25,450 Ariel Landrum: Even though the character was created by, I believe, Stan Lee, who was AAA white man, it got taken on further by the black community, and they told the story. 00:16:25,510 –> 00:16:30,070 Correct me if I’m wrong, audience, but I I do believe I have my comic lore on point. 00:16:30,070 –> 00:16:32,070 Chance Calloway: It’s good. Maybe Stan Lee co created. But Yeah. 00:16:32,070 –> 00:16:36,214 Stefanie Bautista: Ariel, you are right. It was created or Black Panther was created by Stanley and Jack. 00:16:36,214 –> 00:16:37,915 Chance Calloway: And Jack Kirby. And Kirby. 00:16:37,975 –> 00:16:41,514 Ariel Landrum: Thank you. Thank you. Wait. I just wanted to mention Moon Girl. 00:16:41,700 –> 00:16:45,000 Chance Calloway: Moon Girl and Deviled Animus dinosaur. Yes. And Miles Morales. 00:16:45,140 –> 00:16:47,380 Ariel Landrum: Yes. Morales. Yeah. Yes. K. Yes. 00:16:47,380 –> 00:16:50,120 Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. Wonderful, wonderful characters. They Yes. Marvel. 00:16:50,435 –> 00:16:55,575 Ariel Landrum: Marvel. Marvel once again. Like, we don’t have a black Miles Morales in Disney yet. 00:16:55,715 –> 00:17:00,990 We have Donald Glover as the prowler, and he mentions that he has a nephew. 00:17:01,130 –> 00:17:07,870 And we have Jamie Foxx, and he mentions there must be a black Spider Man somewhere. Those have been the droplets we’ve 00:17:08,054 –> 00:17:10,215 Chance Calloway: Yes. Yep. The Moongirl Devil Dinosaur. Yeah. 00:17:10,215 –> 00:17:11,174 Stefanie Bautista: We’re getting very much 00:17:11,335 –> 00:17:12,155 Chance Calloway: great soundtrack. 00:17:12,294 –> 00:17:17,890 Ariel Landrum: And I think if you watch the, kids’ Marvel movies, there’s, like, Spider Man and Friends. 00:17:18,110 –> 00:17:21,470 Stefanie Bautista: Oh, yeah. And his amazing friends? Yeah. Yep. Miles Miles is in there. Yep. 00:17:21,470 –> 00:17:22,350 Ariel Landrum: Yeah. Okay? 00:17:22,350 –> 00:17:23,550 Chance Calloway: Yeah. Okay. See, I think 00:17:23,710 –> 00:17:24,030 Ariel Landrum: Cute. 00:17:24,030 –> 00:17:26,005 Stefanie Bautista: Very cute. But, yeah, all good mentions. 00:17:26,225 –> 00:17:27,524 Chance Calloway: Storm x men 97? 00:17:27,825 –> 00:17:28,678 Stefanie Bautista: Yes. We are 00:17:28,784 –> 00:17:32,385 Ariel Landrum: talking nonstop about x men. We’ve completely forgot about a star. 00:17:32,385 –> 00:17:37,279 Chance Calloway: For me, there’s still a complete delineation in my brain between Marvel and Disney. 00:17:37,419 –> 00:17:40,940 Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. You know? It’s fine because I think that’s just how our brains work. 00:17:40,940 –> 00:17:41,179 Chance Calloway: Yeah. 00:17:41,179 –> 00:17:44,554 Stefanie Bautista: And we can’t like, the conglomerate is conglomerating. Yeah. Right. 00:17:44,554 –> 00:17:49,675 And it shouldn’t be that way Yeah. Sometimes. But, yeah. Aurora, a queen, a queen. Yeah. 00:17:49,675 –> 00:17:51,775 But she is definitely a royal man. 00:17:52,075 –> 00:17:53,010 Chance Calloway: Level mute. 00:17:53,330 –> 00:17:54,690 Stefanie Bautista: Yes. Yeah. Yeah. That’s true. 00:17:54,690 –> 00:17:58,790 Ariel Landrum: And then we have, very powerful character in, Marvel. 00:17:59,010 –> 00:17:59,650 Chance Calloway: Nick Fury. 00:17:59,650 –> 00:18:02,870 Ariel Landrum: Yes. Nick Fury. Nick Fury, but he’s always had an eye patch. 00:18:03,075 –> 00:18:04,835 Chance Calloway: True. True. True. Yeah. 00:18:04,835 –> 00:18:07,155 Stefanie Bautista: But he’s the orchestrator though, so he’s the guy behind. 00:18:07,155 –> 00:18:09,875 Chance Calloway: He’s the guy that created yeah. Put the Avengers together. 00:18:09,875 –> 00:18:15,309 Ariel Landrum: And then we are gonna have is it Fast who’s, from Ms. Marvel? Photon? Yeah. Photon. 00:18:15,309 –> 00:18:17,630 Chance Calloway: Photon. Tiana Paris, amazing actress. 00:18:17,630 –> 00:18:18,270 Stefanie Bautista: Yes. Yeah. 00:18:18,270 –> 00:18:19,250 Chance Calloway: Amazing actress. 00:18:19,575 –> 00:18:21,355 Ariel Landrum: We we talked a little bit about Warrable. 00:18:21,414 –> 00:18:25,115 We talked about Lion King, even in the concept of, Broadway. 00:18:25,174 –> 00:18:29,799 And I know that there is a lot of viral stuff happening with the Hollywood Bowl situation. 00:18:29,940 –> 00:18:32,840 I’m not touching that, because I don’t think it’s appropriate. 00:18:33,380 –> 00:18:35,960 I’m actually gonna honor the fact that Jason Weaver 00:18:36,605 –> 00:18:42,445 Stefanie Bautista: sang, and I thought that was beautiful because, I know Chance knows a little probably a little bit more about the story, but 00:18:42,445 –> 00:18:47,940 it was very interesting how they approached his family in compensating him for the Lion King. Right? 00:18:48,000 –> 00:18:50,419 Because he was this voice of Simba. 00:18:51,200 –> 00:19:00,915 The recording of I just can’t wait to be king was so big that, obviously, Disney was gonna pay a lot of money to him, but in 1 of 2 ways. 00:19:01,055 –> 00:19:04,755 And 1 of it was through royalties, and 1 of it was through a lump sum. 00:19:04,840 –> 00:19:09,820 Chance Calloway: I I watched the, interview with him, like, last year. Yeah. Yeah. I remember him talking about it. 00:19:09,880 –> 00:19:12,645 I remember the baseline being he’s taken care. 00:19:12,805 –> 00:19:16,425 Stefanie Bautista: Long story short, I know you guys can probably, like, look this up on Wikipedia. 00:19:16,805 –> 00:19:21,945 Mom was savvy enough to say, we are not gonna take the lump sum. I want to take the royalties. 00:19:22,289 –> 00:19:28,450 And he has made so much more through the royalties rather than the lump sum because at the time, of course, you know, a big 00:19:28,450 –> 00:19:31,625 chunk of money is gonna look very appealing. Yes. 00:19:31,625 –> 00:19:33,965 But mom thought forward and was like, no. 00:19:34,024 –> 00:19:39,085 We are gonna get paid for the rest of eternity because this song is gonna live forever. 00:19:39,409 –> 00:19:41,730 And, yeah, he’s been duly compensated for that. 00:19:41,730 –> 00:19:48,149 And I think that’s, you know, 1 of the really nice moments, but at the same time, mom had to be savvy enough to think that far ahead. 00:19:48,335 –> 00:19:50,495 And, you know, way to go mama bear for doing that. 00:19:50,495 –> 00:19:57,110 Chance Calloway: Oh, and for the Disney fans, I mean, Jason Bieber probably on screen is best known as the older brother and smart guy. Yep. You know? 00:19:57,190 –> 00:19:59,910 So and that that was a decision all the time when I was a kid. 00:19:59,910 –> 00:20:04,890 Stefanie Bautista: All the time. Yeah. Fun fact, I actually took my SATs in the same room as Taj Mahri 00:20:06,465 –> 00:20:06,965 Ariel Landrum: Randall. 00:20:07,184 –> 00:20:13,445 Stefanie Bautista: And it was, like, a joke between me and a friend of mine who were taking the SATs was, like, I bet the smart guy is gonna pass. 00:20:13,870 –> 00:20:19,550 Chance Calloway: I have such an artistic crush, and I have to be specific about that because I also normally have crushes. 00:20:19,550 –> 00:20:21,725 But I have such an artistic crush on Taj Morrie. 00:20:21,725 –> 00:20:25,164 He’s 1 of our most underrated comedian. He is so funny. 00:20:25,164 –> 00:20:26,705 The way he can spin a line. 00:20:26,765 –> 00:20:33,190 He’s also gonna be a tap dancer, a a wonderful singer. I adore Taj Mahry. Adore, adore, adore, adore, adore, adore. 00:20:33,330 –> 00:20:35,330 So I can’t believe that you were in a room with them. 00:20:35,330 –> 00:20:40,955 Ariel Landrum: That’s TV. Talking about representation, we have sort of touched on it. 00:20:41,275 –> 00:20:45,195 We looked it up, and the term seems to be called a transformation trope. 00:20:45,195 –> 00:20:47,915 So would you be willing to explain to the audience what exactly that 00:20:48,075 –> 00:20:55,820 Chance Calloway: A transformation trope, while it has a lot of, I guess, sub tropes, essentially, it is when a protagonist is turned into some 00:20:55,820 –> 00:21:03,095 other type of creature, which is particularly common in certain Disney animated films where the protagonists usually I think 00:21:03,095 –> 00:21:09,880 maybe all are protagonists of color who are then turned into an animal for the main duration of the film. 00:21:10,340 –> 00:21:15,085 So we saw that probably most notably in, The Princess and the Frog. 00:21:15,705 –> 00:21:19,725 So Brother Bear, what’s the what, Emperor’s new Groot, Cousteau. 00:21:20,345 –> 00:21:27,170 Sol may be angry in the fact that it felt like a subversion at first because at first, he wasn’t, you know, an animal, but 00:21:27,170 –> 00:21:29,650 then he put him in animal, and that’s when I got mad. 00:21:29,650 –> 00:21:39,865 Seems to happen disproportionately at least to, protagonist of color, almost as if they are not allowed to carry the majority of the movie looking like themself. 00:21:40,085 –> 00:21:45,880 Ariel Landrum: We are looking up, like, just the history, the transformation trope, and it was started off in the horror genre. 00:21:46,580 –> 00:21:49,800 You know, this monster needing to transform into a human. 00:21:49,985 –> 00:21:58,120 And we see that with, like, Beauty and the Beast, but we’re always painted the idea of empathy towards the beat. Right? 00:21:58,120 –> 00:22:01,020 This is a curse that it shouldn’t have happened. 00:22:01,720 –> 00:22:08,845 When we’re following these narratives, like, with Tiana, yes, she’s really fighting to not be a frog and trying to find ways, 00:22:08,905 –> 00:22:14,160 but the empathy we have towards her plight isn’t the fact that she turned into a frog. 00:22:14,320 –> 00:22:18,100 It’s the fact that she’s not able to open up her restaurant. 00:22:18,560 –> 00:22:24,335 Chance Calloway: Yeah. I don’t think there was ever any concern plot wise that, like, Tiana’s gonna stay up for all. 00:22:24,335 –> 00:22:27,855 Like, that never seems to be Yeah. Her jiving concern. You know? 00:22:27,855 –> 00:22:29,210 So I think I think you’re right about that. 00:22:29,210 –> 00:22:34,489 Ariel Landrum: Yeah. Because there was a, with Beauty and the Beast, like, it was like the roses running her. Right? She accepted being a frog. 00:22:34,489 –> 00:22:38,923 Like, the end of it was she was just gonna live in the bean in the in the bayou in the 00:22:38,923 –> 00:22:44,115 Chance Calloway: bayou. The most disrespectful thing that they did with Tiana was have Randy Newman write that soundtrack. Yeah. 00:22:46,335 –> 00:22:52,190 This feels on 2 levels. 1, Randy Newman was definitely like a Pixar kind of guy, you know. 00:22:52,250 –> 00:22:57,130 Whenever you would get a Disney princess film, you had on Make It of Stefanie Schwartz. 00:22:57,130 –> 00:23:02,965 There was a specific sound that you wanted, and they hyped up Princess and the Frog as we just turned to 2 d animation Yeah. 00:23:03,125 –> 00:23:07,380 A return to, like, you know, the Musicals. Yes. The musical aspect of it. 00:23:07,540 –> 00:23:11,060 Then it being Randy Newman, it hit your ear completely differently 00:23:11,220 –> 00:23:11,620 Ariel Landrum: Yeah. 00:23:11,700 –> 00:23:15,780 Chance Calloway: Than the other Disney Princess songs. Even Enchanted, which I think came out the year before Yeah. 00:23:15,940 –> 00:23:20,825 Had a very old school kind of feel while also feeling new and fresh. 00:23:21,525 –> 00:23:29,429 And I just feel like like Almost There is 1 of the most, mundane I watch songs that Disney is ever in my opinion. 00:23:29,429 –> 00:23:36,745 Stefanie Bautista: I mean, we love Randy Newman for other things, but I think Chance does have a point where if you’re evoking emotion, especially 00:23:36,745 –> 00:23:39,105 from a princess who is wanting something Yeah. 00:23:39,305 –> 00:23:45,240 There has to be, you know and the playing field has already been set because of the princesses that came before. 00:23:45,240 –> 00:23:45,720 Chance Calloway: Yes. 00:23:45,720 –> 00:23:53,245 Stefanie Bautista: And I think, you know, as as much as maybe during the time that maybe he was just available or because of the success of Pixar, 00:23:53,385 –> 00:23:59,970 Toy Story, and all, you know, the like, who knows what the decision making could have been, but I think emotion wise, I I 00:23:59,970 –> 00:24:03,490 would have to agree with Chance because almost there’s a cute song. Yeah. 00:24:03,490 –> 00:24:09,525 I like it, but is it on the level of, you know, what’s another part of your world Yeah. 00:24:09,725 –> 00:24:13,105 With a big crescendo with, you know, a voice to match? 00:24:13,245 –> 00:24:15,905 I don’t think that that’s 1 of the songs that I immediately 00:24:15,980 –> 00:24:18,059 Chance Calloway: see. As we know, Anika Noni Rose could sing it. 00:24:18,059 –> 00:24:18,799 Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. Absolutely. 00:24:18,860 –> 00:24:23,580 Chance Calloway: You know? Yeah. So I will say though, Friends on the Other Side is a top tier villain song. 00:24:23,580 –> 00:24:24,299 Stefanie Bautista: Oh, yeah. 00:24:24,299 –> 00:24:27,865 Chance Calloway: So Yeah. Maybe I should take back everything I said about Randy Newman. 00:24:28,885 –> 00:24:30,165 Ariel Landrum: Or maybe he can only write villains. 00:24:30,165 –> 00:24:32,025 Chance Calloway: Or maybe he can only write villains. Yeah. 00:24:32,405 –> 00:24:37,670 Ariel Landrum: Now I’m not a black woman, and, you aren’t a black woman, but maybe you could talk a little bit about this. 00:24:37,730 –> 00:24:46,465 My friends who are black women have said their problem with Tiana is that, she had a really big dream, but here was our first 00:24:46,465 –> 00:24:49,410 black princess, and she has to work. 00:24:49,490 –> 00:24:49,810 Chance Calloway: Yeah. 00:24:49,810 –> 00:24:53,270 Ariel Landrum: And the only way she can be successful is if she works. 00:24:53,650 –> 00:24:59,110 And that that, continues to feed this trope that black women don’t get to have her ask her time off. 00:24:59,475 –> 00:25:07,250 Chance Calloway: Yes. So many, if not all of the previous Disney princesses, specifically the ones that are legitimately, like, marrying into 00:25:07,250 –> 00:25:10,450 royalty or whatever, their finale is a wedding. Yeah. 00:25:10,450 –> 00:25:14,630 And Tiana is is me and my prince are now running this rest. 00:25:15,465 –> 00:25:22,370 And while, yes, they just spent an hour and a half telling us that this was her dream, it’s kinda like, she can’t just be a princess. Mhmm. You know? 00:25:22,370 –> 00:25:23,650 She has to make a broke prince. 00:25:23,650 –> 00:25:24,789 Ariel Landrum: Yes. A broke prince. 00:25:25,010 –> 00:25:29,010 Chance Calloway: Yeah. And, again, that’s what happens when you have limited representation. Yeah. 00:25:29,010 –> 00:25:37,015 If there were multiple black Disney princesses, we wouldn’t be so nitpicky about about 1 specific 1 because there would be 00:25:37,015 –> 00:25:40,215 other, storylines, other personalities, those kind of things. 00:25:40,215 –> 00:25:44,549 But right now, even I think right now, there’s still just Tiana. We’re talking about animation wise. 00:25:44,549 –> 00:25:49,965 We still got we’ve got multiple white princesses since Tiana, and we still only have Tiana. 00:25:50,265 –> 00:25:57,840 Ariel Landrum: Yeah. Unless you are decide to bring in, like, Maribel and you have Shuri, like, there are no other n. Correct us if we’re wrong. 00:25:57,840 –> 00:26:03,200 Now there will be a Ariel Junior animated series. Oh. 00:26:03,200 –> 00:26:06,725 And, it’s, I guess, you’d say, like, baby toddler Ariel. 00:26:06,725 –> 00:26:10,645 And, it’s coming on Disney plus, and that is, like, digital animation. 00:26:10,645 –> 00:26:12,790 So it’s like animation, but also looks 3 d. 00:26:12,950 –> 00:26:18,550 And she is a black Ariel, but I’m unsure if she is supposed to be younger version of live action Ariel 00:26:18,790 –> 00:26:19,030 Chance Calloway: Right. 00:26:19,110 –> 00:26:21,850 Ariel Landrum: Or just happens to be. Yeah. Right. But hasn’t come out yet. 00:26:21,985 –> 00:26:24,705 Stefanie Bautista: But then also still that’s not a completely original 00:26:25,185 –> 00:26:25,385 Chance Calloway: Right. 00:26:25,585 –> 00:26:27,685 Ariel Landrum: Area. And is not a movie. 00:26:27,745 –> 00:26:28,945 Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. And not a movie. 00:26:28,945 –> 00:26:37,510 Chance Calloway: Yeah. And, you know, Disney execs, if you guys are listening to this podcast, I would highly suggest maybe adapting Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe. 00:26:38,050 –> 00:26:46,335 Beautiful story, very popular with whole generation thanks to reading Rainbow, you know, and and and ripe for adaptation. Right for adaptation. 00:26:46,555 –> 00:26:54,040 There, Mufara’s Beautiful Daughters is about, a man who lives in a village, and the, the, the king is looking for a wife. 00:26:54,500 –> 00:27:00,285 And so he’s got his 2 daughters who he loves equally, but, of course, 1 is just so mean and so nice. Cool. 00:27:00,745 –> 00:27:02,425 So she sets out on her own. 00:27:02,665 –> 00:27:04,285 The sisters are supposed to go together. 00:27:04,425 –> 00:27:10,600 She sets out on her own, to go, meet the king because she’s sure that she’s gonna be, you know, the next queen. 00:27:10,600 –> 00:27:14,280 Then, Bufaro’s other daughter sets off when she was supposed to later. 00:27:14,280 –> 00:27:17,765 And they basically have 2 very different, trips. 00:27:17,904 –> 00:27:21,345 They encounter the same, people and obstacles Uh-huh. 00:27:21,424 –> 00:27:26,230 But their personalities change how, you know, how easy their trips are. 00:27:26,230 –> 00:27:27,750 And it has such a wonderful ending. 00:27:27,750 –> 00:27:32,395 It’s a great story, and I’ve been wondering why it hasn’t been adapted before. 00:27:32,395 –> 00:27:35,595 But I I think it would be an amazing Disney animated cartoon. 00:27:35,595 –> 00:27:42,320 The Rider of the Last Dragon, when that film came out, it was kind of like a relief because now Mulan no longer had to carry the burdens 00:27:43,020 –> 00:27:43,179 Stefanie Bautista: of 00:27:43,179 –> 00:27:48,080 Chance Calloway: being, you know, like, only Princess. And it’s kinda like, yeah, we just need we need more of that. 00:27:48,299 –> 00:27:57,155 Stefanie Bautista: I’m wanting to see a little bit more 3 d animated first, like, part of Disney because, Frozen, Moana, they’re all in that kind of realm. 00:27:57,215 –> 00:28:00,760 I wonder if they’re gonna go that way with A Black Princess. 00:28:00,820 –> 00:28:03,060 I think that would this is the time. I mean Yeah. 00:28:03,220 –> 00:28:07,140 We’ve done many things now that are not animated, but 3 d animated. 00:28:07,140 –> 00:28:10,235 And I think, you know, this would be the perfect time to do something for them. 00:28:10,235 –> 00:28:16,955 Chance Calloway: Yes. Also, I mean, again, shout out to Nika Noni Rose who voiced Princess Tiana when they were adapting all the princesses 00:28:16,955 –> 00:28:19,630 for their scenes in, record number 2 Yep. 00:28:19,750 –> 00:28:25,350 Anika spoke with the animators about how to make sure that they didn’t whitewash Tiana. 00:28:25,350 –> 00:28:33,164 Because the initial images remember there was a whole controversy that Tiana just looked a lot a light lighter skin. Her nose was smaller. And so Anika Hair. 00:28:33,164 –> 00:28:35,360 And her hair was a different texture. Yes. 00:28:35,440 –> 00:28:37,720 And so Anika, like, worked with them to make sure that Yeah. 00:28:37,840 –> 00:28:42,640 You know, Tiana maintained the same blackness that she had in her own film. Yeah. 00:28:42,640 –> 00:28:48,865 And I think that’s admirable, and that’s not something that probably would have been possible even, like, 2 decades ago. Yeah. Definitely. 00:28:49,005 –> 00:28:52,820 Ariel Landrum: And and Stef and I have talked about in, like, the evolution of the Disney princess. 00:28:52,820 –> 00:28:56,280 Like, Anika made sure that Tiana was left handed like her. 00:28:56,340 –> 00:28:59,765 Like, that was an intentional thing that she had a discussion with. 00:28:59,845 –> 00:29:05,685 And I think by then, we’d seen, like, the power of princesses, so there was this more desire to insert. 00:29:05,685 –> 00:29:10,590 But I think prior to that, not many people had ideas about their character. 00:29:10,810 –> 00:29:13,050 Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. To personalize them. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 00:29:13,050 –> 00:29:18,935 Well, speaking of Tiana, I know that at the Disney Parks, we’re gonna have 2 new rides, new as in refurbished. 00:29:19,395 –> 00:29:24,855 We’re doing away with the old and ushering in the new because Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which was previously Splash Mountain, 00:29:25,160 –> 00:29:30,140 is set to open this month in Disney World, and I think very soon at Disneyland. 00:29:30,520 –> 00:29:35,055 And it’s funny because I’ve seen a lot of reels that basically take us to the whole ride. Yeah. 00:29:35,055 –> 00:29:38,415 I know by now many people have been on splashbound, so we know kind of how it ends. Right? 00:29:38,415 –> 00:29:40,275 You go down and then you the splash. 00:29:41,055 –> 00:29:48,630 But, I think it’s very interesting that they’re pretty much giving us a whole run through of what the ride looks like. Yeah. 00:29:48,630 –> 00:29:54,575 And I think, you know, on a positive note, it’s showing the kind of progression of all of the animatronics and how beautiful 00:29:54,715 –> 00:29:58,865 they are now because you have other Disney parks doing the Frozen ride Yeah. 00:29:59,115 –> 00:30:03,910 Over at, Tokyo, and there’s the Tangled ride at Tokyo Disney too. 00:30:04,210 –> 00:30:08,950 All of the animatronics are much more lifelike, and they are, you know, very 00:30:17,230 –> 00:30:24,195 like, kind of preserve the mystery, and the magic of being on a ride and seeing these things. I don’t know. What do you all think? 00:30:24,355 –> 00:30:33,970 Ariel Landrum: Yeah. I have seen the behind the scenes even when they were just showing the animatronics and not on the rides. And it they were very impressive. They look lifelike. There’s more movement. 00:30:34,270 –> 00:30:42,765 And I think it’s going to be, at least at Disneyland, now a shock comparison of, like, why is this ride have such realistic animatronic Yeah. And others. 00:30:42,765 –> 00:30:47,745 Stefanie Bautista: And then you see Jakey old Captain Sparrow, and he’s just like, where are you looking, sir? 00:30:48,850 –> 00:30:53,570 Ariel Landrum: However, I do love Mama Odie, and I love that, the yes. 00:30:53,570 –> 00:30:54,710 Stefanie Bautista: Yes. The voice. 00:30:54,850 –> 00:30:58,149 Ariel Landrum: The voice, like, on the ride. That that is her. 00:30:58,365 –> 00:31:04,865 And I know that I’ll, what I’ve heard from the the disabled community is that they appreciated the reels and the walkthroughs 00:31:05,165 –> 00:31:11,950 so that they would be able to prepare themselves and not be as scared or, like, have their children, specifically autistic children, like, get used to it. 00:31:11,950 –> 00:31:15,870 So when they go on the ride the first time, they’ll be more willing to. Oh, I see. Yeah. 00:31:15,870 –> 00:31:22,865 So so that’s where I saw the the the goodness, the you don’t get a surprise, and it is if you are a Disney fan, it is hard 00:31:22,865 –> 00:31:26,660 to then all of a sudden try and, like, mute, like, Tiana. 00:31:26,660 –> 00:31:31,540 Tiana’s by like, there are so many things that you would have to mute to not see that Stef. It’s just not gonna happen. 00:31:31,540 –> 00:31:36,225 Again, like we said in the beginning, you get so much news, like, right mhmm. 00:31:36,365 –> 00:31:42,285 Chance Calloway: Right. That’s true. That’s true. I mean, I think the benefit of me, like, not being on Twitter and having a very limited social 00:31:42,285 –> 00:31:46,159 media presence is I’ve only seen 1 of those videos of the blinds face. 00:31:46,159 –> 00:31:51,015 Stefanie Bautista: But see, that’s how much it’s been out there because you think and you only see them. You’re not on anything. Yeah. 00:31:51,015 –> 00:31:55,575 Chance Calloway: Yeah. So I’ve seen I’ve seen the really majestic looking animatronics, but I don’t know what the ride is like. 00:31:55,575 –> 00:31:57,434 But at this point, I would be surprised. 00:31:57,750 –> 00:32:03,750 But I part of me also thinks that there’s, Disney might intentionally want to put more out there so that people understand, 00:32:03,750 –> 00:32:07,475 look, we did, you know, we did this with care and with love. 00:32:07,774 –> 00:32:14,560 That way you don’t have to worry about getting on the ride and being, like, this is offensive, and I’m locked in. And I can’t get out. 00:32:14,640 –> 00:32:15,940 Stefanie Bautista: Which was the case before. 00:32:16,000 –> 00:32:19,620 Ariel Landrum: What are your feelings about the fact that Tiana, the choice I replaced? 00:32:20,720 –> 00:32:23,255 Chance Calloway: No. I mean, I’m glad that Tiana’s getting a ride. 00:32:23,415 –> 00:32:25,415 You know, I I didn’t love that film. 00:32:25,415 –> 00:32:28,375 So at first, it’s kinda like, how does that kind of incorporate that? I remember, oh, yeah. 00:32:28,375 –> 00:32:30,810 They’re like on the rafts and all that kind of stuff. I guess that works. 00:32:31,050 –> 00:32:35,790 I had like, many people, I had my own thoughts of, like, what could take the place in Flash Mountain. 00:32:35,850 –> 00:32:36,350 Ariel Landrum: Like? 00:32:36,890 –> 00:32:37,790 Chance Calloway: I don’t remember. 00:32:39,215 –> 00:32:42,274 Stefanie Bautista: This is an old thought. Yeah. It was a very serious thought. 00:32:42,335 –> 00:32:45,934 Chance Calloway: But, yeah, I, I’m not mad about Tiana getting here right. Yeah. 00:32:45,934 –> 00:32:51,720 Stefanie Bautista: But I also thought that being in New Orleans Square, I did not see anything that represents New Orleans aside from the architecture. 00:32:51,780 –> 00:32:55,000 Tiana has such historical, like, the life roots. 00:32:55,220 –> 00:33:00,355 It was I feel like, a match made in Disney heaven to put her there. 00:33:01,455 –> 00:33:05,700 And, you know, the the food has such a big part of it because that’s literally her business. 00:33:05,840 –> 00:33:10,400 Ariel Landrum: Chance you may not know is that Tiana actually walks around and Yeah. Greets every guest. 00:33:10,400 –> 00:33:13,265 Like, she is at the restaurant, and then a band will play. 00:33:13,345 –> 00:33:19,425 And then she seems to be, like, every 15, 30 minutes that she comes out in her restaurant dress that yeah. 00:33:19,425 –> 00:33:21,205 And, like, comes up and hugs people. 00:33:21,320 –> 00:33:26,600 So we talked about how that’s very accessible for those who may not be able to go on the, big boat. 00:33:26,600 –> 00:33:35,015 Stefanie Bautista: Oh, the river valley. I have had the privilege to be on a Disney cruise, and she, on many, ships now has a restaurant inside the cruise. 00:33:35,075 –> 00:33:40,159 When you are on a Disney cruise, you get to go to the 3 different restaurants every single day if you do, like, a 3 day cruise. 00:33:40,700 –> 00:33:49,595 I had Tiana’s place as my last 1, which was so great because she sings and it’s like a big party, and it’s it’s so beautiful 00:33:49,595 –> 00:33:54,955 because they on Disney Cruise, there’s, like, this thing where they try to get everybody on the boat feel like they’re family 00:33:54,955 –> 00:33:57,490 even though you it’s like you’re staying at a hotel with everybody else. 00:33:57,490 –> 00:33:58,290 Chance Calloway: Yeah. I like that. 00:33:58,290 –> 00:34:04,775 Stefanie Bautista: But they have a sense of community there, and I think it was great that I get I got to have Tiana as the last 1 because she, 00:34:04,775 –> 00:34:08,615 like, went out with a bang and it was beautiful and all the kids loved it. 00:34:08,615 –> 00:34:12,155 That was the first time I saw that representation. It was on a Disney cruise. 00:34:12,180 –> 00:34:14,660 Oh, and not many people get to go on Disney cruises. No. 00:34:15,140 –> 00:34:20,280 It’s not very accessible to people, so I think now having it at the parks makes her a lot more accessible. 00:34:20,695 –> 00:34:23,355 Ariel Landrum: And I I think specifically talking about Tiana. 00:34:23,415 –> 00:34:26,455 Again, Steph and I mentioned this in the evolution of the Disney princess. 00:34:26,455 –> 00:34:28,700 Our critiques, my dad was in the 00:34:35,339 –> 00:34:40,605 reasons for wanting to open up the restaurant was because her dad fed many people, and he had died in the war. 00:34:40,605 –> 00:34:43,985 And we know this because we see a picture of him in uniform, and he got a purple heart. 00:34:44,125 –> 00:34:50,140 Problem is the era that that happened, he would not have been recognized or received a purple heart because he is a black. 00:34:50,140 –> 00:34:54,140 Additionally, Tiana and Naveen wouldn’t have gotten married because it was Jim Crow laws. 00:34:54,140 –> 00:34:59,845 They wouldn’t allow 2 different people of 2 different races to marry each other even if he’s not American. 00:35:00,144 –> 00:35:05,380 So there are a lot of critiques about how that movie forgets the actual experience. 00:35:06,320 –> 00:35:12,160 Chance Calloway: Right. There’s there’s something about it being a literal fairy tale, and then them trying to still set it in the very real 00:35:12,160 –> 00:35:17,174 recent history of America as opposed to making up a country or, you know, an unnamed country. 00:35:17,315 –> 00:35:21,815 So, yeah, there’s so much more, to critique because of that choice. 00:35:22,360 –> 00:35:29,400 That wouldn’t be the case if they say had adopt adapted Farrah’s Beautiful Daughters or something like that instead. But, yeah. 00:35:29,400 –> 00:35:31,724 It’s it’s that idea of kind of like, okay. 00:35:31,724 –> 00:35:34,765 So this is set in America and, you know, okay. Her best friend is white. 00:35:34,765 –> 00:35:37,645 And I guess that’s possible, especially in New Orleans at that time. 00:35:37,645 –> 00:35:43,210 But then he starts to notice those other things, and it kinda takes you out of the magic of the story. 00:35:43,210 –> 00:35:48,855 Ariel Landrum: Well, even when she is serving up her haute beignets to her best friend’s dad, she wouldn’t be, because he wouldn’t be in 00:35:48,855 –> 00:35:53,734 a restaurant that was being served and the food being cooked by black people, 00:35:53,734 –> 00:35:55,170 Stefanie Bautista: or she would’ve been on the same floor. 00:35:55,170 –> 00:35:55,650 Ariel Landrum: She wouldn’t be She’s 00:35:55,650 –> 00:35:57,650 Chance Calloway: pretty straightforward. There there was some kind of distinction. 00:35:57,650 –> 00:35:59,490 Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. There’d be some sort of segregation there. 00:35:59,490 –> 00:36:04,950 Chance Calloway: Yeah. And those were kind of things, of course, you don’t wanna necessarily have to deal with in the fairy tale movie that’s aimed for children. 00:36:05,365 –> 00:36:11,925 But those were the kind of developmental decisions that I think, because remember when they first announced it, Tiana’s name was Maddie. Yeah. 00:36:11,925 –> 00:36:15,960 They meant they had the word schemermaid Yeah. In there. And it was like, okay. 00:36:15,960 –> 00:36:18,120 Her name is Maddie, and she’s and she’s a maid. 00:36:18,120 –> 00:36:23,055 And so they, you know, they changed all those kind of things, but, clearly, they put a blood back hook a little. 00:36:23,454 –> 00:36:27,934 Stefanie Bautista: Right. And that just goes to show the repercussions that still need to be made Right. 00:36:28,015 –> 00:36:31,560 And the conversations that still need to be had, especially with children. 00:36:31,620 –> 00:36:37,140 Because if you are reaching back further and further into history as kids are growing up now, it’s so much more important 00:36:37,140 –> 00:36:47,130 to clarify that history in the correct But that doesn’t mean we can’t move forward from it and remember that it happened back 00:36:47,369 –> 00:36:51,710 but that doesn’t mean we can’t move forward from it and remember that it happened back then. 00:36:51,849 –> 00:36:59,414 Chance Calloway: Yes. I did wanna also give a shout out to some of the other, black actresses who embody, like, black princesses in different mediums. 00:36:59,714 –> 00:37:02,934 Pre summer gets overlooked a lot because, you know, Aphra Atlantis. 00:37:03,990 –> 00:37:06,070 Also, Toni Braxton played Belle on Broadway. 00:37:06,070 –> 00:37:08,650 He was the 1st black Broadway princess on Broadway. 00:37:08,710 –> 00:37:14,174 Heather Hely, he was in LA on Broadway, but also Aida who is is the Disney princess on Broadway. Love 00:37:14,174 –> 00:37:14,994 Stefanie Bautista: that production. 00:37:15,214 –> 00:37:18,494 Chance Calloway: Yes. IIII wanted to give a shout out to those ladies as well. 00:37:18,494 –> 00:37:24,300 Stefanie Bautista: I also wanted to mention some of my favorite black characters are the muses from Hercules. Yes. 00:37:24,300 –> 00:37:30,315 They are, like, iconic in my memory because they gave so much life to that movie. Yeah. Yeah. 00:37:30,315 –> 00:37:34,495 I think it was such a great decision to make the soundtrack essentially gospel. 00:37:34,555 –> 00:37:40,830 Me and Chas have talked about this, but, thankfully, on drives, and it was very funny that they decided to take that route 00:37:40,830 –> 00:37:43,550 in a movie that was about Greek mythology Yeah. 00:37:43,630 –> 00:37:49,145 Which kind of would never have that spot sober, but yet here we have Hercules with a, you know, a gospel sounding soundtrack. 00:37:49,145 –> 00:37:51,545 But he’s from a whole different other culture. 00:37:51,545 –> 00:37:59,800 Chance Calloway: Onto the muses, Lillias White specifically was the head muse, and most of the other muses were very iconic Broadway stars like LaShauns, Roz Ryan. 00:37:59,860 –> 00:38:02,105 But, yeah, those voices cannot be duplicated. 00:38:02,245 –> 00:38:09,510 And if they ever do a live action, I don’t know what’s and I hope they’re calling Amber Riley. Who cares for Swain? Hercules? Doesn’t matter. 00:38:09,510 –> 00:38:13,690 Some people might care about Swain McGraw. Everyone’s gonna care about The muse. The muse. 00:38:13,750 –> 00:38:18,225 Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. Yeah. Give us a ABC special. Yeah. Exacts. Yeah. 00:38:18,365 –> 00:38:20,445 Give us 1 of those live things that you do. 00:38:20,445 –> 00:38:30,400 I just thought about Wish, which is a newer movie. The lead is black. Yes. Ariana Gonzalez. Let me forget her. 00:38:31,660 –> 00:38:35,425 Chance Calloway: 0MG0, no. So Well, you know why? You know why? 00:38:35,425 –> 00:38:39,745 Because the whole reception for the film has been so muted. Right. I even haven’t seen it yet. 00:38:39,745 –> 00:38:41,505 Because I I currently don’t have, like, Disney plus. 00:38:41,505 –> 00:38:45,010 So, like, I I was gonna go see theaters, and then I didn’t. And Yeah. I was on streaming. 00:38:45,010 –> 00:38:46,850 I don’t have that particular streaming service. 00:38:46,850 –> 00:38:48,530 So I might I might, like, rent it tonight and watch it. 00:38:48,530 –> 00:38:48,850 Ariel Landrum: So And 00:38:48,850 –> 00:38:55,485 Stefanie Bautista: to be honest, I mean, I was very reluctant to see it because I didn’t there was no pull for me to watch it aside from, you 00:38:55,485 –> 00:38:57,505 know, it was a celebration of Disney 100. 00:38:58,260 –> 00:39:01,700 And I saw it because my niece’s nephews wanted to watch it at the time. 00:39:01,700 –> 00:39:06,235 It’s a very beautiful story, very diverse task. Ariana Duvel does a great job. 00:39:06,235 –> 00:39:08,495 There are some bangers on that soundtrack. 00:39:08,955 –> 00:39:16,730 But I think it does get overshadowed with the whole just advertising and just the whole thing around Disney 100. 00:39:16,789 –> 00:39:22,555 I feel like that overshadowed a lot of the decision making, because there are hidden gems in there, essentially hidden Mickey’s 00:39:22,555 –> 00:39:24,575 that you can find all throughout the movie. 00:39:24,875 –> 00:39:30,415 But I feel like it was kind of, like, a Frankenstein of all the things that Disney has done in the last 100. 00:39:30,714 –> 00:39:35,780 But here’s an opportunity to have, female black lead. Let’s do it. 00:39:35,840 –> 00:39:43,395 It kind of almost seems a little too convenient, but at the same time, as we’re talking about how it’s never the right time, you just do it. 00:39:43,535 –> 00:39:45,615 I I love the way they animated her. 00:39:45,855 –> 00:39:45,935 Chance Calloway: I 00:39:45,935 –> 00:39:47,155 Stefanie Bautista: think she was beautiful. 00:39:47,490 –> 00:39:53,010 Ariel Landrum: So that that sort of gives us 3, but only one’s going to be crown only 1 was crowned at Disney. 00:39:53,010 –> 00:39:54,289 Chance Calloway: Right. I was gonna say it. 00:39:54,289 –> 00:40:00,975 Ariel Landrum: You think Yes. Kita. You added Kita in the lineup. That’s 3. Yep. But, they only crown Yeah. 00:40:01,095 –> 00:40:05,494 Success as we know, like, covertly when their film makes a certain amount of money. 00:40:05,494 –> 00:40:11,670 Chance Calloway: Right. Right. Right. Yeah. Which is unfortunate because I really do feel like they stumbled with the marketing for for Wish. 00:40:11,670 –> 00:40:14,869 And, apparently, like, the actual film was enough to overcome that. Yeah. 00:40:14,869 –> 00:40:16,405 Because I’m I’m sitting here like, yeah. 00:40:16,405 –> 00:40:18,245 I can’t believe that that completely skipped my mind. 00:40:18,245 –> 00:40:25,500 And that also says something because we had a whole conversation about representation, this specific sort, and the most recent 1 didn’t even register. 00:40:25,640 –> 00:40:32,755 Stefanie Bautista: Right. I feel like missed opportunity for Disney to be able to highlight something in a really good way because of capitalism. Yes. Potentially. Yeah. 00:40:32,755 –> 00:40:34,215 You know, for lack of better word. 00:40:34,275 –> 00:40:38,055 Chance Calloway: Also, question. Was there, a black royal in Wish anywhere? 00:40:38,329 –> 00:40:41,450 Stefanie Bautista: I don’t know. The 2 royals, they were not. Okay. 00:40:41,450 –> 00:40:44,490 They were darker tone skin, but they were not. 00:40:44,490 –> 00:40:45,290 Chance Calloway: Okay. Yeah. 00:40:45,290 –> 00:40:46,170 Stefanie Bautista: I know that. For sure. 00:40:46,170 –> 00:40:49,095 Ariel Landrum: Yeah. This is just something to note to the audience. 00:40:49,095 –> 00:40:55,434 When you are a person of color, you can pretty much delineate when someone is dark brown versus a black. 00:40:55,790 –> 00:40:56,910 Chance Calloway: Right. Like, not the 00:40:57,070 –> 00:41:04,510 Ariel Landrum: If you are somebody who is not a person of color or has never lived, in or more white passing, you might not be able to tell 00:41:04,510 –> 00:41:07,095 that diff but we can certainly see it pretty quickly. 00:41:07,095 –> 00:41:12,375 Like, even though Kida has, like, skin, she’s she’s black. Right. She just lived underground. Right. 00:41:12,375 –> 00:41:17,720 Chance Calloway: Unfortunately, like, in the film that while a a cult classic, it didn’t do you know, it didn’t bang up the box office. 00:41:17,720 –> 00:41:21,135 So a lot of people don’t even talk about it when they talk about the Disney canon. 00:41:21,215 –> 00:41:24,655 Ariel Landrum: Yeah. Because, my favorite character on there was was Doc. 00:41:24,655 –> 00:41:27,955 He’s ready to chop everybody’s legs off. He saw through both. 00:41:28,015 –> 00:41:34,960 Now something else we wanted to talk about before we get to our close was, the last episode you were on was a villains episode, 00:41:34,960 –> 00:41:38,705 and you specifically talked about, characters that were queer coded. 00:41:38,785 –> 00:41:42,305 Are there any characters that you think are black coded, and what exactly does that? 00:41:42,305 –> 00:41:48,300 Chance Calloway: Yes. Well, I mean, a black coded character basically would be a character that isn’t identifiably black within the context 00:41:48,300 –> 00:41:53,020 of the story that’s being told, but you know he’s black or you know she’s black. 00:41:53,020 –> 00:41:54,880 You know, it’s kind of 1 of those things. 00:41:55,335 –> 00:42:08,210 And I think probably outside, of course, the universe of The Lion King, our lion is 1 of the most Oh. Quoted characters. Probably the Filipinos 1 and 2. But Yeah. He was voiced by Tabitha Gamble. So it is. 00:42:08,210 –> 00:42:11,010 You know, a black person is like, okay. Powh Lyne’s 1 of us. 00:42:11,010 –> 00:42:13,315 I know some people think that all the goofs are black coded. 00:42:13,315 –> 00:42:16,475 Stefanie Bautista: I was just gonna say, I feel like it’s a general consumption Yeah. 00:42:16,595 –> 00:42:19,315 That, you know, all of the goofs are Yeah. People of color. 00:42:19,315 –> 00:42:25,030 Chance Calloway: Yeah. I mean, Pete also was originally called Black Pete, so there’s something there to look into there. Really? 00:42:25,170 –> 00:42:27,190 Stefanie Bautista: That sounds like a rapper’s day in TV. 00:42:27,250 –> 00:42:29,010 Chance Calloway: Yeah. Black Black Pete. Yeah. Yeah. 00:42:29,170 –> 00:42:30,595 Ariel Landrum: Number 1. That’s a like like 00:42:30,914 –> 00:42:34,595 Chance Calloway: Black Pete except for that hotness for your ears. Yeah. 00:42:34,595 –> 00:42:37,015 The cowline probably would be my number 1. 00:42:37,474 –> 00:42:38,615 Ariel Landrum: Yeah. Even the hair. 00:42:38,674 –> 00:42:44,900 Chance Calloway: Yeah. Because even even though, you know, Simba is an Emperor Prince and Jason Weaver sang for his voice, it was still Jonathan 00:42:44,900 –> 00:42:49,065 Taylor Thomas whose voice is in everyone’s ear. Yeah. So, yeah. 00:42:49,065 –> 00:42:53,325 I I put Caroline as my number 1 Yeah. Black Kobe character. Yeah. 00:42:53,630 –> 00:42:55,309 Do you guys think of of anyone who would 00:42:55,630 –> 00:42:58,690 Stefanie Bautista: I mean, I was gonna think Max. The same Yeah. The Goofy movie. 00:42:58,829 –> 00:43:00,029 Chance Calloway: Max is definitely black pudding. 00:43:00,190 –> 00:43:03,105 Ariel Landrum: Powerline and yes. Well, but not goofy for some reason. 00:43:03,105 –> 00:43:12,530 Chance Calloway: Yeah. Not well, I think it’s goofy existed before that era, before we had a family, and he was definitely a suburban white white person back in the day. Yeah. And the original, like, goofy cartoons. 00:43:13,070 –> 00:43:16,290 Ariel Landrum: So I thought of my the black coded character, Mushu. 00:43:17,005 –> 00:43:17,505 Chance Calloway: Mushu. 00:43:18,365 –> 00:43:23,165 Ariel Landrum: That like that? Yep. Not only because the voice actor, but the way that Mushu is written. 00:43:23,165 –> 00:43:23,485 Chance Calloway: Yeah. 00:43:23,485 –> 00:43:26,040 Ariel Landrum: The way that he talks to the elders. Oh, for sure. 00:43:26,040 –> 00:43:30,040 Stefanie Bautista: I mean, Eddie Murphy, I a very unique voice. Yeah. 00:43:30,120 –> 00:43:36,815 I think Mushu is so interesting because as, you know, somebody who identifies with the Asian culture, with Mulan I mean, I’m 00:43:36,815 –> 00:43:40,195 not East Asian, but Mulan was our first Asian Disney princess. 00:43:40,790 –> 00:43:46,970 The war and everything that she was going through was so solemn that they I feel like they threw in for comedic relief. 00:43:47,030 –> 00:43:47,430 Chance Calloway: Yeah. 00:43:47,430 –> 00:43:51,285 Stefanie Bautista: And, you know, what does that say about that particular decision? 00:43:51,665 –> 00:44:00,549 Chance Calloway: Yeah. I feel like I feel like, I mean, it’s mostly gonna be animals at this point because half the cast of Oliver and company, I think, are black coded. Right. Yeah. Yep. 00:44:00,609 –> 00:44:03,809 Ariel Landrum: Yeah. With the exception of the 1 that was voiced by was it? 00:44:03,809 –> 00:44:09,055 Stefanie Bautista: It’s not. Teacher. Yeah. Cheryl Lee Ralph was in Oliver and company. She was Rita. 00:44:09,115 –> 00:44:13,695 Ariel Landrum: Yes. Rita. That’s when I was like the 1 was like the love interest. Rita. Yeah. 00:44:13,755 –> 00:44:19,190 Chance Calloway: Yeah. I know this. Oh my gosh. Is Rita’s song Streets of Gold? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 00:44:19,190 –> 00:44:22,470 Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. So Cheech was Banzai in The Lion King. Banzai? 00:44:22,710 –> 00:44:23,430 Chance Calloway: Like the big movie. 00:44:23,430 –> 00:44:24,330 Stefanie Bautista: 1 of the hyenas. 00:44:24,465 –> 00:44:24,785 Chance Calloway: Yeah. 00:44:24,785 –> 00:44:27,525 Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. So then Banzai? Yeah. I thought it was just Eddie. 00:44:27,665 –> 00:44:28,945 Chance Calloway: No. Ed Ed was the dumb 1. 00:44:28,945 –> 00:44:30,545 Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. Ed was the dumb 1. And then 00:44:30,545 –> 00:44:31,925 Ariel Landrum: and then Whoopi Goldberg? 00:44:31,985 –> 00:44:32,865 Chance Calloway: Yeah. It was Shenzi. 00:44:32,865 –> 00:44:34,690 Stefanie Bautista: Shenzi, and then Banzai was the other. 00:44:34,850 –> 00:44:38,930 And he was also Ramon in Cars, which I know him from because I watch Cars all the time. Oh, yeah. 00:44:38,930 –> 00:44:39,970 Ariel Landrum: Yeah. Yeah. He is Ramon. Yeah. 00:44:39,970 –> 00:44:42,255 Stefanie Bautista: And it’s Jennifer Lewis. With 1 is. 00:44:42,654 –> 00:44:43,134 Chance Calloway: Yeah. Yeah. 00:44:43,134 –> 00:44:43,954 Stefanie Bautista: So yeah. 00:44:44,015 –> 00:44:45,615 Ariel Landrum: There you go. Black coated car. 00:44:45,615 –> 00:44:45,855 Chance Calloway: Yeah. 00:44:45,855 –> 00:44:48,095 Stefanie Bautista: That’s coated car. That’s right. That’s right. 00:44:48,095 –> 00:44:50,434 Chance Calloway: That’s absolutely right. Well, we can definitely bicoated. 00:44:50,734 –> 00:44:54,530 Ariel Landrum: Yeah. Yeah. It’s just Running a business again on the 00:44:54,530 –> 00:44:55,570 Chance Calloway: black. Yeah. 00:44:55,570 –> 00:44:57,730 Ariel Landrum: Black coated women running a business. 00:44:57,730 –> 00:45:03,825 Stefanie Bautista: I feel like for cars, which is cars are inanimate objects. They’re not animals. Right. 00:45:03,964 –> 00:45:07,105 But car culture exists in different ways in different culture. 00:45:07,405 –> 00:45:12,430 So by choosing Cheech as Ramon, that’s Latino car culture. Yeah. By choosing hydraulic. 00:45:12,730 –> 00:45:15,130 Hydraulics, and he had the pinstripes on his car. Yeah. 00:45:15,130 –> 00:45:19,055 And then by choosing Jennifer Lewis as Flo, she was a beautiful Cadillac 00:45:19,135 –> 00:45:19,255 Chance Calloway: Yeah. 00:45:19,375 –> 00:45:21,935 Stefanie Bautista: Which is also part of black culture too. 00:45:21,935 –> 00:45:22,415 Chance Calloway: Oh, absolutely. 00:45:22,415 –> 00:45:26,150 Stefanie Bautista: So little of appropriation, but also a little bit of representation Yeah. 00:45:26,230 –> 00:45:27,589 Which can exist in the same place. 00:45:27,589 –> 00:45:31,930 Chance Calloway: It’s funny because, you know, I’m thinking, Song of the South is full of, like, the characters. 00:45:32,230 –> 00:45:34,575 Ariel Landrum: But for the wrong reason. 000. No. No. No. 00:45:34,575 –> 00:45:36,535 Chance Calloway: Like the crows in Dublin? It’s the crows. Yeah. 00:45:36,535 –> 00:45:37,215 Ariel Landrum: I doubt it. 00:45:37,215 –> 00:45:42,410 Chance Calloway: Yeah. No. Which my dad says him and his friends thought it was funny. They weren’t offended by that all. 00:45:42,410 –> 00:45:44,350 They thought they thought the girls were funny. 00:45:44,410 –> 00:45:46,110 So it’s 1 of those weird things. 00:45:46,330 –> 00:45:50,750 Stefanie Bautista: I have heard on black Twitter and other things that Robin Hood is black. 00:45:51,005 –> 00:45:51,724 Chance Calloway: Oh, yeah. Yeah. 00:45:51,724 –> 00:45:54,305 Ariel Landrum: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 00:45:55,085 –> 00:45:58,760 Chance Calloway: Blue. Blue. Oh, yeah. Blue. Yeah. Blue is black. And pink bluey. 00:45:58,900 –> 00:45:59,460 Ariel Landrum: Okay. Okay. 00:45:59,460 –> 00:45:59,620 Stefanie Bautista: It’s a 00:45:59,620 –> 00:46:00,820 Chance Calloway: little of it’s but it’s true. 00:46:00,820 –> 00:46:01,380 Stefanie Bautista: But it’s true. 00:46:01,380 –> 00:46:07,744 Ariel Landrum: Okay. See, as you start to think about it, you’ll start to realize so many things are black coated, but never just hot. 00:46:07,744 –> 00:46:08,225 Chance Calloway: Right. 00:46:08,225 –> 00:46:13,525 Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. It’s so funny. The jumbo book is so funny to me because it is set in in in India. 00:46:13,665 –> 00:46:15,329 Ariel Landrum: There’s no Bollywood beef. No. 00:46:15,329 –> 00:46:21,490 Stefanie Bautista: Not at all. The only Indian person you see is Mowgli, essentially, and everyone else around him is, like, I feel another 00:46:21,809 –> 00:46:22,009 Chance Calloway: Yeah. 00:46:22,210 –> 00:46:23,265 Stefanie Bautista: Another type of person. 00:46:23,345 –> 00:46:29,345 Ariel Landrum: Well, and if talking about representation of people of color, Mowgli didn’t get to be Indian because he didn’t know he was Indian. 00:46:29,345 –> 00:46:31,720 He was raised by and, yeah, he got to be animal. 00:46:31,800 –> 00:46:34,700 So he got to be the the pet human throughout the Yeah. 00:46:34,760 –> 00:46:36,060 Chance Calloway: Culturally. Culturally. 00:46:36,280 –> 00:46:40,085 Stefanie Bautista: No. Yeah. Only in the beginning and at the end when he sees a little girl. 00:46:40,244 –> 00:46:42,325 Chance Calloway: Yeah. He sings 1 of the best songs in the movie. 00:46:42,325 –> 00:46:45,625 Ariel Landrum: Yes. Yeah. For, like, few seconds. Yeah. So gorgeous. 00:46:45,845 –> 00:46:49,410 Chance Calloway: Yeah. That’s my most first place song in that soundtrack. Yeah. It’s a banger. 00:46:49,490 –> 00:46:52,609 Stefanie Bautista: It’s it is a banger. Absolutely. But Yeah. Because I think 00:46:52,690 –> 00:46:56,609 Chance Calloway: did they want, they wanted Louis Armstrong to voice King Louie, I wanna say. Yeah. 00:46:56,609 –> 00:46:59,855 Then, Lou Louis Prima did it instead because Louis Armstrong. 00:47:00,234 –> 00:47:05,454 I think I think Louis Armstrong was like, I don’t I’m not gonna play monkey. Really? Yeah. That’s what it the conversation was. 00:47:05,515 –> 00:47:12,810 Ariel Landrum: Yeah. Yeah. I would say the genie was black coated, and then the genie was Will Smith. 00:47:13,109 –> 00:47:16,069 And Will Smith was black in the movie, except for when he was a genie. 00:47:16,069 –> 00:47:17,130 Chance Calloway: And he was blue. 00:47:17,335 –> 00:47:23,355 Ariel Landrum: So is that that’s you know, though it’s not an animal, it’s still again, does it get to be their person Right. The whole movie? 00:47:23,495 –> 00:47:25,195 Stefanie Bautista: We’re thinking Robin Williams. 00:47:25,710 –> 00:47:29,410 Ariel Landrum: Well yeah. No. So the gene I think the genie Robin Williams was black coded. 00:47:29,549 –> 00:47:32,930 Chance Calloway: That’s interesting. I feel like the gene was Robin Williams coded. 00:47:33,069 –> 00:47:34,109 Ariel Landrum: Yeah. Well, yes. 00:47:34,109 –> 00:47:41,695 Chance Calloway: You know? Yeah. Yeah. Fair. I I do see that that that I never internalized it that way, but I do think there’s a lot of problematic things. 00:47:41,695 –> 00:47:49,269 I’m I hated that Will Smith was passing the role simply because slave master dynamics Gross. Really felt gross to me. And I, you know, 00:47:49,269 –> 00:47:50,395 Ariel Landrum: definitely Yes. 00:47:50,635 –> 00:47:58,395 Chance Calloway: Really hated that. So maybe even if the animated version was black coded, I I would have rejected that with every ounce of my page. 00:47:58,395 –> 00:48:00,849 Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. But no. They did a Prestige production 00:48:01,069 –> 00:48:01,190 Chance Calloway: Yes. 00:48:01,309 –> 00:48:03,710 Stefanie Bautista: For a very, very long time at California Adventure. 00:48:03,710 –> 00:48:07,995 And as far as I can remember, every single 1 of those genies was played by Blackhawk? 00:48:08,075 –> 00:48:08,395 Chance Calloway: Yeah. 00:48:08,395 –> 00:48:11,595 Ariel Landrum: Yes. And same with on Broadway yeah. On Broadway too. 00:48:11,595 –> 00:48:14,735 Chance Calloway: Yeah. Eagle Heart got the, the Tony for it. Yeah. Yeah. 00:48:14,795 –> 00:48:16,930 I still think it makes it’s icky to me. 00:48:16,930 –> 00:48:20,530 I would say that magic carpet was black coated, but I think I I don’t think it’s, like, a thing. 00:48:20,530 –> 00:48:21,490 I I think I might just say it. 00:48:21,490 –> 00:48:22,630 Stefanie Bautista: Is it because he’s sassy? 00:48:22,690 –> 00:48:23,089 Chance Calloway: Yes. 00:48:23,089 –> 00:48:28,335 Ariel Landrum: Yeah. Even in Guardians of the Galaxy. Yeah. Gamora. Gamora. Black black coated. 00:48:28,555 –> 00:48:33,535 Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. Black coated. Yes. Because I see your face. Yeah. We cannot deny that. 00:48:33,835 –> 00:48:38,860 Ariel Landrum: But again, you have to stop there and think about it because they’re they’re not main characters or promoted. 00:48:38,860 –> 00:48:40,940 Like, I didn’t even know Moon Girl came out. 00:48:40,940 –> 00:48:43,840 Like, that that would be would just showed up on by Disney plus. 00:48:44,095 –> 00:48:51,530 Although, I have, like, known about like, I knew when WandaVision was coming out, that was so heavily promoted and low key. 00:48:51,770 –> 00:48:58,730 Chance Calloway: Yeah. Even though I didn’t see Frozen, the Frozen songs were at escape. Yeah. Wish heard nothing. Yeah. 00:48:58,730 –> 00:49:04,154 And and part of me also wonders if it hap because the strike was happening at the same time. Yeah. 00:49:04,154 –> 00:49:07,194 So, you know, Ariana couldn’t go out and promote it and all those kind of things. 00:49:07,194 –> 00:49:11,210 So I felt there was a lot of different reasons why the reception was muted. 00:49:11,210 –> 00:49:17,195 But, yeah, there’s a distinct difference, I think, in how Wish was received versus their other animated films recently. 00:49:17,355 –> 00:49:24,155 Stefanie Bautista: And also the recent years, we did have to deal with the pandemic and the thought of a lot of these productions or the release, 00:49:24,155 –> 00:49:28,559 like, for Soul and for Turning Red, they were straight to streaming. 00:49:28,619 –> 00:49:33,900 They were not in the theaters because no 1 could go to the and then after that, when everything started coming back, we had 00:49:33,900 –> 00:49:37,135 a huge exponential, like, jump to all of this content. 00:49:37,515 –> 00:49:40,235 And now it’s hard to kind of, like, keep track of it all. 00:49:40,235 –> 00:49:46,850 So so many different factors that kind of dictate the way that we consume things and the way that we hear about things 00:49:46,930 –> 00:49:47,049 Chance Calloway: Yeah. 00:49:47,170 –> 00:49:50,955 Stefanie Bautista: And the level of what’s popular, what’s not, what the kids are talking about, not. 00:49:50,955 –> 00:49:54,155 And then also, how connecting you out with social media more not. 00:49:54,155 –> 00:49:57,775 Ariel Landrum: Going back to full circle about, like, how news used to take so long. 00:49:58,010 –> 00:50:04,810 It also means that if news doesn’t circulate, it doesn’t circulate now, which means that it’s part of your ethical duty. 00:50:04,810 –> 00:50:11,244 If you do want to promote voices and, encourage representation, you go back and look at the things that you 00:50:11,244 –> 00:50:16,170 Stefanie Bautista: might have missed. Yeah. Because, unfortunately, we’re not all gonna sit down and watch Cinderella on the wonderful world 00:50:16,170 –> 00:50:19,369 of Disney anymore on a Sunday evening. Right. Those times are gone. 00:50:19,369 –> 00:50:21,609 Chance Calloway: Yeah. The way we consume media is very different now. Mhmm. 00:50:21,609 –> 00:50:25,235 And, you know, like, if you’re you’re lucky, you watch something, and then it’s great. 00:50:25,235 –> 00:50:29,095 And then you tell your friends, and then they also watch it. But Yeah. That’s not always the case. 00:50:29,235 –> 00:50:34,550 Stefanie Bautista: But I think it’s very interesting, the ride we have taken Yes. And and this realization. 00:50:34,770 –> 00:50:38,115 Because listeners and we are thinking of these things in real time. 00:50:38,195 –> 00:50:38,755 Chance Calloway: Yes. Right. 00:50:38,755 –> 00:50:41,955 Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. So it’s coming to our memories as we’re remembering all of this. 00:50:41,955 –> 00:50:46,375 And I think that goes to show that they have always existed, but never highlight. 00:50:46,609 –> 00:50:53,170 And I feel like that’s really what the root of what we’re talking about is when honoring a holiday like Juneteenth, is that 00:50:53,170 –> 00:50:57,055 we need to basically have these voices rise up more Yeah. 00:50:57,135 –> 00:51:02,835 And highlight them more because they’re important voices, they are impactful, and they have shaped the way that we consume 00:51:02,895 –> 00:51:05,369 Disney medium and a lot of other things. 00:51:05,369 –> 00:51:11,549 And that just goes to show the talent and the sheer, attention that we need to give to these boys. Yeah. 00:51:11,845 –> 00:51:16,725 Chance Calloway: Disney needs to release the soundtrack to the Brandy of Whitney Houston Cinderella. 00:51:16,725 –> 00:51:17,365 Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. Absolutely. 00:51:17,365 –> 00:51:20,025 Chance Calloway: Originally, it wasn’t released because, Brandy’s 00:51:21,250 –> 00:51:22,050 Stefanie Bautista: pictures Yes. 00:51:22,050 –> 00:51:32,175 Chance Calloway: They didn’t wanna ruin, you know, her audience because of Moesha and her upcoming never say never. That’s now decades in the past. Yeah. Let’s get that on streaming. Let’s do that. 00:51:32,175 –> 00:51:33,055 Ariel Landrum: She she’s back. 00:51:33,055 –> 00:51:34,974 Chance Calloway: And she’s back. It’s not a perfect time. 00:51:34,974 –> 00:51:37,454 And and the and the movie now is on Disney plus. Absolutely. 00:51:37,454 –> 00:51:41,720 You could even get it for a very long time. So I say, yeah, release that. 00:51:41,860 –> 00:51:51,025 And then next time you give us a Disney princess that that is that is black, let’s have a black creative team. There’s some amazing black songwriters. You know? 00:51:51,025 –> 00:51:56,005 Let’s let’s give them the reigns for our next, you know, Disney Animation even besides princess. You know? 00:51:56,070 –> 00:52:01,370 If you’re giving me, like, some black characters or protagonists, let’s get some black people behind it. 00:52:01,830 –> 00:52:04,915 Even even old school, you know, guys like Stevie Wonder. 00:52:04,995 –> 00:52:08,455 Can you imagine a Stevie Wonder Disney soundtrack? Yeah. That would be amazing. 00:52:08,595 –> 00:52:11,315 Ariel Landrum: 90 fries. He’s saying, the Mulan 1. Right? 00:52:11,315 –> 00:52:13,075 Stefanie Bautista: He did Trudy Howard with 90 degrees. 00:52:13,075 –> 00:52:14,900 Ariel Landrum: Yes. The tree heart was Yeah. 00:52:15,460 –> 00:52:15,619 Chance Calloway: Yeah. 00:52:15,619 –> 00:52:17,140 Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. Yep. Yeah. Fun. Yep. 00:52:17,140 –> 00:52:19,740 Chance Calloway: They just they were on the same label at the time. 90 degrees Same. 00:52:19,880 –> 00:52:24,075 Because I only I learned that when we watched that, This is Pop. Yes. 00:52:24,315 –> 00:52:28,555 Stefanie Bautista: The just the collaborations are endless. Yeah. We have so much talent. Yeah. 00:52:28,555 –> 00:52:35,140 And we can’t wait to see, because, I mean, as we see the steady rise of representation, I feel like it can only go up. 00:52:35,140 –> 00:52:38,040 So all high hopes, all positive vibes. 00:52:38,740 –> 00:52:40,520 But this was such a great conversation. 00:52:40,819 –> 00:52:44,875 Thank you, Chance, for, you know, diving deep into our memories as always. 00:52:45,415 –> 00:52:51,990 And where can we find you and your work so our listeners can find you wherever you’re doing, what you’re doing now. 00:52:51,990 –> 00:52:53,990 And if you wanna shout that out, this is your time. 00:52:53,990 –> 00:52:59,345 Chance Calloway: Yes. Probably the easiest way to access me is through my website, chancecalloway.com. Yes. 00:52:59,345 –> 00:52:59,421 And if you are celebrating Juneteenth, DM 00:52:59,421 –> 00:53:04,845 Ariel Landrum: us and let us know what you’re going to do, where you’re going to be, you’re going to celebrate. You will find us on 00:53:07,460 –> 00:53:09,880 both IG and X @happiestpodgt. 00:53:11,619 –> 00:53:14,200 Stefanie Bautista: Alright. Thank you, everyone. We’ll see you next time. Media/Characters Mentioned Brandy Cinderella movie Black Panther Princess Tiana The Princess and the Frog The Lion King Simba Kida Wish Asha Ariana DeBose Jennifer Lewis Flo Oliver And Company Rita Beauty and the Beast Ralph Breaks the Internet The Goofy Movie Powerline Mulan Mushu Hercules The Muses Coming to America Aida Hercules (Broadway) Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Miles Morales Nick Fury Photon Raya and the Last Dragon Frozen Moana Cars Ramon Flo Song of the South Topics/Themes Mentioned Juneteenth Media representation Disney’s portrayal of Black characters Diverse representation in media Federal recognition Black coded characters Promoting diverse voices Projection representation The Transformation Trope Jim Crow Laws Website: happy.geektherapy.com | Instagram: @HappiestPodGT | X: @HappiestPodGT | Facebook: @HappiestPodGT | | Stef on X: @stefa_kneee | Ariel on Instagram: @airyell3000 | | Chance on Instagram: @crscalloway | Pretty Dudes on Instagram: @prettydudesweb| | Website: https://www.chancecalloway.com/ | Geek Therapy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that advocates for the effective and meaningful use of popular media in therapeutic, educational, and community practice. Website: www.geektherapy.org | GT Facebook: @GeekTherapy | GT Facebook Group: @GeekTherapyCommunity | GT X: @GeekTherapy | GT Discord: geektherapy.com/discord | | GT Forum: forum.geektherapy.com | The post Celebrating Juneteenth and Diversity in Disney appeared first on The Happiest Pod on Earth.