For Disney, a Younger Princess
By BROOKS BARNESLOS ANGELES — The Disney princesses exert a powerful hold on the imaginations of many girls, influencing everything from how they play to what they wear. Some parents think they can also send the wrong message to girls — that life isn't complete without Prince Charming, for instance.
So how will a new Disney princess aimed squarely at preschoolers go over?
This week the company plans to announce "Sofia the First," a television movie and series centered on a girl princess. It's a first: Disney's princesses until now have all been adults (Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and so on).
"Sofia the First" will play on both Disney Channel and Disney Junior, a channel aimed at children ages 2 to 7 that is set to make its debut in the coming months. The company's hope, of course, is for the character to spawn all kinds of consumer products. It's a solid business bet; the Disney Princess toy line generates about $4 billion in annual retail sales.
But Disney is also keenly aware of the potential for criticism and emphasizes that "Sofia the First" will focus on learning and what it says are age-appropriate themes. Lessons will include the importance of getting along with siblings and how to be a kind and generous person.
Sofia will have "plenty of pretty dresses and sparkly shoes," said Nancy Kanter, general manager for Disney Junior Worldwide, but episodes will teach viewers that "what makes a real princess is what's inside, not what's outside."
Ms. Kanter said Disney had high hopes for the series, partly because focus groups reacted with "uniform positivity." "We saw girls have an instant relatability to this character," Ms. Kanter said. "If kids relate to what they watch — if they can put themselves in that world — that's where real learning can start."
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