True. The Cinderella that English speakers know and love can be traced to the French story Cendrillon, first published in 1697 by Charles Perrault, though Chinese and Greek versions of this classic tale go back to the 9th century CE and 6th century BCE, respectively. But most of us know the original Disney versions, which were mostly taken from the Brothers Grimm (without the gory endings.)

Yes, why aren't there any old stories of various African origin? US based studios keep copying from European cultures, why won't they try something else...

Very true. However people tend to write what they know about and Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, who thought he was related to the "nobility" wrote from that point of view (according to the literature I've read). And there wasn't "color" in books back then... so we don't know her true hair color. I can't recall Anderson ever mentioning it. Wikipedia has some of the original pictures... I couldn't get them to load on BP today. Sorry. But here's the link if anyone's interested. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Mermaid

@Parmeisan, You seem to have misunderstood. I never said I liked that they cast Caucasians in other ethnic traditional roles. As an Asian, growing up in a predominantly white culture (Mulan didn't come out till I was 31), I never HAD an Asian role model or Disney princess that I could identify with -thus that is what I knew of "princesses". HOWEVER, if that is what Disney wants to do, I DO NOT see the issue with Halle playing the lead. I was just pointing out the probable reason why some of the characters that are now being portrayed by different races, have people upset. It isn't what they grew up on, thus it isn't what they imagine.

Thank you for the explanation, K. LNU. Looks like I did misunderstand.

Adriana Moreira - "The other way around" is not the same because history has been whitewashed. READ history. It is SPECIFICALLY about racism and your post is soaking in it. Shame on you. It's a FICTIONAL CHARACTER with a talking Jamaican lobster for a friend.

I don't have a problem with it but I wouldn't like it if they made a live action of Princes and the frog with a white Tiana. I mean, would you like it? Probably because it's the other way around people would complain cause it's the other way around right? Im not racist, we're all humans, we're all equal but there's something called character loyalty. And for me this girl is not ariel, just like arya in the Eragon movie (I read all the books) wasn't. Get it? It's not about racism, it's about finding the actress who will fit the role in every way. Ariel is a white red head, why not stick to it?

Why are these 3 comments being downvoted?? Kaisu, mamma g and something. Aren't making offensive points

Lol what? When? Where? I don't think so, but maybe..?

I remember you, aren’t you the idiot who complained that the art was “too plastic”?

Matt Damon's role was actually designed for him, as The Great Wall was a Chinese production and they were aiming to attract western audiences with him. The Ghost in the Shell was pure whitewashing, though, and the movie tanked because of the backlash (and because it was a bad movie).

Matt Damon was a legitimate cast within a very Chinese film. He wasn't even the one and only hero in the film to save China. As for Ghost in the Shell, that was unfair indeed. Still, a possible and interesting solution existed storywise, but they didn't use that solution, they decided to come up with a "meh" idea.

Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai... yeah I understand your point. I am not very familiar with Ghost in the Shell, but if the original character was Japanese then the live action character should have been as well. I’m not going to justify it just because they’re Caucasian actors. I am not biased and my point remains the same.

Take your comment and apply it to the situation that is relevant. It only proves my point more, it only seems to be racist when the character is caucasian. I would suggest that you learn how to read before insulting people. On top of that, you must be clueless about both the past and the present because racism applies to more than just one race, and it always has been that way. People either just choose to only relate to the culture they are associated with and ignore the rest, or are racist themselves and believe no good can be done by the ethnicity group they dislike so much. Look up the definition of racism and see for yourself. Everyone should be allowed to feel proud of their culture if they’re not hurting someone else, and feel beautiful in their own skin. To say that a particular group shouldn’t and other groups can says a lot about the person who believes that way. Quit being biased.

That's not what Nicole was saying. I understand hatred is fun, but, you chose the wrong enemy. If you need to hate anyone, go after real racists, they're still shamelessly banging their toxic neo-nazzism out there.