Disney's first Latina princess, Elena, takes her bow on TV
The series' look, style and sound are shaped by a variety of old and new Latino and Hispanic cultures, but the dialogue is in English save for a sprinkling of Spanish words and phrases, such as the endearment "mija."
Elena, voiced by Aimee Carrero, is an appealing hero for the show's 2-to-11 target audience and beyond, a combination of intelligence, empathy and daring, and with a magic amulet to back it up.
Even pre-debut, the company has backed its commitment with products (dolls, accessories, apparel, an upcoming record and DVD) and the inclusion of the Elena character at Florida's Walt Disney World Resort this summer and California's Disneyland Resort this fall.
Other engaging characters include a Harry Potter-like wizard in training, Mateo (Joseph Haro), and a harbor master's daughter, a spunky blonde named Naomi (Jillian Rose Reed) who befriends Elena.
Computer-generated animation is used to create a fairy tale kingdom that, based on consultants' research, reflects varied cultures and influences including from the pre-Colombian and colonial eras, Gerber said.
[...] do the inhabitants of Avalor and its visitors, which include Zuzo, Elena's spirit guide drawn from the beliefs of a Mayan tribe, and shapeshifters inspired by Chilean mythology but with a touch of Disney cuteness.
The music featured in each episode — "Elena plays guitar as well as sings, which is something all Disney princesses must do," Gerber notes, wryly — covers the gamut of Latin styles including mariachi, salsa and banda and extends into R&B, rock and pop.