Disney’s First Latina Princess Takes the Throne

TV Kids speaks with Craig Gerber, creator and executive producer of Elena of Avalor, about the new Disney Channel series featuring the Mouse House’s first-ever Latina princess.

Elena of Avalor follows the adventures of the titular teen, who begins ruling as crown princess of a magical land until she is old enough to become queen. Disney Television Animation produces the animated show, which incorporates influences from various Latin and Hispanic cultures through music, architecture, food and customs.

***Image***“I’d been working in the world of Disney princesses [while developing and executive producing] Sofia the First,” says Craig Gerber, creator and executive producer of Elena of Avalor. “While we were dealing with all the classic princesses, it became very clear to me that there was a need for more diversity. So I started thinking about how I could integrate a Latina princess into that show and I quickly realized that there was so much excitement about the idea of a Latina Disney princess that she deserved her own show.”

Elena of Avalor makes its hour-long debut on Disney Channel in the U.S. tonight at 7 p.m. The series will then roll out in 33 languages on Disney Channels in 163 countries around the globe. Aimee Carrero serves as the voice of Princess Elena, with Constance Marie, Lou Diamond Phillips, Danny Trejo, Jaime Camil, Ivonne Coll, Tituss Burgess, Ana Ortiz and Héctor Elizondo among the guest stars.

In the fall, Disney Channel is set to premiere a special TV movie titled Elena and the Secret of Avalor, which will explain how Elena was imprisoned for decades in her magical amulet before being set free by Princess Sofia of Enchancia. “Elena of Avalor is launching as its own stand-alone series,”***Image***notes Gerber. “The show is a new series that takes place in the same universe as Sofia the First, but [it’s] about Princess Elena of Avalor and her own adventures.”

There are a number of extensions in place for Elena of Avalor beyond the small screen, including a presence at Disney parks and resorts; print and e-book titles from Disney Publishing; and dolls, role-play items, accessories, home décor and apparel from Disney Store and such licensees as Hasbro, Jakks Pacific and Franco Manufacturing. In addition, Walt Disney Records is releasing a seven-track EP featuring songs from the series on the same day as its U.S. debut, while Disney Studios will launch an episode compilation DVD later in the year.

“Disney has gotten behind Elena in a really big way and in an unprecedented way,” says Gerber. “They’re really treating Elena as if she was a princess like [Frozen’s] Anna or Elsa within the company by putting a walk-around character in the parks, and the way that they’re treating her both online and in terms of all the other things.”

With its universal themes—thoughtfulness, resilience and compassion among them—Gerber is confident that Elena of Avalor will resonate with young girls and boys around the world. He also expects the show to have a strong response in Latin American territories due to its emphasis on Latino culture. “It’s always great when children get to see themselves represented on television,” he says. “I’m hoping that Latino children are happy to see a princess that looks like them and reminds them of their own families and experiences, but I also hope that Elena resonates universally with children from all backgrounds because ultimately, it really shouldn’t matter where she comes from or what her heritage is; it should matter who she is and what kinds of stories she’s engaged in.”