Say Hello to Elena of Avalor, Disney’s Newest Princess
Disney Junior has a new princess on the scene. Meet Elena, Disney’s first Latina princess and a 16-year-old ascendant to the throne of the fairytale kingdom of Avalor—the same universe as Disney Junior’s Sofia the First.
The stories incorporate a wide range of Latin and Hispanic cultural points and references—Chilean mythology, Mayan spirituality, and plenty of Latin Pop, Salsa, Mariachi and other sounds. Adults might recognize that Elena’s palace is vaguely Spanish colonial, that animals seem native to Latin America, and that character’s magical spells have Mayan glyphs. It’s a buffet of Hispanic culture—an intentionally multicultural world meant for a more modern princess.
When we first meet Elena she is just assuming her royal duties as a crown princess, and we follow her adventures, trials, and mistakes as she learns ands grows into a thoughtful and kind leader. In fact, leadership, compassion, resilience and thoughtfulness are the core themes of the show.
‘I look at princesses as superheroes with tiaras for little girls,’ says series creator and executive producer Craig Gerber (who also worked Sofia the First). ‘Whenever you write a character that can be looked at as a role model, there’s a responsibility to make them a character worth looking up to.’
A colourful cast of characters, including a troupe of magical flying creatures called jaquins (which look like winged jaguars), provide guidance and support.
Elena of Avalor premiered on the Disney Channel on Friday, July 22 at 7 pm.
