From “Shrek” to “Madagascar” and “How to Train a Dragon,” DreamWorks Productions has brought us classic movies that always seem to bring the family together.
This past week, DreamWorks released its new movie “Home,” starring Jim Parson, Jennifer Lopez, Steve Martin and singer Rihanna all starred in this animated film. “Home” is based on the book “The True Meaning of Smekday” about a young girl named Tip who is searching for her mother, as well as the rest of the human race, after a group of aliens called the Boov invade Earth to hide from their archenemies. She befriends a klutzy alien named Oh, and the dynamic duo set on a quest to save the world and themselves.
While this particular plot may seem very similar to ones produced before, what is different about this movie is the main character. Tip is the first black protagonist in a movie DreamWorks has ever produced, and it’s a big deal. She has brown skin, green eyes and a head full of curls —exactly what other animated icons don’t have and the physical attributes that some young girls can connect with.
Because the world is evolving into a universal melting pot, full of mixed races and blended families, it’s important that production companies such as DreamWorks, Paramount, Disney and others mirror the images of the people around them. Having a black main character in the movie assures the younger generation that heroes don’t necessarily have one particular look; they come in all shapes, colors and sizes. The young girls who favor these heroes are now more inclined to grow up with a greater sense of purpose and confidence compared to girls whose favorite characters don’t look like them.
The last black protagonist in an animated film was Princess Tiana from the Disney production “The Princess and the Frog” back in 2009. While this movie was praiseworthy for introducing the first black princess, it received quite a lot of backlash for the role Tiana actually played. Throughout the majority of the movie, Tiana was seen as a frog.
What’s so great about “Home” is that Tip has very similar traits to island gal Rihanna. She mirrors her sassiness, confidence and even comes from the same country as the award-winning singer: Barbados. Rihanna stated in an interview, “We wanted girls to just feel strong and brave and empowered and beautiful and like they can do anything. And they can take charge of their life or their situation no matter what,” and that’s exactly what this movie exemplifies. Representation matters, and “Home” definitely shows that.
Photo Credit: Printed with permission from Teyonah Parris
