Angelina Jolie may dislike the lack of racial diversity in Disney movies, but she seemingly has no issues with fast food. The Oscar-winning actor says she doesn't like showing her children Disney animated films because there aren't enough minorities in them.
"Even the colour of the children in the cartoon matters," Jolie told OK! magazine (via Digital Spy). "There still isn't a Disney princess that's African and it's very difficult because our daughters are getting into princesses right now and it upsets me."
While Angelina Jolie impatiently waits for the Mouse House to put The Princess and the Frog into theatres, her latest movie Kung Fu Panda has gotten together with McDonald's.
According to PR Newswire, the fast food giant has signed a deal with DreamWorks Animation to develop Kung Fu Panda-themed Happy Meals, on sale June 6th through July 3rd. Cheeseburger-chomping children will receive one of eight toys with their meal, based on characters from the movie. Naturally, Jolie's Tigress character will be one of the eight, as well as Po the Panda (Jack Black), Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), Tai Lung (Ian McShane) and the other principle characters from the animated movie.
Kung Fu Panda Happy Meals go Online
The DreamWorks/McDonald's alliance even has an online component. Kids who click to the Happy Meals website will learn about the movie, getting active, pandas and the environment.
"The McDonald's Kung Fu Panda Happy Meal event is all about having fun," said Kathy Pyle, senior director of marketing for McDonald's USA. "We are excited to give kids the opportunity to recreate the adventures of Po and the Furious Five not only with this unique collection of Happy Meal toys, but by providing kids with an awesome online experience that is both entertaining and energizing."
The online "Kung Fu Panda party" invites kids to go on an adventure with Po the Panda and his pals in the Furious Five, try out the new hip-hop panda dance, send their friends a customized "Panda-gram," take the "Kung Fu Challenge," and put their names on the "Wall of Awesomeness."
The Kung Fu Panda-themed Happy Meal box, Apple Dippers (with "low-fat" caramel sauce) and 1% Milk Jugs, as well as restaurant tray-liners, feature digital codes that unlock new moves in the "You Kung Fu" online activity. This feature allows kids to upload their own photo and practice Kung Fu moves with Po the Panda.
(Of course, finding out exactly what's in that Happy Meal involves clicking over to the parent site, and hunting for nutritional information there. The less said about the disputed accuracy of the aforementioned nutritional information, the better.)
But, just in case parents have any worries about what McDonald's is pushing on this website, don't worry. There's a tiny blurb in cursive script that says, "Hey kids, this is advertising."
McDonald's and Conservation International for Pandas
McDonald's has also hooked up with Conservation International to teach kids about pandas, show what McDonald's and CI are doing to help save them from extinction, and to view them in the wild via a special "Panda-cam."
"Not only is the panda China's national symbol, but it's one of our planet's most beloved animals, yet few realize that less than 1,600 are left in the wild," said Peter Seligmann, chief executive officer and chairman of Conservation International. "That's why we're pleased to align with a leadership company like McDonald's who is not only supporting our work to protect pandas, but helping us deliver this important message in a unique way to inspire and empower the next generation of conservation leaders to take action to protect our environment."
Kung Fu Panda opens June 6th.
Fun Fact: McDonald's bills itself as the "leading foodservice provider in the United States serving a variety of wholesome foods made from quality ingredients." Where are Morgan Spurlock and Eric Schlosser when you need them?
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