SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The creators of The Little Mermaid and Aladdin are firing back at charges their new Disney cartoon is racist.

For months, The Princess and the Frog, which opens later this year, has been a subject of controversy for allegedly perpetuating African-American stereotypes.

"All the criticism has been from people who have not seen the movie, who don't know the context of the movie, who don't know the story," says Ron Clements, who is directing with longtime collaborator John Musker.

"The Internet is at a place right now where speculation tends to run rampant."

The movie's critics are rankled the film, which is set in New Orleans during the Jazz era, reportedly includes a voodoo priestess, plantations and a non-black prince for its African-American princess.

"We wanted to be as sensitive as possible," Clements said in an interview.

"When people see the movie I think a lot of the issues will go away.

"The prince is not African-American and he's not white. He's played by a Brazilian actor and he's definitely a person of colour."

Included in the film's vocal cast, he adds, are such African-American talents as Oprah Winfrey and Terrence Howard.

"The reaction we've gotten from everyone who has actually seen the movie has been very, very positive."