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When I was a kid, the release of a new animated feature was a pretty big deal. After all, with all of those frames to draw, animated films took an eternity to produce. But then along came Toy Story—and those crazy geniuses over at Pixar introduced the world to the joys of digital animation. Almost immediately, people started pronouncing the death of traditional, hand-drawn animation—and even Disney started making the transition. Now, new digitally-animated films (many of them in head-spinning 3D) seem to hit theaters every other week. But while I do enjoy a good digitally-animated feature, there’s still nothing quite as magical as a Disney animated fairy tale.
Fortunately, Disney hasn’t packed away its drawing boards yet. Directors Ron Clements and John Musker—the guys responsible for two of my favorite Disney movies (The Little Mermaid and Aladdin)—have returned with The Princess and the Frog, Disney’s first hand-drawn feature since 2004’s Home on the Range. And it was well worth the wait.
Anika Noni Rose stars as the voice of Tiana, a hard-working young woman from New Orleans. Ever since she was a little girl, Tiana has shared her father’s dream of starting a restaurant—and since her father died, she’s been even more determined to make it happen. While other kids her age are going out and having a good time, Tiana is working two jobs, saving her pennies. She’s almost there, too—until she’s outbid on the rundown old building that was supposed to be hers.
But Tiana’s not the only one who’s looking for a little extra cash. Prince Naveen of Maldonia (Bruno Campos) has come to New Orleans looking for a wealthy bride to support him. Instead, he finds Dr. Facilier (Keith David), who uses a bit of voodoo to turn the prince into a frog. The solution seems simple: just get a princess to kiss him. But Tiana is no princess—and when she reluctantly kisses him, she turns into a frog, too. And that sends them on a journey through the bayou to find the old woman who can change them back.
The Princess and the Frog evokes the enchantment of Disney’s most beloved fairy tales. It’s the kind of big deal movie that I remember from when I was young—the kind that I’d watch in wide-eyed wonder and pure, dumbfounded delight.
From the first few frames of the film, you’ll know that you’re in for something special. It may be missing that third dimension that so many animated movies boast these days, but there’s nothing flat about The Princess and the Frog. The artwork is vivid and lifelike (maybe even better than lifelike). And I’m pretty sure that no computer animation team could make the French Quarter look quite this dreamy and romantic.
The characters, too, are more alive than many of the characters in live-action movies. From hard-working, single-minded Tiana and party boy Naveen to supporting characters like Louis, the trumpet-playing gator (voiced by Michael-Leon Wooley), and Ray, the Cajun firefly (Jim Cummings), each has his or her strengths and weaknesses, hopes and dreams. You’ll understand them, you’ll relate to them, and you’ll fall in love with each one.
Meanwhile, though the story tends to follow the standard Disney fairy tale formula (and, at times, it feels a lot like The Little Mermaid), it still has its own personality—and plenty of jazzy, New Orleans style. The writing is clever and funny (with only one obligatory fart joke). And it has more heart than most of the movies I’ve seen all year.
The Princess and the Frog will remind you of everything you’ve ever loved about your favorite Disney fairy tales—from the vibrant animation to the catchy, toe-tapping soundtrack. It’s delightfully musical…it’s instantly memorable…and it’s absolutely magical. Perfect for princesses of all ages.
Blu-ray Review:
Whenever the UPS delivery guy shows up at my door, I’m pretty eager to see what he’s got for me. Is it a new book to read? A new movie to watch? I’m often tempted to race to the door like a kid on Christmas morning (but I’m a grown-up, so I don’t). But I’ll admit that the day when he delivered my shiny new copy of Disney’s The Princess and the Frog was even more exciting than most—because I couldn’t wait to pop it into my Blu-ray player and experience that hand-drawn Disney magic all over again.
The three-disc combo release of Disney’s The Princess and the Frog includes Blu-ray, DVD, and digital versions of the film—as well as a whole army of extras. Blu-ray extras include storyboards for four deleted scenes, Ne-Yo’s video for “Never Knew I Needed,” loads of art galleries, and a number of short making-of featurettes, which explore several aspects of the filmmaking process. The featurettes cover specific characters and their voices, the music of Randy Newman (and its New Orleans influence), Tiana’s supervising animator Mark Henn (who also worked on The Little Mermaid’s Ariel, Beauty and the Beast’s Belle, and other beloved Disney princesses), and the “Nine Old Men” of Disney’s animation studios. There’s also a few fascinating features about the film’s live action reference footage—including the original eccentric dance choreography, the storyboards, and the final animation of Mama Odie’s “Dig a Little Deeper” scene.
The disc also includes a couple of longer features, including a commentary track, in which directors Ron Clements and John Musker and producer Peter Del Vecho discuss the nearly four-year filmmaking process, from pitch to premiere. But if you’re not one for director commentaries, though, you can learn some of the same information from Magic in the Bayou: The Making of a Princess, which also delves into just about every step of the process—from early animation tests to animation influences.
And, finally, for little princesses, there’s a Princess Portraits game that tests players’ recognition of Disney’s favorite princesses.
Of course, even without the extras, The Princess and the Frog is a magical, musical must-own for any fan of Disney animation. But the behind-the-scenes look at the process—and the people who made it happen—only adds to the release. If you can get the kids to stop watching the movie over and over again, be sure to take some time to explore the extras.
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