In
the year 1937, many important
events happened. The Toyota
Motor Company was founded, the
United States issued its first
permanent automobile license,
steel workers across the country
received a raise to $5 a day,
and the world's first full-length
animated motion picture was
born: Snow White and the
Seven Dwarfs. Another important
event that happened actually
occurred at the exact same time
as Snow White's release,
people across the country were
inspired and in awe of the amazing
feat the Disney Studio had accomplished.
This was the first nudge of
the little snowball atop a giant
mountain. It started with this
film, small and tiny, slowly
expanding to making more films,
reaching other countries, and
capturing hearts around the
world. For the past five years,
the animation giant has been
dormant. But thankfully it has
awoken once again to bring another
shining jewel of a tale to the
world: The Princess and the
Frog.
The fairy tale begins
in New Orleans in the time where
jazz was blooming and thriving.
The heroine Tiana, voiced by
the talented Anika Noni Rose,
is a hardworking woman who works
two jobs in order to pursue
her dream of owning a restaurant.
While working one night at a
costume ball, she is wishing
upon a star, hoping and praying
that her dreams of owning a
restaurant will come true. Suddenly,
a frog appears and begins to
talk saying that he is Prince
Naveen, who is voiced by Bruno
Campos, and has been placed
under a horrible spell and the
only way to fix it is to receive
a kiss from a beautiful princess.
Tiana is dressed as a princess
for this party and the prince
thinks she is of true royal
blood. When they kiss, the unexpected
happens and Tiana is turned
into a frog as well. In order
become human again, the pair
must venture into the darkest
parts of the bayou to find a
way to break the spell.
Everything about this
film is unique, refreshing,
and beautiful. The animation
department did not hold back
and completely showed that they
are a talented force to reckon
with. For so long, Japanese
films have been displaying their
animation talent and making
American animation seem basic
and elementary, but certainly
not with Princess and the
Frog. Every scene is a sight
for 3D sore eyes. The characters
are all memorable and each a
refreshing new take on the usual
cookie-cutter ones. Prince Naveen
is not a stuffy prince who is
sitting atop a noble white steed;
on the contrary, he is a free
spirit who does not think about
what tomorrow will hold. Tiana
is not a maiden waiting for
her prince to save her and only
dreams of her wishes coming
true, she is hard-working and
knows you cannot sit back and
just pray for things to change.
It is a nice facelift that Disney
movies are getting and it does
not look unnatural. The only
criticism I have of this movie
is that the plot was a little
rushed. It is difficult to balance
natural story progression and
how long a child is willing
to sit down and watch a movie.
Most of the film Disney had
it nailed down, but from time
to time the story jumped to
a new area without a good progression
to that area. It is not anything
huge or forbearing in it, so
do not worry that the plot will
be hard to follow or fast. Disney
Studios have this down to a
fine, magical craft and know
how to capture a child's attention
and heart just right.
Princess and the Frog
is rated G, and is safe for
the entire family to watch.
I would highly recommend seeing
this movie if you have young
children and want them to experience
that joy in seeing a Disney
film or if you are young at
heart and have a joy for the
enchanting tales that Disney
weaves.
I give The Princess
and the Frog five out of
five sparkly tiaras. A lot of
things have happened this year,
and I hope that history remembers
the return of Disney to the
animation scene and showing
the world that the great mouse
is back and ready to inspire
the world once again.
Number of discs: 3