The Princess and the Frog

[Dragon Turtle]

Disney's upcoming 2D animated movie:

http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/07/30/disneys-return-to-2d-animation-the-prince-and-the-frog-teaser-trailer/

[Tinuvielsdreams]

Yes! Finally back to Traditional. I love her facial expressions, she reminds me a bit, facially, of nani from Lilo and Stitch.
Haha not sure about that toothless firefly though? Kinda poking at that southern stereotype thing again. I am surprised he didn't have a banjo
It's looks cute though, "How about a handshake" :lol:

[DrSpengler]

Was that Jim Cummings as the firefly?

Anyhow, the animation looked great. The frog's expressions alone screamed good old fashioned classic Disney.

Looking forward to this as much now as I was before.

[Mandi-chan]

Think it looks cute.

Love that it's 2D animated (really miss that), like the new princess, and am thrilled to see that Jim Cummings is in it (he's my favorite voice actor, followed by Rob Paulsen and Billy West).

[Raph's Girl]

I've been watching this movie develop for the last couple years.. Should be interesting. The first American princess for Disney...and the first African princess too. It's set in 1920's New Orleans.

I kinda liked it better when her name was Maddy tho instead of Tiana. Ah well.

The cast is:
Anika Noni Rose - Princess Tiana (The 19-year-old heroine.)
Jennifer Cody - Charlotte La Bouff (An 18-year-old spoiled, southern debutante and diva)
Keith David - Dr. Facilier (A Voodoo magician/fortune teller. The villain of the movie)
Jenifer Lewis - Mama Odie (A 200-year-old Voodoo priestess/fairy Godmother)
Jim Cummings - Ray (Love sick firefly)
Michael-Leon Wooley - Louis (Jazz singer alligator. Comic, manic, high-strung. Has a trumpet.)
Bruno Campos - Prince Naveen (A gregarious, fun-loving Prince who comes to the French Quarter for the Jazz scene, in his early twenties. A young Cary Grant type.)
Peter Bartlett - Lawrence (Prince Naveen's pompous valet.)
John Goodman - Eli "Big Daddy" La Bouff (Charlotte's dad. Rich and owns a Sugar mill)
Angela Bassett - Eudora (Tiana's mother)

Randy Newman's of course doing the music.

[Harukuro]

Oh man I can't WAIT to see this movie. :D It's so awsome to see a good traditional Disney animated movie again. Extra points for Jim Cummings being in it. (he's one of my fav voice actors ;))

[Raph's Girl]

Oh man I can't WAIT to see this movie. :D It's so awsome to see a good traditional Disney animated movie again. Extra points for Jim Cummings being in it. (he's one of my fav voice actors ;))

Then u should be happy that Jim Cummings will soon be heard as the voice of King Triton in the Little Mermaid III (out Aug 26th) :P

[Drtooth]

Was that Jim Cummings as the firefly?

I wouldn't doubt it. The guy spent a lot of his life in Lousiana... he was in a lot of Mardis Gras parades... so of course he would have a wonderful cajiun accent... like he did when he played Leatherhead.

Anyway, the film looks okay. Not too much to go on. But this is such a highly anticipated film. Look at how they wound up screwing up 2-D for the longest time. They even planned it so Brother Bear and Home on the Range were their last 2-D films. And the only reason they had their own CGI studio at the time was because they didn't think they'd wind up buying Pixar. I mean, Chicken Little was a sweet little film, but their others have been misses. I REALLY hated Dinosaur.

[poiuytre]

It's nice to see a traditionally animated movie again, but I'm not really feeling this so far. I mean I like Disney movies, but I'm a little disappointed by this being yet another formulaic looking princessy flick. I thought the old princess design was also more fitting for the theme and time-period, so why did they change it? She went from a cool mature looking African-American jazz-era woman to a racially ambiguous Hispanic-Caucasian-Asian-African teenage girl.

But who am I kidding? I'll go see it anyway cause it's 2D animated and I feel the need to support it. I just hope the next trailer can win my heart over for real.

[DrSpengler]

Keith David - Dr. Facilier (A Voodoo magician/fortune teller. The villain of the movie)

Win. It's about damn time he voiced a Disney villain.

[Drtooth]

It's nice to see a traditionally animated movie again, but I'm not really feeling this so far. I mean I like Disney movies, but I'm a little disappointed by this being yet another formulaic looking princessy flick.


Hey, it was a nice formula, until they added Pocahauntus to the list and started making it predictable. Critics were all over Disney for making princess movies, but as soon as they made something different, they were criticized for not doing princess films. And it really was a double edged sword.

Another thing I'd like to add... of course it took them so long to do an African American princess film. All the fairy tales that people have known and love are from Europe and the middle ages to the 1800's. The hub of whiteness.

I'm surprised they didn't do another African tale, similar to the Lion King, but with a more human cast.

[NameGoesHere1066]

thankyou we are finnally getting back on tract with the decent animation in Disney instead of all this ugly computer animated crap. This looked really good, I hope since this is hand drawn that they can reclaim the glory and nostalgia of Disney's past master pieces of hand drawn movies.

And I think that sistah looks really pretty. About time they had a black herion in the disney line-up.

[Machias Banshee]

Man, I wish Masked Ninja was around to comment on this. I know they Love the good 2-D animation as much as I do... :D

Maybe this movie'll be a good sign for Disney to realize that people want the traditional art. Anyone can mess around with a computer. It takes REAL skill to animate by hand..

This story kinda hints of Cinderella. She's not the 'traditional' princess like Jasmine or Snow White, but more like how Belle became a 'princess' by marriage. I kinda thought they would do an African location as well, but I'm sure New Orleans will like the bit of attentions...

*that frog SO reminds me of my dad...*

[Jelly Bean]

Oh my gosh, it's Jean Bob from the Swan Princess! :D

[MadPirateBunny]

hehe

This looks great. In a computer era I'm so glad they're going back to their roots of hand drawn!

[Drtooth]

hehe

This looks great. In a computer era I'm so glad they're going back to their roots of hand drawn!


Especially with random third parties oversaturizing the market with generic fodder like Fly me to the Moon and Space Chimps.

Still disappointed we didn;t get any way shape and form of Asterix and the Vikings... not even on DVD... considering they used an American voice cast, and aired it at an American film festilval. I saw various trailers... the animation was beautiful. Ditto the Lucky Luck movie from France.

[cqb101]

I'm looking forward to this.

[Ra]

I am realy excited about this. It's been eons since I've seen a traditionally drawn movie up on the big screen. The trailer was pretty cute as well ('til the firefly turned up. Damn that thing annoyed me). Hopefully Disney will keep the traditional 2D animation medium alive after the release of this one. :)

[NameGoesHere1066]

wasn't there a diffrent design for the african princess than the one they have here? I've been seeing alot of debate about how the orgins of the princess has changed to that of a society girl from a supposed chamber maid named Maddie.

:roll:

Leave it to my people to making a racist thing out of all this.

[Raph's Girl]

wasn't there a diffrent design for the african princess than the one they have here? I've been seeing alot of debate about how the orgins of the princess has changed to that of a society girl from a supposed chamber maid named Maddie.

:roll:

Leave it to my people to making a racist thing out of all this.

Yeah. She was originally a chamber maid named Maddie.

This is her original look (I took the picture from when the original article aired in 07 and kept it)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/Dierna/Maddie.jpg

And now this is Princess Tiana:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/46/Frogprincess2.jpg

From wikipedia:
There was some controversy when the name of the heroine of the movie (the first Black American Disney Princess) was announced as "Maddy". The character's name was perceived by some to be a stereotypically lower-class "black name", and the character was also a chambermaid, an occupation some felt not in keeping with the image of a Disney Princess.

WTF??? A chambermaid is an occupation some felt not in keeping with the image of a Disney Princess?! Um... Cinderella anyone?!

As for the name Maddie....how is that a stereotypical black name??? WTF?! I have never heard of any black person with that name!! Maddie is short for Madeline. You know.. Madeline Albright, Madeline Pryor, Madeline the little French orphan... :ohwell:

[NameGoesHere1066]

personaly I like the design on Tiana, her look is more smooth and refined, like most of Disney's 2D artwork. The Maddie one looks more simplistic and stylised and I'm sick of seeing "cutting corners" 2D animation. Though I do like Maddie's hair jewelry.

I'm just sick of the bickering. Disney finnally gets a fellow sistah as a herion and my people start bitching that they gave her a slave name like Maddie and made her and oppressed African American woman by making her a chamber maid and how racist it was. Now their complaining that they made her a priness with a white girls name as princess that barely looks African American, and that Disney's new portrayal is racist because taking out all the African aspects about the herion and that they are afraid to tackle a true African american style princess. And that with all the changes she may as well be white instead of black, so their racist.

I'm getting sick of it, sometimes my people really make it hard to for black people to be involved with anything because they let that chip on their shoulder dictate every thing and suddenly nothing is good enough.

Sorry about the rant people. :(

[Mecha Cow]

Didn't this take place in New Orleans? What is she a princess of? o_O

[poiuytre]

Have you never seen My Super Sweet 16? North America has lots of princesses.

[Mecha Cow]

That show does not exist.

[Machias Banshee]

Sorry about the rant people. :(

Don't worry about it, hun... that's what the thread's here for - opinions and commentary. ;)


As for the first picture of 'Maddie', the dress and hair looks very time-appropriate for how people dressed back then, with the whole 'flapper' look and everything:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/drama/images/20s.jpg

Flapper info (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flapper)

It'd be kinda neat if they keep close to the flapper look and it comes back into fashion... 8)

The location and time of the story kinda boggles me - New Orleans isn't your usual 'princess' location. Though I'd never be sure if there'd be an uproar if it took place in Nigeria or something...


The 'Tiana' look is more of the usual 'fairy princess' style that Most of the Disney princesses have (except for Pocahontas, Mulan maybe..?) Very simple, very pretty. I really hope we get some more sneak peeks soon... *loves 2-D animation*

[Raph's Girl]

Didn't this take place in New Orleans? What is she a princess of? o_O

Yeah. Takes place in 1920's New Orleans.

She's the Princess of um er umm....probably a disposed princess sent to live in America for her safety or something. Would explain why she just has a mother and not a father. Course that's a first for a Disney princess. Her mother is alive....ok so Sleeping Beauty's mom was alive too but she's the only one with BOTH parents alive. *thinks* Unless you count Ariel's daughter...she's a princess with both parents alive....

Im surprised people aren't complaining about the name of the Prince. His name was originally Harry but now it's Naveen.

[Mecha Cow]

Why would anyone complain about that? They probably changed it to avoid references to the actual Prince Harry.

[Ra]

Probably. You know how anal some people get about small things like that nowadays. *sighs*

[Sage Ninja]

Yeah. She was originally a chamber maid named Maddie.

This is her original look (I took the picture from when the original article aired in 07 and kept it)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/Dierna/Maddie.jpg

And now this is Princess Tiana:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/46/Frogprincess2.jpg

From wikipedia:


WTF??? A chambermaid is an occupation some felt not in keeping with the image of a Disney Princess?! Um... Cinderella anyone?!

As for the name Maddie....how is that a stereotypical black name??? WTF?! I have never heard of any black person with that name!! Maddie is short for Madeline. You know.. Madeline Albright, Madeline Pryor, Madeline the little French orphan... :ohwell:

I agree, but to be honest I rather like both of them, I would have been fine with eigther. But like some one else said on here I think the first version looks too simplistic and the current final version looks of better quality and more fluid.

[NameGoesHere1066]

you know what I think is funny about the first version and the second version of the princess? The newer Princess looks like if she let her hair down and put on the same head jewelery as the first pic, she would just about the same. The features on both seem about the same so I still don't get all the bitching. :-?

[Drtooth]

I'm just sick of the bickering. Disney finnally gets a fellow sistah as a herion and my people start bitching that they gave her a slave name like Maddie and made her and oppressed African American woman by making her a chamber maid and how racist it was. Now their complaining that they made her a priness with a white girls name as princess that barely looks African American, and that Disney's new portrayal is racist because taking out all the African aspects about the herion and that they are afraid to tackle a true African american style princess. And that with all the changes she may as well be white instead of black, so their racist.

Hey, this is America. We're the head up our butts being politically correct country. We have to make sure we don't offend one person or we'll get one letter. And one letter equals elevinty billion angry people.

So the complaint is that she was too black. then they took the black out of her so it wouldn't seem racist, and it's just as racist? This is why I hate Anti-defamation leagues. Now, listen, I am not racist. I hate everyone reguardless of nationality, and all humans are equally inferior (Yeah, I watch too many cartoons about evil aliens)... but it seems to me these special interrest groups are so weak and lazy, they go after an entertainment company, whine and whine until they get their way, and have an inferior shoddy product. Yet, they let major social injustices slide under their noses, since it would require EFFORT to change.

I guess it's just easier for a company like Disney to fold to avoid bad publicity than to try to stomp out ACTUAL hatred and negative attitudes from hate groups...

[DrSpengler]

I guess it's just easier for a company like Disney to fold to avoid bad publicity than to try to stomp out ACTUAL hatred and negative attitudes from hate groups...

Hey, remember that movie Song of the South?

Of course you don't. That movie doesn't exist. DOESN'T EXIST! So sayeth The Disney!!

[Drtooth]

Hey, remember that movie Song of the South?

Of course you don't. That movie doesn't exist. DOESN'T EXIST! So sayeth The Disney!!


Hey, a happy go lucky slave is about as tolerant as Walt ever got! :tcouch:

[ThirdMarioBro]

I really don't give a damn what they do. Since Ron Clements and John Musker are directing, they already sold my ticket.

[NameGoesHere1066]

Song of the south? I think I used to have a picture book about that when I was little. I barely remember it though, can some one refresh my memory on what that was about? My mom has always been big on black pride and I remember her taking my picture book and tape cassette that read it to me, and throwing them out. I remember how I cried when she threw them out right in front of me. :cry: I heard a rumour about it being briefly considered of running Song of the South as a short before the the actual movie when the Princess and the Frog debuted in theaters but it was scrapped, because they didn't want to make the associat the new movie with something as racist as Song of the South.

[Drtooth]

I find it hillarious that people still snarf and snort at that film at Disney, yet they totally ignore the fact their movies stared white folk only for the longest time. I'm talking the live ation ones in the 50's...

Somehow this reminds me of the story of Ralph Bakshi's film "Harlem Nights" (which had a different name). it was considered racist somehow, but they employed African American animators, while Disney was still highering only whites. Now, I'm not sure how true this story is, but seems to me, one group was intentionally hurting someone, and it wasn't Ralph...

[Jester]

Heck, how is Song of the South more racist than Dumbo (the jive talking crows) or even Peter Pan (the totally stereotypical Native American caricatures). If we're gonna go crazy and throw out one Disney movie because it's racist, then a lot of others would have to be cut or removed entirely also.

[Drtooth]

Heck, how is Song of the South more racist than Dumbo (the jive talking crows) or even Peter Pan (the totally stereotypical Native American caricatures). If we're gonna go crazy and throw out one Disney movie because it's racist, then a lot of others would have to be cut or removed entirely also.


That "what made the Red man Red" thing made me red... such an embarassment. And they didn't alter it at all when they aired it on ABC 3 weeks ago. But they still somehow think that the only time Disney was being tolerant was more offensive than when he was being intollerant.

I really think they shouldn't turn it into a "Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarves" thing. Hey, they might as well recall every copy of Huckelberry Finn and rename him "Upstanding African American Person Jim." It's more racist to keep that locked up. We need these things to remember how intollerant everyone was. We need reminders of the time. And putting it the closet because a few 2 year olds might not understand?

Jeez... they treat the film as if it were a KKK recruitment film.

[NameGoesHere1066]

That "what made the Red man Red" thing made me red... such an embarassment. And they didn't alter it at all when they aired it on ABC 3 weeks ago. But they still somehow think that the only time Disney was being tolerant was more offensive than when he was being intollerant.

Jeez... they treat the film as if it were a KKK recruitment film.

I think they let that fly because of the Pochahontas (I know I butchered that spelling) back in 95.

If you want to talk sterotypes how come Mulan doesn't get bashed. There is some asian sterotypes in there to, what with every one saying "**insert name** you dishonor meeeee" :roll:

[Jester]

Heck, racism didn't keep Columbia from releasing the old Batman serials...man those are funny because of their ridiculous racial stereotypes.

It's kinda like what Mel Brooks said about doing Springtime for Hitler in The Producers, what better way to disarm evil then by laughing at it...although to be fair those films weren't meant to be funny...but you can now, seeing as how much American society has changed (and how much it has sadly stayed the same.)

[Drtooth]

If you want to talk sterotypes how come Mulan doesn't get bashed. There is some asian sterotypes in there to, what with every one saying "**insert name** you dishonor meeeee" :roll:

Here's an off topic pondering...

earlier this year a commercial for Sales Genie or something got pulled because it was considered racist, since Pandas talked with Chinese accents and lived in pagodas... however, I've noticed no one say anything about the Skittles "Sour Man" commercial, or the ads for Six flags when a guy with a heavy accent proclaims "Six Fwags! Mo' Fwags, mo fun" when the joke clearly rests on the fact he has a funny accent. That last one is especially nasty, if you ask me, and no one has done crap about it.

[NameGoesHere1066]

the age old double standard. If it's ment to be funny it ok, because it's supposed to make you laugh, and evrey one knows it'sa not to be taken seriously. If it is done in a sincere way then it's racist because your saying that is how they really are. It's all perception.

another off topic tid bit on racism and intolerance. Why is it appectable or ok to say something about one group of people but not another? This really pissed my off last week when my white guy friend was laughing at a joke I made about black pop culture all my other friends where laughing (mostly black like me) but my when they noticed my white guy friend laughing too, suddenly it became an issue and my loud mouthed girl friend started busting his chops over why he was laughing. And she went on a rant (making my white buddy really uncomfertable) on how all rascism was bad and no one had the right to say anything about any one. All he did was laugh at a joke I made about my people and he got his ass chewed out because he dared laugh at a joke in a room full of black people. I thought this was tottally hypcritical because my girl friend, who was going off on racism rant, is one of the most racist people I know, she is always making snide remarks about white people, asian people, hispanic people, and is forever doing impressions of people with mental handicaps. But heaven forbid should a white guy laugh at a good natured joke about black pop culture. I had to tell her to shut her mouth and got into a yelling match over this. People are sickening sometimes.

[Sage Ninja]

you know if the Disney wanted to do a story involving an African Princess they should have taken an actual African location with characters to the big screen instead of doing a typical fairy tale that ushauly has white protaganist and making her black, just so they can go "hey every one it's our first black Disney Princess" hur hur hur.

I was just watching an episode of Gargoyals where Goliath and Elisa are on thier journey around world from Avolan and they end up in Africa and they meet up with Elisa's mother, and Elsa's mother ends up telling some village kids an African folk story about a Panther who gets turned into a beautiful woman by a spider.

Well I was watching this, and I have no idea if this was just fabricated for just the show or if it's in fact a real African folk tale, but I thought "wow, wouldn't this make an awsome 2D animated movie involving an African princess"? The way it's told in the show was so awsome. A vain female panther angers a evil magical spider and gets turned into a human woman as punishment, and has to live out her life as a woman and sereve the spider by building a city to dedicate him and ends up marrying a Cheif to achieve this and has human children with him, but is torn between being a panther again and being seprated from her children, but is given the choice to turn one of her human children into a panter like her. That would have made an awsome theatrical Disney movie in the 2D animated style with an African Princess. It has all the elements of meaty plot and full length movie.

[Jester]

the age old double standard. If it's ment to be funny it ok, because it's supposed to make you laugh, and evrey one knows it'sa not to be taken seriously. If it is done in a sincere way then it's racist because your saying that is how they really are. It's all perception.

another off topic tid bit on racism and intolerance. Why is it appectable or ok to say something about one group of people but not another? This really pissed my off last week when my white guy friend was laughing at a joke I made about black pop culture all my other friends where laughing (mostly black like me) but my when they noticed my white guy friend laughing too, suddenly it became an issue and my loud mouthed girl friend started busting his chops over why he was laughing. And she went on a rant (making my white buddy really uncomfertable) on how all rascism was bad and no one had the right to say anything about any one. All he did was laugh at a joke I made about my people and he got his ass chewed out because he dared laugh at a joke in a room full of black people. I thought this was tottally hypcritical because my girl friend, who was going off on racism rant, is one of the most racist people I know, she is always making snide remarks about white people, asian people, hispanic people, and is forever doing impressions of people with mental handicaps. But heaven forbid should a white guy laugh at a good natured joke about black pop culture. I had to tell her to shut her mouth and got into a yelling match over this. People are sickening sometimes.
It really becomes more about laughing at the racist than at the racism....but it's also a fine fine line. Like you said, as long as there's this unwritten code of double standards, then we'll never get to a point where we can at least live in some sort of harmony.

*hums Avenue Q's "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist."*

[Raph's Girl]

I was just watching an episode of Gargoyals where Goliath and Elisa are on thier journey around world from Avolan and they end up in Africa and they meet up with Elisa's mother, and Elsa's mother ends up telling some village kids an African folk story about a Panther who gets turned into a beautiful woman by a spider.

Well I was watching this, and I have no idea if this was just fabricated for just the show or if it's in fact a real African folk tale.

Ah.. you're talking about the incident with Anansi the Spider (who was voiced by LaVar Burton! :D). Trickster/Creator god in many cultures around the world. Not just Africa but the Americas as well. Altho to some Native American tribes he's actually a good spirit. "Anansi and the Creation of the World"...it was the first book I ever read when I was 5. I'll always remember that for some reason.

And incidentally Song of the South's tale of the Tar baby is based on an Anansi story. Brer Rabbit = Anansi

The story of Anansi and the Panther tho is not an actual African tale. Greg Weisman admited in his blog that he made the story up. Anansi mostly deals with Jaguars in the stories I've read about him. He's currently a big bad in DC Comics. Having been pulling the strings and seemingly changing the powers of Vixen and Animal Man

[Drtooth]

you know if the Disney wanted to do a story involving an African Princess they should have taken an actual African location with characters to the big screen instead of doing a typical fairy tale that ushauly has white protaganist and making her black, just so they can go "hey every one it's our first black Disney Princess" hur hur hur.

I was just watching an episode of Gargoyals where Goliath and Elisa are on thier journey around world from Avolan and they end up in Africa and they meet up with Elisa's mother, and Elsa's mother ends up telling some village kids an African folk story about a Panther who gets turned into a beautiful woman by a spider.

Well I was watching this, and I have no idea if this was just fabricated for just the show or if it's in fact a real African folk tale, but I thought "wow, wouldn't this make an awsome 2D animated movie involving an African princess"? The way it's told in the show was so awsome. A vain female panther angers a evil magical spider and gets turned into a human woman as punishment, and has to live out her life as a woman and sereve the spider by building a city to dedicate him and ends up marrying a Cheif to achieve this and has human children with him, but is torn between being a panther again and being seprated from her children, but is given the choice to turn one of her human children into a panter like her. That would have made an awsome theatrical Disney movie in the 2D animated style with an African Princess. It has all the elements of meaty plot and full length movie.


Words...taken...out of mouth.

That's exactly the problem... Isn't there some African tale about a Princess they could use instead of just taken one of the few stories they didn't touch and plopping some African Americans in it to look PC? European Stories= White cast. Not really a huge stretch. There are amazing tales all over the world without having to semi-modernize an old European tale.

Or HEY! They could make one up themselves. or an entire Non-fairytale story about African American kids...

But on the subject of Disney Princesses, why is Mulan up there? I recall her NOT being a princess... and she winds up marrying (as far as the story is concerned) a General, not a Prince....

All the others either were born or became princesses. though, Wouldn't Belle be a queen?

[Raph's Girl]

All the others either were born or became princesses. though, Wouldn't Belle be a queen?

Beast was a Prince not a King. In the original tale Belle was a princess. The Prince's father died when he was young and his mother left him to be raised by this evil fairy who tried to seduce him. He refused her "offer" so she turned him into a beast. Belle is the daughter of a King and the same evil fairy. But she was raised by a merchant for her protection.

Technically Pocahontas isn't a Princess but the daughter of a Chief. And yet both Pocahontas and Mulan are amongst the Disney princesses. Despite Pocahontas and Mulan being historical folk who were technically not Princesses. They didn't need to make sequel upon Sequel about Mulan either.

Course Disney ruined both the stories of Pocahontas and Mulan.

Mulan was a legendary figure in China who saved China from Mongols. That did happen. I have a friend who lived in the town Mulan was from. There's a shrine in her honor. I just wish the Disney film had mentioned the 6th century poem about her where it states she was in disguise for 12 years.

Don't even get me started on Disney's farce of Pocahontas...especially Pocahontas II... Ugh... fraking movie pisses me off to no end. Go read "Pocahontas: True Princess" or see "The New World". Those are more accurate. I guess Disney couldn't make a movie about a Native girl who becomes a Christian, is renamed Rebecca, marries John Rolf, has his kid, and dies in the end.

Course in the original Little Mermaid story she dies of a broken heart and becomes a wind goddess.

I just remembered something. The story of Cinderella originated in Africa with an Greek slave girl named Rhodopis who marries the Pharoah Amasis II/Ahmose II (a real 26th Dynasty pharoah).

[Raph's Girl]

Looks like there's a casting change. No explination as to why but instead of Angela Bassett (who starting today can be seen in the final season of E.R) voicing Eudora (Tiana's mom) she will be now voiced by Oprah Winfrey. ô,0

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080925/people_nm/us_winfreypeople_1

[DrSpengler]

Not that that's a bad change or anything. Just kinda weird.

I guess Disney figured that Oprah's army of loayl followers would ensure a box office success. If Oprah tells the world to see a movie on her TV show, the world will go see that movie.

[NameGoesHere1066]

next they'll have Obama voicing Tiana's long dead father.

Though I grant them that getting oprah involved is a slick move.

[poiuytre]

Finally! I've been saying for years that Oprah has a warm voice that's easy to listen to. She'd be perfect for voice-overs. I approve.

[Sage Ninja]

aww, why not Whippi GoldBerg?

And I can't believe they are having a movie like this and Cree Summer isn't (as far as I know) going to be voicing any one.

[J Legault]

It seem like it was eons since there was an actually Disney 2-D feature film.

The idea for this one looks like a good idea for an animated movie.

[Drtooth]

It seem like it was eons since there was an actually Disney 2-D feature film.

4 years... going on 5. Of course, they've only had mild success with their homebrewed CGI stuff, taking credit for Valliant and The Wild (which Madagascar was far superior to... if in the only reason being that Jim Belushi wasn't in it). Bolt will no doubt be a success only because they shoved Miley in there as a contractual obligation (I wish they went with the original plotline and 2-D animation)... but other than that, until they can hit another Lion King, Little Mermaid... even Lilo and Stitch, it's going to be milking all Pixar is worth for major successes.

I just hope this film lives up to the hype it produces so they can make more 2-D films. Everyone and their mother's making CGI movies these days.

[Raph's Girl]

It seem like it was eons since there was an actually Disney 2-D feature film.

The idea for this one looks like a good idea for an animated movie.

Uh...so you haven't seen Bambi II, Cinderella III, or Little Mermaid III? Those are all 2D films...and good ones at that. Bambi II and Little Mermaid III both deal with the consequences of loosing a mother.

[Drtooth]

Uh...so you haven't seen Bambi II, Cinderella III, or Little Mermaid III? Those are all 2D films...and good ones at that. Bambi II and Little Mermaid III both deal with the consequences of loosing a mother.


DON'T COUNT! They mean an original theatrical film. No DTV's.

[Raph's Girl]

Whoo! New release date!! The movie has been pushed to an earlier release. Nov 25th in L.A and NY and Dec 11th everywhere else. :D

http://news.toonzone.net/articles/28876/the-princess-and-the-frog-release-moved-forward

[ThirdMarioBro]

Schweet!!!

[Archon_Turtle]

I'm working on the games for this property and I have to say I'm actually really enjoying it. And to touch on an earlier question, they may not have used Africa as a setting because that is where the Lion King is set.

[Drtooth]

And to touch on an earlier question, they may not have used Africa as a setting because that is where the Lion King is set.

Plus, as is pretty obvious, Princess and Frog isn't really an African Tale. The New Orleans setting gives it a very interesting touch, I think. I mean, how many times can you do France?

[Ginny]

Whoo! New release date!! The movie has been pushed to an earlier release. Nov 25th in L.A and NY and Dec 11th everywhere else. :D

http://news.toonzone.net/articles/28876/the-princess-and-the-frog-release-moved-forward

That's fantastic, I can hardly wait! :)

[Candy Kappa]

2D? 2D?! really?!
Gods this is.... wow... finally

[Raph's Girl]

2D? 2D?! really?!
Gods this is.... wow... finally

Disney's decided to release 2D films every 2 years now. I posted an article about it. :)

[Raph's Girl]

Piccies are up of some of the characters!

Facilier (Keith David):
http://www.aintitcool.com/images2009/faciliersmall.jpg
(Bigger image here: http://www.aintitcool.com/images2009/facilier.jpeg)

Prince Naveen and Princess Tiana...as frogs:
http://www.aintitcool.com/images2009/Naveen&Tianasmall.jpg
(Bigger image here. http://www.aintitcool.com/images2009/Naveen&Tiana.jpeg)

Princess Tiana:
http://www.aintitcool.com/images2009/P&F-Tianasmall.jpg
(Bigger image here: http://www.aintitcool.com/images2009/P&F-Tiana.jpg)

Louie the Gator:
http://www.aintitcool.com/images2009/P&F-Louiesmall.jpg
(Bigger image: http://www.aintitcool.com/images2009/P&F-Louie.jpg)

Prince Naveen:
http://www.aintitcool.com/images2009/P&F%20-%20Naveensmall.jpg
(Bigger image: http://www.aintitcool.com/images2009/P&F%20-%20Naveen.jpeg)

Ray the Firefly:
http://www.aintitcool.com/images2009/raysmall.jpg

Mama Odie (the fairy godmother...uh....yikes! )
http://www.aintitcool.com/images2009/%C2%A0P&F-MamaOdiesmall.jpg
(Bigger image: http://www.aintitcool.com/images2009/%C2%A0P&F-MamaOdie.jpg)

[Spike Spiegel]

Very reminiscent of the old-school Disney movies...I really like all of the designs! The frogs have a lot of personality, and Princess Tiana actually looks like a black woman....but the prince looks sort of Arab or Indian...they should have given him curlier hair.

The more I see and hear of this movie, the more I want to see it.

[Machias Banshee]

The flowers seem a lil silly on Naveen, but I Love Tiana's dress...

The first character image is... unusual. It doesn't seem to fit in with the other drawings at all, unless it's some sort of fanart or something. :ohwell:

[Raph's Girl]

Some new news! First up some new piccies:

This is the upcoming Princess Tiana doll:
http://media.kansascity.com/smedia/2009/04/22/21/886-PRINCESS17_04-24-2009_9N193F4B.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg

Tiana and the Frog:
http://media.kansascity.com/smedia/2009/04/22/21/798-princess3_04-24-2009_1H194709.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg

And a new article with some info on the plot:

http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/movies/story/1157113.html

Long ago and far away, she was an unnamed little princess in a little story called “The Frog Prince.” She and her amphibious friend lived in a very small, mostly forgotten corner of the fairy tale universe.

Many years passed.

And then one day, through the magical powers of Disney animation and commercial marketing, the forgotten little princess was transformed into Tiana, a beautiful black princess from New Orleans. She became the star of “The Princess and the Frog,” a movie set to premiere in November. (It opens in KC Dec. 11.)

The Disney promotional machine is already humming, for Tiana is the first Disney princess in more than a decade, and the first ever to be black.

In the 72 years since Walt Disney’s animated version of Snow White captivated audiences as “the fairest of them all,” there have been only eight such Disney princesses. Through these movies and a line of toys, dresses and figurines, the Disney princesses have become global, doe-eyed icons of childhood.

Sleeping Beauty awakened by a kiss, Cinderella’s clock striking midnight, Belle waltzing in the Beast’s castle, Ariel with Prince Eric in the moonlit lagoon — these have become heroines whom parents the world over feel safe to let their young girls idolize and mimic. And while Disney has brought us nonwhite princesses before (see “Mulan,” “Pocahontas”), Tiana is a first.

The implied message of Tiana, that black American girls can be as elegant as Snow White herself, is a milestone in the national imagery, according to a range of scholars and cultural historians.

Her appearance this holiday season, coming on the heels of Michelle Obama’s emergence as the nation’s first lady, the Obama girls in the White House and the first line of Barbie dolls modeled on black women (“So in Style” debuts this summer), will crown an extraordinary year of visibility for African-American women.

But fairy tales and folklore are the stories that cultures tell their children about the world around them, and considering Disney’s pervasive influence with (and marketing to) young girls, Princess Tiana might well become the symbol of a culture-changing standard of feminine beauty.

“If this figure takes off, you’re looking at 30 or 40 years of repetition and resonance,” says Tricia Rose, a Brown University professor who teaches both popular culture and African-American studies, citing the enduring popularity of Disney princesses at the company’s theme parks, on Web sites and in videos.

“She’s the first modern American (Disney) princess, and that she’s black sends a huge message,” says Cori Murray, entertainment director for Essence magazine.

On its most basic level, “The Princess and the Frog” is a vintage Disney princess fairy tale, in hand-drawn (2-D) animation, a Broadway-style musical. It draws inspiration from an 18th century fairy tale from the British Isles and “The Frog Princess,” a 2002 teen novel by E.D. Baker. Disney transferred the story to 1920s New Orleans and changed her name, race and almost everything else.

In the Disney version, Tiana is a young waitress and talented chef who dreams, like her father, of owning her own restaurant. She eventually kisses a frog and is transformed into one. She must journey into the dark bayou to get a magical cure from a good voodoo queen.

She is aided by a goofy firefly and a trumpet-playing alligator. The frog turns out to be handsome Prince Naveen, from the far-off and fictional land of Maldonia.

The stills released by the studio show Tiana in full princess regalia: a powder-blue gown, tiara and hair in an elegant upsweep.

Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose voices Tiana. Other parts are played by Oprah Winfrey, John Goodman, Terrence Howard and Keith David. The music is by Oscar winner (and New Orleans veteran) Randy Newman. It is directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, the same team behind “Aladdin” and “The Little Mermaid.”

“Our first goal is to make a great motion picture,” says John Lasseter, chief creative officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, who is overseeing the project.

“But we have also worked very closely with a lot of leaders in the African-American community, all across the nation, to make sure we’re doing something African-American families will be proud of. It’s very important for us to do it right. We’ve been very careful and cognizant about what we’re doing.”

[Sage Ninja]

man, I love that backdrop in this still. But a bit confused on her being a waitress. Isn't she supposed to be a princess?

[Raph's Girl]

man, I love that backdrop in this still. But a bit confused on her being a waitress. Isn't she supposed to be a princess?

Not all the so called Disney Princesses are actual princesses. Most didn't become till after they married. Mulan's considered to be part of the Disney Princess line but she's not a princess and her husband Li Shang isn't even royal!

Cinderella: Poor slave girl who marries a Prince

Belle: Book lover who marries a prince

Alice of Alice in Wonderland fame is now considered to be a Princess. She's one of the Princesses of Heart.

But the main Disney princesses are Belle, Ariel, Snow White, Cinderella, Mulan, Pocahontas, Jasmine, and Aurora (Sleeping Beauty).... and soon Tiana and Rapunzel (again...only became a princess AFTER she marries the prince) will be joining the ranks.

[Sage Ninja]

I just meant since she is all decked out in Princess finery even before she she meets the prince is...a prince. It sort of gave the impression she comes from wealth...and why the heck doesn't the Princess from the Black Cauldron not considered a disney princess? :x

[Raph's Girl]

and why the heck doesn't the Princess from the Black Cauldron not considered a disney princess? :x

Black Cauldron is based on a book that came out in the 60's (the 2nd book in the series to be exact).

The others are fairy tales (Hans Christian Anderson, Brother's Grimm, Arabian Nights, ect) or actual people from history (Mulan and Pocahontas).

[Raph's Girl]

Some new footage from Princess and the Frog. Um...so Naveen is an African prince with a FRENCH accent??? *blinks*

TbCT0pG5iw4

[Cure]

Some new footage from Princess and the Frog. Um...so Naveen is an African prince with a FRENCH accent??? *blinks*

Never heard of Louisiana french?

[cqb101]

Some new footage from Princess and the Frog. Um...so Naveen is an African prince with a FRENCH accent??? *blinks*

TbCT0pG5iw4

Doesn't the movie take place in Louisiana? If so, that makes sense...

[Raph's Girl]

Doesn't the movie take place in Louisiana? If so, that makes sense...

Yes.. but Naveen is from Africa itself. Not from Louisiana.

[Archon_Turtle]

Black Cauldron is based on a book that came out in the 60's (the 2nd book in the series to be exact).

The others are fairy tales (Hans Christian Anderson, Brother's Grimm, Arabian Nights, ect) or actual people from history (Mulan and Pocahontas).

By that same rational, Tigerlily is also not considered a princess.


Alice of Alice in Wonderland fame is now considered to be a Princess. She's one of the Princesses of Heart.


Where on earth did you hear that? Kingdom Hearts is not Disney Canon

[Fledermaus]

Dunno if there are any animators left here at the Drome but thought I should put these up.

The Second Teaser Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxPhFXVSAGs)

Princess and the Frog Preview Part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RESQZoKdwpc)

Princess and the Frog Preview Part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzu3DMIGIo8)

Princess and the Frog Preview Part 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftscx72R0Yg)

Princess and the Frog Preview Part 4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV1M-bVkWlw)

Princess and the Frog Preview Part 5 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5mgg-6sbUI)

My hope for Disney 2D is rekindled. :) Thank Pixar for taking over all decisions regarding Disney animation.

[Cure]

BAM (http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=24728), homie.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Saw the trailer during "Up". Made me smile like a kid.

[Warhorse]

Saw the trailer tonight. It was kind of nice to see an old fashion cartoon again amongst all the CG cartoons.

[Raph's Girl]

Check it out. Shown exclusively at Comic Con. It's a B&W featurette showing some in-progress scenes from the movie. Great way to show off the characters.

http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/princess-and-the-frog/featurette-hand-drawn-animation

[Raph's Girl]

Wooh!! Full trailer up!!! OMG! This looks so awesome and so hilarious! And wooh! Keith David gets to sing! The Gator and the Firefly are too funny!

Z5K8GF0kZpw

[Raph's Girl]

The first song off the Soundtrack is out. It's called Never Knew I Needed and is sung by Ne-Yo. Here's the music vid from it. Really love the song. :D

WRaCP8M-qLo

[BubblyShell22]

I can't wait to see this movie. We need to have some more animated features. I have nothing against the Pixar films, but it's been a long time since we've had anything that's been actually hand-drawn. From the previews I've seen, this looks awesome.

[Raph's Girl]

Everyone! Go see this movie!! You'll laugh, you'll cheer, you'll sing along to the songs (wow.... Keith David's got a pretty good singing voice! ), and well bring tissues cus there's some sad stuff that kids just wouldn't understand.

I also noticed some hidden stuff. At one point there's a guy dressed as Simba. :lol: And I swear some of those shadow creatures looked like the Hyenas....

For once we have royals with both parents! Altho Tiana's father is alive at the beginning of the film, it's implied sometime after that that he died in WWI .

[Fledermaus]

Princess and the Frog takes place in America, in Walt Disney's favorite city of New Orleans, told through two beautiful art forms that were developed in America: jazz and character animation. A lot of love was put into this movie. The setting, the story, the DEVELOPMENT of the characters - Princess and the Frog is a work of art with an even deeper soul.

The team of artists, animators and storytellers working on Princess and the Frog did not take the easy way out. Everyone working on this knew that Princess and the Frog would make or break the future of traditional animation. They poured their hearts and souls into creating a well-crafted, soulful film. I know I'll be seeing it again.

A lot of the idiots claiming the film is racist have not even seen the film, and are appalled that 1920's southerners speak with southern accents. In fact, from reading a lot of the negative reviews, it seems the people did not even watch the film, or they were distracted with something else while watching it. In addition, there are many parents who complain about the frightening voodoo and tragic scenes in a movie intended for children. Yes, there were lots of children crying during the sad part. It wasn't what happened, so much as how seriously it was played, that made it frightening or sad. There is death and voodoo and heaven forbid blood in this movie. And instead of the filmmakers allowing said things to happen at a distance, they bind us to each and every one of the characters - main, or side, good or evil, it doesn't matter. So that when something happens to them, we feel it ourselves.

The movie is about love, hope - same things as most other Disney fairytales. The difference? This one doesn't settle for hollow answers. And it does what most of those other Disney fairytales, for all their artistic integrity and "classic" value, failed to do - inspire the soul. Perhaps the last ten years have given the artists and animators and even executives time to reflect on themselves. They are painfully aware of how far Disney films have fallen - in quality, in integrity. This movie shows a return, not merely to a fairytale tradition (honestly i could care less for fairytales) but to honesty. Princess and the Frog certainly has a different feel from the 90's classics, but I'm liking it.

Please, whatever grudges you harbor against Disney, whatever stupid-looking trailers you have seen, or scathing reviews you have read from the anonymous movie-critic blogger, forget them for a few days and give this movie a chance. And please, for the love of God, see it in theaters - don't download it. I know some of you don't like being in public places and vomit at the sight of children, but if that's the case, see a later showing or wait a week for the crowds to diminish. Not only is this movie too beautiful to be whored onto your tiny monitor, but the goddamned future of traditional animation depends on the success of this movie. James Cameron can make all the movies he wants - he's a financial giant. Disney animation - not to be confused with toys, theme parks and Hannah Montana - will have no future. It is dying, and this movie is the final test that executives will use to see whether they should continue supporting hand-drawn animated feature films in America.

A lot of my teachers have worked on Princess and the Frog, either as animators, or as effects artists. They're all biting their nails hoping this movie does well. My classmates and I are also anxious because we want to work on hand-drawn beauty in our future careers, not TV/videogame crap. (For all those of you who enjoy TV animation, I'm not bashing the humor or writing for adult animated comedy - I enjoy many adult swim shows for their humor, but the animation/art is... uninspiring.)

If this movie does well enough, Disney (the company, not the artists/animators slaving away to bring you entertainment) will finally have reason to expand its already diminished 2d animation department, which would really help us poor artists and animators in fear of losing or never obtaining a job. :)

[Dejablue]

I'll try my best to go see it. I've gotten into the habit to wait for DVD's

[Dr. Doom]

This movie kicked my ass. The soundtrack has been stuck in my head ever since I saw it. Probably the best 2D Disney film since The Lion King, if not the best Disney film since then period (Up was really ****ing awesome too so I dunno)

[Hannah]

The beginning was sort of slow, but by the second song, I really loved it! It's a very cute movie, and the soundtrack really was great. :)

[ThirdMarioBro]

This movie kicked my ass. The soundtrack has been stuck in my head ever since I saw it. Probably the best 2D Disney film since The Lion King, if not the best Disney film since then period

Agreed. I went back to see it again and just fell even harder for it. I haven't seen that kind of animated magic since the early/mid 90s. It was a good feeling.

[Hannah]

I saw it for the third time today! It's definitely one of my favorite Disney movies.

[Sage Ninja]

oh my goodness I just went to see this and it was fantastic. I haven't enjoyed a Disney movie in years and this really made my heart sing to see this lovely master piece breathe life into traditional 2D animation again. The animation is gorgeous and fresh in a way that is different than other 2D disney classics. And the story telling was very good and had the old touching emotional impact as old disney movies. This had soul, and that is what has been missing recently with other Disney movies with their pixar CGI affiliation.

I adored Tiana and I think she is a perfect herion and a really good addition to the whole disney princess group that is more down to earth than the other disney princess IMHO, I loved her determination and spirit; and dang that girl can sing! And Naveen was cute, I really took to him and his personality. I think what I really liked was how the film humanized him (both litterly and figuratively) and made you feel for him. I also thought Tiana's spoiled little debutant friend was endearing, and I like how they made her an actual nice person instead of a whinning selfish brat like other sterotypical "rich girls" are portrayed.

The bad guy in this was guilty pleasure for me, I enjoyed all his scenes and he was a genuanly engaging villian. All that Voodoo mess was pretty surprising at times. Some of the voddo stuff almost seemed like the creators where straddling the line a few times for a Disney movie. :o My favorite character has to be Ray the firefly with Louis the alligator not far behind. They where both so lovable. I also thought the deliama in the story was cleverly handled with out feeling contrived.

This movie made me realize how much I've missed hand drawn animation, and Disney has always made such artistic works of traditional animation. It's an artform that really needs to survive. So my hope is that it gets the ratings and pomp it needs to convinve Disney that traditional animatiom is too worth while to close the book on this art form and keep making more movies like this in the classic Disney tradition.

[Fledermaus]

Well... just talked to some of my teachers over at Disney... It's not looking good. :( This movie was supposed to revive the dying tradition of hand-drawn animated features. Thanks to movie pirating, Alvin and the goddamn Chipmunks, and an overrated Avatar drawing in the target audience (families, children, and couples looking for a romantic flick) this movie was a relative failure. Yeah, it brought in some money - but not nearly enough to prove that there's any market left for hand-drawn animated features.

A sad day indeed. :( Disney had the Snow Queen in production from what I've heard - but that will most likely be canceled.

Guys... everyone pirates for different reasons. Please, when you do - consider the market. 2d animation is one of the most fragile, most beautiful movie genres in film history. It's DYING. 3D animated features, CG graphics - that's booming, and will continue to do so. James Cameron is a financial juggernaut. And please - do we NEED to see more crap like Alvin and the Chipmunks: the Squeakuel?

Normally, for any other kind of film, it doesn't affect the people who work on it - because they can always work on another film. But with traditional animation? There ARE no other films to work on.

Normally I'd reserve some hope, but I don't think 2d will return as anything other than a rare novelty. Feature film? Not likely - unless we get some extremely wealthy producer who really, really loves 2d animation and doesn't care how much money he/she loses. Despite the beauty of the medium, it's too expensive. And most people don't give two ***** about their culture. America doesn't have much culture, considering its young age. In my opinion - character animation and jazz are the only truly American art forms - the first one is dying - gracefully, and thankfully on a high note. The last stand that was supposed to revive hand-drawn animated feature films has failed.

If this film had been terrible or was only mediocre at best, its lack of success wouldn't have bothered me at all. But the results for Princess and the Frog show that, as in the past, great movies don't necessarily dominate the box office. Look at Casa Blanca.

[Barkworm]

Blaming pirating for this or any film's boxoffice failure is pretty ridiculous, more than enough films make a profit these days even though EVERY major film can be found somewhere on the internet. I think in the case of this film (which I haven't seen yet) you can blame poor promotion.

[Fledermaus]

Blaming pirating for this or any film's boxoffice failure is pretty ridiculous, more than enough films make a profit these days even though EVERY major film can be found somewhere on the internet. I think in the case of this film (which I haven't seen yet) you can blame poor promotion.

I blamed piracy among other factors. This movie didn't get the best promotion, but I've seen worse. I understand if someone is TRULY low on cash and doesn't want to dish out an another $6.50 for each additional viewing. What did tick me off was that, of the many people who claimed to love this movie so much, many never supported it financially, not even once because 1. they can't stand sharing the same room with other human beings; and 2. they could easily watch it online.

Pirating rarely, if ever, affects blockbusters - it only hurts movies/franchises that are already at risk/have yet to establish themselves financially. That's why, generally, pirating movies is morally not evil. Robin Hood stole from the rich to give to the poor. But when you pirate a movie that is already on the rocks in one way or another (and/or has the entire future of the genre depending on it's success), you are stealing from the poor. Don't try to sugar coat it. It's easy to say 'it doesn't hurt anyone' when you're not the one whose job would be affected.

What I was getting at was that, while most movies do make a profit (small as it may be) and yes, this movie made SOME profit - it's not enough to convince the executives at Disney that it is worth making any more hand-drawn animated films. They don't want small-time successes, they want every film to be as successful as a Pixar film. To them, making 2d films is about as profitable as donating to charity.

That would be like, if a James Bond film didn't pull in a worldwide several hundred million dollar profit within the first six weeks, no more films with choreographed fights of any sort would be allowed EVER. Thousands of people would be out of jobs. (This is to give you some idea what it will be like for us old-timey animators. A very small number of people are on contract. Most traditional animators are freelance - not by choice, but because the animation department has been reduced to less than a tenth of what it was in the 90's - and are counting on there being more movies in the future where their talents can be used. Jobs are hard enough to find as it is.)

[Sage Ninja]

whats funny is that I think most pixar movies suck, and I'm not the only one. I do agree that promotion was most likely a factor. Had it not been for this message board I would not have known there was going to be a Hand Drawn Princess and the Frog movie. I didn't once see a single commercial to promote it. But despite that alot of people I talked to where excited to see it and said they loved it. All my younger sister's friends went to see it and loved it. Alot of my younger sister friends (who are high school age) are wicked animation buffs. And they WANT hand drawn animation to succeed. One of them convinced her art teacher to bring her whole class to a showing. I went to see the film two times, and there was going to be third time, because I was going to take my younger sister to see it today, but it just left theaters in my area today. :tcry:

This movies biggest problem was piracy and sensitivity. I went to a friends house yesterday and saw she was watching a bootlegged copy of the movie on her TV. :tmad: she's not the only one I've seen watching the movie on bootlegged copies. I also have two black friends with kids who refused to take their child to see this movie. They have legitmate concerns so I didn't push the issue too hard since my stance was the survival of hand drawn animation while theirs was a more personal issue, that i felt I needed to respect.
here is an excerpt on a sight about the sensitivity issue of the movie:


Perhaps more importantly, the new film also features the first African-American heroine in a Disney animated film, though the mere mention of this has caused some heated debate of the sort that used to surround Song of the South (1946). Some have pointed out that the heroine spends most of the film not as an African-American girl, but as a frog. And others have pointed out that her handsome prince has Caucasian features while the villain has African-American features.

the rest of the review can be read here : http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/11/review-the-princess-and-the-frog/

[The Stryker]

Maybe the movie failed because nobody cared about it?

I don't remember anyone really being hyped for the movie outside of a small group of people on the internet and even then, all those people talked about was that it was 2D.

[Koi]

I loved this movie but their was a few scenes that where way to over the top cartoony for a good Disney movie feel to it, plus the songs where not that remember-able I forgot them withing minutes walking out of the theater. But besides those minuscule facts that movie was pretty dang good. I loved the characters even the ones I thought where just annoying in the beginning I found to be really memorable and amazing.

I have to say when they said that you need hard work for your dream to come true I gave out a pretty good chuckle.

[Ra]

I loved it to bits. Favourite Disney move as of late. It was fun, memorable, the prince had a personality that I just LOVED, Dr. Facilier had me grinning like a maniac whenever he was on screen, and... good god the visuals made my day.

It is charming, fantastic, and a great fun movie (probably one of the darkest I remember Disney making. Very dark undertones at least).

Totally buying this on DVD when it comes out.

[discordiatookie]

Heh, my sister was asking if I wanted to hit the pictures with her and her three year old to go see this. I kinda grunted an agreement to her, hoping she'll go without me, as trying to watch anything with that kid is a pain in the ass. Its all "Wha's happenen?" "Why he do that?" "Who's that?" "Why that man bein bad, Uncle Mikey?" "Uncle Mikey, wha's happenen?" Much as I love her, she drives me nuts sometimes :lol: But after reading the reviews here, I might haveta tag along...

[Duke]

Pirating rarely, if ever, affects blockbusters - it only hurts movies/franchises that are already at risk/have yet to establish themselves financially. That's why, generally, pirating movies is morally not evil.Haha, so stealing isn't morally wrong if no one gets hurt? However, the fact the company is still getting hurt because even huge blockbusters lose money when someone watches a pirated version over buying a ticket, DVD, or blu-ray. I just find your statement laughable.

Also I agree that the Princess and the Frog was a great film. I saw it twice in theaters and recommended it to others. Fantastic film.

[The Stryker]

I think the main reason this movie failed is because of the marketing and the overall look of the movie.

As much as I hate Avatar, The ads for that movie made it seem like you HAD to see it in a theater. The 3D was another thing that pulled people in.

There was nothing that I saw from Princess and the Frog that made me say "I have to see this RIGHT NOW."

[Koi]

I think the main reason this movie failed is because of the marketing and the overall look of the movie.

As much as I hate Avatar, The ads for that movie made it seem like you HAD to see it in a theater. The 3D was another thing that pulled people in.

There was nothing that I saw from Princess and the Frog that made me say "I have to see this RIGHT NOW."

Which is weird because Disney usually markets everything very heavily.

[Fledermaus]

Which is weird because Disney usually markets everything very heavily.

Actually, I think lately Disney has been absolutely horrible in its advertising - from movie posters to incredibly stupid trailers. Don't confuse Disney Animation with their Live Action section. They aren't run, or funded by the same branch. Yeah, Disney put out a sh*tload of trailers, and promotional artwork, all of which which in my opinion was utter crap. (But if you want to see crappy promotion for a good animated feature, look at the trailers for Brad Bird's Iron Giant.)

On the piracy, I'll end with comparing the sentiments of some of my friends/mentors. I have two who are animators for primarily major live-action films, like Spider-Man 2... They weren't nearly as upset over piracy (hell, some of them even managed to obtain a few illegitimate copies of the movie) as say, my friends/mentors/teachers at Disney Animation, who worked way harder and saw far less profit than their live-action counterparts. I think there's a reason for that.

The market is dying. That's the difference.

Anyway.... I guess one way to look at this is similar to TMNT - death of a franchise/art form might encourage more independent films, more experimentation. Maybe. Of course, that could be me trying to be optimistic while watching my job market shrivel away before my very eyes. :\

[NameGoesHere1066]

I saw this movie. I loved it to bits. So did my older and younger brothers and my mom.

I unabashedly saw this movie (a second time) with two of my friends who are also in their mid twenties. Just us. No little kid to act as an excuse to see a Disney movie.

Tiana is now my favorite Disney gal. :)

the onlything that is weird that we coudn't figure out was if Naveen was supposed to be black or just a dark skinned person from like...the middle east or something. Because he really didn't have very african features, and his french accent was...confusing. :ohwell:

[Raph's Girl]

the onlything that is weird that we coudn't figure out was if Naveen was supposed to be black or just a dark skinned person from like...the middle east or something. Because he really didn't have very african features, and his french accent was...confusing. :ohwell:

I think he's mixed heritage. Altho the actor who plays him in Disney World kinda looks hispanic.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2550/4129594773_6b5dbca47c.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2681/4210629462_72aef7716e.jpg

After doing even more research I found this: Disney has purposely made Prince Naveen racially ambiguous, hailing from the fictional country of Maldonia, which has no known location.

Incidentally Naveen stems from the sanscrit (Hindi) word Navin which means New.

[Fledermaus]

I think he's mixed heritage. Altho the actor who plays him in Disney World kinda looks hispanic.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2550/4129594773_6b5dbca47c.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2681/4210629462_72aef7716e.jpg

After doing even more research I found this:

Incidentally Naveen stems from the sanscrit (Hindi) word Navin which means New.

Well when some people asked Randy Haycock about that (Randy Haycock designed and animated human Naveen - designed the frog version too but didn't animate much of that), he said he that Naveen was supposed to come from a made-up Mediterranean country and was designed accordingly.

He also said that drew up a number of different Naveen designs, showed them before his teenage daughter and asked her which one of those she would date. The Naveen she chose is what ended up in the film.

[Leonardo Mystic]

I finally have watched this movie. My mother had the DVD that she checked out from the library and she was going to watch it, but gave up after 20 minutes because she said she couldn't get into it. In my opinion, she missed a really cute movie. She didn't give it enough of a chance. Something about "all that New Orleans stuff". :/ Of course, I thought it was interesting, but I'm sort of a culture nut anyway. I like seeing what life is like past my own backyard.

Anyway, this movie makes me miss Disney traditional handdrawn 2d. CGI is pretty to look at and maybe easier to create expressions and stuff, but nothing beats actually drawing the art. Then putting that artwork to animation. It has a more satisfying quality to it.