The studios of Disney have created an original animated film which keeps up with issues of the day – breaking away from their traditional formula.
The studios of Disney have created an original animated film which keeps up with issues of the day – breaking away from their traditional formula.
A princess, yes, but an African American princess and the handsome prince is not your run-of-the-mill in shining armour. This is The Princess and the Frog.
When the carefree Prince Naveen of Maldonia comes to New Orleans he sets out to find a wealthy girl to continue his extravagant lifestyle.
But he is soon spotted by a voodoo magician who says he can to help him in his quest for a wealthy wife. With the snap of the magician’s fingers, Naveen is reduced to frog status.
But mistaking Tiana for a princess at a costume party, he asks her to kiss him to break the spell. But Tiana is no princess, and so the spell also turns her into a frog. The adventure begins with the two of them hunting down a way of reversing the spell to restore them to human form.
It’s full of all the classic Disney humor that we’ve come to appreciate. The animation has also gone back to its roots of being hand-drawn, reminiscent of The Lion King and other old-school Disney greats.
The princess is quite clearly African American, but there has been a fair bit of controversy around the prince and the fact that he is represented as being white, with the implication causing and outcry in various circles.
But just because it’s Disney, it does not mean that adults cannot watch or will not enjoy this latest offering. It’s a refreshing watch for anyone in any age group, and it encourages us (believe it or not) to think about the more important aspects in our lives.The Princess and the Frog is showing at Roxbury Cinema this week.
