The Princess and the Frog- Blog #2
February 1, 2010 
I saw Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” over winter break. It was an enjoyable cartoon, as animation’s usually are, and I saw repetitions of many themes that have been consistent throughout the history of Disney cartoons in this cartoon as well. However, I also observed many differences in this cartoon with regards to others I have viewed in the past by Disney. The “Princess and the Frog” is set in 1920′s New Orleans, during the time of the Jazz Age. The period is known as the Jazz Age because Jazz became a very popular form of music at the time, and influences of the Jazz Age are seen in the movie, with the characters of Prince Naveen and the alligator, who are both seen playing Jazz music in many different scenes throughout the movie.
One of the things that I found similar in comparison to other Disney fairytales was the multiple songs sequences and brilliant picturizations of the songs. The movie also had a variety of talking animals, from frogs to alligators, to lightning bugs. Another Disney fairy tale trade mark. Next comes the villain, who, like fairytale villains before him, happens to have magical powers and is after power/money or both. There are also magical transformations (the humans turn into frogs), as seen in movies like Cinderalla. Finally, (though I am sure there are many other similarities in comparison to previous Disney fairytales,) there is the whole issue with midnight. Disney fairytales have to have things done by midnight and not a second after, or else the spell refuses to break, as once again seen in this movie, where the prince had to be kissed by a princess by midnight in order to magically change back into a human being.
Another similarity in this story also serves as a very big difference between this movie and others, and adds a sense of realism to the film that is not usually typical of fairytales. That similarity/difference is “wishing upon a star.” The reason that this is similar to previous animations is that wishing upon a star seems to be the thing to do to get what one wants in life, and yes, this movie has some wishing upon a star, and that wish is what transforms Tiana and forms the basis for the plot. Yet at the same time, wishing upon a star in this film also serves as a major difference in this movie compared to the others. That difference comes when, after wishing on a star for the first time, Tiana realizes that this is not a practical approach to making dreams come true and says “serves me right for wishing on stars. The only way to get something in this world is through hard work.”
The other things that I found to be different in this film is that it doesn’t have the female main character being abused by the typical evil step mother and/or evil stepsisters, or an evil witch, or anyone else that is evil. Infact, no one is out to get Tiana at all. The villain here has nothing to do with Tiana. The only reason she gets into trouble is because she gets turned into a frog, which does not happen by anyone putting a spell on her, but simply happens because she kisses a frog. This brings about another difference in this movie from typical fairytales. Usually, where there is a frog involved, there is usually some handsome Prince that gets transformed into a frog and needs to be kissed to turn back, which actually does happen here as well. This time however, instead of the frog turning back into a Prince after being kissed, the girl that kisses him also turns into a frog, putting an ironic twist in the usual story.
Next comes the relationship between Tiana and Prince Naveen. In other Disney fairytales, other than Pocahontas, Mulan, Aladdin, along with some others, the Prince and the main female character fall in love merely by seeing each other for the first time. Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty are great examples. In each of these films, it seems that Prince Charming “falls in love” with the main female characters simply because the girl is “beautiful.” The girl returns that love because the guy is a” handsome Prince.” In this story, however, love doesn’t appear to be as superficial. Both Tiana and the Prince loathe one another when they first meet, but eventually fall in love based on each other’s personalities and willingness to help one another out.
*I commented on Amanda Cole’s post (#6), and Ben Conner’s post #7
I enjoyed Princess and the Frog. At times I felt the pacing could have been better, yet, the overall story was nice. I agree this wasn’t the typical fairytale story like Disney has done in the past. It seemed like a mixture of fantasy and reality. Tiana wishing upon a star but still realizing that she would have to work towards her goal and not wait for it to magically happen for her. There wasn’t a female antagonist or really an antagonist at all for Tiana. That was set more with Prince Naveen and Facilier. I like your thoughts.
It seems like Disney is breaking apart from its “Disney” role in the promotion of “wishing upon a star” to have “all of your dreams come true.” The more I hear about how this Disney film breaks from its norms in culture, racial portrayal, and now narrative, the more today’s cultural wants in regards to story structure is changing. I fear that ideals of fantasy and the liminal states of reality that animation gives so wonderfully perhaps are at risk for being eliminated!
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