Disney's 'Princess and the Frog' Gets a Teaser
Filed under: Animation, Disney, Family Films, Movie Marketing, Trailers and Clips
I'm as big a fan of Pixar movies as anyone, but I honestly miss the old-fashioned 2-D style animation from Walt Disney. I think there's definitely room for both hand-drawn and computer animated films, because as brilliant as movies like Toy Story, Ratatouille and Wall-E may be, they're a completely separate kind of filmmaking from the traditional Disney films. They shouldn't be compared to nor should they replace the kind of beloved fairy tale classics we've enjoyed from the Mouse House for 70 years. So, before commenting on the new teaser trailer for The Princess and the Frog (available here if the YouTube version is removed), let me just say, welcome back, 2-D!
OK, so what do I think? Well, upon seeing the New Orleans setting, my first response was unfortunately one of fear: what if Disney one-ups its Hunchback of Notre Dame pole-dance debacle with a scene involving Mardi Gras beads? Well, obviously Disney knows better than to be so blatantly naughty, though I wouldn't doubt that animators will find some way to slip in a hint of Big Easy-style debauchery.
My second response was that I really wish Alan Menken was still in charge of the music rather than Randy Newman. The former would have been much more appropriate if Disney is hoping to get back to at least the quality of The Little Mermaid and Aladdin (those films' writer-director team of Ron Clements and John Musker are at the helm of this film, too). Newman may sound more Louisiana (he was in fact born in New Orleans), but Menken is the better songwriter.
As for the actual sequence shown in the teaser: cheers for Disney finally introducing a black princess (voiced by Anika Noni Rose); jeers to Disney for creating new characters that remind me too much of old non-Disney characters, specifically Warner Bros.' Michigan J. Frog and electrical safety spokesperson Louie the Lightning Bug. As usual, feel free to share your own thoughts down below.
The Princess and the Frog will open nationwide Christmas 2009.
Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. Wow, how long has this been in production? It seems like its been forever.
Posted at 3:55PM on Jul 30th 2008 by totoro
3. I just hope that it doesn't try to be modern and hip. I have a 2 and 3 year old, so I watch a bit of Disney, and I have noticed that the more recent Disney films try too hard to be cool, and therefore do not stand up to the test of time. My kids prefer Snow White over Emperor's New Groove any day.
Posted at 4:37PM on Jul 30th 2008 by MrR0ng
5. I have been waiting FOREVER for
a) a black princess
b) traditional 2-d animation!
I have high hopes for this movie i hope it is the "rebirth" of the disney traditional animation!
And Maddie looks AWESOME! I love her face , i see a hint of Ariel and a touch of jasmine in her!
Very exciting!
Posted at 11:31PM on Jul 30th 2008 by kk
6. Tread carefully Disney. There are still some that remember "Song of the South".
Posted at 8:02AM on Jul 31st 2008 by John R
8. WTF?
Posted at 11:56AM on Jul 31st 2008 by John R
9. not sure thats Randy Newman, I think it very well could be Dr. John. It would fit with the local flavor.
And cmon now, whats wrong with Brer Rabbit (besides the blatant racism that permeates that wonderful children's movie)
Posted at 10:18AM on Jul 31st 2008 by Colin
10. I thought it was Dr. John in the trailer, too. But Newman is definitely writing the music for the film.
Posted at 10:32AM on Jul 31st 2008 by Christopher Campbell
11. I am exicted about the return of 2D animation and the trailer is packed with the classic look and feel of Disney films of yore. (Moonlight adn clouds... dating back through Aladdin to Peter Pan and beyond)
But as a resident of New Orleans, there is so much more to this city and region than "debauchery." Even Mardi Gras is celebration that encompasses all walks of life from Families to drinkers to gays to African-American "Indians." Thanks to Disney fo returning to tradition and breaking new ground in the Big Easy. And, thanks for no big VO stars distracting from the story.
Posted at 10:24AM on Jul 31st 2008 by Colcad
12. But how do you write this long w/o noting the MONUMENTAL importance of an African American Disney Princess??
Seriously, we've had Asian (Mulan) and Native American (Pochahontas) and Caucasian princesses of every hair color - it's about time that there was a black Disney princess!
Posted at 7:13PM on Aug 1st 2008 by GeekMommy
13. I am very excited for this movie! Being an african american teenager living in an area that is 95 percent white, I feel really good about having a disney prncess that looks like me. I recently went to disney world with some friends and we all dressed up as disney princesses and characters. (we like to give ourselves a good laugh) My friends that went with me were white (tho one is part vietnamese) so they had there princesses to relate to(belle, snow white, alice, even queen o' hearts and minney). My sister was Jasmine, the color didn't really matter to her. But i just had a makeshift tinkerbell costume and a deep sense of lost identity. It really isn't just the princesses disney isn't so open minded about either. Check out disney channel for instance, the proud family isn't on there anymore(it is on toon disney) and "Raven" is on re runs. Our final hope seems to be corey in the house which from what ive heard is on its last episodes.there much diversity, but I am glad that they have Selena Gomez, a latina who is picking up attention in the disney realm.
Posted at 12:19AM on Aug 11th 2008 by Lauren
1. it looks ok to me. i'm happy to see 2-D animation again as well. there's nothing like the old-fashion stuff. i think if it was 3-D people wouldn't give it the same chance. i just really hope this movie is done right. too much seems to be riding of it's success.
Posted at 2:00PM on Jul 30th 2008 by Claire