Watching The Princess and the Frog is the cinematic equivalent of traveling back in time 20 years or so. Back when animated films were hand-drawn, but no less mesmerizing than today's CG 3D "events". In fact, back then, Disney's animated films seemed more special, since they didn't come along as often as they do today. This film is an attempt to recapture that special feeling films such as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin had on audiences.

At this, the film is mostly a success. The animation is stunning, and definitely harkens back to the art style of the "Disney Renaissance" of the early 90s, without seeming outdated. The musical numbers (provided by composer Randy Newman) are tuneful, and fit the film well, though I'm not sure how strong they'll hold up outside of context. The characters are also immediately likable, especially young heroine Tiana (voice by Anika Noni Rose), who has gotten a lot of attention for being the first African American lead in a Disney animated film. Personally, I find her more noteworthy for being a very strongly written character. She's a loving, yet hard-working woman who dreams of owning her own restaurant one day. It's a dream she shared as a child with her late father (Terrence Howard), and still shares with her mother (Oprah Winfrey). Although she is not against turning to wishing on a star once in a while as a last resort, she fully believes she must achieve her dreams on her own, and doesn't even have any interest initially when the dashing Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos) comes to New Orleans from a far away land to look for a bride. It's only when fate brings the two together that Tiana even seems to notice the Prince.

We learn early on of the true reason for Prince Naveen's visit. He is a spoiled playboy who has been cut off from his family's fortune, and has come to New Orleans to search for a wealthy woman to marry, so he can continue the lavish lifestyle he has become accustomed to. His greed is what bring him into the presence of a voodoo witch doctor (or "shadow man") named Facilier (Keith David), who promises to help him achieve riches, but tricks him and instead turns him into a helpless frog. Remembering the story of The Frog Prince from his childhood, Naveen goes to look for a Princess that can return him to normal with her kiss, and mistakes Tiana for one, since she's dressed in fancy clothes and tiara for a masquerade ball. After much coaxing (even as a child, Tiana did not see the point of kissing a frog, even if a handsome Prince came out of the deal), Tiana agrees to the kiss, and finds herself in the form of a frog afterward, due to the magic curse. The two must now make their way across the bayou to find a voodoo priestess named Mama Odie (Jennifer Lewis), who might be able to return them to their human forms. They're aided by the required animal sidekicks - a horn-playing alligator named Louis (Michael-Leon Wooley) and a Cajun firefly named Ray (Jim Cummings), who provide comic relief.

If it all sounds conventional, well, that's the point. It's certainly not generic, though. The Princess and the Frog is a lot of fun to watch, thanks to some vibrant voice performances, which are mainly provided by relative unknowns for a nice change of pace. The "name" actors, like the previously mentioned Howard and Winfrey, along with John Goodman as a "Big Daddy" gentleman, are kept in small, supporting roles, so the movie doesn't turn into a game of "Guess the Celebrity Voice". The film's vibrant hand-drawn look is also a wonder to behold. It's a joy just watching the movie, and the details that the animators put into the settings, and the little quirks and expressions of the character. (I liked the way that the evil witch doctor's shadow is almost a character itself, acting independently at times, hinting at some supernatural elements.) None of the characters are quite as well developed as Tiana, but they still grab our attention, and should delight children in the audience. The directors, John Musker and Ron Clements, worked on some of the previously mentioned Disney masterpieces (such as Little Mermaid and Aladdin), and they show here that they certainly have not forgotten their formula for success. There's plenty of humor, heart, and Broadway-quality musical numbers to go around, but the film still lacks a little tiny something that would have really pushed it to greatness.

The movie is sweet and energetic, but lacks a strong narrative that truly gets us involved. Watching the film, you get the sense that if this had been released during the resurgence of 2D animation in the early 90s, it'd be viewed as an entertaining, but minor entry. The characters are there, but there's no compelling story for them to inhabit. Other than a run-in with some alligators and a group of comic rednecks, there's no real sense of danger in the journey Tiana and Naveen take to become human again. The villain mainly stays behind the scenes, and aids a pompous former servant to the Prince (Peter Bartlett) in his misguided goal to take Naveen's place. Does this hurt the film? Not enough for me to not recommend it. It stands well enough on its own. Kids are sure to love it, and adults will smile. I guess it all boils down to this - As an attempt to capture the old feeling Disney films once had, it's a rousing success. As an individual animated entry, it's entertaining, but somewhat slight.
How kids accustomed to the flashy computer visuals of Pixar and Dreamworks will respond to the old fashioned, but beautiful, look found here, I don't know. I certainly hope it leads to future endeavors for the 2D animators they still have at the studio. I'd love to see both art forms respected both by the studio and audiences. I strongly believe that traditional and CG animation can co-exist. The Princess and the Frog is a good movie that hints at possibly great things.

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