The Princess and the Frog

Over a decade after 1998’s Mulan, Disney’s latest princess installment is The Princess and the Frog with newcomer Princess Tiana. But you may be surprised to find out that Tiana is not in fact a princess, but a strong-willed waitress with great ambitions. Taking place in Louisiana during the 20’s, Tiana works many jobs to save up for her own restaurant, a dream that she and her now deceased father had held on to. But her dream is put on hold when she is persuaded by a sweet talking prince-turned-frog to kiss him, and is instantly transformed into a frog herself. For the rest of the film, Tiana and frog prince Naveen must find a way to return to their former selves, exploring the farthest reaches of Louisiana in the process.

The Princess and the Frog is a wonderful film, filled especially with beautiful animation true to that of 1920’s Louisiana. Downtown New Orleans is a bustling city of busy people, streetcars, and jazz. The Louisiana bayou is a magic world of rich colors and swamp animals illuminated by the light of the moon, stars, and fireflies. The villain, voodoo doctor Facilier, unleashes a world of dark shadows, luminescent masks and monsters, and magic shown in vivid colors of purple and green. Overall, this is a great movie for families, children, or  anyone who is young at heart.