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Sound Off: Disney's Princess and the Frog - Your Thoughts?

by Alex Billington
December 13, 2009

Now that you've seen it, what did you think? I've been waiting to write this because I didn't have the chance to see Disney's Princess and the Frog until last tonight. But now that I've seen it, I can voice my opinion, and hear everyone else's as well. The Princess and the Frog is Disney's first hand-drawn animated movie since Home on the Range in 2004. How does it live up to other Disney classics? Does the animation even look good? Does it have a good story and is it entertaining to watch? Are the songs any good? If you've seen it, then sound off, leave a comment, and let us know what you thought of The Princess and the Frog!

To fuel the fire, I really enjoyed Princess and the Frog. It's not exactly my favorite animated Disney movie or anything, but I still had a great time. It was exciting to see the hand-drawn animation style again and to see Disney put together another classic fairy tale. There were some great characters, like Louis the alligator and Ray the firefly, and some wonderful songs, too. I wouldn't say it ranks high on the list of Disney movies, but it's definitely a great return to the Disney musical we've missed for a while. If you're looking for a fun and entertaining musical that the whole family can enjoy, Princess and the Frog is definitely the way to go.

What did you think of Princess and the Frog? Another Disney classic or just a waste of time?

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Kaiser

So Alex, would you say it would be worth taking a 2 1/2 year old to see it? He loves all things Disney (especially Toy Story and sadly the princesses)
James

I think John Musker and Ron Clements have done a terrific job of bringing back 2-D animation. The imagery is absolutely lovely, even better than the images in Hayao Miyazaki's "Ponyo." The characters are very relatable and enjoyable. The musical numbers are outstanding, particularly "Almost There" and "Friends on the Other Side." My only big complaints with the film are that it moves too quickly (I bet even "The Emperor's New Groove" took a couple more pauses than "Princess") and that the villain, Dr. Facilier, does not get quite enough screen time to make him a classic villain, though he is still an estimable menace. Overall, "The Princess and the Frog" is second only to "Up" as my favorite family film of the year.
Timothy

# 1 I haven't seen the film yet, but no way the animation is better than Ponyo. It's just not. A cursory look at the two movie's trailers confirms that. Miyazaki really played with water cooler for Ponyo, and the result is strickingly beautiful.
Almartva

It is a great movie but not a classic. I don't understand what the appeal of this brand of movies is, and by that I don't mean traditionally animated movies. The re-telling of classic fairy tales is just a fad that had its course and it pretty much died and to my opinion it should have stayed like that. Now don't want to sound like I am being negative towards Disney, I have always been a fan and a supporter, I hope this movie is a success and that they go on to make more classics stories with this new 2d strategy, but I had hoped that they learned their lesson from Pixar and decided to have a more bold approach to storytelling.The Princess and the Frog is just a re-imagining of a tale everyone already knows so besides a little twist here and there you can assume you already have seen this, is just a cliché. I can't wait to see what they do with Rapunzel.
MIMI

absolutely FANTASTIC!!!! 5 stars
Otacon

I enjoyed the film quite a bit though, like you Alex, it was not my favorite Disney film. Something seemed a bit off when I was studying the animation, almost as if the animators were still pretty new to the whole "pen and paper" type of animation. The secondary characters never really moved in a fluid way as the primary ones did and at some points it was a bit jarring for me. The music was good though not memorable. The dialog between characters was between characters was my utmost favorite part of the movie. Prince Naveen's character was incredibly well-written and executed perfectly by Bruce Campos. You truly feel that he's a nice guy who just hasn't done anything for himself in his life and his struggles with it towards the middle of the film. I agree with #1 in that the "Shadowman" (I had no idea of his name until the end) was a beautifully designed character and was a treat to watch animation wise, but I found his motivation hard to follow and he really could have stood up there with the great Disney villians (Jafar, Hades, Ursula and Scar; 3 of which are by Clements and Musker). Overall, I'd rate it a 3.5/5. Its on it's way back up to the status quo of the Disney Renaissance of the 90's, but it's got a little more ways to go. Also, Disney's marketing it as the "first african-american princess in the Disney canon" seems to have worked; myself and my roommate were the only whities in our theatre!
Ryan

It's disney magic all over. I fully enjoyed and would put it high on my list on animation movies.
James

#2, I never said how much I liked the "Princess" animation better than the "Ponyo" animation. Both films have marvelous scenery and effects animation. It is primarily the character animation that puts "Princess" at top for me. I'm more accustomed to Disney's style of drawing figures than Miyazaki's. His characters can be a little too creepy and over-the-top for me. Like I said, I enjoyed both films, but "Princess" has the style I enjoy more. Besides, "Princess" has a stronger story than "Ponyo."
Al

It had no chance at reaching the level that Hunchback reached in terms of drama. Or the comedy heights that Emperors New Groove reached, but it probably will go down as a fine edition in the WD animation cannon. It was just a bunch of fun, some of the characters felt rushed, specifically the villain, but what can I say, I liked it more than Up. Maybe its just because of the return to form, but that doesn't matter, Im backing this for Best Animated Picture and hate the fact that Lasseter won't push for it to be nominated for BEST PICTURE instead of Up. I swear to god if Lasseter was in charge of Disney Animation in the 90s Hunchback of Noter Dame would have never been made.
joe foss

I saw it friday and I loved it! IT is certainly in the top 1/3 of All hand drawn animation. Randy Newman may well have earned an academy award with the songs. The kids were rapt in the theater, and at the end, people applauded the movie. Horray for The PRincess and the Frog.
Brian Barajas

#7 that wouldnt be too much of a bummer for me, hunchback is one of my least favorite disney movies.
Lazarus from Sparta...DETHKLOK RULES!!!!!

I garontee...dis movie iz goin to be a classic in de children heart ya! I will see it next week with my young brother and let him tell me if it was great!
mike

the animation look like the straight to video seqals not like the classics
shadow

Loved it. This and Ponyo showed me how much love 2D animation. I think what I loved most about it was the incredibly natural and fun dialog. The animation of them as frogs was just plain fun to watch. I loved the bad guy too, he had some generally frightening scenes, I was impressed. I thought Tiana strayed a little bit from her character near the end, and not all the songs are memorable. However all in all it was much better than expected and I cannot wait to see what Disney does next in 2D.
splinter

went and saw it Friday night at the disney studios, in just watching the movie i was very entertained, each character complemented each other very well and all in all it was a very good movie. On the animation end, i loved that they mixed in some of the old Harlem paining style to create animation with. really impressed me. not all the songs were very memorable but i would go watch it again.
Chris

It was great!!
Tristan

Loved the film, a bit cliche at at times. But this is a visual medium and the visuals did not dissapoint.
D

Saw it last night and really enjoyed it. Was it my favorite Disney flick? No, but it really was quite good. I loved that I could take my daugther to see a princess that looked like her. And I liked that this heroine came from a loving family with a mother and a father. The songs were indeed nice, but I agree with whomever said they weren't really memorable. I remember leaving the theater singing "A Whole New World," or "Never Had a Friend Like Me" and "Hakuna Matata," etc. And while I actually really almost HEARD echoes of "Friend Like Me" in Shadowman's first song, it didn't resonate quite as well. But overall, the movie works on many levels and it's a WIN.
jwt

DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE! The ad I saw showed a croc and a frog, I thought the princess was a crocodile Instead it was a ….black woman, false advertising And the prince is ….arabic or muslim This is Obama multi ethnic brainwashing again to innocent KIDS now i'm scared my kid will rememeber the movie Dont go back home like a loser with a bad taste in your mouth, ask your money back like me! Go spend it on Avatar
GoodSir

Ok, #19, you love Obama, you've made your point.
angie

great movie i loved it at first i didnt know if i wanted to see it because everyone was like black princess and im asian but i loved it it was a great movie A CLASSIC MOVIE!
troy

Really 19? Really? If you cant figure out from the trailer who the basic characters are, are you sure your old enough to be driving a car to see this movie? Out of 21 people your the only one who has said anything remotely as negative, I havn't seen the movie, but im psyched, everything about it looks fantastic, and you go and trash it because of your joke of a political stance? Really? This is the beginning of a new age of Disney Animation, I and everyone I know could not be more excited.
TEMPLAR

I loved this film! The characters and music were both memorable and delightful. It was fun seeing a Disney cartoon finally again on big screen. THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG will definitely be classic film for decades to come. The only problem I have is that this movie was NOT promoted here in New Orleans. I know because I live in New Orleans. Walt Disney and New Orleans did NOTHING. I don't know who dropped the ball here, but its just interesting to point that the movie is based in New Orleans, especially the famous French Quarter, and there was NO special promotion, NO movie premiere, NO parties...absolutely nothing. And the only movie theatre within the New Orleans city limits wasn't even showing THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG.
NadaNuff

@ Almartva (#4) I don't understand your post. You talk about how re-telling fairy tales is "sad" and that you wished Disney had moved past that, but then you end your post with "I can't wait to see what they do with Rapunzel." Another re-telling of a classic story. You contradicted yourself pretty hard. I thought the movie was pretty good. Songs weren't really memorable, but the animation was pure Disney. They should be proud of the character design and fluidity of Shadow Man, he really impressed me. I'll be picking this up on Blu-Ray in a few months.
Antioch

Loved this! Made me feel so happy - hated Ponyo. Disney Classics all the way!!
mer4sims

i agree with you on that it felt a bit rushed espesially dr.facilier, but i thought the animation was amazing espesially the part at the end of dig a little deeper were all the bottles started shining. that had to be the most beautiful thing ever. my favorate thing though was probably the prince. i loved all of his expressions and dialoge. he was definatly the best prince yet^^.
Rosy

JWT, Sorry to ruin your day but Avartar's female character is protrayed by a...black woman. Sorry but those people are everywhere. Maybe it's safer to never live home.
Nora J.

It was okay, but very predictable. Even the firefly's death was not that much of a shock, since offing cute animals is a Disney tradition (Bambi's mother? Mufasa? Old Yeller, anyone?) The earlier parts of the film were the best parts, though; after Tiana got turned into a frog, the movie went downhill. The Tiana/Naveen relationship felt fake and forced. The songs were forgettable. The feeling I got from earlier films like Snow White, The Lion King, Pinocchio just wasn't there. I'd rate this as a worthy successor to Tarzan...and that's not necessarily high praise. Really, the best animated movie I saw this year was Astro Boy...now that was a movie with heart, with magic and an unforgettable central character. It surprised the heck out of me, and my kids adored it. They were pretty "meh" with the Frog movie; I guess Astro Boy has spoiled them when it comes to animated films...
Maura Byrnes

This movie was TERRIBLE for my kids to see. I was so excited to bring them to their first movie theater experience (my youngest just turned 4 and my two older girls are relatively new to America, born and raised abroad, they're 8 and 10 years old; they read, speak and understand English and other languages). Since my older two are African nationals, I was eager to show them this particular movie! My youngest child was terrified of "Shadow Man, " the villain and scared of a few of the other characters (the croc, the frog-fishermen/hunters, the shadows pertaining to Satan or whoever you want to call him from "the other side.") She jumped into my lap and alternatively hid her head in my shoulder. The older two seemed stunned and overwhelmed. All three children have had terrible nightmares every night since they saw the movie four nights ago. Whenever anyone asks them what they thought of the movie they jointly reply, "It was scary." Furthermore, the plot is too hard for most children under six to follow, in my opinion. If you doubt me, ask any five year old why the prince had to kiss a princess by midnight, and what the talisman was for; it would surprise me if they could tell you! Sure, there were some lovely melodies and superb voices, but so what? I have read numerous reviews of this movie, both before and after seeing it, and haven't read any review of how frightening it is for young children. So, if your children are sensitive (and most are more sensitive than we care to realize or admit) then please save your money and see something that is not a fear fest.
Kityma Patterson

I too was very excited to take my 3 year old daughter to see the new princess that she could identify with! However this movie is the MOST demonic movie I have seen in a very long time let alone in a cartoon EVER! I dont understand nor appreciate the association the African American Princess story with the black magic displayed. This voodooism which they clearly wanted to portray was more of the story line than anything else in this plot. It was relevant from beginning to end. With the demonic creatures crawling and chanting and the pin cushion dolls dancing around, I was not suprised when my daughter began to have nightmares! Please don't expose your children to things because it seems like the thing to do. If I had previewed this beforehand she would have never watched it. I regret not leaving the theatres. BE AWARE!
Gwen Johnson

#30, you are so right to describe it as "demonic". What was Disney thinking? Don't answer that!!
Claudia Manto

My 8 and 13 years old daughters had nightmares after seen this movie! What was the POINT?
Brr

29-32: Better avoid Nightmare before Christmas, it's "demonic" too... better avoid any film that depicts Catholicism with its evil "saint's days", and Slumdog Millionaire with it's Hinduism! (rolls eyes) Speaking of kids from other countries reaction, I predict this film will bomb in Africa and possibly even start riots in countries with a large Evangelical Fundamentalist movement, such as Nigeria and Kenya where they are passing laws to make homosexuality and "blasphemy" crimes punishable by death. As a Christian, I have to say these people are destroying society with their hatred and knee jerk black and white attitudes.
Erica Junger

For #33: Your sarcasm conveys quite a bit of anger and resentment. Since you identify yourself as a Christian, perhaps you could be in prayer over this method of responding to strangers. It is unhelpful, shuts down communication and undermines anything intelligent you might be trying to share. BTW, having spent years in both Nigeria and Kenya I can assure you that the vast majority of children in these countries are too malnourished and poor to go the movies so your prediction that the movie will bomb there is likely accurate but your reasoning is faulty. May we get back to discussing the movie now? I thought it was insipid, distasteful, predictable, and unnecessarily frightening for a "family entertainment" movie with children as its primary audience.
Judy Prism

Saw it at the premier in NYC. HATED it. BORING. Seriously, voodoo for a children's movie?? I wish they had come up with a better setting/storyline for their first black princess.
Atreyu

Leave it to the concerned mothers who have no real intelligent taste to give this movie a bad rep. This is why a lot of the stories are going to crap, and directors instead opt for shiny over heartfelt portrayals of human emotion.
cindy

First of all, she is not a "princess" folks--she's a waitress. A poor, black waitress living in a faded low rent neighborhood. Her mother is a seamstress for a rich white family, and Tiana is best friends with the spoiled little rich white girl(one of the best characters in the film BTW). Disney decided that an actual black princess in a fairytale world was just too unbelivable, and had to excuse the african american choice by surrounding this character with so much "blackness" that it is virtually unrelatable to many modern black people. As well as perpetuating stereotypes we've been trying to shake since the 40's. Poor, ghetto, swindled, cooking gumbo,voodoo, witch doctors,african masks,working for rich white folk,shuckin' and jivin'. And the prince--besides being broke--isn't even black!If you're gonna go black then commit. All that and the prince was some vague brown race. There are African Princes people. And if there weren't--in the world of fairytales there could be.
nichole

I don't believe this film will make it into the Disney Classics... It was cute, colorful and heartwarming, but it lacked the magic of the other films. New Orleans seems like such a large and enchantingly beautiful place, yet they scaled the setting down, making it seem isolated and simple. I wanted more insight on Naveen and Tiana's characters. It all seemed to happen so fast. There was no climactic struggle between the protagonists themselves to form any sort of bond. It was just sort of a jaded coexistence. I am happy that the prince was actually given more air time then say... prince charming or what have you. But this movie is certainly no Aladdin. Nowadays, it's become really obvious that lack of proper story-boarding leaves the audience feeling as if more could have been done in those two or so hours and that these producers are having a really hard time squeezing a satisfying plot into their allotted time frame anymore. The villain was probably the most entertaining aspect of this movie. Colorful, eccentric, a strong personality and even a little scary. Naveen And Tiana were rather bland...
Nicole

Alright....wow, so these comments started great, and slowly declined into that typical back and forth fight between ignorant people who can't spell. To start off, I LOVED the movie. I think it was a great return to 2d animation, I loved the characters, the music, really everything about it. Okay...to those "concerned mothers" out there...I took my FOUR YEAR OLD cousin to this and she LOVED IT. She understood it, and started rattling off the plot to her parents later. She did not have nightmares and it did not scare her. Really, I believe it is the fault of the parent if the kid is frightened by this:It means you are sheltering them WAY too much, and they'll probably end up a scared little recluse of whatever religion you are, or a hardcore rebel of whatever standards you're forcing upon them. Honestly, the woman with the THIRTEEN YEAR OLD having nightmares from THIS movie?? Seriously, that is kind of sad. A 13 year old should know by now what's real and what isn't, that conveys to me that you've really sheltered your children. About the so-called "demonism" of this film....the people making this film wished to convey AUTHENTIC New Orleans aspects. They toured New Orleans for weeks, taking tours throughout the city, and even got a tour from a real voodoo woman. So, to you people...it was historically and logistically accuracy, not Disney's attempt to force voodoo on your children, which by the way is a stupid idea anyway because what happens in the end? The voodoo man DIES!! The bad voodoo loses, and the good magic wins! To the black argument of them representing the blacks as poor and low rent....Anika Noni Rose..the voice of Tiana and OPRAH HERSELF had no problems providing the voices for this film...don't you think if they were trying to be racist in any way, they would not have provided their voice? And don't tell me it was for the money...Oprah does NOT need money as we all know. And what's wrong with a black woman marrying another race? YOU'RE the one who sounds racist now not wanting interracial couples. And I would not say Charlotte is the BEST character in this. She's funny, but really my favorite was Tiana and I'm white. I loved Tiana's character because she really conveyed such a good message with the idea of working hard for what you dream instead of just thinking it will come to you. I am not a rich woman, I am working hard in college right now and I'll be paying back loans for years to come, so that message really stuck with me. I've had my say and hope you consider it.
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Saucony

Wow, the complaints about this movie being "unnecessarily scary" are ridiculous. I mean, come on, did you want a fuzzy teddy bear for the villain? Or would that have given your children nightmares too? For pete's sakes, it's YOUR jobs as parents to decide what is appropriate for your child. If they are sensitive to stuff like that, then DON'T LET THEM SEE IT. It's really quite simple to understand. They shouldn't have to dumb down the movie so that a 5 year old can understand everything and not be frightened. Leave them at home with a Blue's Clues video, geez. And to the ones complaining about how it reinforced stereotypes? Wow, 37, are you serious right now? Will you ever be satisfied? Some will find a problem with it no matter what. Changing the title from Frog Princess and her name from Maddy and her job from chambermaid wasn't enough? You're going to tell me no other princess initially had some sort of job similar to chambermaid? Uh huh, yeah, they did. I doubt you would've complained about that. Tiana has a loving family with both parents present and she is intelligent and hardworking. SO WHAT she's a waitress. SO WHAT there's voodoo. SO WHAT they're poor and make gumbo. It's freaking New Orleans in the 1920s. What, did you think she was going to be a CEO? Yeah, there were loads of black females with such jobs in the south in the 20s. And don't even start with the black prince thing. Give me a break. Disney intentionally made him racially ambiguous. They figured either way someone would have a problem. I guarantee you, if they had made him black, there would've been people coming out of the woodwork yelling about THAT too. I can hear it now: Oh, why she GOTTA be with a black guy? Is Disney afraid of interracial relationships? She's not GOOD ENOUGH for a non-black guy? The movie is realistic without being stereotypical. Those complaints are so horribly nitpicky, they're laughable. I think they did a good job in this aspect of the film. They treated the city and the characters with respect. Sadly, some people will ALWAYS find a problem somewhere. Disney didn't need to bend over backwards trying to please them; it would have been a wasted effort.
Brianna

I was VERY impressed with this movie. It brought back the disney magic that I grew up with. The songs were catchy, the character's were beautifully drawn, it was just amazing. Everyone I knew saw it, loved it and couldn't quit talking about it. I really hope Disney continues to make more movies like this.