The latest offering from The Mouse House sees them return to the traditionally animated 2D format that has served them so well in the past. Aladdin and The Little Mermaid co-director's Ron Clements and John Musker really hearken back to the golden age of animation with this engaging and vibrant film that positively bursts with colour and wit. CGI and 3D may very well be the future of animation, but it appears there will always be a place for its hand drawn older brother.
Tiana is a young woman who has always dreamed of opening her own restaurant. When she was a little girl her father told her that hard work would always shine through, so she does just that, working two jobs and saving hard to buy a property.
When a dashing, but broke, young prince comes to town and has a run in with the local voodoo practicing wrong sort, he is turned into a frog and must kiss a princess to regain his human form. But after he mistakes Tiana for a princess and bargains a kiss from her, they both end up as amphibians. The two find themselves lost in the swamps of New Orleans, where they encounter some local wildlife, and embark on an eventful journey to return home.
As with the bulk of Disney productions, there is a core message here that the filmmakers really want to convey. But it's not just the obligatory 'follow your dreams' shout, but rather one of hard work, graft and always remembering what's important even if your ultimate goal seems further away than ever. It might sound cheesy, but Clements and Musker inject it with so much damn charm that you really can't help but be thoroughly entertained. Featuring the first lead African American character in mainstream animated history, it's also ostensibly somewhat of a pioneering effort, and one that isn't milked but rather just 'is'.
There are not many little girls that won't love this film, but this is that rare occasion where young, old, male or female should all enjoy it equally. Not quite on par with the likes of the brilliant Up or Toy Story; The Princess and the Frog is nonetheless proof that a strong story, strong characters and a positive message make a good movie, regardless of the format.
