The Princess and the Frog
2009 · Directed by Ron Clements, John Musker
Original language: English
- animation
- romance
- fantasy
- family
The story
A waitress, desperate to fulfill her dreams as a restaurant owner, is set on a journey to turn a frog prince back into a human being, but she has to face the same problem after she kisses him.
What it’s like
Hand-drawn 2D animation with warm, saturated colour: candlelit kitchens glowing amber, moss-green bayou water, and the blue-violet dusk of a New Orleans night broken up by drifting fireflies. Painted backgrounds carry the Jazz Age Art Deco fashion of the city alongside lush swamp foliage, and the Mardi Gras and Storyville-era street scenes feel busy and lively without ever becoming cluttered. The score is brassy and rhythmic, built on jazz, zydeco and gospel-tinged numbers, with the bayou nights softened by crickets and guitar. Vibe: bright, warm and cheerfully romantic, a good fit for a lazy weekend afternoon, a family movie night, or a comfort rewatch with something on while cooking. Pacing is buoyant, with frequent songs that pause the story for character. Its arcs follow an ambitious young woman learning that dreams need patience, and a charming, feckless prince learning to take responsibility. Intensity is mild: a voodoo villain brings some sinister menace and a few tense chases, but there is no gore and the frights stay light. Made for families and anyone who wants old-fashioned, hopeful animation with live jazz energy and a gentle, rooted sense of place.
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