Somewhere, deep in the heart of the Disney animation studios is a group of old school die hards who refuse to let the old ways pass away. That’s right, these old timers are still schooling the youngsters with a pencil, drawing 2D animations and creating stories on paper. It’s old fashioned, but maybe that’s the way the story of The Princess and the Frog was meant to be told.
Back in January I brought you a first look at the film and let you in on the controversy surrounding the story. I guess Disney wants to get any possible controversies out of the way early since this film doesn’t even come out until Christmas of 2009. In case you’re wondering, yeah, 17 months is pretty early even for a teaser.
The Princess and the Frog is a musical set in the legendary birthplace of jazz, New Orleans. The film will take place during the 1920s jazz age and will introduce Disney’s first African-American princess, Tiana (voiced by Anika Noni Rose). From the heart of Louisiana’s mystical bayous and the banks of the mighty Mississippi comes an unforgettable tale of love, enchantment and discovery with a soulful singing crocodile, voodoo spells and Cajun charm at every turn.
This film is Disney’s first traditionally animated film since Home On The Range in 2004. It is written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements and features the music of seventeen-time Oscar nominee Randy Newman.
The Princess and the Frog is due to hit theaters on December 18, 2009.
… it seems a little early to say much of anything about it….