The Princess and The Frog Movie

Walt Disney Pictures want to revive hand-drawn animation with their latest animated movie The Princess and the Frog. Thanks to ABC's half-hour special The Backlot Buzz we get to see some brand new footage of the Princess and the Frog commented by Producer John Lasseter. The clip even gives a look to the movie's villain, who is a witch doctor:

John Lasseter is really praising the work done on The Princess and the Frog by Directors John Musker and Ron Clements:

"Actually seeing an animated film this well-done is like something brand new again."

Producer John Lasseter

I can't say I'm thrilled yet by this movie... The Princess and the Frog for sure has some charm, but I quite disagree with John Lasseter: this hand-drawn movie does not look brand new, it rather looks damn old... But it does have some charm anyway... Hope more clips of The Princess and the Frog will be released soon.
:)

The Princess and the Frog Official Teaser Trailer

Disney has decided to renew with its original roots: a traditional 2D animated movie based upon the classic fairy tale The Frog Princess is indeed under production. The film is titled the Princess and the Frog.

The animated movie is directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, directors of The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. Dreamgirls star Anika Noni Rose is lending her voice to the lead character, Tiana. The Princess and The Frog is slated for a release on Christmas 2009.

Here below the first official teaser trailer of The princess and the Frog:

The Plot:
"A fairy tale centered on a young Afro-American girl named Princess Tiana who lives in New Orleans' French Quarter during the 1920's Jazz Age." (Source: IMDb)

The Princess and the Frog has been fueling the controversy on two fronts:

- Some people were perplex at the idea of a black fairy tale princess. Let's remind here a quote from Will Smith:

"You mess up white people's heroes in Hollywood, you'll never work in this town again!" (Will Smith on MTV)

But people sharing such concerns did not voice their opinion too loudly afraid to be accused of racism.

- More surprisingly, the real controversy came from people feeling that the original name of the heroine, Maddy, and her occupation as chambermaid were a stereotype of a black "lower class"...

But what's the matter with being a chambermaid? Cinderella did clean soils too, didn't she?

About the name: she is finally called Princess Tiana. I really feel sorry of such a coward change by Walt Disney! Should people whose real name is Maddy change their name too?

Nonetheless we will forgive Walt Disney about this name issue because it is at long last the Disney movie featuring an Afro-American princess in a fairy tale.
:)