Being green is not quite as simple as the world makes it out to be. The main character Tiana from The Princess and the Frog finds this true as she’s roaming the bayous of New Orleans. Disney has finally made its first, hand-drawn, black, and by far the most relatable Disney princess movie, that strategically avoids race. Tiana is shown to have a strong, close-knit relationship with her family and community and strong morals. Disney single-handedly created a celebrity-filled, animated film with an awesome plot, they didn’t really explain her roots well though. But we really can’t knock Disney too much, they finally have young, African-American girls and boys a princess they can look up to and relate to. While Disney did most things well, they didn’t give Tiana the proper screen time, nor did they see through to her future after living an amphibian lifestyle. With life being more than her little heart could bare, I see why she’s so willing to go green for a while.
Before her drastic character change, young Tiana (voiced by Elizabeth Dampier) is a selfless child keeping her mother, Eudora (Oprah Winfrey), a seamstress who so happens to sew princess-like dresses for her best friend Charlotte (Breanna Brooks), daughter to the wealthiest man in New Orleans, Big Daddy LaBouff (John Goodman). In Tiana’s sane household, her father, James (Terrance Howard) sees his daughter's passion and talent for cooking and pushes her to keep it up. His motivation turned Tiana’s passion into a dream of opening her own restaurant, just like he wanted to. He tells her something that is never said in any other Disney princess films, “Yes, you wish and you dream with all your little heart. But you remember Tiana, that old star can only take you part of the way. You got to help with some hard work of your own. And then...Yeah, you can do anything you set your mind to.”
The overall theme of The Princess and the Frog is hard work will get you far. As aforementioned, it is not race that separates Tiana from Charlotte, it is hard work. Tiana is quite the opposite of her spoiled, entitled friend. Tiana is often seen stressed throughout the movie, working herself to no end it seems. For instance, the scene where she ran into her room and flopped on the bed out of exhaustion. She then puts the money she has earned after a hard day at work into a container and looks at the ‘Tiana’s place’ image to keep what she’s working towards in perspective. It was very important that Disney explained Tiana’s back story, in which they did well. Her family’s history is sorta like a prerequisite to the tone and theme of the animated film.
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In Disney’s explanation of her family history, it’s pretty safe to say that this is easily the most relatable/realistic Disney princess film. In the movie, Tiana went through many trials and tribulations before she was successful. For instance, when she had finally saved up enough money to purchase the building for her future restaurant, she was told that someone with more money had already purchased it. This is by far the most realistic scenario in a princess film. It is so important that Disney displayed Tiana’s struggles and errors. Of course, young children need to be kept young, and not see true reality until years to come, but this animated princess film softens the blow that the world isn’t all cupcakes and rainbows. I am very excited that Disney finally released a movie that young black girls can relate to as well. Don’t get me wrong, while there are other Disney Princesses that young children can relate to, there’s a different feeling when you can finally see someone on screen that gets a happily ever after, perseveres through the adversities but the most important part is that they look like you!!! There’s no greater feeling than that. While they capitalized on this part of the movie, they didn’t really give her the spotlight she deserved.
For a significant portion of the movie, Tiana was a frog…hence the title. While it was a key concept of the movie, Disney didn’t give enough of her back story. Tiana being a frog was just another obstacle for her to overcome that would test the morals her father instilled in her. For instance, in the other Disney princess film, Moana, they displayed portions of her entire life through and through. From childhood to adulthood, they even showed her on her throne in the end. Disney did not do that with Tiana, they gave a brief, and I mean brief childhood glimpse. Then her dad died, and they discontinued the family scene. No answers as to why and how were given. They also only showed about 5 minutes of Tiana relishing in her brand-new restaurant in the end. Like how did she finally achieve her dreams, did she even marry Prince Naveen? There were so many unanswered questions. While I totally enjoyed the film, it angered me to no end that Disney created this long-awaited film and did not give Tiana a justified ending!!! There wasn’t even a sequel!!!!!
All things given; the entirety of this Disney princess film was quite amazing. Yes, there were aspects aforementioned that could’ve been better like: more Tiana, less frog screen time, and lengthening the amount of history they gave us about her. Disney pulled a number when they decided to produce this film, yes there are other princesses, but the black community finally has a princess of their own! Merida from Brave was of course a courageous young lady from a Scottish family that had to go to hell and back to make her Family realize, what they want for her is not what she wants. Moana, from the Disney film Moana had to prove to her family that she was more than capable of saving her people. Tiana is just a monumental mark that they hit head-on!!! This film is definitely must see, so I suggest that you suit up the youngins and let them relish in a new Disney Princess film!!!!!
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