It’s finally here! Disney’s long anticipated return to 2-D and princess stories comes alive at the theaters nationwide this weekend with The Princess and the Frog. Only this princess doesn’t wish upon a star, she works for it!
Born and raised in the lower-working class of New Orleans, Tiana doesn’t have aspirations to find a prince. No, she’s off to save money to buy an old mill, where she hopes to fulfill her father’s dream of building a restaurant. Her father not only passes down his recipes, but also his sense of work ethic. And his death only makes her resolve stronger as she holds down two waitressing jobs in hopes of buying up that mill. “No time for dancing,” she tells her momma, who’s got her sites on her daughter marrying and getting some grandchildren.
Ain’t got time for messin’ around
And it’s not my style
This old town can slow you down
People takin’ the easy way
But I know exactly where I’m goin’
I’m gettin’ closer and closer every day…I remember Daddy told me
Fairy tales can come true
But you gotta make ’em happen
It all depends on you
So I work real hard each and every day
Now things for sure are goin’ my way
Just doin’ what I do
Look out boys, I’m comin’ throughMusic and Lyrics by Randy Newman
Published by Walt Disney Music Company (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved.
As the voice of Tiana, Anika Noni Rose gets that, she found motivation in her character from her parents who always encouraged her to do whatever she wanted to, whether that was being a veterinarian when she was 2 years old, or a super hero. In an interview (link) with Dominic von Riedemann, she states that her grandmother told her, “If you want to do something, put your mind to it, put your heart into it.”
As the voice of Tiana’s father in the movie, real life father of three Terrence Howard speaks of that central message. In one article (link) he notes:
“Even though it’s based on a fairy tale, it’s the work ethic that’s promoted. Yes, you need imagination and a dream and the freedom to follow them. But you need to put that sweat equity into it.”
Of course this is a contrast to Prince Naveen, whose “lifestyle is high, but his funds are low.” He’s a sort of jazz playboy who enjoys being around women. He comes from a different kind of sensibility, one that pays off financially if he marries the daughter of the richest man in New Orleans.
In her youth, Tiana’s rival Charlotte LaBouff announced she would “kiss 100 frogs to find her prince.” Tiana retorts that there is no way she would every kiss a frog. But here is a talking frog making all of the promises an eligible bachelor would make, especially in the plight of being cast as a frog. She gives Naveen a kiss, and well…you know the results.
Now the prince and the princess-to-be are brought to the same level when they become frogs. Heading off to the bayou they learn a little from each other. As Tiana rows down the river, Naveen sits back and sings. She encourages him to work harder, he interprets that as singing louder. Still, by the end of the film, he learns important lessons about working hard. But Tiana gets a few messages of her own. And one of them is that love doesn’t have to take a back seat to work. After all, it’s about living life to the fullest through one’s perseverance.
Of course the real tale of perseverance here isn’t a princess story in the Tiana and the Frog sense. It’s much more a tale in the Sleeping Beauty awakens sort of sense. It’s about Disney’s awakening from a long 2-D animation hibernation. The damsels in distress of this particular story of reawakening are directors John Musker and Ron Clements. The two met during production of The Fox and the Hound and have collaborated ever since. Their story is a tale of highs (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin) and lows (The Black Cauldron, Hercules). It’s also a story of being let go by Disney after the critical hype and box office failure that is Treasure Planet.
But thanks to a rescue made by Pixar princes John Lasseter and Ed Catmull (experts themselves in the field of success, failure and being ousted), these two directors have been offered a new opportunity to bring 2-D animation back to life. As noted in a Wall Street Journal article (link), this marriage proposed by 3-D hero Pixar wasn’t without awkwardness. In an interview, Catmull recalled experiencing “the weirdest feeling” when he realized that Pixar’s success had contributed to both Musker and Clements being ousted at Disney. Still, everyone wanted to make it work. And that work has resulted in The Princess and the Frog.
So there is much riding on the success of this new Disney film. Here’s to wishing and working upon a star, and to potentially seeing the payoff with the premiere of this new film.
In the meanwhile, you have your own dragons to slay at work and elsewhere. As you consider your own tale of adventure, ask yourself:
- What is your dream?
- What sweat do you have to put into it?
- Who are the naysayers?
- How do you find fulfillment through perseverance?
Your story isn’t too unlike these tales It’s about passion. It’s about work. It’s about fulfillment. And as Walt Disney would say: “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” Here’s to pursuing the happily ever after stories in your life.
