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As Pixar have proven time and time again, computer generated animation is brilliant with its astonishing detail and ability to look almost like the real thing. But even children born in the age of Finding Nemo or The Incredibles are still entranced by the magic and wonder of such timeless hand-drawn Disney musical adaptations of fairytales like Sleeping Beauty and Snow White.
It’s been six years since Disney’s last traditional animation, Home On The Range, and over a decade since little girls fell in love with a new Disney ‘princess’. Written and directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, the team behind The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Hercules, this not only marks the start of a new revival but, for the very first time in the 73 year history of Disney’s animated features, it has a black heroine.
And, like every Disney classic, it comes with a strong story and positive moral that will engage, amuse and enthral its audiences, be they 4 or 84.
Of course, in recent years, it’s become the norm to put a twist on the traditional fairytale and this is no exception.
Set in a vibrant, colourful 1920s New Orleans, rich in attention to detail, it still tells what happens when a girl kisses an enchanted frog. But what happens next comes as a big shock to everyone.
The daughter of a dressmaker (voiced by Oprah Winfrey), Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) has put enjoying life on hold as she strives to fulfil her late daddy’s dream by opening her own restaurant.
After years of working two waitressing jobs, that dream might just be in reach if she can buy the ramshackle sugar mill she’s got her eye on. But she only has until midnight to come up with the extra money she needs.
Good news, then, that her childhood friend, spoiled debutante Charlotte, wants her to do the catering for the masquerade ball her snobbish wealthy father, ‘Big Daddy La Bouff (John Goodman), is holding.
He’s hoping to marry her off to visiting Prince Naveen who, secretly penniless after being cut off by his parents because of his playboy ways, is equally very keen to find himself a rich bride.
What nobody knows, however, is that scheming spindly voodoo magician Dr Facilier (Keith David) has used his mojo to transform Naveen’s devious resentful servant into the Prince and turn the jazz loving Prince into a frog.
Finding Tiana alone on the balcony, wishing on a star that she could make her dreams come true, the enchanted amphibian offers to get her the cash if she’ll kiss him and break the spell. Well, what’s a girl got to lose other than a smear of slime – sorry , mucous - on the lips?
Unfortunately, since she’s only dressed like a princess, the magic rebounds and, let’s just say someone gets a Kermit makeover!
Fleeing into the swamps, with the help of jazz-crazy, trumpet-playing alligator Louis, hopeless romantic toothless firefly Ray, and blind bayou witch queen Mama Odie, they now somehow have to find a way to regain their true forms, stop the marriage and put an end to Facilier’s wicked ways as good magic and bad magic meet head on.
And, if Naveen learns about responsibility, Tiana learns to embrace life, and the two of them discover what’s really important and find love, themselves and each other along the way, nobody’s going to be too surprised.
A massive box office hit in America, where it earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Film and will certainly repeat that with the Oscars, this is the film young girls across the country are going to demand to see.
Don’t resist! Brilliantly animated, packed with memorable characters (Ray and Facilier are real scene stealers) and full of warmth, charm, playful humour and heart-tugging emotion, it’s also wall to wall with great songs by Randy Newman, Tiana’s showstopper Almost There sure to grab an Oscar nomination too.
And if some younger children might find Dr Facilier’s surreal and spooky Friends On The Other Side number a little scary with its dancing voodoo dolls and sinister shadows, they’re still likely to come away with a taste for the toe tapping sounds of New Orleans jazz, blues and gospel. And that surely has to be a welcome relief from Hannah Montana.
BBFC Guidance: Contains mild scary scenes
Lets Go With The Children rating: recommended for 4+
By Mike Davies
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