The Princess and the Frog was a breath of fresh air when we saw it released back in February this year. It’s now come out on Blu Ray and DVD and I’m pleased to report the magic transfers seamlessly onto your home TV screens.
The movie was the first to be hand drawn since 2004 and it was new Creative Director of Disney, John Lasseter who decided to bring the hand -drawn animation back to the studio where it all began with the genius that was, Walt Disney. The Princess and the Frog is a retelling of the fairy tale created by Grimm brothers back in the 19th Century. It feature a voice cast which includes Anika Noni Rose as Princess Tiana, Bruno Campos as Prince Naveen and Keith David as the films bad-guy, Dr. Facilier. John Musker and Ron Clements are the men directing the movie and they do such a fantastic job at finding the New Orleans atmosphere from which the movie is set. Using music and capturing the essence of the city that is famous for jazz, they manage to pull off yet another Disney classic that has all the elements that we’re used to Disney of old. Clever animation, an awesome soundtrack and sing-a-long songs, wonderful characters and a bad guy that will scare you just enough to make you dislike him!
If you’ve not seen The Princess and the Frog, I urge you to buy or rent it. If you have kids, this is the perfect movie to put on and sit down together and watch on a Saturday afternoon. If you’d like to read our full review of the movie, click here to view Jon’s review from the theatrical release.
The Princess and the Frog is available to buy now.
Since I’d seen the movie already, I was keen to see what Disney has added to their list of special features and the list is long:
- Audio Commentary: Commentary by John Musker and Ron Clements (Co-Writers and Directors) and Peter Del Vecho (Producer)
- Deleted Scenes
Introduction to Deleted Scenes by John Musker and Ron Clements.
- Advice From Mama
- Alternate Louis Introduction
- Stop And Smell The Roses
- Naveen Confides In Ray
- Games & Activities
What Do You See: Princess Portraits: Mama Odie welcomes us to the bayou, where Ray’s firefly family has just outlined a picture of Tiana. Mama Odie proposes a game to test the viewers’ knowledge of princesses. Ray’s firefly family will arrange themselves to create a picture of one of the princesses. If the viewer correctly identifies which princess is seen in the formation they make, they are rewarded with a brief – hip, and slightly irreverent – re-telling of that princess’ story, which plays as a montage on the surface of the water.
- Music & More: “Never Knew I Needed” Music Video by Ne-Yo/ Dylan & Cole Sprouse: Blu-ray™ Is Suite!
- Backstage Disney
- Magic in the Bayou: The Making of The Princess & The Frog: A freewheeling, documentary-style ramble through the making of Disney’s newest animated film. This piece will capture both the spirit and the story of how THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG emerged from a vague concept in the minds of Musker and Clements, to become a splashy, lavish animated film set in the enchanting, mythical world of New Orleans and the surrounding bayous.
