The Princess and the Frog Discussion - Part III

[RyGuy]

I thought I remembered reading (or hearing) that at one point that WDAS had been developing a Frog Prince feature that was set in Chicago during Prohibition?

That was Pixar. According to the film's 'Art of' book, Pixar at one point was developing a version set in Chicago in the '30s. WDAS tried to adapt the tale twice. Once in the late '80s and another in the early '00s. The latter was developed by Eric Goldberg which was a satirical take on the tale that took place in Venice and was a period piece.

Oh that’s right! You have a much better memory than I do.

[Disney's Divinity]

I just happened to glance at the poll. I'm happy Tiana is far in the lead, but I can't believe Louis has more votes than both Naveen and Ray. I don't hate Louis like some of those people in the past who would terrorize DisneyJedi, but he's easily the weakest character in the movie, imo. Well, other than Lawrence, I guess, although I've always got a kick out of the scenes with Lawrence's voice coming from Naveen's body.

Mama Odie is the most disappointing character in TP&TF though, simply because I expected more. I love Jenifer Lewis, she's freaking hilarious, but there was a lot of untapped potential with Odie. I wish there had been more of a direct confrontation between her and Facilier or at least some kind of long-distance communication since Odie clearly knows about him.

[DisneyJedi]

Don’t remind me of those times, please.

But yeah. I did take offense to those guys who went out of their way to write Louis off as useless/annoying/whatever. Because he was more than just a face. He helped Ray to get Tiana and Naveen fall in love, he dropped his charade as a “costumed” gator to help Ray when the latter was being chased by shadows and helped “persuade” the Fenner brothers to give Tiana her restaurant.

[Disney's Divinity]

I think the highlight of Louis is the voice acting. I can't help but wish Musker & Clements had kept the story idea of Louis having been cursed by Facilier.

[Disney Duster]

I can't tell why Disney's Divinity is sticking his tongue out at you DisneyJedi, but let's hope it has nothing to do with what you said. Don't let him get you down anyway. I like Louis! He's awesome and was a good addition to the movie! Actually, one of the best parts!

[Sotiris]

Material from the 10th anniversary screening of the film at the Academy.


Articles

The Princess and the Frog‘s 10-Year Reunion Has Us Leaping for Joy
https://d23.com/the-princess-and-the-fr ... g-for-joy/

Anika Noni Rose on the 10th Anniversary of ‘The Princess and the Frog’ and Princess Tiana’s Legacy
https://variety.com/2019/scene/news/ani ... 203326145/

The Princess and the Frog 10th Anniversary Celebration
http://www.theprincessblog.org/2019/09/ ... rsary.html

The Princess and the Frog at the Academy
http://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2019/09 ... ademy.html


Videos

• The Princess and the Frog Cast and Crew Celebrate 10 Magical Years
• Building Worlds with Marlon West
• A Disney Song with Funk
• Jenifer Lewis Channels Moms Mabley
• Chasing the Part of Tiana
• Anika Noni Rose Performs "Down in New Orleans"
• Guests Arrive on Stage

[Disney's Divinity]

Rose still sounds so great singing "Down in New Orleans." Thank God for that reprise.

[D82]

Thanks for posting all those links, Sotiris! I wish they had uploaded the full panel, but these clips were great. I wonder why John Musker didn't attend the event, though. He wasn't at The Little Mermaid panel from D23 either. Does he not have a good relationship with the studio anymore?

[Sotiris]

Randy Newman discussed how he knew his songs wouldn't win any awards like the Broadway-style princess songs that he "can't stand," but he was happy to write '20s-style jazz songs that "would never win anything."

Source: http://www.theprincessblog.org/2019/09/ ... rsary.html

[Disney's Divinity]

I’m SO glad they ousted Alan Menken from the project for his sake. I'm glad he didn't get an award for his shoddy work here.

[Farerb]

I never liked Randy Newman ever since he made that horrible song for Toy Story that everybody loves for some reason.

[Tristy]

Randy Newman discussed how he knew his songs wouldn't win any awards like the Broadway-style princess songs that he "can't stand," but he was happy to write '20s-style jazz songs that "would never win anything."

Source: http://www.theprincessblog.org/2019/09/ ... rsary.html

Is this becoming sort of a thing for Disney now? Hiring people who have been critical of what made them popular? I guess that would explain all the metatextual stuff in the recent animated films and the live action remakes.

[Sotiris]

Because hiring someone who "can't stand" musicals to write a musical makes perfect sense. If only had Lasseter been ousted earlier...

[JeanGreyForever]

That's so disgusting. With this attitude, no wonder this film flopped. Serves them right.

Is this becoming sort of a thing for Disney now? Hiring people who have been critical of what made them popular? I guess that would explain all the metatextual stuff in the recent animated films and the live action remakes.

It really is cool to hate on Disney or anything popular these days, although Marvel seems to be the main outlier here for some reason. Disney thinks they are being "cool" and "woke" by making fun of themselves because that's what audiences seem to like these days. Pretty much every DAC film from TPATF onwards has been meta and dismissed their own legacy.

Because hiring someone who "can't stand" musicals to write a musical makes perfect sense. If only had Lasseter been ousted earlier...

And let's not forget Lasseter's comments about the princesses when they were making WIR2 and how he was glad that they were being brought down to earth.

[Tristy]

That's so disgusting. With this attitude, no wonder this film flopped. Serves them right.

Is this becoming sort of a thing for Disney now? Hiring people who have been critical of what made them popular? I guess that would explain all the metatextual stuff in the recent animated films and the live action remakes.

It really is cool to hate on Disney or anything popular these days, although Marvel seems to be the main outlier here for some reason. Disney thinks they are being "cool" and "woke" by making fun of themselves because that's what audiences seem to like these days. Pretty much every DAC film from TPATF onwards has been meta and dismissed their own legacy.

It's amazing isn't it? During the renaissance era, you heard so many of the people they brought on talking about how they are absolutely privileged to be involved with such a legacy. I think in particular of the Great Mouse Detective featurette where you hear Val Bettin and Vincent Price talking with great enthusiasm about being in a Disney animated film. Now it's like Disney is attracting the cynical crowd that were dismissive of them in the past.

[Disney's Divinity]

So true. I was thinking earlier about how PIXAR has always come across to me BTS as one big fratbro club, and how they clearly brought that condescending hatred of all things perceived to be feminine over to WDAS. I remember how Howard Ashman would talk about he and everyone else involved were just trying to make something that wouldn’t feel out-of-place sitting next to Pinocchio and Snow White. That mentality has disappeared entirely.

That said, since I believe TP&TF was sabotaged from the beginning, I like to think Lasseter deliberately put Newman on the project to help destroy it.

[thedisneyspirit]

BOMB PIXAR.

[Sotiris]

I wonder why John Musker didn't attend the event, though. He wasn't at The Little Mermaid panel from D23 either. Does he not have a good relationship with the studio anymore?

I'm not sure. It's certainly suspicious. Being absent from two panels about his films can't be a coincidence. Especially since he hasn't stopped doing events and conferences. He's doing one tomorrow!

I'm glad he didn't get an award for his shoddy work here.

Unfortunately, he did win two Oscars for his (even worse) work for Monsters Inc. and Toy Story 3.

Disney thinks they are being "cool" and "woke" by making fun of themselves because that's what audiences seem to like these days. Pretty much every DAC film from TPATF onwards has been meta and dismissed their own legacy.

That's true. Every WDAS post-TPatF had that element in varying degrees. I think Disney is underestimating its audience. There's definitely a thirst for traditional, earnest storytelling but if you keep feeding people the same stale thing over and over, that's what they'll end up craving.

It's amazing isn't it? During the renaissance era, you heard so many of the people they brought on talking about how they are absolutely privileged to be involved with such a legacy.

They'll claim that today too but in the same breath they'll try to tear that legacy down and act all embarrassed about being involved with comments like "x isn't your typical princess" and "this movie has songs but isn't really a musical".

I was thinking earlier about how PIXAR has always come across to me BTS as one big fratbro club, and how they clearly brought that condescending hatred of all things perceived to be feminine over to WDAS. I remember how Howard Ashman would talk about he and everyone else involved were just trying to make something that wouldn’t feel out-of-place sitting next to Pinocchio and Snow White. That mentality has disappeared entirely.

If Howard were alive, he would have blown a gasket at them for what they've done to Disney Animation.

BOMB PIXAR.

What the...?

[Farerb]

To me WDAS (actually WDFA) died after Treasure Planet.

[Sotiris]

To me WDAS (actually WDFA) died after Treasure Planet.

For me it was after Home on the Range. It really was the end of an era in many ways.