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Monday, May 11, 2009
A Return To Proper Disney Animated Form?
I'm a huge fan of all the old classic Disney films. Everything from Snow White all the way to Robinhood were childhood favorites of mine. And then I was lucky enough to be a teenager during the second golden age of Disney animated films. Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Mulan and more. It really was like a return to the days of old when Disney ruled the animated world.
But with the rise of CG animated films and the awesomeness that is everything Pixar, classic 2D animated films have for the most part gone by the wayside. Sure, Disney still pumps out 2D hand drawn animated films but they're almost always incredibly crappy straight-to-DVD sequels that no one cares about like Lady and the Tramp 2 or Cinderella 3 or other stupidness like that. It's been over a decade now since Disney released a 2D film that was worth a damn (the last good one of course being Mulan back in 1998).
However, the new trailer for Disney's next animated film The Princess and the Frog has given me hope that the creative greatness at the Disney Animation Studios isn't gone forever. Maybe even with a little luck, this could be a possible return to proper form for classic animated films. The Princess and the Frog is a hand drawn 2D animated film that adapts the story of the Frog who needs to be kissed by a princess so he can regain human form. The film looks and feels like a classic Disney film in the trailer. The art design and the animation quality look top notch, and the characters appear to be engaging and even entertaining to watch.
Plus, let's not overlook the fact that Disney finally got off their lazy asses and finally have an official Disney Princess who isn't caucasion. Yes, admittedly Mulan is Chinese, but so far she's been the only non-white Princess to date. Now, we will finally have an African American princess who looks every bit as beautiful and rambunctious and strong willed as Ariel or Snow White or Cinderella. It's a classy move I think, and it's entirely overdue.
For the first time in a very long time indeed, I am happy to say that I'm actually looking forward to seeing a new Disney animated film. It's good to be able to say that again.
Don't forget that Pocahontas was a Disney herione and was Native American. Also, this film is set in the 20's and will the first Disney film that takes place in The United States (after we became a nation).
ReplyDeleteWhat about Jasmine? There's another princess who's not caucasion. Patrick, if you lived in the princess themed environment I'm surrounded by, you would be able to identify more princesses. It will be nice for Disney to show a little more ethnicity in their princesses. I just hope this time, this princess has both a Mom and a Dad (who are both still alive and seen on screen together). Not to start a new rant, (with the exception of Sleeping Beauty) almost all Disney animated features have a missing parent. For a company that prides itself on "Family Values" I've always wondered why Disney doesn't ever show complete families in its movies.
ReplyDeleteTrue, Jasmine is middle eastern. However, Pocahontas wasn't technically a princess. Indian tribes don't have kings and queens and princesses. As for the family thing, I think that has more to do with the fact that someone from a broken home, or a home missing a parent for whatever reason, is a more interesting character to watch. Someone who was raised in a perfect family with both parents has nothing really to long for. Nothing missing. Therefore there's no motivation there to change their world, or to try something new. Someone who is missing a part of their life is in search of something to fulfill that need. That's where stories start. Oh, and I do make one ammendment to my statement about Disney making no good movies since Mulan that were 2D animation. They made the Emperor's New Groove too. That movie rules!
ReplyDeleteYep, yep. Jasmine and Pocahontas would qualify. What I like is that this new princess' ethnicity fits because of a very old African tale of the Frog and the Moon Princess. But the Frog Princess story is based on an adaptation by E.D. Baker of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale The Frog Prince. Translated from a German tale, I believe. I like the new twist.
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