The Princess and the Frog (2009)
- Ron Clements, John Musker originally wanted a completely different ending for the film, but test audiences preferred the one we see today.
- The original script for The Princess and the Frog was written over a decade before production finally began in 2009.
- The incredible score for The Princess and the Frog was composed in just a few weeks after the original composer dropped out.
The Princess and the Frog is a 2009 American animated musical fantasy produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, directed by Ron Clements and John Musker. Set in 1920s New Orleans, the film follows Tiana, a hardworking young Black woman who dreams of opening her own restaurant, who is transformed into a frog after kissing a frog prince named Naveen, cursed by the voodoo sorcerer Dr. Facilier, known as the Shadow Man.
Together, Tiana and Naveen must navigate the Louisiana bayou and find a way to break the curse before midnight on Mardi Gras. The Princess and the Frog was historically significant as the first Disney animated film to feature an African-American princess, and the studio consulted extensively with cultural advisors to ensure authentic representation of New Orleans culture, Creole cuisine, zydeco music, and the city's distinctive visual character. Randy Newman's jazz and zydeco-infused score captured the spirit of New Orleans perfectly.
The film's return to traditional hand-drawn animation, after Disney's shift to CGI with Bolt, was celebrated by animation enthusiasts. The Princess and the Frog earned $267 million worldwide on a $105 million budget.
