The Princess and the Frog Parent Guide
While this film includes some fun jazz music and a strong message about the ethics of work, parents will want to be aware of scary voodoo scenes.
Parent Movie Review
Tiana (voiced by Anika Noni Rose) is a girl with lots of gumption and a fabulous gumbo recipe. She’s determined to achieve her dream, which she shared with her late father, of opening a restaurant that will be the toast of New Orleans. Until she can save up the money to start her business, she’s waiting tables and serving her mouth-watering beignets to all and sundry.
Her transformation from New Orleans’ waitress to amphibian takes place when she is entreated for a kiss by a talking frog claiming to be the handsome Prince Naveen (voice by Bruno Campos). It seems the royal scion has had an ill-fated run-in with Dr. Facilier (voice by Keith David), a charlatan and shyster who practices black magic and voodoo on the seedier side of the city. Only a smooch will restore the prince to his human form.
But after Tiana puckers up and gives the slimy jumper a peck, it is she who is transformed. Suddenly the aspiring restaurateur finds herself croaking instead of cooking. Determined to undo the curse, she and the web-footed Prince make their way through the bayou in hopes of getting help from the ancient Mama Odie (voice by Jenifer Lewis) who practices her own form of the black art, albeit with more innocent intentions.
Accompanying them on the journey is Ray the Firefly (voice by Jim Cummings) and the jazz loving alligator Louis (voice by Michael-Leon Wooley). While the small company fights off frog-eating hillbillies and other hungry predators, Dr. Facilier is back in the French Quarter using his magic to marry off the Prince’s advisor (voice by Peter Bartlett) to the wealthy daughter (voice by Jennifer Cody) of ‘Big Daddy’ La Bouff (voice by John Goodman).
Along with the studio’s return to traditional animation, the script also brings back the inclusion of large-scale musical numbers with an infectious jazzy beat. Most of them are a lot of fun, but one song sequence involving the evil Dr. Facilier resembles a hallucinogenic dream sequence with dark shadows, wild colors and a scary musical score. The characters in the story are also repeatedly exposed to moments of peril and ghoulish spirits — portrayals that are clearly too intense for most young viewers.This film does have a much stronger fear factor than some other Disney productions, and parents will want to carefully consider their kids’ tolerance for scary imagery before deciding if The Princess and the Frog is a good choice for family movie night.
Prior to experiencing life as a frog, Tiana lives with loving parents (voices by Oprah Winfrey and Terrence Howard) who try and teach their daughter about the important things in life. But like many children, Tiana has to come to an appreciation of those on her own. After decades of endorsing the idea of “wishing on a star” or having helpless princesses rescued by dashing princes, this Disney adaptation gives kids a clear message that success results from hard work, sacrifice, and deferred gratification - a bandwagon parents are going to jump on to with enthusiasm.
Directed by Ron Clements, John Musker. Starring Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Oprah Winfrey. Running time: 97 minutes. Theatrical release December 11, 2009. Updated May 30, 2020Watch the trailer for The Princess and the Frog
The Princess and the Frog
Rating & Content Info
Why is The Princess and the Frog rated G? The Princess and the Frog is rated G by the MPAA
Voodoo and other forms of black magic are depicted in this film. A character makes a deal with the evil powers from the other side and uses it to cast spells. Dark spirits slither through the streets and chase down unsuspecting characters. A band of hillbillies capture the frogs, hit each other with sticks and shoot at one another. Other characters are also shot at. A young girl unintentionally tortures her pet cat and repeatedly has temper tantrums. A man is portrayed in a comedic fashion falling down a set of stairs, running into people and getting his head caught in a tuba. Small animals are smashed with a book and another is stepped on. The death and funeral of a central character is depicted. Moments of peril are repeatedly shown. A girl discusses her father’s death. A male character comments on his interest in a variety of women. Secondary characters are shown drinking on several occasions.
Page last updated May 30, 2020
The Princess and the Frog Parents' Guide
What talent does Tiana have? What things does she do to develop her skills? Try your own hand at making gumbo and other New Orleans cuisine.
How do Tiana’s parents help her pursue her dream? Why is it important to balance different aspects of life?
Loved this movie? Try these books…
Readers looking for more princess stories should find a copy of "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine, which re-imagines the story of Cinderella, with a dangerous spell, and even more devious stepmother, and a slightly hapless Prince Charming. Younger kids might like Robert Munsch' "The Paper Bag Princess", in which the damsel is neither in distress nor in need of rescue.
Vivian Vande Velde retells the age old fairy tale in Frogged. In this version of the story, Princess Imogene gets kissed by the amphibian, and becomes a frog. But the only way she can become human again is to convince someone else to give her a peck.
Princess Esmerelda is clumsy and graceless – not like the ideal princess. And it only gets worse when she kisses a frog and becomes one as well. Find out how she breaks the spell in E.D. Baker’s The Frog Princess.
Garth Nix’s Frogkisser tells the tale of Princess Anya, who has the ability to break curses with a kiss. Forced on the run, Anya has hilarious adventures…and the chance to save her kingdom.
Home Video
The most recent home video release of The Princess and the Frog movie is March 16, 2010. Here are some details…
Release Date: 16 March 2010
The Princess and the Frog releases to DVD with the following extras:
- Deleted Scenes
- The Princess Portraits Game
- Audio Commentary By Filmmakers
- Music Video By Ne-Y
The Princess and the Frog releases to Blu-ray also offers:
- The Disney Legacy
- The Making Of A Princess
- Conjuring The Villain
- The Return To Hand-Drawn Animation
- The Disney Legacy
- Disney’s Newest Princess
- Bringing Life To Animation
The Princess and the Frog releases in a Combo Edition that includes:
- All of the above bonus materials
- The movie in Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital Copy.
Related home video titles:
The creative team of Ron Clements and John Musker also worked on Disneys Aladdin and The Little Mermaid. A frog convinced hes a prince appears in the animation The Swan Princess. Magical kisses have an unexpected result in Shrek and Shrek 2.