The Princess and the Frog Discussion - Part II

[Mason_Ireton]

Course I knew who/where Princess Tiana and Princess Rapunzel are....but the new princess, Merida was new to me.... thanks for the info on Pixar's 1st fairytale.

Though Lasseter said that Pixar never wan'na do a fairy tale, they were gon'na leave it to Disney. I guess Lasseter had a change of mind

[UmbrellaFish]

I just saw all the clips from TPATF that aired during Princess Protection Program... WOW! It feels a little bit odd seeing a traditional animated film on the screen advertised as "NEW!" and "COMING TO THEATERS NEAR YOU!", not "FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER ON A 2-DISC DVD!". I'm just so excited. YAY!

[pap64]

Course I knew who/where Princess Tiana and Princess Rapunzel are....but the new princess, Merida was new to me.... thanks for the info on Pixar's 1st fairytale.

Though Lasseter said that Pixar never wan'na do a fairy tale, they were gon'na leave it to Disney. I guess Lasseter had a change of mind

That was back when Pixar was unknown and about to release Toy Story. They didn't want to do a Disney like movie since at the time that's what everyone was doing. Instead of sitting down and making a good movie all they did was look at Disney and say "So animated films are fairy tales, have cute characters and everybody sings. We have a movie!". Pixar, on the other hand, wanted to be unique and created Toy Story, which was a smart move because they least Pixar wanted is to be called another Disney wannabe.

But now that they are highly respected and have established themselves as a powerhouse in animation they can do whatever they want. Plus, since the fairy tale musical has been dead for a while they figured it was time to go back to the classics.

I wonder, though. Will they include the Pixar princess as part of the Disney Princess line?

[Neal]

Yes, when the film was announced, it was also announced Merida would be added to the princess line-up.

[pap64]

Huh, I wonder how they will portray CG characters in the merchandise. So far all the characters have come from 2D films. With Rapunzel and Merida being CG will they be portrayed in 3D or use 2D artwork for uniformity's sake?

[Neal]

Although Rapunzel has probably had her image altered slightly, the 'painterly' look makes her appear not too far off from the 2D models for the other princesses. I'd say they don't have to alter her:



But, what about Merida? I've wondered about that, too. She may look out of place.

[supertalies]

Huh, I wonder how they will portray CG characters in the merchandise. So far all the characters have come from 2D films. With Rapunzel and Merida being CG will they be portrayed in 3D or use 2D artwork for uniformity's sake?

I believe I've heard somewhere that the CGI-characters will be portrayed in 2D (when next to the other princesses), to fit in with the rest.

[Disney's Divinity]

Yes, when the film was announced, it was also announced Merida would be added to the princess line-up.

What?

You know, I vaguely liked the Princess line and was ecstatic that Giselle would not become a part of it. But now they're going to put a non-Disney princess in a Disney princess line? That's just completely ridiculus, and that's not even taking into account the stupidity of mixing 3D and 2D characters.

I don't care if Pixar makes a film with a Princess, but don't make it a musical and don't add it to a line of characters made by a different (and far more classic) company.

[Kyle]

What?

You know, I vaguely liked the Princess line and was ecstatic that Giselle would not become a part of it. But now they're going to put a non-Disney princess in a Disney princess line? That's just completely ridiculus, and that's not even taking into account the stupidity of mixing 3D and 2D characters.

I don't care if Pixar makes a film with a Princess, but don't make it a musical and don't add it to a line of characters made by a different (and far more classic) company.

like it or not, Disnay=Pixar. they might have separate identities, but they have merged, and both animation studios are run by the same guy now. theres no reason to be opposed to this in my opinion.

Especially since animation for Giselle technically wasn't done by Disney, it was all outsourced. Sure they had former Disney animators and James Baxter as animation director, it was still done in a non Disney studio.

[drnilescrane]

Basically it's Disney·Pixar now - You only have to look at the twitter account.

As much as I hate to use Dreamworks as an example, it's the same as PDI/DreamWorks vs Dreamworks Glendale - Technically separate (they still put PDI logos on the posters) but for all intents and purposes it's still all Dreamworks. The only difference in the Disney situation is they still put the hopping lamp at the start of the film.

[katemonster]

I am really looking forward to the songs from the movie. I love all the classic soundtracks from the animated films. Those songs are such originals, so I have high hopes for this movie. I think with the New Orleans setting also opens up a lot of possibilities as far as genres of music. They could have a little bit of jazz, blues, blue-grass...the options are endless!

[Disney's Divinity]

like it or not, Disnay=Pixar. they might have separate identities, but they have merged, and both animation studios are run by the same guy now. theres no reason to be opposed to this in my opinion.

Yes, Disney and Pixar are together in business. That doesn’t mean we have to see Cinderella next to Marlin and Nemo or Mickey Mouse next to Lightning McQueen. Disney and Pixar are still separate in that people think “this is Disney” and “this is Pixar.” I personally don’t want Pixar films diluting Disney’s already fragile brand name. I don’t hate Pixar, but their films aren’t Disney and I really hope they don’t start getting treated like they are.

[goofystitch]

It would appear that quite the opposite is happening, at least in the Disney parks. Disney and Pixar characters are quite often blended together in shows and parades to strengthen the Disney brand, yet Pixar characters have shows that completely exclude Disney characters. At Disney's Hollywood Studios, they have the Pixar Block Party Bash parade, with no Disney characters. At Disney's California Adventure, they have the Pixar Play Parade, again without any Disney characters. And yet the new Celebrate street parties at both parks and Disney World's Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade features a mix of Disney and Pixar characters.

Also at Disney's Hollywood Studios, they just created Pixar Place, a new land where future Pixar based attractions will go. However, elsewhere there are Pixar attractions integrated with Disney attractions. At Disney's California Adventure, they have A Bug's Land and are currently building Cars Land. At both Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland, they are building Toy Story Land. When have you ever seen a whole land based around a single Disney property? Never. I'm not against Pixar attractions and have enjoyed every one I've been able to experience, but the "Pixarification" of Disney Parks is getting a bit extreme.

[ajmrowland]

Don't forget the Nemo show, and the Monsters, inc ride. Those have been made already.

[goofystitch]

Correct, but those are integrated into the other parks with other Disney characters. I was talking about the fact that for new and future lands and parades/shows in the parks, they will make them with only Pixar characters, but its rare to see a show with Disney characters from multiple films that doesn't also include Pixar characters. I think the one exception in Magic Kingdom is Dream Along With Mickey, which was made when there was only one whole area devoted to a Pixar film, and that was A Bug's Land at DCA.

[pap64]

Moving on before we start yet another Disney and Pixar debate...

Anyone notice how the movie looks like it borrows some cues from Enchanted? Its almost ironic that Tiana is a Disney Princess yet from the clips in the recent making of videos and the descriptions she sounds nothing like the other Disney Princesses. Its looks as if at the start of the movie Tiana barely believes in romance and magic and would rather work, creating the contrast between her and Naveen.

She should be one of the most fascinating princesses yet. But I am sure some of the more hardcore fans will find issue in this since its "insulting" the legacy of the other princesses .

[magicalwands]

She should be one of the most fascinating princesses yet. But I am sure some of the more hardcore fans will find issue in this since its "insulting" the legacy of the other princesses .

I find it all rather refreshing! I'm sick of princess movies; their characters are too boring. Tiana will probably be the best woman Disney has ever created. If she turns out to be another horrid princess like the others, I'm going to be very disappointed. I never bought the whole princess thing. When I was a kid, I watched Little Mermaid and thought, "Why didn't Ariel destroy Ursula herself? That's so weird and awkward."

And my two cents on the Pixarified-Disneyland topic: You all know I love Pixar. Trust me, all this Pixaring of Disneyland and DCA has made me sick. It disappoints me the most popular rides are Finding Nemo Submarine and Toy Story Mania. I would think it should be a ride of a Disney film. It should be blamed on Disney's lack of good movies in recent years and Pixar's great track record of films. Once Disney gets going again I'm sure we'll see more Disney for sure!

[ajmrowland]

Well, they do have plans to reopen the Sleeping Beauty Attraction.

[pap64]

Well, they do have plans to reopen the Sleeping Beauty Attraction.

I thought that was already opened...

Anyways, regarding Tiana I personally love what they are doing with her. She is a classic Disney dreamer with big ambitions made hard by certain circumstances (in her case she needs the money to open a restaurant). But instead of singing about it or even wishing for it (though she does make a little wish to the evening star), she works hard.

Naveen is also quite different. He is quote arrogant and full of it when the movie starts. Technically, Prince Adam from Beauty and the Beast started this trend. But there is a difference. Adam was heartless, selfish and cruel. Naveen is just a very happy guy that clouds his judgement.

In fact, nearly all of the characters are classic Disney archetypes yet they have written them so well that they are a brand new kind of Disney character.

Princess and the Frog should be a great one to see.

[PeterPanfan]

Well, they do have plans to reopen the Sleeping Beauty Attraction.

That's been reopened for a while, bud.